Your choice in cycling movies/film/cinema/documentaries

[macspud]

An interview with Ken Wheeler of Renovo Cycles, a wooden bicycle manufacturer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBC7NEJwZ5U&feature=g-u-u

Cheers,

Iain.

[Danneaux]

Yikes! 

Here is a trailer for Lucas Brunelle's decade-old film project, Line of Sight, a documentary showing the life of bike messengers and alleycat racers in 30 cities in 20 countries: http://vimeo.com/43954522
The video is amazing, especially considering it was started before the advent of readily available POV cameras like the Contour and GoPro Hero. The footage is astonishing and more than a little disturbing as the riders take chances well beyond the bounds of safety or common sense ("Don't try this at home") and endanger others in their pursuits (including an apparent collision with a child at one point in the trailer). Still, the level of bike handling skills is off the charts. Worth a look but bound to be controversial. I've never seen a near-doornailing portrayed so accurately (I've just missed a few of those myself when riding responsibly and to the right as US traffic laws require. I've learned to distinguish between headrests and heads on instinct, but the worst is the parked driver who reaches for something on the floor of the car, then pops up like a jack-in-the box and flings his door open to the stops in one smooth motion -- right in front of me).

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

An interview with Ken Wheeler of Renovo Cycles, a wooden bicycle manufacturer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBC7NEJwZ5U&feature=g-u-u

Cheers,

Iain.

just got round to watching this ,cool looking bikes like to try one.

[Fred A-M]

That's a pretty comprehensive list to my mind Danneaux - coincidentally watched Breaking Away for the first time since its release in 1979 - it's aged quite well as a movie and remains an enjoyable viewing experience.

[Danneaux]

Hi Fred!

Surely nice to have you back on-board. Yes, Breaking Away has remained remarkably fresh despite more years than I care to remember since its release. Of course, the actors all stay fresh and young on celluloid (now aluminized polycarbonate disc).

I think the key to any film's staying power is a good story. Get that right with reasonable acting and production values, and it will remain entertaining for awhile.

Has anyone yet seen Premium Rush? Released here in the States last January (2012), the story centers on Manhattan bike messengers. I have yet to see it, but it sounds like one of those bicycle films that would be either a real hit or a complete flop; not many seem to hit that satisfying middle-ground. Here is a review, but it may contain spoilers, so don't read if you wish the show to remain a mystery beyond what I've just said: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120822/REVIEWS/120829996

Best,

Dan.

[sg37409]

This is cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnFdEQe8VxM

[JimK]

Has anyone yet seen Premium Rush?

Just saw it this evening. Fun enough. A decent story. They jump around in time but display the time in big numerals for each part so it is not at all disorienting. It is pretty much bicycles racing through traffic the whole time. But there is enough plot to motivate the uptown/downtown action. I was just bicycling about a month ago in Manhattan so that added to the visceral fel for me!

Our hero rides a fixie - he skids the bike through curves in places, just freezing his feet and thus the back wheel. I've never ridden a fixie - I wouldn't have thought that possible! At one point he's racing another mike messenger through Central Park, up and down some gentle hills. The other guy has a rear derailleur & we get to see him shift down and up to manage the hill. So some decent bike details.

It's a pretty straight-forward movie - no real ambiguity about who the good and bad guys are. Looked like a very real police station. Some nice bike messenger culture. Lots and lots of Manhattan street scenes. Not a deep movie. But a fun action movie with a lot of bike riding!

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Graeme Obree is back, and a test-ride of his latest creation is subject of a very short new "first-look" mini-docu on Vimeo here:
http://vimeo.com/45034602

This time, he's going for an IHPVA land-speed record in the US later this year, hoping to break 100mph. That's a lot of speed, but given his past efforts, I have little doubt he'll either get it outright or make a serious dent in it. I see the mounts for a fairing of some sort. Backstory and video with links to more here: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/video-graeme-obree-on-his-landspeed-record-bid-33525/

It took me the longest time to work out the treadle-drive system (genius in itself), but seeing it in action is something else.

I especially liked Mr. Obree's answer to the question of how it feels:  "Oh, it feels great...soon as you get it powered up you can feel the power goes ergggggghhhhh!...Oh, that's better! Much better!"

Whenever I see Mr. Obree and his efforts, I am reminded that true genius is a burden and a lonely pursuit all at once; both require great courage. I wish him the best in achieving his goals.

Best,

Dan.

[Erudin]

"The Bicycle Thief, is a wonderful film directed by Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of a poor man searching the streets of Rome for his stolen bicycle, which he needs to be able to work."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040522/
http://youtu.be/U7sUcDk7RGI
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bicycle_thief/

[Andybg]

I think within the cycling community Obree is the person that most represents dedication. Reading Chris Hoy's book on his first 3 golds makes note of meeting up with Obree and being over awed by his sheer level of mental dedication he puts into everything he does.

High praise from another cycling legend

[Danneaux]

The Bicycle Thief, is a wonderful film...

Oh, indeed it is! Wonderful to be able to see it online; great find, Erudin. Another nice viewing ahead for me and many others, I'm sure.

Best,

Dan.

[triaesthete]

Hi All
this may be of interest http://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/ 

So many things point towards a bright future for cycling.
Optimistic
Ian

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

I recently came across some...amazing...videos on YouTube that left me temporarily speechless -- Martyn Ashton, using a carbon road bike for trials riding.

As the description says...

Martyn Ashton takes the £10k carbon road bike used by Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins & Mark Cavendish for a ride with a difference. With a plan to push the limits of road biking as far as his lycra legs would dare, Martyn looked to get his ultimate ride out of the awesome Pinarello Dogma 2. This bike won the 2012 Tour de France

This is some incredible stuff on a bicycle not purpose-built for it, and left me wondering if the same bike was used from take to take, or if it required dozens to make each video. No matter, this sort of riding is the province of a special few.

Lean back, click PLAY, and be prepared to lose a few minutes as these stream past.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZmJtYaUTa0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1fSpZNXhU

Note: The disclaimer on the first video says, "Warning. Some of the following scenes should not be attempted". Perhaps that should include wiping-down one's bike with a lubricant? OTOH, perhaps it provides protection from the sea water shown in the second video....

Jags! You sold your Look XK road bike just a little too soon!

Best,

Dan.

[jags]

AHH just posted this video on general 

[Danneaux]

Well, jags, it's impressive enough to post twice!  Man, that's some riding. I might have expected it of such a talented rider on a trials bike...but on a carbon roadie?  Goodness!

Best,

Dan.