Grand Bois components were developed for Japanese custom bicycles. (Click thumbnails for full-size images)

Much of today's cycling industry focuses on racing bikes, and few components are specifically designed for real-world performance riders, whether they are randonneurs, century riders or bicycle tourists. Riding classic cyclotouring bicycles, which were designed specifically for long, unsupported rides, has made us appreciate many classic components and solutions, which often work better for our purposes than modern, race-inspired parts.

Grand Bois in Japan has been selling classic cyclotouring bicycles for many years, but finding suitable components has been difficult. Together with input from Bicycle Quarterly magazine, Grand Bois has developed a range of components for their bikes, including:

• High-performance tires in useful widths for real roads, paved and unpaved.
• Classic handlebar shapes that provide multiple comfortable hand positions for long rides.
• Classic polished aluminum rims.

Originally intended only for their custom bicycles, these components now are available in North America through Vintage Bicycle Press.

We also have teamed up with Challenge to bring back wide handmade clincher tires similar to those enjoyed by the French randonneurs of the 1930s-1950s. Recently, we have added SKF bottom brackets to our line, which were designed from the ground up by the international leaders in bearing technology to provide a decade or more of maintenance-free service.

We sometimes offer hard-to-find New-Old-Stock (NOS) classic components, such as Mavic MA-2 rims or Mitsuboshi 650B tires, in limited quantities.

Vintage Bicycle Press' main focus is publishing Bicycle Quarterly and cycling books. However, the cycling components we import fill a real need in the marketplace, rather than compete with existing products. Therefore, we have decided to make them available in North America.

Click on the links above to learn more about these components.

We also wholesale these products to bicycle shops, so you can ask your favorite shop to order them for you. Check out our components at these fine shops.

SKF Bottom Brackets

Grand Bois and Challenge Tires

Handlebars, Fenders, Rims, Hubs, Bike Stands