Japanese Steel - by William Bevington (Hardcover)

About the Book

Japanese bicycles have long been at the forefront of both competitive and recreational cycling from top-flight racing bicycles ridden by champions in international competition to the most collectible custom frames on the fixed-gear scene. In this comprehensive and stunningly illustrated book, William Bevington one of the leading collectors of Japanese bicycles in the United States, and an authority on their design and manufacture presents a fascinating overview of the golden age of Japanese bicycles. Coinciding with the flourishing of the Japanese steel industry, the most prolific and celebrated period of Japanese bicycle design came between the 1950s and the 1980s, when an abundance of exceptional raw materials, uniquely talented artisanal craftsmen, and an expanding international market combined to produce some of the most iconic and enduring bicycles of the twentieth century. From the most recognisable silhouettes of road bicycles from major manufacturers like Fuji, Panasonic, and Bridgestone to the rarest and most collectible 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 manufacturers' manuals to photography of the legendary Keirin racing circuits, this book is a glorious reference for anyone with an interest in cycling and the phenomenon of Japanese design.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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

About the Author

William Bevington is an information and product development designer, a passionate collector of Japanese bicycles and cycling ephemera, and the foremost authority on the leading Japanese brand Fuji.