Eight Great Cycling Movies

As cyclist we don't have many inspirational movies that center around cycling. After all when you think of a high energy montage that inspires you to want to jump out of your seat and hit the trails or the road the Overture from "The Barber of Seville" probably doesn't immediately come to mind. (I hate to say it but Eye of the Tiger still gets me going)

I am not sure why there aren't more movies with bike related themes. Maybe once Lance completes this next chapter of his life we will get a truly great movie (we already have the book).

So without further ado here is my list of the Eight Great Cycling Movies:

70's Classics - The 70's saw Gregg Lemond win the Tour De France, US Team 7-11 and the first mainstream cycling movie.
Breaking Away - This was the first bike movie I ever watched. It inspired me to get my first road bike a blue Peugeot.

Movie Highlights: The Race scene with the Fictional Team Cinzano and training ride with the big rig.

80's Sleeper - Before Field of Dreams Kevin Costner starred in this sports related movie.
American Flyers I first saw this movie when I started Mountain Biking Back in 1999


Foreign Film - The movie is mostly in French with English subtitles.
2 seconds - Womens Downhill, bike messengers racing through the streets, an old tour rider, Campy vs. Shimano debate, and some lesbian action what more could you ask for?

Animated - Proof a picture is worth a thousand words
The Triplets of Belleville - a grandmother, aided by the triplets and her loyal, overweight dog, tries to rescue her cyclist grandson, who has been kidnapped by gangsters. This film was one of the most popular in the entire Cannes festival.

Based on a True Story - Hope made him a dreamer. Heart made him a hero
The Flying Scotsman (2006) Nothing inspires like a true story. I came across this movie recently and thought it was great made 2 hours on a stationary trainer fly by.
The Flying Scotsman is a feature film based on the remarkable true story of Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree. In 1993, and as an unemployed amateur, Obree broke the world one-hour record on a bike of his own revolutionary design, which he constructed out of scrap metal and parts of a washing machine.

Comedy - Before Paul Reubens was caught in a theatre with his pants down he was on the big screen with the "coolest bike ever!"
Pee Wee's Big Adventure
The story of an eccentric man-child Pee-Wee Herman embarks on the biggest adventure of his life across the USA. He sets out to find his beloved bike when it is stolen in broad daylight.

Adrenaline - High energy music and quick edits bring the action to your T.V.

Plush 2 - features rider sections for Cameron McCaul, Aaron Chase, Kyle Strait, Shaums March, and Kirt Voreis, plus a women’s race section, and an in depth interview with Eric Carter. Plush 2 features all five Norba NCS races, the Whistler Slope Style, the Rye Airfield BIG Wheels Competition, the Red Bull Bike Battle and the Red Bull rampage. Plush 2 will entertain and inspire for years to come.

Instructional - Watch this and ride better (with practice)

West Coast Style Freeride Fundamentals
A good instructional video can demonstrate a concept to you better than a book or sometimes even riding. West Coast Style takes you through techniques in a progressive manner and is constantly re-enforcing concepts. This video is put together in a logical and well thought-out format. Instructional segments are interspersed with segments of riders such as: Ryan Leech - pro trials and stunt rider, Shaums March - pro downhiller and Head Coach of Mad March Racing, and Jay "Hoots" - jump guru and builder of dirt jump parks in Vancouver.
Filmed on the North Shore, Squamish, Whistler Bike Park, and other renowned trails on Canada's West Coast. 45 min

Bonus video: (It must be a Terry Saddle)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQbTfpRU864&feature=related