Recap: The Bridge Bike Gang

Hello everyone! Happy Pokémon day! While it’s been a while since I first saw this episode, I thought I would share it with you all for the festivities today! Let’s open up “The Bridge Bike Gang!” 

We open on the narrator describes everyone getting past fond memories in the Safari Zone. Oh yes, fond memories of having guns pointed at their heads and trying to stop bombs!

Everyone happens upon a bridge to Sunny Town, and it turns out the Cycling Road is on it. Yet, it’s never referred to as such in the dub. Most likely because 4Kids didn’t know what it was. I wouldn’t put it past them; this is the same company that infamously claimed that Arbok evolved into Seviper.

The traffic cop, Norman, even points out that they can’t walk across the bridge. Only cars and bikes are allowed, even if it was completed. Misty laments her roasted bike, and everyone points out the massive cost of the bikes at the shop. I remember this part in the game. You had to get the bike voucher from the president of the fan club and exchange it back in Cerulean. Then, you could use the Cycling Road as an easier way of getting to Fuchsia City and the sea route to Cinnabar Island.

At the Pokémon Center, everyone wonders what to do. I would also like to point out the oddity of Nurse Joy’s interior design; which includes some off-model paintings of a Pidgeot, a Farfetch’d, a Gastly and a Haunter. That’s like something I would do for my place!

Brock, of course, is all too eager to to help Nurse Joy; and everyone agrees to deliver medicine for Pokémon in Sunny Town, and she just conveniently has some bikes to loan them. Everyone then crosses the bridge to the anime’s arrangement of the Cycling Road theme.

Team Rocket then looks on from a raft; and it turns out Jessie and James have some history in Sunny Town. Everyone stops on an observation deck for a drink; where they’re ambushed by the titular bike gang, who would not be out of place among Schumacher-helmed Batman punks; or better yet, the Jokerz gang in Batman Beyond. 

As it turns out, these folks combine the biker trainer class from the games with the real-life “bowzock” punks in Japan. Their leaders, Chopper and Tyra; demand a battle as introduction. Their bikes have all sorts of flashy modifications on them; and they’re all dressed in varying degrees of leather, hair dye; and ‘90s street fashions. Brock tries to hit on Tyra, and Tyra hits him instead!

Ash engages Chopper, who sends out Golem. He counters with Bulbasaur, who should technically be doing double damage against Golem, but is not even denting him. Then, he uses Charmander, with half damage, wins the fight. Oh, the hilarity of Kanto; being so ludicrous and awesome that the time just gives it a free pass to do what it wants.

Tyra then sends out Cloyster; and Misty decides to engage it, but Psyduck pops out. What follows is one of my favorite comedic fights in Kanto, and possibly the entire series. His bumbling manages to hit every area except the one where it counts, the head.

Then, Team Rocket comes riding in on unicycles. I don’t know, I’m more of one for mono wheels, like the ones Ray Steam and General Grievous use.

It turns out that Jessie and James were once part of the biker gang; known as “Big Jess” and “Little Jim”. They have yet more names, “Chainer Jess,” who swung a chain around; and “Trainer Jim,” who had training wheels on his bike as he rode around in a quasi-Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure getup.

Officer Jenny and some backup chase everyone away; as everyone continues towards Sunny Town with the rain falling down. I guess the wanted meter wasn’t all that high.Then, Ash, Brock, Misty and Pikachu are riding the storm out, as foretold by REO Speedwagon. 

Chopper, Tyra, and the other gangsters encourage Jessie and James to ride in the storm; as well as Meowth. The Nurse Joy in Sunny Town is still awaiting the arrival of the medicine, and Team Rocket and the kids then go towards each other on the bridge as it lifts to make way for a barge docking.

Sure enough, Ash, Misty, and Brock complete the stunt jump. The gang is impressed; and they escort them towards the Pokémon Center. I missed this part when I was younger, since the friend’s house where I saw this episode had a dad that didn’t think too highly of the franchise at its peak. My mother and my friends’ mother were generally more receptive to the idea.

The medicine is administered to the Shellder; and the gang grants Ash and Misty the titles of “Awesome Ash” and “Mighty Misty.” When Brock suggests the title of “Honey,” he gets another taste of Tyra’s pimp hand as we close on Team Rocket pedaling out of the bay.

This episode is an enjoyable little romp on the cycling road; filled with some very humorous battles and colorful punks who would not surprise me if they grew up to join the Clown gang. I also enjoyed seeing what motivated Team Rocket to pursue a life of crime more. Go ahead and add this to one of my many reasons why I got back into the franchise as a teenager. See you, space cowboy!