Bike Check: Shun’s Brooklyn Launch Pad
When it comes to the fixed gear scene, there’s always been an enduring obsession with the Brooklyn Machine Works (BMW) Gangsta Track. But what about the lesser-known LaunchPad? It barely gets any love, but the Launch Pad i as good if not better is some cases as a Gangsta. With its more trick-oriented geometry and originally sold with a massive trick fork, it was always meant for a different kind of riding. I’ll admit, I was also guilty of pouring all my attention into the Gangsta. But that is, until earlier this winter, when I snapped a quick bike check of Shun’s LaunchPad. It nailed exactly what I’d always wanted to do with my Gangsta: build a 700c cruiser.
With FGFS roots in mind, you obviously have to throw some Profile parts on there: stem, hubs, rear freewheel, and of course, the cranks. Some of the Launchpad like this one, were available with a “Euro Bottom Bracket”, so if you were going with BMX style cranks you had to supply the rest accordingly. And that’show the sprocket and chain guard, both come from some mysterious BMX corners of the internet: “sharpsprocket.com” and EMDR, respectively.
Of course, you can’t build a cruiser without some massive platform pedals. These Crupi ones look great, but they’re definitely the kind you don’t want to catch in the shin.
Brakes? Obviously Paul. The calipers are paired with Paul Love Levers for that crisp, clean feel. Up top, there’s a funky leopard-print SDG saddle mounted on a classic Thomson Elite seatpost.
Alright, so that covers most of the build, but here’s what really sold me on it.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Brooklyn Machine Works Launch Pad, Gangsta Fork
Chainring and Cog SharpSproketDotCom 38t/ Profile Freewheel 17T
Crank Profile Box
Seatpost and Saddle
Thomson Elite, SDG saddle
Stem and Handlebar
Profile Stem, Nitto Hi-Bar
Wheels Velocity laced to Profile Hubs
Tires Ultradynamico Rose Race 42mm
First off: the canti studs. My Gangsta also has welded-on cantilever brake studs, but this one… it’s a much cleaner job.
The frame’s been repainted in a fresh baby blue, complete with some original Brooklyn Machine Works stickers, again, a much neater way to do things. And the fork? That’s where it gets interesting. As you can see, this isn’t the original LaunchPad trick fork. It’s from a Gangsta V1. And honestly, it just suits the frame perfectly: lighter, sleeker, more aggressive-looking, and with just the right clearance for a pair of Ultradynamico 42mm tires.
All this confirming my theory that trick bikes do make brilliant cruisers with a freewheel and a pair of brakes. Told ya!
26” cruiser build next?
🎞: Fujicolor 200
📷: Leica M6
📍: Tamagawa
