In the summer of 2016, I travelled to Tokyo as part of a RISD Global Study program.
For the next three weeks at the Tokyo College of Cycle Design, I sketched ideas, bent steel tubes, attached them with brass fillets and steel lugs, and polished it all to a mirror finish to create a custom bike frame.
For the next three weeks at the Tokyo College of Cycle Design, I sketched ideas, bent steel tubes, attached them with brass fillets and steel lugs, and polished it all to a mirror finish to create a custom bike frame.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e32f8ed835b4e5ccf185cccb7d0af8a39a6f57781923ae3e65d9d37e28fa4e2d/process5.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8c7c8b893605ff3479fde3399a5d449c20130f7af78867608e75a0b96608b581/process2.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7dfffeff423a441fadbaab41e7a3f57b54bfe43cb9b487489685d087318c1526/process3.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dff0496c1fed40411e0bc7e88649123babebeff56f0a18cd1314ed8a24d43922/process4.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/10f871e7fa3e9b15bdf10a2eca8a3eef30e8d877a260231da5e80ba8271882e1/process1.jpg)
Upon returning to the US, I chose and assembled components to create a fixed-gear bicycle optimized for my commute.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/40c452013c8aceb70dad0470cac991a88a0f5d570a1bdd9af672894cf6126b77/doc4.jpg)
Gearing and handlebar set-up balance acceleration, comfort, and hill-climbing capacity.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8c1b528fb7fa7acd725057f712b450ee68b880e2e49a0ed7dad1e3d4070a53e0/doc2.jpg)
Unique triple-triangle frame design accomodates a u-lock and a variety of tire sizes.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6b04e16d9de61c4aae9a9d7b21b9d14bff4f40f689bf5846dbe4ee8f1fdc77bb/doc1.jpg)
Clear-coat finish highlights the brass joinery and allows a unique patina to develop, camouflaging the bike from unwanted attention.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/05945036822d8265c95776a25658c2172b608bb693d22cc8be8206d3f6412789/doc3.jpg)
The resulting bike is named Hiromasa in honor of the professor who helped me build it. It is my primary mode of transportation, and will be for years to come.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/35ca628e080a12bdc25e4079fa99c2c6a6b90b977609e12a5afc9b8c7b79eddf/gif1.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/492794759747ad314670fc79a7d7b1bd76e9f8c01425a4976f9a85b6fba2a19d/gif2.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2da7491dd9b00ec8deac8e0f8a9c9a4e1b2f11be8ba64bdc7d03148b994e174b/gif3.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a86d95a9607f7fc31d3e3ecbcc0a50d43aa205871d3e06bf57a82d77db82ff80/gif4.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fb26ec9be98629a03e1f93f4307fe8bbebc07ca0cdc657b6283b724fb4411da9/gif5.jpg)