http://www.flickr.com/photos/2joes2/sets/72157625263500806/
1976 NAGASAWA Frame
Suntour Superbe Pro Track Crankset
Suntour Superbe Pro Pedal Set
Suntour Superbe Pro Hub Set
Suntour Superbe Pro Seat Post
Dura Ace BB and Headset (Italian)
3ttt Bar/Cinelli Bar
Araya Gold Tubulars
Toshi Singles/MKS alloy clips
Kashimax X Nagasawa Saddle
I had been in Japan for a few months and was always watching the Yahoo Auctions. I was lucky enough to find this frame in my size for a cheap price due to some damage in the top tube and a bad listing. On arrival, and after inspecting the frame I became worried that maybe the frame was in fact a fake!
The bike showed no signs of being a real Nagasawa frame. At this stage I began to think I had just paid far too much for a random frame. Around this time I went travelling with a mate and left the frame at the bike shop where I work. (check out the blog http://sayacafes.exblog.jp/page/2/ )
I think this was the time I had gone away with dad so was able to check my emails every so often on his laptop. On day I opened my gmail and check an email from Rene. It said he had visited Nagasawa`s factory and unfortunately the frame was in fact a fake! My heart sank. for a few seconds I was so dissapointed.
Then, checking up the list of emails I noticed another email from Rene. The second email read;
"....just kidding, he said it was 'the start of his story', and is a 1976 november frame. He had not seen
one like that for ages, and told me a lot about it...."
I then realised I had stumbled across an extremely rare frame! One that will probably stay with me for a very long time.
The frame has many unique points to it. Firstly the paint is Nakano red, a colour Nagasawa has now retired in respect to his 10 time world champion rider. All the new Nakano reds now have gold sparkles. This alone shows the age of the frame. It was in fact build in Novermber 1976, the first year Nagasawa built under his own name having returned from Italy training under De Rosa.
All the parts are Suntour except for the BB and Headset and this is due to two things. Firstly, having just arrived back from Italy, Mr Nagasawa was yet to create his own lug work and therefore used De Rosa lugs he brought home with him. As well as this he was only used to working with Italian thread. Secondly, I was lucky enough to have a mate take the frame out to his factory and Nagasawa and his son regreased the bb and head set, put new bearings in the head set and polished them both up. I will upload some photos of this asap.
The BB now spins forever!
Furthermore, being such an early frame, Nagasawa was yet to gain NJS certification so this has no stamp. the frame dons no Nagasawa stamps anywhere on the frame. The bb, seatstays, and rear drop outs are all bare.
I will try to get a photo of Nagasawa playing with the frame at a later date. My mate said Nagasawa felt very nostalgic commenting that it was such low quality yet couldnt take the smile off his face the whole evening.
DOZO!
