It was last spring when I was reminded once again that "love at first sight" is a real thing.
A customer wandered into our shop, scanned the store from corner to corner, then stopped in his tracks and looked up at the ceiling.
What he saw there was a 26-inch RETROTEC mountain bike born in Napa, California.
The smooth, sweeping curves of the top tube and seat stays. The tubing work that stretches from the down tube to the seat tube, drawing yet another graceful line. And that two-tone colorway of pale gray and lilac.
I tried explaining things like, "This is called a RETROTEC..." and "The frame design is quite unique...," but the answer had likely already been decided before I even began.
He had fallen in love with that single frame, and his mind was already swirling with fantasies of how to build it up.
It wasn’t about having a specific purpose for the bike. Even so, captivated by its presence, he naturally made the decision: "I want to ride this!" It was, in every sense, love at first sight.
And the bike you see here is the result of that vision brought to life.
Rather than for tearing through mountains, we built it as a single-speed cruiser for relaxed, carefree rides around the city.
The fork was custom-ordered from Shin Hattori Seisakusho, the same workshop behind our SIMWORKS Doppo Ronin.
We crafted a chromoly rigid fork to echo the unique, organic lines of this RETROTEC frame, prioritizing suppleness and intuitive handling. We also went with a unicrown style, considering its compatibility with the frame.
While this frame was originally designed with a suspension fork in mind, choosing a fork like this can be the perfect answer depending on one's riding preferences.
For the parts build, we carefully assembled a mix of components the owner had used previously and others that were freshly selected for this project.
| Frame | RETROTEC The Double 26″ MTB |
| Fork | SHIN Custom Unicrown Fork |
| Headset | CHRIS KING NoThreadSet 1-1/8″ |
| Handlebar | WHISKY PART CO Mil House Carbon Handle Bar |
| Stem | PAUL COMPONENT Boxcar Stem |
| Grip | OURY GRIP Dual Clamp Lock-on Grip |
| Brake Lever | PAUL COMPONENT Canti Lever (Pair) |
| Brake | GROWTAC Equal Mechanical Disc Brake Caliper Drop（Post Mount） |
| Saddle | BROOKS C17 |
| Seatpost | WHISKY PART CO No.7 Carbon Seatpost |
| Seatpost Collar | CHRIS KING King Seatpost Collar |
| Crank | WHITE INDUSTRIES M30 Crank |
| Chainring | WHITE INDUSTRIES TSR Chainring |
| Chain Tensioner | PAUL COMPONENT Melvin Chain Tensioner |
| Bottom Bracket | WHITE INDUSTRIES BSA Bottom Bracket 30mm |
| Front Hub | WHITE INDUSTRIES CLD Hub Front 100mm QR |
| Rear Hub | WHITE INDUSTRIES CLD Hub Rear 10mm x 135mm QR |
| Rim | VELOCITY Blunt 35 Polished |
| Tire | ULTRADYNAMICO Cava Race |
| Pedal | SIMWORKS Taco Pedal |
We chose WHITE INDUSTRIES for the crank and hubs, and VELOCITY Blunt 35 rims in a polished finish. The gray ULTRADYNAMICO Cava Race tires complement the frame’s pale two-tone aesthetic beautifully.
We also incorporated the owner's existing WHISKY PARTS CO carbon handlebar and seatpost. It feels like an unusual mix, but for some reason, it just makes perfect sense—a strange yet wonderful realization. I can say with confidence that the end result is something truly special.
The vibrant purple of the PAUL COMPONENT Melvin Chain Tensioner and Boxcar Stem Face Plate, added to facilitate the single-speed setup, provides a great accent.
And so, the RETROTEC The Double MTB was completed.
This wasn't a choice driven by utility, but one sparked by form and fascination. There is no right or wrong in that.
It all comes down to one thing: whether or not you feel like riding it.
It is a presence that makes not just special adventures, but everyday travel feel a little richer.
I believe that is exactly what this bike has become.
Though timing meant I couldn't be there for the delivery, I heard he headed out for a ride that very day. It truly made my day to hear his report from the cuts at Utsumi Pass.
