{"id":197205,"date":"2024-11-13T15:29:37","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T15:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=197205"},"modified":"2024-11-26T10:35:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T10:35:52","slug":"my-life-with-tokyobike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2024\/11\/13\/my-life-with-tokyobike\/","title":{"rendered":"My Life with \u2018tokyobike\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

It all began on a vacation in Bangkok when V\u00e1clav Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd visited a tokyobike caf\u00e9 with his wife. “At first, I thought it was just a concept by some local hipsters,” Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd from Prague, Czechia, recalls. “But then I did some research and realised <\/strong>tokyobike<\/strong>\u00a0was actually a Japanese brand with shops in London, Berlin, Milan, and even a pop-up in New York\u2019s SoHo.” The minimalist design and colourful aesthetic of tokyobike fascinated him, sparking a realisation: This is what Prague needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

At 46, Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd is a busy man. “I juggle a lot of projects,” he says with a smile. “You could say I\u2019m a bit of an expert in transportation \u2013 I\u2019ve spent the past 16 years working for a Czech company selling and managing business jets.” But ten years ago, Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd’s path took an unexpected turn when he stumbled upon a bicycle that changed his life.<\/p>\n

\"Vaclav<\/a>
The minimalist design and colourful aesthetic of tokyobike fascinated Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAt the time, I was looking for a bike for getting around the city, and here was this stylish, beautifully crafted bike. The simplicity of the design, the colours \u2013 everything just clicked.\u201d Within a few weeks, Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd’s idea was cemented: he had to bring these bikes to Prague.<\/p>\n

Back in Prague, he rallied a few friends around his idea and they travelled to Berlin where they visited a tokyobike<\/a> shop, took the bikes for a spin, and decided they had to bring one home. \u201cWe literally withdrew cash from an ATM and bought a bike to bring back with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

An email to the unknown<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd\u2019s relationship with tokyobike headquarters began with a simple email he sent directly to the brand\u2019s founder, Ichiro Kanai, hoping to connect with the people behind the product he admired. “To my surprise, I received a reply from Kanai’s manager, Fuyuki, and we quickly agreed on collaboration,” he explains.<\/p>\n

By April 2015, V\u00e1clav and his friends opened their first tokyobike shop in Prague \u2013 a small basement space that they managed to turn into a welcoming, stylish corner for cycling lovers.<\/p>\n

The reception was mixed but enthusiastic. “People fall into two groups,” Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd explains. “Some think we\u2019re selling refurbished old bikes but for others, it\u2019s a love brand. They ride the bike, do a lap around the block, and come back smiling. They experience firsthand the unique handling and the pure joy of riding.” The design of tokyobike, with its 26″ wheels, provides a nimble and responsive ride ideal for city cycling. “The smaller wheels allow for quick acceleration at intersections and make it easy to manoeuvre through tight city traffic,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Another key advantage is their low maintenance. “Modern bikes are often packed with technology, which means constant upkeep. Tokyobike, on the other hand, is beautifully simple \u2013 no disc brakes, no suspension, just a solid, straightforward bike. My wife has had hers for eight years, and it still looks brand new. For many people, that simplicity is incredibly appealing.”<\/p>\n

\"tokyobike\"<\/a>
The shop in Prague.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The tokyobike community<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd\u2019s tokyobike shop has become a hub for bike lovers where they can also find authentic Japanese accessories like handcrafted grips, pedals, and Nishiguchi Kutsushita socks. \u201cWe even carry Evolg gloves, so you can use your smartphone without taking them off,\u201d he adds with a grin.<\/p>\n

When asked about his customers, Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd laughs, \u201cAt first, I created these ideal customer profiles but to my surprise, we attract everyone \u2013 from parents and local politicians to journalists and professionals who want a stylish, practical bike for commuting.\u201d<\/p>\n

In love with cycling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Despite his success, Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd never set out to open a bike shop. “I studied photography in the U.S. and thought I\u2019d make a living with my camera,” he says. Yet his passion for cycling led him in a different direction. \u201cBack in 1995, I volunteered at the European Mountain Bike Championship in \u0160pindler\u016fv Ml\u00fdn, setting up tracks and working as a course marshal. After that, I started helping organise bike races.\u201d<\/p>\n

These days, Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd uses his yellow tokyobike to zip around Prague. “I hate walking,” he admits. “If I need to get somewhere, I just jump on my bike.” He even takes his tokyobike on family vacations, as long as they\u2019re not heading to mountainous areas.<\/p>\n

Visiting Tokyo? Hopefully one day<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Interestingly, Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd hasn\u2019t yet been to Japan but it\u2019s on his list. “I\u2019m saving up for a trip,” he says, “especially with our ten-year anniversary coming up.”<\/p>\n

Meeting the tokyobike team was memorable. “When they visited Prague for the first time in 2015, I proudly showed them our shop,\u201d Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd recalls. \u201cBut Fuyuki, their manager, was acting strangely. I asked if something was wrong, and he said everything was fine. Later, after a couple of beers, he admitted he\u2019s claustrophobic and thought he was going to die in our basement shop!\u201d he laughs.<\/p>\n

Despite the challenges, Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd\u2019s passion remains strong. \u201cTokyobike\u2019s headquarters check in from time to time but I love what I do,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s not a huge business. I sell city bikes in a city with a challenging cycling culture and there are always struggles but that\u2019s part of the job.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It all began on a vacation in Bangkok when V\u00e1clav Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd visited a tokyobike caf\u00e9 with his wife. “At first, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":197209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8162,330],"tags":[8139,8138,2865,8140],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-197205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explore-and-travel","category-urban-cycling","tag-city-bikes","tag-tokyobike","tag-urban-cycling","tag-vaclav-stransky","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nMy Life with \u2018tokyobike\u2019 - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It all began on a vacation in Bangkok when V\u00e1clav Str\u00e1nsk\u00fd visited a tokyobike caf\u00e9 with his wife. 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