Mamachari Express (ママチャリエクスプレス) was an obstacle in the single-stage version of KUNOICHI, being present in the 1999 and 2000 competitions that aired on Kinniku Banzuke.
The obstacle featured a bicycle that was mostly locked down by two training wheels. This meant that no matter hard someone pedaled, the bike would move at about the same speed, give or take. Competitors would have to pedal the locked bike down a pathway track until reaching a safety line that would turn on a greenlight, signifying that they had completed the obstacle. As there was no water or failing pits, the only way to fail the obstacle was to time out.
Originally, Mamachari Express was featured as the fifth obstacle on the course, preceding the Break Zone. Only one competitor, Atarashi Akiko, made it to the obstacle in the 1999 tournament, and proceeded to time-out there mere inches from the Break Zone, a side-effect of the prior Futon Beater and strict 60-second time limit for the first five obstacles.
Because of this, in the next competition, Mamachari Express was repositioned as the third obstacle, taking on the primary role of deliberate time-waster as the time limit remained unchanged. While it did not eliminate anyone, it proved just as lethal when it came to draining time, as it took competitors anywhere between 15 and 20 seconds to complete the obstacle, after around 20 would have already been taken up on the prior two obstacles, leaving only another 20 or so seconds left for the Square Bridge and Rolling Panic in most cases. This would contribute to all of the competitors being forced to rush through these two obstacles, and ultimately result in no-one reaching the Break Zone once again.
Due to the extreme difficulty and the subsequent format change in KUNOICHI 2001, Mamachari Express would be retired.
Competitor's Success Rate[]
- All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found.
KUNOICHI | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
2000 | 7 | 7 | 100% |
Total | 7 | 8 | 87.5% |