GhostRider62

"Inspired to Ride" is an interesting documentary of the TRANSAM ultra-endurance race. It comes close to showing the real challenge.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4340740/

tcs

Key Exchange.






LOL! Noooooooooo - the movie is terrible! Seriously, life is too short to spend time on this. For a hoot, read Roger Ebert's review.

tcs

A Boy, A Girl and a Bike with Honor Blackman




Not Shakespeare, but...when was the last time you saw the finer details of bike construction used as a plot device?

Riveting

In late Jr High and early High School, I was lucky enough to be working in a very popular (but small, one mechanic) bike shop that sold/serviced bmx, freestyle, and road bikes when RAD came out, and that movie was so unbelievably impactful to the popularity of the bmx/freestyle bike scene in our city and at our shop, so it's the first thing I think about when someone mentions "cycling movie".

And as a 7 yr old seeing Breaking Away, never did I think that one day I'd be going 50+ miles per hour on a flimsy 10-speed, like Dave did behind the Cinzano semi-truck, but fast forward 40 years and there I was doing just that (52mph is my fastest so far, just not behind a semi).

And I know that brakeless fixies are frowned upon and often do the cycling community a disservice, but I like the movie Premium Rush. "I like to ride. Fixed gear. No brakes. Can't stop. Don't want to, either."

reconnaissance

You might like “DreamRiders” 2008. I sure did.

Review from IMDB:

A father and his son, separated through divorce, rejoined on pavement, fueled by a dream: These are the DreamRiders. Choosing to live the life that others only dream of, this duo rides bicycles across the USA-4,000 miles of body and spirit-breaking challenge-while struggling to reconnect, to make a truce in the battle for authority and freedom, and to form a friendship, all in front of the cameras that record every conflict, every doubt, and every triumph. Built from hundreds of hours of footage, thousands of miles of road and the experiences of a lifetime, DreamRiders' appeal is in the human drama, the scenic grandeur, and the inspiration of living out one's dreams. Like any good drama, the moments of conflict are punctuated by the humor found in everyday situations and places. On the moving stage of the vast American continent, fascinating sights and people, from the amazing to the ridiculous, change with each bend in the road. And like classic drama, DreamRiders doesn't just entertain, but also inspires and teaches, reminding us through its images that we only get there one pedal at a time-through sweat, the support of loved ones and the determination never to quit.

joeruge

Has no one mentioned "The Flying Scotsman?" The (more or less) true story of cyclist Graeme Obree. Interesting movie, inspiring, a little sad.

To uplift your spirits after watching that one, you could watch "Girl on a Bicycle," which has very little to do with bicyling but is a fun movie.

Litespud

Didn't know any of this - thanks for the info

chaadster

LarrySellerz I enjoyed watching 2 Secondes this morning, thank you for the link!

indyfabz

Breaking Away is a coming of age film that happens to involve some cycling. Dennis Quaid’s first major motion picture. Dennis Christopher is a Philly boy and a smoker at the time of the film. Paul Dooley and Barbara Barrie give great performances. The later was nominated for an Oscar for her role. She lost to Meryl Streep in Kramer vs. Kramer.

indyfabz

I camped with a guy who was participating in the inaugural race. 2014 in Jackson, MT, while I was doing a loop tour that used part of the Trans Am route. He was in second to last place. At some point in the evening a cyclist who was loaded very lightly rode by Jackson Hot Springs, where we were staying. I didn’t have the heart to tell the guy that he might now be in last place.

badger1

Les Triplettes de Belleville and Roule Toujours.

The latter: https://vimeo.com/57695927

mstateglfr 

Luca- a recent Disney/Pixar movie where a kid races a bike to win a vespa. Its a bike race movie, but sort of a triathlon movie since the race involves swimming, pasta eating, and cycling.

mstateglfr 

Unpopular take- Breaking Away is a major disappointment for most who werent a teenager or older in the late 70s. The directing is haphazard, writing is unimpressive, and the over-the-top acting is tough to sit thru.

Dan Burkhart 

The fire in the frame.
The Marinoni story. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4058750/

LarrySellerz

objectively untrue but youre entitled to your opinion

ClydeClydeson

It is my understanding that he bike shop owner character in 2 Secondes is based on Giuseppe Marinoni.

mstateglfr 

Like I said, unpopular take. His parents are absolute caricatures of parents. His mom is over the top silly with her hysterical portrayal and his dad's hardassed singular personality is an exhausted trope that deserved to largely die off with modern film.
Whats crazy is that Barbara Barrie was nominated for an Academy Award. That says more about the competition that anything.

Change how his parents behave on screen and the movie immediately increases in quality. Exponential increase.

But yeah, unpopular take.

Welshboy

Generally, all of the above mentioned films. Plus;

'Janapar' - filmed over four years, a lovely true touring romance!

'Clunkers' - the early days of MTB... awesome!

'Overcoming' - Team CSC at the Tour. Not brilliant but worth a watch.

Reflector Guy

Never heard of it. Was it a foreign film?

indyfabz

The film about Marco Pantani. Sad. Saw him while I was riding to a stage finish at the Bianchi factory during the ‘95 Giro. He was sitting out the race rehabbing for the TdF. No missing those ears.

seypat

I've always thought that Karen Allen and Jackie Earle Haley of Breaking Away/Bad News Bears fame were twins secretly separated at birth. Or at least, sister/brother.

Brother/sister I guess, with the age difference.

BikeLite

The documentaries are better than most of the movies.

seypat

Quaid being a Texan, was up for the leading role in Urban Cowboy. Travolta was hot at the time though, so he got the part. Travolta was set to play the leading role in American Gigilo, but dropped out to do Urban Cowboy.

seypat

No love for the blockbuster smash "Quicksilver?" Come on, that movie practically changed the culture of cycling. What a story arc!

I think that's the movie the OP will enjoy the most. Give it a watch.

LarrySellerz

True that's one of the best! Vooodoooooo