I was (re)reading some Yowamushi Pedal (any fans here?) over breakfast this morning and was (once again) moved by these few pages, which are meant to be read from right-to-left.
Many people who get into cycling in a post-childhood stage end up with very different primary reasons/ways to ride. But almost all of us started from the same place: The bike as an instrument of fun. I think these images and words (nodding at Dream Theater) illustrate this concept beautifully.
On a side note, I think anyone who loves cycling, manga fan or not, would get tremendous enjoyment from reading Yowamushi Pedal. The attention to detail in every illustration is a letter of love to cycling and the bicycle.
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Especially loved the character development of Akira Midousuji, who was initially portrayed as the counterpoint to protagonist, Sakamichi Onoda. As the series evolved, so did Midousuji’s and we learnt of his growing up years, which fuelled his primal need to do well in cycling.
That and how Onoda often sings, “Hime, hime, hime” to motivate himself in especially challenging stages…
Thank you for your reply. I admit I skipped some of it because it’s been a while since I’ve done a big re-read of the series (and have never made it past volume 9…which I guess is really 18 since in the US each volume contains two of the original Japanese volumes). I’m currently still in the early stages of rereading everything, and have ordered volumes 11-20 so that I can read further than ever.
But! I do remember when Imaizumi is racing Midousuji in the Inter-high championship races, there are a huge amount of pages devoted to filling us in on Midousuji’s childhood and helping us understand why he behaves the way he does.
I enjoyed that, because I’ve had similar experiences in real life, riding with cyclists whom at first really annoyed me, but then I got to really know them (not just ‘a couple of group rides together’ know them) both through riding with them more and spending time with them in non-cycling environments, and realizing that they are so much more than what my initial perception of them was through my interpretation of their on-bike persona.
And I love how Onoda sings. I am frequently happily embarrassed on my rides when I break out in song (anything from Elton John to Alice in Chains to Opeth to Pocahontas) on some lonely country road and hear applause and 'Good morning!'s coming from an old timer or two chilling on their front porch.
Funny how riding can reveal so much about a person’s personality and character. I used to hate having other riders ride pass - this was when I was in my early teens - and would always ride harder, but often without proper technique and a plan, and would explode in a few minutes. These days, you see more people riding, and it’s amazing how that growth in ridership has also introduced a certain camaraderie among strangers. A nod, a shared pain (when chasing down PRs), a look of acknowledgement.
The beauty of Yowamushi Pedal, is the broader theme of shared experience and camaraderie borne through a shared appreciation for riding. A trope within the shonen genra of manga, the “villain” that is Midousuji turns out to be not too much of one, when you understand his motivations and history. I’m assuming you might not have finished the manga, so won’t spoil it for you.
Happy reading!