Exploring Tokyo’s Fixed Gear Bike Scene with Nao

The popularity of fixed gear bikes, or fixie bikes, grew quickly during the early 2000s, carrying with them a massive cultural shift. The bikes became part of a subcultural movement that made Tokyo their creative playground. Because the bikes have no traditional brakes, the opinions about them and their safety got divided real quick. The more popular they got, the bigger the controversy surrounding them.

But where are Fixies today and what is their place in the streets of Tokyo? Yokogao chats with Goofy Coffee Club™︎ founder and designer Nao. While being born and raised in Osaka, Nao made Tokyo his home and became an active member of the fixed gear bike community in East Tokyo.

How did you get interested in fixed gear bike culture? 

One of our customers & one of our baristas in Goofy Coffee Club™︎ taught me how to ride a fixed-gear bike, and later how to assemble one. It didn’t take long before I was hooked.

What is Goofy Coffee Club™︎ and what is the connection between Goofy Coffee Club™︎ and the bike scene?

Goofy Coffee Club™︎ is a cross cultural space, where we come sip coffee and express ourselves through bikes, beat making, rap, DJing, or whatever else you are into. As an expression of ourselves, our community joins the CMWC (Cycle Messenger World Championships) in Yokohama, and bikelore. It’s initially a bike race, but we feel that it’s more about the event and party, where interesting people with cool gadgets and a shared love for fixies get together. One of the Goofy Team members climbed on the podium of bikelore a few times as a Coffee Store. His name is Takuto.

We feel Tokyo city life is a very important part of fixie bike culture. How important is the city for you personally?

It’s way more flexible to enjoy the Tokyo city life by riding a bike. You can escape the crazy crowds in the train and you can ride as fast as you want. No stops, no limits. I believe we belong to the bike community in East Tokyo. Sometimes we join and ride together with communities from the other parts of Tokyo. It’s through our bikes that we connect.

What makes the bike culture and community in Tokyo unique?

To be honest, I don’t know that much about bike culture in other countries so I couldn’t say. But when we sent one of our teammates to San Francisco to let him join in the Red Bull Bike Race, he noticed people riding their bikes while playing beats. That’s something we can’t do in Tokyo that easily.

Do you feel the bike scene in Tokyo is a way to be creative and express yourself?

Yes definitely. We keep collecting the memories of the friendships and unique moments that we build together through bike culture by filming and taking pictures while we’re on the road. We enjoy being free, and we just want more people to join the ride.

What is your personal favorite part of the bike scene?

I think of every time when we see other people ride a fixed gear bike in the city. They are so easy to notice since the pedals never stop. It’s like an invisible connection through the gear we use.

To finish up, can you give us the specifics of your own bike?

Frame: Giant Fixer

Pedals: MKS & Mash SF

Handle: NITTO shred bar

Saddle: My friend’s one

Tire: Panaracer