Dear Blue Rag, Please show us your car you are proud of. | feature

Blue Rag, please show us your car that you are proud of.

Bicycles are gaining more and more attention as a means of transportation in the new normal era. Cross bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes......, there are many different types of frames, but which one should you choose? What is the best customization for city riding? We asked the staff of "Blue Rag," a leader in Tokyo's bicycling culture, to introduce their favorite bikes and customization tips. Finally, we also show you some examples of the customization of modern city bicycles proposed by "Blue Rag". We recommend the stylish and functional urban bicycle for city riding. Please take a look for yourself. (This article is reprinted from "Huinum Unplugged Vol.12" magazine.)

Photo_Fumihiko Ikemoto, Shota Kikuchi

Text_Yuichiro Tsuji

Edit_Yosuke Ishii

Blue Rag offers 7 points for customizing today's city bicycles.

The appeal of a bicycle is that you can choose the frame of your choice and customize it as you like. But we all want to ride a bicycle that fits our current mood. We asked "Blue Rag" to propose a bicycle that is easy to ride, yet functional and customized for city riding. You don't need a high-end, high-performance bike to ride around town. The best thing is something that is fun and convenient.

SURLY STRAGGLER

The "Struggler" is Surly's most versatile model, capable of everything from camping tours to racing. It is stable, maneuverable, and easy to maneuver around town. It is also ideal for slow city driving. This vehicle has been customized to city driving specifications. The following seven points should be noted. If you keep these points in mind, you will be able to enjoy a more comfortable city cruising experience with a tighter appearance.

Point 1_FRONT LIGHT

It is a legal obligation to turn on the lights while driving at night. It is hip and cool to turn on the lights eco-friendly with dynamo lights that generate electricity from the rotation of the tires.

Point 2_BASKET

I want to be light while driving. So, we can install a basket in front of the steering wheel and put our luggage in it. It is convenient for shopping.

Point 3_HANDLE

Promenade bars with the grips returned to the front are easy to drive and ideal for city riding. A handlebar bag to hold a cell phone or other small items is also useful.

Point 4_SADDLE

The more you ride a leather saddle, the more it becomes familiar to your body. And you can enjoy the change in appearance as it ages. This will make your bicycle unique.

Point 5_REAR LIGHT

It is good manners to put a rear light under the saddle to avoid contact with cars. Reflectors are nice, but lights are safer and more secure.

Point 6_CRANK & PEDAL

A single gear is sufficient for a casual rider. The pedals do not need to be overly bumpy. . Even if you ride with leather shoes, you can rest assured that they won't get scratched.

Point 7_FENDER

On rainy days or when running through puddles, water will splash back and stain your clothes. To protect your favorite clothes, you should definitely wear mudguards.