The cycling events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were so exciting, weren't they?
For us, the highlight was definitely Yumi Kajihara, who took home the silver medal.
Even after crashing, she raced until the very end and secured a brilliant second-place finish.
Now, when it comes to track cycling in Japan, there’s Keirin.
I started my journey into cycling culture through fixed-gear bikes, so the term is familiar to me, but how about you?
Even now, whenever I hear the word NJS, I find myself instinctively reaching for those parts.
Some of you might be wondering, "What is NJS?" In Keirin racing, there is a regulation stating that in order to ensure races are conducted safely and fairly, all equipment—from frames to individual parts—must be certified by the Japan Keirin Association.
That certification mark is called the NJS mark.
Yes, it stands for NIPPON JITENSYA SHINKOUKAI (Japan Keirin Association).
NJS certification is considered to be among the most stringent standards in the bicycle industry.
It feels almost deified to me, but I think the reason for that lies in its uncompromising resistance to twisting and the sheer beauty of products born from such high-precision manufacturing.
We’ve had Nitto create a special version of one of these NJS-certified items for us, and I’d like to introduce it to you.
NITTO NJ-89 Girls Keirin Stem Black
【NITTO】NJ-89 Girls Keirin Stem Black
Material: Aluminum
Bar clamp diameter: 25.4mm
Post clamp diameter: 28.6mm (oversized) / includes 1-inch column shim
Angle: 73°
Extension: 70mm, 80mm, 90mm, 100mm
Price: 10,890 yen
Unlike men's Keirin, "Girls Keirin" permits the use of ahead-style stems.
Currently, the NJ-89 is effectively the only NJS-certified ahead stem available. We requested that this stem be finished in black. Please note that this version does not feature the NJS stamp and is not a certified stem.
Even though it’s "Girls Keirin," when you see the torque the athletes apply and their sprints before the finish line, they have so much power that I feel like I'd be crushed before the race even started.
So, unless you're putting down an incredible amount of power, you’ll have no issues—gents, please feel free to use it.
The handlebar clamp diameter is 25.4mm, which is quite rare these days.
It's a perfect match for SimWorks by Nitto chromoly handlebars.
With its edge-less design, this black stem can look both modern and classic.
For those of you looking for a clean silhouette, the final bell is ringing!
Oh, and there’s an interview with Mr. Yoshikawa, the CEO of NITTO, published on KEIRIN.jp, so please give it a read.
It highlights the passion NITTO puts into their track bike parts.
It seems I won't be moving away from NJS parts anytime soon.
