[Video] Crank: Wheels on Shared Ground
How do you mix cultures? Especially two that, deep down, many people believe aren’t meant to coexist?
Bikes and cars sit on opposite sides of more than a few heated debates. They each carry their own distinct culture, their own codes, their own tensions, and yet, in many ways, they’re strikingly similar. Riding or driving with your friends on a Sunday, customizing your machine to reflect who you are, showing up to events, and meeting others who share the same passion. It’s all there, on both sides.
The truth is, we have far more in common than we tend to admit. Maybe bringing these two worlds together, creating space for them to see what connects rather than what divides, could shift something. Maybe it could even lead to a better understanding of how we all share the road.
It started with a simple observation. Doi-San, who runs Boost Workshop, has been merging his love for cars and bikes for a few years now. Originally focused on custom car parts, he gradually brought his expertise in anodizing, powder coating, and overall customization into the world of cycling.
Custom-colored components have always had a place in cycling, especially within fixed-gear culture, so the crossover feels almost inevitable. If you can polish and finish car parts to perfection, applying that same craft to bike components isn’t much of a leap.
This simple crossover in “custom culture” became the starting point for what is now known as “Crank.” A car show, a bike show, a gymkhana training course, and a criterium race, all brought together in one place. An event designed to mix communities that might observe each other from a distance but rarely come together to build something shared.
And while it sounds like a great idea, the reality is far more complex. The level of organization and the challenges that come with it are massive. How do you handle insurance? How do you design a space where both bike and car courses are visible yet separated enough to eliminate risk? What happens if someone crashes during the crit and their bike slides into a six-figure car sitting on display?
Space and safety become everything, where managing flow, distance, and risk aren't just important; they're essential. And honestly, if you ask me, I’m not sure I would’ve ever had the nerve to even consider putting something like this together. But someone did!
Even with all these challenges, Doi-San made this first edition happen in Osaka, and it went flawlessly! But the best part, is that people actually mixed. They asked questions, shared perspectives, and got into the why and how behind each other’s builds. Conversations started forming around customization, around process, around how far you can push an idea when you borrow from another world.
When I spoke with Doi-San and a few others to ask about their impression of this first edition, this is what I got:
”There is definitely space for growth and improvement. We could probably fit double the number of cars next time and design a more complex criterium course. Obviously, there could be more sponsors and attendees, but what’s really exciting is the idea of people preparing special projects together, pairing cars and bicycles leading up to the event. Matching custom-painted builds, limited batches of automotive-inspired bike parts… the possibilities are endless.”
On a more personal note, Go and I are both massive bike and car nerds. Yes, we’re just boys, and boys tend to like things with wheels, and that’s really all there is to it. We had a blast at this event, full of great encounters and a lot of eye candy.
At the same time, we couldn’t help but notice the contrast between both worlds. The cycling industry seems to be struggling year after year, with brands and sponsors forced to make cuts wherever they can. On the other side, there are the almost unimaginable amounts of money flowing into motorsport, boutique car brands, and automotive culture in general.
I’m not saying we need to become best friends with the automotive world. But there’s probably a lot of room for interesting, unexpected collaborations and projects that bring both sides together in a meaningful way. And maybe, in doing so, we could make cohabitation on the road just a little bit smoother.
That Prius stole the show!
🎥: @fumikirigang /@_3l05
📷: Paul (Nikon F100)
📍: Osaka
