It’s spring. This winter felt like a proper winter for the first time in a while, and although I thought the cherry blossom season might be slightly delayed, the number of warm days has increased, and blooming is well underway here in Nagoya.
As it warms up, we are incredibly grateful to have visitors not just from across Japan, but from overseas as well.
In the midst of this, we had a wonderful visitor last week from Los Angeles, California.
His name is Jaime Rosas, a.k.a. Jimmy. He runs his own bike shop in Los Angeles called FABRICA DE ROSAS.
If you keep an eye on the LA bike scene, you might already know him.
Jimmy was a frontman at GOLDEN SADDLE CYCLERY (GSC), the legendary Los Angeles bike shop that sadly closed its doors.
I first met him back in 2017 when I visited GSC. Since then, we’ve visited many times for SimWorksUSA pop-ups, riding and eating together, and he always treated us like family whenever we visited.
I was so excited to hear that Jimmy opened his own bike shop about a year after GSC closed. I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, but it’s definitely at the top of my list for my next trip to LA. (And I hope to catch a Dodgers game with him, too! lol)
His shop shines with a unique sensibility rooted in his Mexican background. Since he is also close friends with Matt, the owner of CRUST, the shop specializes in custom builds centered around CRUST bikes.
It was the week before last when he suddenly contacted me saying, "I'm in Japan, I'm coming to see you!" After coordinating, he managed to make a quick trip to Nagoya last week during his limited stay. I heard he bought his ticket just a few days before arriving (lol)—which is so Jimmy—but we made sure to give him our own version of hospitality.
It was a fleeting moment, but he seemed to really enjoy his time in Nagoya and said he wanted to come back, which made us so happy.
As a souvenir, he left us a small supply of FABRICA DE ROSAS shop tees.
FABRICA DE ROSAS Shop Tee
Size: M, L
Price: 6,600 yen (tax included)
Based on a unique font with an LA-style Mexican interpretation, the back features a message from Jimmy in Spanish, the official language of Mexico:
“Entre Mas Corriente, Mas Ambiente”
Translated loosely, it means:
“The more authentic your own style and attitude, the more you can create a fun, party-like atmosphere.”
He has a distinct eye for detail—not just in the bikes he rides and builds, but in his personal style as well. Personally, I always look forward to seeing what comes out of his shop.
Los Angeles is a concrete jungle, but it’s also surrounded by ocean and mountains, and it’s a city where diverse people and cultures intersect, making its cycling culture incredibly varied. GSC played a massive role in that scene, and since Jimmy is carrying that spirit forward, keep a close eye on FABRICA DE ROSAS. Please make sure to follow him as well!
