Rinkai!, Episode 2: A New Dream in Hot Pursuit!

Track cycling becomes Izumi’s new world after a cryptic letter and a chat with the candy store lady.

Episode 2 — “The Courage to Take the Step”

Hmm.

The second Rinkai! episode contained top-notch advice on life and careers. Advice like: You don’t have to become a celebrity. Or: You also shouldn’t go to college if you don’t have a path in mind. And evergreen tips: It’s better to learn things to use them and not just to know them. If you follow such advice, then the cycling equivalents of Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi might reveal their identities and teach you the way of the rollers and fixed-gear bikes. Feel the heaviness flow through your legs, Izumi-chan!

Heh.

Izumi talks about life and career path decisions with Dagashi Obachan in Rinkai!. The candy store lady made a sports psychology observation about Izumi: the mountain bike rider does not own a competitive streak against others. Odd. How does a snack store owner know to assess such things? Dagashi Obachan’s advice? Decide if you have the determination to follow your path. Otherwise, college is the place to find your identity if you haven’t already.

Ha. Hah! Tsutsuji Kurume is standing right there! Where did she pop out of? And she calls Dagashi Obachan “Master.” Does Rinkai! have a secret cycling goddess in our midst? Aha. Tsutsuji’s letter was meant for her “master” to train Izumi to pass the track cycling qualification exams. Such a sneaky world champion.

Nice. Izumi’s sister went to college to come back and run the family hot spring inn. She didn’t go to university in Tokyo to stay there. That Izu Ito Onsen looks snazzy, all right. Izumi has decided — she wants to ride bikes with her friends. Riding a bicycle can take you all over the world. Even when you only go in circles around a 400-meter oval.

Rinkai! Reveals Dagashi Store Secrets

Now, Izumi. Enter the secret world behind the candy store. It’s the Death Star of track cycling! Rinkai! reminds me of Birdie Wing. Track bikes are different from road bikes besides the lack of brakes and only using one cog instead of many attached to a freewheel hub. The rear wheel slots out the rear instead of below. Oh. Dagashi tells Izumi to pedal for 200 meters because that’s half the track and the distance for the Individual Sprint event. Woof. Heavy gear for a standing start. That’s why sprinters have huge thighs and shoulders. Izumi is talented! I would have fallen over on my first try at a pedal stroke on rollers.

Dagashi is happy with Izumi’s time of 26.55s. For context, the men’s world record is 9.100s, and the women’s is 10.154s. Hold on. When did we learn that “Dagashi’s” name is Sono? Ha! Dagashi’s son isn’t a layabout! And what are all these trophies and pictures about? He’s a pro cyclist! Rinkai! has turned Izumi’s world upside down. “Dagashi” Sono Kouraku was a women’s champion before their league disbanded in 1964. Hahaha! Izumi’s parents are surprised their daughter didn’t know about Sono’s past. Didn’t everyone already know? They also support their crazy MTB girl pursuing a pro cycling career. The parents even know Sono trained the current world champions! This 88-year-old lady is way more tech-savvy than her peers. Tsutsuji remembers begging the former Japanese prize queen to train her. It worked out!

Rinkai! Racetrack Reunion

Izumi can reunite with her cycling friends now. She’s also in training mode under the Kasuga System. They have T-shirts. But the track summer camp at the Ito Hot Spring Keirin will be a fun reunion for the Rinkai! girls. Ojousama Sachi learned how to use bank cards for the first time! The young ones are doing adult things now, but that’s regular business for Kinusa. New friends from all over Japan! Their last names belong to the cities of their “home banks.” Fun! Ai Kumamoto is famous for her high school career. Of one year! Inspiring. Remu pays the training camp a visit. They also call her “world champion,” so now I wonder what event Remu and Tsutsuji won in Glasgow. Was it a relay, team pursuit, or doubles sprint?

Here we go. A sudden storm and a wet track are the conditions to introduce Izumi’s future best friend and rival. The somehow famous Nana Hiratsuka. And she only has eyes for Izumi! Why? Find out next time!

Hey, Rinkai! has the official ending theme now. The friends have pairs, which makes me think how the relay or doubles matches will happen. The voice actors made a funny big deal out of Nana finally voicing a line. “Remember to watch.” Okay!

Thank you for reading this episode review of Rinkai!. Are you as happy as I am to see the track cycling action up close? Izumi had well-defined thighs, but what about the other girls? When do we see Kinusa’s muscles? Which girl do you want to see pumping her thighs on a small saddle? Let us know in the comments below.

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