|
|
The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) just kicked off last night, July 21st, with a nice ride from Gold Medal Park to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA). I could not attend the bike ride, but I did manage to show up at the MIA to see some films and hear some music.
The event was extremely well organized, with lots of volunteers. The turn out was really big, lots of families and young bicyclists from around the city. As you can see from the bike valet parking, it's packed!
Live music was provided by a rock pop group called Joey Ryan and the Inks, who did a double set. I only saw their first set, before their break, but the highlight from that, was a cover of the Beatles' "Do You Want to Know a Secret". Singer Ryan dedicated the song to his mother, only to realized that it's love song. Freudian slip.
I went inside the MIA building to see the first BFF film, a documentary called "Labour of Love" about Canadian Caroline van den Bulk as she competes in the hardest endurance race in the world: Race Across America (RAAM). This is an unforgiving 3,000 mile bike race that starts on the West Coast (Oceanside, CA) and finished on the East Coast (Annapolis, MD). Oh, and it has to be done in 12 or fewer days. There are also check points, so if you do not hit those locations at a certain time, you are disqualified from the race. That means very little sleep and constant bicycling. Unlike other bike races, I'm looking at you, Tour de France, this is a solo rider race, meaning no teams to do that wind-breaking cheat. It is a very difficult race. I honestly don't know why anyone would put themselves through the torture!
From my own personal experience of biking a long 30 miles, I can really relate to Caroline's struggles when she was complaining about crotch and legs and back pains. Of course, that's her complaining after 2,000 miles vs me complaining after two miles...
Anyway, glad I caught the show, I left the theater because there were a lot of people (more than the theater could fit) waiting outside for the next program.
Caught the end of Joey Ryan's second set and then ended up in the park near MIA to see "Breaking Away". This is a 1979 film about a group of "Cutters" friends struggling against college jocks.
Most of the film centered around Dave, who was inspired by Italian bicyclists. It would later end with a "Little 500" race between the Cutters vs the Jocks to the finish. Pretty gripping and inspiring.
Anyway, check out for event listing and dates in your local cities at bicyclefilmfestival.com. As for Minneapolis, the BFF continues until July 24th. Details of the next two days below:
|
|
Live music was provided by a rock pop group called Joey Ryan and the Inks, who did a double set. I only saw their first set, before their break, but the highlight from that, was a cover of the Beatles' "Do You Want to Know a Secret". Singer Ryan dedicated the song to his mother, only to realized that it's love song. Freudian slip.
I went inside the MIA building to see the first BFF film, a documentary called "Labour of Love" about Canadian Caroline van den Bulk as she competes in the hardest endurance race in the world: Race Across America (RAAM). This is an unforgiving 3,000 mile bike race that starts on the West Coast (Oceanside, CA) and finished on the East Coast (Annapolis, MD). Oh, and it has to be done in 12 or fewer days. There are also check points, so if you do not hit those locations at a certain time, you are disqualified from the race. That means very little sleep and constant bicycling. Unlike other bike races, I'm looking at you, Tour de France, this is a solo rider race, meaning no teams to do that wind-breaking cheat. It is a very difficult race. I honestly don't know why anyone would put themselves through the torture!
From my own personal experience of biking a long 30 miles, I can really relate to Caroline's struggles when she was complaining about crotch and legs and back pains. Of course, that's her complaining after 2,000 miles vs me complaining after two miles...
Anyway, glad I caught the show, I left the theater because there were a lot of people (more than the theater could fit) waiting outside for the next program.
Caught the end of Joey Ryan's second set and then ended up in the park near MIA to see "Breaking Away". This is a 1979 film about a group of "Cutters" friends struggling against college jocks.
Most of the film centered around Dave, who was inspired by Italian bicyclists. It would later end with a "Little 500" race between the Cutters vs the Jocks to the finish. Pretty gripping and inspiring.
Anyway, check out for event listing and dates in your local cities at bicyclefilmfestival.com. As for Minneapolis, the BFF continues until July 24th. Details of the next two days below:
|
Joey Ryan and the Inks |
)