The Chainlink

Bicycle Movies

Add your favorite bicycle movie!

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Bicycle Movies (link to article)

Bicycles will overrun the Champs-Élysées this weekend in Paris as the world’s most prestigious and grueling road race concludes its three week journey across France on Sunday.

For many Americans, the Tour De France is as foreign a subject as Francois Truffaut but the two share something in common. Both bike races and bike movies are perfect to enjoy without moving a muscle.

You may notice that the majority of films on this week’s list were released in the early '80s.  Thankfully, our culture’s apathy in cycling recently came to an end, simply because of a little yellow bracelet.

 

Lance Armstrong’s seven consecutive Tour de France titles (1999-2005) launched an American renaissance in the sport.  I’d say Hollywood is due to produce a new wave of cycling films of the same caliber, if not better than the following. Whether you’re a fan of bike riding or not, tell us what you think.

1. "Breaking Away" (1979): “They’re gonna keep callin’ us ‘cutters’” – Mike

2. "American Flyers" (1985): “Enough of this Sunday stroll…let’s hurt a little bit!” – Muzzin

3. "Pee Wee’s Big Adventure" (1985): “I’m a loner, Dottie.  A rebel.” – Pee Wee Herman (this love story about a man and his bike could have also been called “The Bicycle Thief”...not really.)

4. "Quicksilver" (1986): “I go as fast as I like” – Jack Casey (checkout the trailer dubbed by the late Don Lafontaine...”In a world where the pressure’s off”...classic 80’s movie trailer.)

5. "E.T." (1982): Makes the list because the film’s climax allows every kid to imagine their bikes soaring off the ground.  These iconic images still play before Amblin Entertainment’s films.

Honorable Mention:

  • "BMX Bandits" (1986): This Aussie import revolves around a criminal ring of Walkie Talkie smugglers.
  • "Easy Rider" (1969): “You know Billy, we blew it.” – Captain America (They may not be riding bicycles but it’s the best movie on two wheels, so it makes the cut.)

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My addition will be the movie 2 Seconds

Tags: Actors, Actress, Archive, Armstrong, Bicycle, Bikes, Cycling, De, France, Hollywood, More…Lance, Movies, Tour

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Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on August 31, 2011 at 6:01pm
  • One Got Fat (1963)  The Ultimate in cheesy 60's B&W bike-safety movies aimed at kids.
Permalink Reply by Michael Junius on September 2, 2011 at 11:02am
Chasing Legends (2010) Director: Jason Berry Chasing Legends
Permalink Reply by Laurie Chipps on September 2, 2011 at 11:52am

Have a look at this list from my favorite video shop in Champaign/Urbana: 

http://www.rentertainment.com/PP-cycling.asp

Permalink Reply by mark stetson on September 2, 2011 at 9:51pm
Permalink Reply by mark stetson on September 2, 2011 at 9:51pm
Road to Roubaix, a documentary about the Paris-Roubaix race is worth seeing.   I also enjoyed a couple of videos of Tours du Pont from about 20 years ago,  "Hammer and Hell" and "Zuperman".  Not exactly movies in the general sense though.
Permalink Reply by Bria Servoss on September 2, 2011 at 11:39pm
"I Am The Cheese"!! seriously, i can't believe no one has mentioned this one yet...
Permalink Reply by magomawe on September 3, 2011 at 12:49pm
I've never heard of "10 Speed".  Did you see it and would you recommend it?  I'm really interested in the cycling culture of the seventies.

Laurie Chipps said:

Have a look at this list from my favorite video shop in Champaign/Urbana: 

http://www.rentertainment.com/PP-cycling.asp

Permalink Reply by Josh on September 3, 2011 at 1:52pm

The Bicycle Thief?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3jnzXX9mXs

"You must plant your seeds in another field. Do you understand what I mean?"

Permalink Reply by Julie Hochstadter on April 15, 2012 at 2:58pm

I've never seen Quicksilver but it's on my list.  

Permalink Reply by Barry Niel Stuart on April 15, 2012 at 3:11pm

How about "The Flying Scotsman" about Graeme Obree and his quest for the one hour and other records?

Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on April 15, 2012 at 5:20pm

If anyone wants to organize a grass-roots bike film night, Bike Winter has a large screen that's available and there are several projectors around the community.  I'll bet Jack's Tap would offer up their party room for next to nothing.

Permalink Reply by kiltedcelt on April 18, 2012 at 11:00pm

Some good cycling documentaries are:

Blood Sweat and Gears

Sunday in Hell

Stars and Water Carriers

I own the last two and would be more than glad to provide them should a Chainlink movie night ever be hosted somewhere. Those last two follow Eddy Mercx in the Paris Roubaix (Sunday in Hell), and the Giro d' Italia. Both are fantastic looks back at those heady days of cycling in the 60s and 70s.

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