Bike Check: Kotaro’s Kevin Winter
Would you look at that! Our first International bike check! And what better way to start than with my good friend @tama_chari, aka, Kotaro’s Kevin Winter. It’s a bike I know well, since I helped him import it in Japan, and it’s also a good introduction to the other Japanese bike checks that will follow.
So let’s see what this cool little commuter has to offer and how it ended up far, far east.
This is obviously not a Japanese bike. When I was in Japan Kotaro and I were drooling over the funky paint job and oversize tubing. It came out for sale one day, I being too small for me, Kotaro took the opportunity. This Kevin Winter (UK frame builder) was made for Kimberley Blythe (sister of pro-cyclist Adam Blyther) in the early 2000s. I don’t have that much more info, But I do know she also had a time trial bike from Kevin with a similar paint job.
I always loved the cartoonish water painted along the frame, that gives it that
“fast but chill” aura.
But it’s always a good surprise when at some point that bike was going crazy speed around an oval somewhere in the UK, before traveling all the way to Japan with a whole new purpose: have fun, go get coffee and spin slow.
Enough with history, let’s get on with the build! Starting with the cockpit, you’ll instantly spot this bright gold Chris King headset. A bold choice, but a good one for sure. On top of it, is a classic salsa stem with a zero-degree angle giving it this slight rise.
By the way, can we all agree there is a precise equation between how much your stem rises and how chill that bike is supposed to be ridden?
Attached to that, is a Critical Racing flat handlebar, warped in EMS grips with another golden accent on the bar ends for some coherence. And yes it has brakes, but after two weeks of riding here, I might do an entire write-up about the brake/police situation in Japan because… It's bad…
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Keivin Winter Track
Chainring and Cog FSA 48T, Random 17T Cog
Crank Sram Omnium 165mm
Seatpost and Saddle
Thomson Elite, Flite Ti
Stem and Handlebar
110mm Salsa quill stem, Critical Racing flatbart
Wheels TB-14 laced to Duraace 7600
Tires Continental Ultra Sport 25c
There is definitely a vibe to this build. Something that you don’t really see anymore right now.
It has that “build it and forget it” aura, where, It’s not a dream build, it’s not a parts bin either, it’s just right in the middle. Simple, classy, and durable.
Classic flite saddle and Thomson Elite seatpost combo. FSA track chainring and the now rare, yet indestructible silver omnium cranks. And a solid pair of wheels with Duraace 7600. But let’s not forget the little details like this tastefully placed SSS sticker or these aftermarket “Tempra-Ace '' anodized caps. So sad that Tempra cycle stopped making these. Hope someone will come back with something similar one day.
To take Kotaro’s words: “It’s a simple steed and I don’t have to do anything on it!” and I can only agree.
It’s actually something that you can spot quite often in Japan: crazy frames used as dailies, mounted with brakes, a basket, a bell, and all the possible commuting accessories. Roads are also quite nice and clean in Tokyo so even if 25c tires are your absolute limit, it ain’t that much of a problem.
To some extent, that mix of cultures between different parts of the world: parts, frames, and riding styles, makes for unique creations like this one. This, is purely what I look for when I’m out scouting for bikes to shoot. Yes, an all-period-correct build can be cool, but it’s that blend of parts that have almost nothing in common, ultimately creating the most interesting builds in my opinion.
What I’m trying to say is: Any object that has a function. Will always end up better looking if it’s actually used, rather than just collecting dust. This applies to any bike and you don’t need anything fancy like Cannondale Track to do that.
Get a bike, make it yours, ride it, prove it’s yours.
