A movie review is a bit off topic for Wicked Philanthropy but I felt this one was certainly worthy and I hope to share it with every potential Wicked Philanthropy rider.

After a few cycling related posts on Twitter I was fortunate enough to catch the attention of Stephen Auerbach, the filmmaker behind “Bicycle Dreams”. He offered to send me a copy of the movie to which I enthusiastically replied.

Auerbach describes the movie as, “’Bicycle Dreams’ is an inspiring documentary about the Race Across America, a 3000-mile bicycle race across the country. What begins as the adventure of a lifetime becomes a soul-stirring journey to the finish line.” The description, however, doesn’t do the film justice.

I’ve been a cyclist for years and have never found a cycling related film that I found engrossing. I watch the Tour de France but completely understand why the majority of people think it’s boring. “Bicycle Dreams”, on the other hand, is something I think every athlete, and everyone looking for athletic inspiration, should watch.

The movie follows the riders of the Race Across America (RAAM) but that’s about where the cycling related aspects end. There’s no talk about equipment, cycling experience, or the history of the sport. There’s minimal talk even of training. What the movie is about is the physical and mental suffering the race creates and the competitors experience. One of the things that surprised me the most is that the movie isn’t full of 24 year old professional athletes but “normal” people that have chosen an extraordinary challenge to test their limits. The movie focuses on several riders, all between the ages of 30-50+ that have successful professional careers from teachers to doctors, and all of whom have a family life to balance with their training.

My only complaint is that it was not recorded in BluRay (which I assume is significantly more expensive).  Watching on a big screen TV made some of the images, especially the fonts, a bit granular.

By the end of the movie you feel close to the riders, inspired to push yourself, and if nothing else, sheer awe at the physical strength and mental determination of these riders.

As the movie closed I was reminded of this quotation from an unknown author; “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Here’s the link to the “Bicycle Dreams” website: http://bicycledreamsmovie.com/ (Caution: opens with music)

Here’s a link to the DVD on Amazon: Click here.

I finally found some time to get the group together for a screening of “Bicycle Dreams” later this week (was fortunate enough to catch the eye of Stephen Auerbach online).  I’ll be sure to post more about it later but I need to share the trailer (below), which I’ve watched several times today alone.  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look up the race fees (relay form only).

Here’s the link to the “Bicycle Dreams” website: http://bicycledreamsmovie.com/ (Caution: opens with music)

Here’s the link to the 2010 RAAM race: http://www.raceacrossamerica.org