Biking in Tokyo
Posted By Tynan
We finally bit the bullet and bought bikes. Not just any bikes, though, hilarious foldable ones.
They fold up pretty small and are light enough to carry around.
There’s a term here, “gaijin smash”, which is when a foreigner does something uncustomary or illegal but no one stops them because they’re all too polite here.
“Gaijin smash” also describes our driving style, pioneered by Todd. We fly around at top speed, weaving in between pedestrians on the sidewalk and cars on the street. We ride up and down the ramps next to stairs where everyone else pushes their bikes.
Thank god our bikes have little bells.
It’s a blast, except when we have to ride up the huge hill coming back from dinner, or when we are carrying backpacks full of groceries. When it rains we put on our rain gear and are the only people on the road/sidewalk.
We get our train passes next week and the plan is to bring the bikes on the train with us. We’ve been told that’s not how things work, but there’s always the gaijin smash.
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7 Comments, Comment or Ping
OBY
Haha nice… I saw one of those bikes here in Eugene Oregon… I thought it was pretty sweet.
What did it set you back over in Japan?
Apr 11th, 2008
elai
I can just imagine some manga making ‘gaijin smash’ a total superpower. GAAAAIIIJIIIINN SMMMMAAASSSH!
Apr 11th, 2008
Seduction Chronicles
Tynan, I can just imagine you riding through a stream of pedestrians and accidentally running into one falling on the ground and then turning to the Japanese guy and say with a bewildered look, “Umm…. Gaijin Smash brother. Gaijin Smash.” Roll your eyes, then get back on your bike and ride off.
hahah
Apr 11th, 2008
Nomadic
Hey. I LOVE the bike thing. I linked to your site because of the “nomadic” thing…..but it has actually entertained me hugely. One day you will have to show me how to write a proper blog - complete with bells and whistles…..
Your namesake, Nomadic x
Apr 12th, 2008
MG
Those bikes are pretty common in The Netherlands since folding them will make them easy to take them with you in a train, which is used a lot to commute over here.
I dare you to drive in Amsterdam as you do in Tokyo, it’s probably a different game altogether
Apr 13th, 2008
Yourfavoritepedicab
It sounds like you are undergoing good training for the driving of a pedicab, but can you hook a trailer to those things and tow a couple people! Gaijin Smash Cab Co. or better yet design a trailer that folds and become an international gypsy pedicab… you guys are geniuses…
enough pedicab talk
I am always happy to hear about bicycles but would love to see some action shots of this weavin in and out maybe even a movie bike messenger stylel; think about it.
Hoku
May 2nd, 2008
admin
Hey Hoku,
Unfortunately we lost our bikes. We had plans to take videos, too
I have a newfound respect for pedicabbers… those hills killed me.
Tynan
May 4th, 2008
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