It has been over a year now, but I recently received a request for a bicycle from Yoshiki-san of STORE IN FACTORY, a shop that moved into our neighborhood near Circles.
As a side note, Yoshiki-san’s younger brother is a senior from my university, and back when I was a student, I had the team at STORE IN FACTORY help me with making wooden crates for cargo bikes. I never imagined then that I’d be working with them in this capacity, but I still encounter people connected to my university in unexpected ways. Nagoya is a city where ties between seniors and juniors run deep, and those connections continue to directly influence my work. I sometimes think that, for someone like me who didn't exactly study hard at university, building those kinds of relationships was the single most meaningful reason I went there in the first place.
Anyway, drifting off-topic a bit, Yoshiki-san’s request was simple: a "bicycle for commuting."
Since he frequently visits the U.S. for buying trips and had a fondness for the beach cruiser style, he gradually found himself captivated by the bikes RETROTEC creates. As a huge car lover, there was no way he wouldn't be struck by Curtis’s prized car collection as well—I heard that the Isetta, in particular, really left an impression on him.
Then, the classic-style rigid trail cruiser that Curtis himself is riding in the photo moved him, and he decided to order a RETROTEC.
Once that was decided, the gears were set in motion and wouldn’t stop. We took measurements, gave thorough thought to how the bike would be used, and shared all that information with Curtis.
We were also entrusted with the parts assembly to ensure it could be used properly as a tool, and of course, we agonized together over the custom paint color until we finally settled on one.
Based on the "Classic" style frame—the most distinctive shape among RETROTEC bikes—we built this machine under the concept of an ATB Cruiser, keeping daily commuting as the focus, while also considering the possibility of taking it on longer trips down the road.
Many people might look at its appearance and wonder how it rides, but the hallmark of a bike made by Curtis is that it moves with a strangely wonderful feeling. I actually had the chance to swing a leg over this bike myself, and the way it accelerates so comfortably with every pedal stroke is truly addictive.
| Frame | RETROTEC | Custom Classic ATB Cruiser |
| Fork | RETROTEC | Custom Steel Truss Fork |
| HeadSet | CHRIS KING | 1-1/8″ NTS (Circles 10th Anniv Edition) |
| Handle | SIMWORKS BY NITTO | Fun3 Bar |
| Stem | SIMWORKS BY NITTO | Tomboy Stem |
| CrankSet | WHITE INDUSTRIES | G30 Crank + TSR ChainRing 34T |
| BB | CHRIS KING | ThreadFit30 + ConvertionKit #27 |
| Tire | SIMWORKS BY PANARACER | Volummy 27.5×1.9″ |
| Rim | VELOCITY | Atlas 650B Silver NON MSW 32H |
| Shifter | MICROSHIFT | SL-M11 MTB 11s Shift Lever |
| Fender | SIMWORKS BY HONJO | Smooth62 650B |
After delivery, we snapped a photo in front of his shop. I look forward to continuing to support Yoshiki-san’s cycling life. Thanks for waiting, Yoshiki-san!
STORE IN FACTORY is just a short 10-minute bike ride from Circles, so please make sure to go pay them a visit. Look for the mural by Yoshi47, who you might know from the SimWorks Art Collective. Walking into their shop, filled to the brim with items he’s hand-picked on his buying trips, is just like opening a treasure chest—it’s so exciting.
Address: 5-23-9 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008
Business Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00 – 20:00 / Sat 11:00 – 18:00 / Sun 11:00 – 18:00
Phone: 052-212-7664
