Introducing the TRAFIK homie in Tokyo, ITTA, who will be working with us to make sure we are up to date on all things going on in the land of the rising sun. This is his first report from this past weekend’s CYCLEMODE convention in Tokyo, one of the largest bike conventions in Asia. Enjoy…

THE BIGGEST BIKE SHOW IN JAPAN – CYCLEMODE

Words and Pics by ITTA.

Cyclemode is the biggest bicycle show to hit Japan. Once a year thousands of people make the train ride to CHIBA (right outside Tokyo) to attend the convention. What’s different about this convention as compared to Interbike in USA is that anyone can attend for only 1200 yen ($15 USD), so inside there are not only buyers and sellers, but families, kids, fixie riders, Keirin racers, basically everybody.

There are two huge halls and all brands are represented, but the 2nd hall is where all the real fun happens. Here you’ll find all the Japanese brands and a huge test track that circles the convention. This is what many people come for. You can test ride ANY bike you want…even the most expensive ones. The line for this is long, but worth the wait to ride a bike you can probably never afford!

Some of the highlights of this year’s convention:

* At Panasonic’s booth, you can customize your frame with your favorite color. 32 to choose from. That is awesome!!

* KEIRIN virtual game. This is very fun!!! It’s a head-to-head racing game (like Gold Sprints) but around a virtual Keirin track. Mostly non-racers were trying this out, but then a professional female Keirin racer showed up and beat everyone. That girl is so fast and look at those leg muscles!!! Amazing!!! I heard she still only 16 years old too!

*Childrens Half Pipe – This was new this year and shows that trick riders are getting younger and younger. There was a line of children waiting to try this mini-half-pipe. This is the future of Japanese trick riders.

Bicycles have always been popular in Japan, but this convention gets bigger every year. Now many people are riding fixed gear when it only used to be Keirin racers. Can’t wait to see what next year will bring. From Tokyo, for TRAFIK – ITTA.

Our friend NASTY from Japan is finally coming out with his own signature frame. Nasty has been holding down the Tokyo FGFS scene for years now, glad they finally came around to hook him up proper. We met Nasty at Cyclemode, Tokyo a couple years back with the guys from W-Base. Super nice guy and a great rider. Check out his frame and video below.

Japan has a great bike culture but recently there has been a Police Crackdown on riding fixed gear bikes. It is now illegal in Japan to operate a bike without front AND rear brakes. We have been told that it is also illegal to SELL a fixed gear bike without brakes or even wrench on a fixie at a established shop. This all stems from a recent accident in the Shibuya district of Tokyo (like Tokyo’s Time’s Square), where a fixie rider hit a 69 year old woman and she ended up dying from her injuries.

Read the whole story HERE…

What gives Japan? We contacted one of our rider friends in Tokyo, Itta, and here’s what he had to say about it…

In Tokyo also getting very hard now. I mean, the policeman checking the fixed bike all time. If you have no brake they give a traffic violation ticket immediately. That’s why recently people get brakes now. I mean both of brakes (Front & Back). That is crazy.

How much is the ticket, try 50,000 yen, about $650!!!!

What do you guys think about this? When did riding a bike become a crime?

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. It is a real blessing to be able to have To Live & Ride in LA reach so many people around the globe, all to celebrate the joy riding a Track Bike on the streets gives you. Judging by these snaps, not only was there joy, but good tunes, good eats, amazing friends and bicycles. Thank You for making us feel welcome japan! Hope to see you guys soon.

WWW.TOLIVEANDRIDEINLA.COM now available in Japanese for all our readers in Japan and those uber-hipster-trilingual kids from L.A. that can order their dragon rolls in Japanese. Maybe it was a practical functionality to add, but mostly it just looks cool!

btw, we have mixi page too: http://mixi.jp/view_community.pl?id=5299115

And while we’re at it, here’s a previously unreleased video we made when Rick went out to Cyclemode in Tokyo. The video features Tomity, Nasty, and Rick checks out a bike polo session too. We love Japan.