TOMII CYCLES Handmade Brass Top Cap Circles 20th Edition

Special finish to commemorate Circles' 20th anniversary.
A piece too beautiful to be true, just like Indian jewelry!

TOMII CYCLES is a custom frame builder in Austin, Texas. The builder, Tadashi Tomii, aka Nao, studied fine art in the U.S. and worked as a sculptor and three-dimensional modeler in Boston, Massachusetts, before starting his own frame building business.

The bicycles he creates have a delicate, nostalgic feel like Indian jewelry, yet are fused with cutting-edge imagery, and the bikes he creates with the motto of making bicycles that are fun to ride have a unique presence.

In the past few years, as well as custom-ordered frames, we have been focusing on the production of beautiful parts such as brass top caps, spacers, and bells. One of the most distinctive of these parts is the
We had the stem caps made to special specifications to commemorate Circles' 20th anniversary this time.

His signature material is brass stem caps encased in turquoise, opal, and coral. The motif design was inspired by Southwest Native American artwork.

And can you see the "C" in Circles by adding stainless steel?

The style of the work, which is usually expressed in a uniform pattern, has slightly changed, and there are some patterns here and there that seem to express something abstract.

In addition, while most of the usual works are polished, this time, "Satin Finish" without polish is quite nice.

This technique is unique to this 20th Limited edition.
Each piece is engraved by Nao's hand, and no two pieces are alike.

All parts are finished with patina (chemical color change) and then waxed, allowing you to enjoy the aging process of the brass.

Some of them are inlaid with turquoise, a technique that, like the detail work on his frames, gives them a beautiful Indian jewelry-like finish.

This item would make a great addition to your own bike, or as a gift for a loved one or riding companion.

[SPEC].

Material: brass
Size: 1-1/8"

*Comments from Nao about care

As for the maintenance of brass parts, all parts are waxed after patina (chemical color change). (Because if you do lacquer or clear coat, the texture is not good.)

So the color will change over time (even the grease from your hands will weather it). That is one of the interesting things about brass, but if you wax it regularly (especially after touching it with your hands) or wipe it with a soft cloth, the original patina will last longer. (It's like a jewelry store.) Wax is fine for cars, wood flooring, whatever.