10 Second Anime - Yowamushi Pedal - Episode 4

Yowamushi Pedal - Episode 4

New character from Osaka comes to Chiba: Sprinter Naruko Shoukichi. Don't disrespect bikes in his presence, even if you're driving a flashy yellow car with an awesome spoiler.

Onoda makes a new friend while touring Akihabara, and immediately loans him 1000 yen (10 bucks) to buy a red mecha model. Naruko Shoukichi from Osaka likes red, bikes, and riding fast. He also knows what an otaku is supposed to look like: wearing glasses and a backpack. Onoda gets stereotyped, even if it is accurate.

Naruko can also tell when a bike has a good companion, as he notices how well-worn Onoda's bike is, but still in good working order. Since Naruko is no otaku, he has no reservations about talking to a tough guy about how cool he thinks his car is. But the tough makes the mistake of throwing his cigarette at Onoda's bike, and Naruko gets pissed off. Onoda gets him to calm down by offering to ride home together. Nice Pinarello he's got there.

Chance smiles on Naruko's thirst for revenge, as they spy the same yellow car on the street they want to take home. Ha! He saved the cigarette butt to give it back to the tough guy, but they have to catch him first. Oh, and if you're going to ride in the street, wear a helmet. Safety first! Onoda shows off his cadence to keep pace with Naruko, but when they need to go faster, he's run out of gears, only having one in the rear and one chain ring. Or does he?

If you've been paying attention to the bikes as much as the rest of the story, you would have noticed a double chain ring and derailleur on Onoda's bike from the beginning of the episode. The Kanzaki's added something to his bike "to use when he needed it." Naruko notices it and teaches Onoda how to shift with his left hand. Zoom! But then they have to cross a bridge with no shelter from a cross-wind. No problem. Naruko the sprinter has been training in wind for years to make sure he can form a good lead-out train. Go, go Onoda! Oh, he's having too much fun beating a car that he forgets to toss the cigarette butt back in the car. That's okay.

This week's cycling porn is all about Shimano.

Osaka is home to a few bicycle frame and component manufacturers, most famous among them is Shimano. It even looks like Onoda's new double chain ring is a Shimano of some sort, probably a 105, but I wouldn't be surprised if Kanzaki stuck an Ultegra on there. 105 components are built like bricks. You really have to do something extraordinary to wear them out or damage them. Seems perfect for slowly dragging Onoda onto a real road bike.