That is a picture of Aze in his fifth year of bike messengering, hung on the restroom wall of the Hatagaya Store.

Aze just posted a very passionate blog about Ritchey a few days ago. It’s was very interesting to read, since Aze is not a man with many words.

On a personal note, this blog post by Surly was also really good.

Full Metal Circle: A Steamroller Story

They wrote about the Steamroller, which is their single speed frame that they released in the year 2000. The model made a comeback on June 23rd 2026 with this blog post, sharing some stories of how it was born.

*SURLY* steamroller frame&fork set (anxious lavender)

I think I first learned about it about nine years later. Around 2009, when I was fascinated by brown steamrollers and fixed-gear bikes, that was the frame I really wanted. But financially, as a student, I could only afford the FUJI TRACK I bought with money I’d saved from my part-time job.

Even now, it’s still really cool, and I honestly wish I could get one if I could.

*SURLY* steamroller (53)

Since we wanted you to actually see and ride it, the Hatagaya store already has a complete bike ready to go. To borrow Surly’s own words, it’s one of the brand’s “Legacy Bikes.”

(You can view the “Legacy Bikes” section and an archive of past models on Surly’s official website.)

And it’s not just a simple revival, it’s a comeback complete with brake cable guides.

*SURLY* midnight special frame (stainless teal)

I also would like to introduce the latest color of the Midnight Special. We got these in stores and have them listed online already.

From road bike builds using 700c wheels to gravel and off-road rides with 650B wheels, its versatile design accommodates a wide range of setups. Before you know it, it’s been competing for the top spot in terms of customer demand among Surly models.

Speaking of the Midnight Special, I’d like to wrap up the post by mentioning two cool gentlemen who visited our shop the other day on a bike trip from Portland, a city known for its high cycling culture.

The man who’s wearing the tank top with Japanese text “Shirangana” = “Who gives a F” is riding his Surly Ogre.

The old Fabs’s chest made by Swift Industries, the Old Man Mountain Elkhorn Short Rack on the front and back is a clean set up.

The bike with Donpen-kun, Rokkaku-kun, sushi, Itsukushima Shrine, a Monster Ball, and a Gengar drawings is the Midnight Special. He started his trip to Japan with a completely blank frame and enjoyed drawing on it himself as he traveled.

I didn’t take a photo of it, but on the non-drive side, he apparently collected the names and messages of people he met along the way, creating a sort of “sign-in book” style. They were saying “Japan is the best, and Blue Lug is the best!!!” but I want to tell them that you’re the absolute best.

It looks like the rain season is finally ending in Japan. More time for riding, finally.

– Chuyan