I really would have liked to visit Gira Gira Chariya in Minami Horie, Osaka a lot earlier than last week! At least I managed to pop into the store every single day of the last weekend, haha.
How is it like? Well, I believe it’s been a good move to set up the store in Minami Horie, which appeared as very young and lively part of Osaka, full with hundreds of bars and shops, as well as an obviously high amount of bike-savvy hipsters. The store itself is a bit smaller than I would have imagined, however all the more packed with delicious looking high-quality track-bike parts. I got used to ordering stuff directly out of a catalogue or via an online-shop in the recent years, so it’s been a while since I got the “kid in a candy store” feeling in a bike-shop. The team is wonderful mix of personalities and bike-nuts, topped with a welcoming attitude!
If you are into track-bikes and you’re in the Kansai area you really should give those guys a visit! Some people just come by the store to hang out for a while and get in touch with fellow riders. I mean, that’s what I did on the weekend! I just wish they would have the room for a tiny coffee-bar in the corner, so I’d be able to socialize and sip an espresso!

On sunday night I paid a visit to one of my favorite bicycle-friendly bars in downtown Kyoto, Tricoh (pronounced in Katakana, to-ri-ko). We had a chat about the trouble of getting brakes, and I tried to get my Panasonic into the fixed focal-length of my camera. Here it is in all it’s refreshed frontal glory… I will get a side-shot soon!