CHAPTER 2
Meeting an Old Friend
*Saturday
The day of Vinny's friends to buy their own fixed gear, we see Vinny texting in their group chat
(Japanese)(Vinny)
/where should we meet up?
(Japanese)(Kuro)
/I think it best to meet at the bike shop to save some time, we would also like for you to teach us more about how to ride fixed gears bike, there's this one time that I almost got hit by a car because I don't know how to stop HAHAHA
(Japanese)(Vinny)
/yeah I think I should, well I know this one shop that close to us and I know the owner and I recommend this shop they got a good quality equipment and bikes parts and all
(Japanese)(Haruto)
/yeah yeah let's go there then, sounds classy
(Japanese)(Shin)
/what do you mean classy anyways?
(Japanese)(Kuro)
/what's the name of the shop tho?
(Japanese)(Kuro)
/fixura, they also made an insta account you can look it up, anyways I will just get ready see you guys later
(Japanese)(The 3)
/see you everyone!!
The four of them get ready to head out while the others take the bus or train our leading man is or as always takes he's fixed gear.
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"I think I will practice my sprinting while going to the shop"
Vinny then speed up he's pacing, while Vinny is sprinting we see another cyclist going at same speed as Vinny
(Japanese)(Ren)
"fancy meeting you here of all places old friend"
Vinny shocked because of the cyclist and stop he's bike using skidding and the other cyclist also stops using this method but rather in a unique way.
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"Ren is that you?"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"The one and only"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"I've heard that you and your family run a bike shop now for a family business, Brotures is it?"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"That's right, it's been a year since we open the shop, by the way how's everyone back at UK?"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"Well their fine and doing good, I'm guessing there still practicing as usual and I've heard they will go here in Japan I just don't exactly know when"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"Really? Sweet, by the way where are you going?"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"Glad you ask I was just about to go to your shop with my new friends that I made back at school"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"really? Then let's go, let's race going there you good with that?"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"yeah let's do it"
The two of them set of to go to Ren's family shop, they both race each other speeding up, the two of them see a corner or a alley way that they need to coast, a little knowledge fixed gear have no brakes and the pedals cannot stop and also using fixed gear you cannot coast at good as using roadbike's or mountain bikes but with enough skills you can maneuver fixed gear now back to the story, Ren use drifting method to cornering while stopping the pedals to stop wheels while Vinny use Inertia Drift, they both sees the shop and 3 people outside of the shop
(Japanese)(Ren)
"are those your friends, let's show them some freestyle"
The two of the speed up even more for the lose of speed because of using the drifting technique earlier
(Japanese)(Haruto)
"where is vinny?
(Japanese)(Shin)
"still no update Kuro?"
(Japanese)(Kuro)
"None at the moment"
(Japanese)(Haruto)
"wait is that Vinny? Who's with him?"
Both Ren and Vinny use long skid then fish and chips doing a 360 turn before track standing
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"sorry guys I'm late I've met an old friend of mine on the way here, everyone this Ren, Ren this is Haruto, Shin, Kuro"
(Japanese)(Kuro)
"Nice to meet ya"
(Japanese)(Shin)
"Nice to meet you"
(Japanese)(Haruto)
"Nice to meet you, nice driving skills"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"Nice to meet you all, and thanks I've practice since I was young, I've heard from Vinny that you guys are gonna buy your very own first fixed gear bike, is that true?"
(Japanese)(Kuro)
"Yeah we also building a crew you can join us if you want hehehe"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"A crew huh, I will think about it let's head first inside, by the way this is our shop or my family's shop, I sometimes work part time here"
(Japanese)(Haruto)
"Wait what this is your family's business!? No freaking way that's cool men"
While they heading inside, they chatted and talk about themselves while Ren bringing them some types of fixie.
(Japanese)(Ren)
"hahaha, thank you, thank you, by the way how did you guys befriend with Vinny, no offense Vinny but your not that kind of guy who will make the first move to befriend someone"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"Ouch? Well their the one's who ask me to be part of their crew and school club"
(Japanese)(Shin)
"Yeah we are, we figure that Vinny is kind of a loner like me so we make the first move, and also because Kuro saw Vinny ride a fixie on the way to school so he figure he can join us and build a club"
(Japanese)(Kuro)
"Yes sir, I saw Vinny speeding through the streets and it's so cool to watch"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"I figured you guys will say that, Vinny does have some crazy moves, he's our captain after all, without him we will might not have win the street race league back at UK"
(Japanese)(Haruto)
"Wait what!? You also go to UK, and also a league of street race!?"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"well yeah I've lived in UK since I was 9 and coming back here in Japan for a couple of time then we figure to settle here in Japan and build a business, for the race we are 6 in total members, I guess you can say that we are kind of popular in UK fixed gear world, we often got called the prodigies, not to brag but we also got called to become a professional cyclist back in the days, but we always declined because we don't really care being pro well me and Vinny that is but the others there are already pro or in the pro league cycling"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"enough with the backstory, I will explain and give you guys some tips on picking a bike, first of all for the sprinter, choice an aerodynamic frame set that your comfortable with I will personally customize your bike after but before that go to Ren for measurements , for support I suggest go with like mine it's light, little aerodynamic and easy to deal with, and same goes for the climber but the ratio will be a little different from the rest of us same goes for the sprinter but for now let's focus on easy ration to practice"
The 3 of them take Vinny's advice and pick their bike's(the bike will be reveal for the next chapter) they also go for Ren for measurement's (Cycling knowledge: This is why you need to have a measurement for your body and bike to match, first is Efficiency and Performance proper bike fitting ensures your pedaling power transfers efficiently to the bike. Second is Injury Prevention incorrect positioning can cause knee pain, lower back strain, numbness in hands or feet, and even long-term injuries. Third is Comfort a bike that matches your body allows longer, smoother rides without unnecessary discomfort. And lastly is Control and Safety for fixed gear riders, balance and control are everything since there are no gears or freewheel. Customization to Riding Style track riders, commuters, and trick riders all have different needs. Bike and body measurements align power, comfort, and safety. For fixed gear riders, where pedaling never stops, getting this balance right is even more important.)
We then see Vinny go closer to Ren
(Japanese)(Ren)
"Ren I need to talk to you in private"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"alright"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"everyone I need to talk to Ren in private wait for us here inside"
(Japanese)(The 3)
"alright take your time guys"
While the 3 of them enjoying and worshiping their bikes we will go now to Vinny and Ren outside of the shop
(Japanese)(Ren)
"so you want to talk about the others right?"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"yeah, I don't have time to open my account or read your messages, I'm busy with my novel and organizing my apartment, and also my training or practice with my bike so yeah"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"it's okay we understand, well there doing fine don't worry ______ already know this will happen so yeah, he also told me to tell you that they will be here around January or February something like that."
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"oh alright, good to know that they are doing fine, by the way where do you study tho?"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"I study at Shinseku Academy"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"oh the school that also near mine huh"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"yep"
(Japanese)(Vinny)
"well we should really get going I still have a deadline to finish that novel"
(Japanese)(Ren)
"sure thing goodluck bro"
Vinny then called out the 3 friends and ask them to move out now and told them that they will have a practice in the upcoming Saturday and Ren will also be joining them to teach them a thing or 2.
To be continue...