CUSTOM TRACK BICYCLE: THE SUZUME

The Suzume custom Track Bicycle represents the perfect marriage of traditional Japanese track frame aesthetics and modern custom craftsmanship. Built by Eric Estlund at Winter Bicycles, this bespoke track bicycle takes its name from the Japanese word for “sparrow,” reflecting its light, agile nature while paying homage to classic Japanese frame building with several distinctive contemporary elements.
Design Philosophy and Japanese Influence

Traditional Craftsmanship Meets Contemporary Innovation
The Suzume track bicycle embodies Japanese keirin racing heritage through its double-butted chrome moly steel frame and NJS-inspired 74.5° head tube angle, yet modernizes tradition with TIG-welded joints and 28mm Challenge Elite Open Tubular tire clearance14. While classic keirin machines prioritized rigidity, this custom track bicycle incorporates aerospace-grade Curtis Odom “Holey” hubs and Sapim CX-Ray spokes-reducing rotational mass by 12% compared to traditional 36-spoke wheels36.
Transitional components like the Sugino 75 crankset and Suzue hub bridge eras, their cold-forged aluminum construction mirroring Showa-era craftsmanship alongside the Campagnolo Centaur bottom bracket’s sealed bearing efficiency25. The Nitto B125AA bullhorns’ 38cm width maintains vintage proportions, yet the Winter Custom stem’s -7° rise accommodates modern sprinting postures-a deliberate synthesis of form and function78.
Material Selection and Cultural Symbolism
Every element of this custom track bicycle engages in material dialogue: the Izumi chain’s hardened steel links intersect with the Campagnolo bottom bracket’s titanium spindle, merging Japanese industrial rigor with European precision13. Laser-cut sparrow motifs on the seatstay caps and Velocity A23 rim’s wingbone-inspired lacing pattern transcend decoration-these 0.3mm-deep engravings reduce stress concentrations by 18% in FEA simulations46.
Contrastingly, the Selle San Marco Concor Supercorsa saddle’s perforated leather nods to 1970s Milano-San Remo racers while the Nitto Jaguar seatpost’s 2014-T6 aluminum alloy reflects contemporary metallurgy25. At 8.6kg, the build demonstrates how Suzue’s nickel-plated hub shells and hollow axle designs achieve keirin-level durability without NJS-mandated mass penalties78.

Technical Specifications and Component Analysis
Frame and Fork Geometry
The Suzume’s double-butted chromoly steel frame employs TIG-welded joints with 0.8-1.2mm wall thickness, achieving a 1,450g frame weight while maintaining NJS-derived 74.5° head tube geometry13. Winter Bicycles’ proprietary fork pairs this with a 43mm rake and 28mm tire clearance, balancing track responsiveness with urban adaptability1012. Transitionally, the Cane Creek 110 headset’s 36×45° angular contact bearings reduce rotational friction by 18% compared to standard cup-and-cone designs5, ensuring precise steering input transmission.
Drivetrain Efficiency
Power transfer begins with the Sugino 75 crankset’s 144mm BCD and 48T cold-forged chainring, which distributes pedal forces across 7075-T6 aluminum arms rated for 9,500N static load1. Paired with the Campagnolo Centaur bottom bracket’s hollow titanium spindle, this custom track bicycle achieves a 42mm chainline within ±0.25mm tolerance219. The Suzue Pro Max SB hub’s 10mm slotted axle-unlike traditional 9mm track axles-increases lateral stiffness by 22% under sprint loads. The Izumi Jet chain’s oxide coating reduces friction losses by 15% versus uncoated alternatives3.

Wheelset Dynamics
Velocity A23 rims utilize 23mm-wide 6061-T6 alloy profiles, their 19.5mm height optimizing aerodynamics for 25-28mm Challenge Elite Open Tubular tires1012. Sapim CX-Ray spokes’ 2.3×0.9mm aero blading reduces wind drag by 8% compared to round spokes, while the 2:1 lacing pattern on Curtis Odom hubs enhances torsional rigidity by 30%1113. This configuration yields a 1,550g wheelset-12% lighter than traditional 36-spoke track builds-without compromising impact resistance410.
Control Interface Components
Nitto B125AA handlebars provide 380mm width with 88mm reach, their 6061 aluminum construction dampening vibrations 40% more effectively than steel equivalents8. The Winter Custom stem’s -7° rise positions the rider’s center of gravity 15mm forward versus flat stems. Resulting in, improving sprint leverage13. Complementing this, the Selle San Marco Concor Supercorsa saddle’s magnesium rails and perforated leather reduce pressure points by 25% during sustained efforts913.
Riding Experience and Track Performance
Acceleration and Sprint Dynamics
The Suzume’s 48T Sugino 75 chainring and 170mm cranks deliver immediate power transfer. This results in, propelling this custom track bicycle from 0-40km/h in 12 pedal strokes on velodrome straights. Meanwhile, the Suzue hub’s 10T cog maintains chain tension within 1mm variance. This eliminates slip during 1,200W sprints. Consequently, the 8.6kg total mass feels neutrally balanced during attacks. This is aided by the Campagnolo bottom bracket’s titanium spindle reducing Q-factor to 146mm.

Cornering and Stability
Banked turns reveal the frame’s 74.5° head tube angle advantage-the front wheel responds to 0.5° handlebar inputs at 50km/h. However, the 28mm Challenge Elite tires’ 72psi optimal pressure absorbs 15% more lateral G-forces than 23mm counterparts. Additionally, Sapim CX-Ray spokes’ torsional rigidity prevents wheel flex during 60° lean angles. Additionally, the Curtis Odom hubs’ 2:1 lacing sustains 90kg radial loads without deformation.
Endurance and Vibration Damping
Chromoly steel’s natural compliance reduces road chatter by 40% compared to aluminum, allowing 3-hour criterium efforts with minimal hand fatigue. The Nitto Jaguar seatpost’s 27.2mm diameter further filters high-frequency vibrations. This complements the Selle San Marco saddle’s 12mm padding. Transitionally, Velocity rims’ 23mm width distributes tire contact pressure evenly. This enables the 28mm rubber to run 18psi lower than traditional track setups for urban comfort.
Custom Craftsmanship by Winter Bicycles

Framebuilding Philosophy and Artisan Techniques
Eric Estlund’s approach at Winter Bicycles merges artistic vision with engineering precision, evident in the Suzume’s TIG-welded chromoly steel frame that achieves sub-1.5mm weld consistency through proprietary heat management protocols. Transitionally, his bi-laminate head tube construction-a Winter Bicycles signature-combines laser-cut outer sleeves with internally butted tubing. This results in, reducing stress concentrations by 22% compared to traditional lugged designs. This custom track bicycle’s Curtis Odom hubs exemplify this duality. The CNC-machined “Holey” flanges referencing 1970s Japanese keirin aesthetics while achieving ISO 4210-6 impact resistance standards.
Material Innovation and Component Synergy
The Suzume’s drivetrain showcases Winter Bicycles’ component interoperability philosophy. This is demonstrated by, pairing Suzue’s nickel-plated track hub with a Campagnolo Centaur bottom bracket’s titanium spindle-a combination achieving 0.98% drivetrain efficiency loss at 120RPM615. Concurrently, the Nitto B125AA handlebars’ 6061-T6 alloy construction provides 40% vibration damping versus steel. This complements the Velocity A23 rim’s 19.5mm aero profile that reduces drag coefficients by 8%.
Finish Details and Performance Validation
Every Suzume undergoes Winter Bicycles’ four-stage alignment verification process, utilizing surface plates with ≤0.02mm/m flatness tolerance to ensure head tube/seat tube parallelism within ±0.1°511. Post-assembly, each custom track bicycle completes a 200km shakedown protocol across mixed terrain. Vibration sensors confirm the Sapim CX-Ray spokes’ 30Hz harmonic damping profile matches FEA simulations within 2% variance516.
![]() |
![]() |
We are an Amazon affiliate and earn from qualified Amazon purchases with no cost to you. This is for ANY product that you purchase through our links.
If you enjoyed learning about this week’s featured bicycle, don’t miss out on some cycling information you can use and enjoy! Visit our website at pacelinebikes.com Plus, check out our YouTube channel, Bicycle Restoration Man, for detailed restoration videos and showcases of our finished projects. Subscribe and join our community of bike enthusiasts!