"Over Drive" - Road Cycling, Anime Style

It might surprise you that I have interests outside the world of cycling. Shocking, I know. One of them is Japanese animation, or anime.

I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose, that someone created an anime centering on road cycling & racing. There's anime on just about every subject out there: History, martial arts, spaceships, robots, racing cars, tennis... Why not teenage angst + cycling? You see, in Japan, animation is given the same respect and leeway as live action, so there are many different types of anime; just because a show or movie is animated, doesn't mean it's intended for kids.

In the first episode (Boy Meets Bicycle, Part 1) of Over Drive, we meet high school freshman Mikoto Shinozaki during his first week at his new school. He's an artist, a bit of a slob & a klutz, and half in love with Yuki Fukazawa, a very pretty classmate. She encourages him to join the cycling club as a way of changing himself and improving his image.

The problem is Mikoto can't even ride a bicycle, and protests that he has no athletic ability. Still, to impress the girl of his dreams, he's going to learn the sport.

Here's an action sequence, the second part of three, from episode 18:


You can find all 26 episodes on YouTube user dansam39's channel or episodes 15 - 21 on percom132's channel.

Finally! Something that combines two of my obsessions, anime and road cycling.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Bike Films on the Web

I'd like to thank Bike Snob NYC for calling several cycling related films to my attention, either directly or through exploring links on his blog. Seriously dude, you rock.

Beyond the Peloton - A look at Cervelo TestTeam's journey through the 2009 season. From an explaination of Cervelo's roots, through the spring classics, and all the way through the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. This film is particularly cool because it was filmed by a couple guys who work at Cervelo's warehouse. Cool gig!

Pedaling: NYC - A series of shorts involving people, food, wine, beer, and riding in New York City. Of the two episodes that are up, the first involves a couple bicycle-commuting chefs looking to create the perfect local ingrediant pizza and the second has two professional women racers looking for a sweet Belgian waffle, New York sidewalk-cart style.

Empire Begins - A work-in-progress about messangers riding fixies in often dangerous ways in New York City. Apparently it's been in production for a few years and who knows when it will be finished. You can learn more at empirebegins.com.

If you know of other films I should be checking out, shoot me a comment. I mean, besdes Quicksilver, Breaking Away, and American Flyers.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Specialized Films - Outlaw in Lycra

I found this a few years ago when someone in my college cycling club shot everyone else an e-mail link. It was a huge source of amusement and prompted us to swap many 'bike vs. car' stories over pasta and beer at Noodles & Co. late at night when we were supposed to be conducting club business.



Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Specialized Films - A Christmas Card

A few years ago, Specialized sent out a virtual holiday card. So? Lots of companies send customers and vendors Christmas cards. This card played the Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, entirely on bicycle parts.



Happy Christmahannukwanzaka, and a Merry Festivus!