Japanese Steel

The first book to chronicle the golden age of Japanese bicycle design.

Japanese bicycles have long been at the forefront of both competitive and recreational cycling--from top-flight racing bicycles to collectible custom fixed-gear frames. This comprehensive and stunningly illustrated book presents a fascinating overview of the most prolific and celebrated period of Japanese bicycle design, between the 1950s and the '80s, when uniquely talented artisanal craftsmen produced some of the most iconic bicycles of the twentieth century.

From the recognizable silhouettes of major manufacturers like Fuji, Panasonic, and Bridgestone to the rarest frames from artisanal builders like 3-Rensho or Nagasawa, Japanese bicycle designers dominated the cycling world and created machines that are still revered today. Illustrated with specially commissioned photographs of fully restored bikes, and supplemented with artifacts and ephemera from technical manuals to photography of the legendary Keirin racing circuits, this book is must-have for anyone with an interest in cycling and the phenomenon of Japanese design.
Author William Bevington is that gentleman. As he puts it in the foreword of Japanese Steel, he intends our reading experience to be "as if I had the opportunity to have a pleasant lunch with each of you, my readers, and then stroll over to a bicycle gallery show-and-tell." --Bicycle Quarterly