Yes is the answer.
No.
HTH.
ps. VAST 😉
Yes
It's ok if you turn the sound down. I think I am remembering right, LifeCycles is the one with the punch-yourself-in-the-balls-annoying cod-psychology narration, right?
Hello? American Flyers?
Bike films are dull.
BMX bandits is the best cycling film ever made.
Breaking Away - won an Oscar for the best original screenplay back in 1979
[url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078902/ ]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078902/[/url]
Just watched it, liked it a lot!
yes, aside from the Vanderham section at the end from a story line perspective.. didn't really fit with anything else, although it took an insane amount of time and effort to capture..
We got a mention for providing their Whistler accomm.. so that was 'awesome'.. never did get that big directors commentary segment that we were promised though 🙁
still nice to see what goes into the production.
It's got to be Breaking Away, or for a short film, this:
Both films that express how important cycling can be for people.
Jour de Fete. Jacques Tati
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Never watched anything better than Vast
Life Cycles was awful.
Agree with Vast, great film.
Jour de Fete. Jacques Tati
A classic indeed. "American style".
No.
try A Sunday in Hell
http://www.madegood.org/bikes/magazine/friday-velovid-a-sunday-in-hell-en-forarsdag-i-helvede/
^^. All the above - you cannot be serious...?
Have none of you seen BMX Bandits?
Don't forget ET, they had a proper gnarly kicker in that.
Don't forget ET, they had a proper gnarly kicker in that.
True, true.
Sure I have seen bicycles in that cutting edge comedy set somewhere up North. Last of the summer wind?
Another contender.
check out those moguls on the Hell Track.
No. If they played it at full speed instead of slow motion it'd be about 5 mins long.
It is beautifully shot but it's soooooo boring.
Roam & Seasons for me.
I watch them when I'm ironing.
Lol @ takisawa2. Ditto!
God NO! Life cycles is more about pretentious effects and sweeping slow motion shots than it is about riding a bike. All I can remember about it is watching the leaves change colour and wondering how many time the maker had watched American Beauty.
The earthed series are still the best.
Lifecycles is shockingly dull, I've never seen a biking video that I'd watch more than once with the excepetion of this
http://teampickle.co.uk/2010/05/31/a-mountain-biking-film-lee-quarry/
and
It was Mud Cows.
But seriously, I've not seen a film push things forward as much as The Collective. Roam and Seasons are great, but they were more of the same.
The Earthed series were awesome. Not seen A Sunday in Hell, but several people have told me I should. Mission for this weekend.
Said it at the time it was doing the rounds in small cinemas, but no. Not by a long, long way. Its so far up its own arse its inside out. Dull american drawl which is totally not needed, too much slow mo, too many clips of leaves falling, too many clips of leaves on the ground etc etc. Someone tried far too hard to be all artsy and it backfired. I'm glad I was semi-lashed the first time I saw it at Headingly Picture House. Watched it on YouTube the other day and its no better sober.
Seasons is very good, as is Roam. I've only seen The Collective once but I remember that being pretty good.
I enjoy watching the grass roots type stuff better rather than MTB superstars backflipping in corn fields. Stuff like the Sweary Northerners (which is close to my own heart) I'd much rather watch on Vimeo any day of the week...
It's got to be Breaking Away, or for a short film, this:Thanks for sharing that. Great film.
No
When I went to New Zealand Emirates actually had LifeCycles on the sports channel.
Stuck on a plane for 24 hours I still couldn't be bothered to watch it all the way through. After the 23rd slo-mo shot and the narrator going on about the "poetry of physics and exaltation of chain oil" or some other such shite I gave up on it and watched Senna instead which i'd already seen three times
Roam or Seasons for me too
In my opinion 'Follow me' is the best so far, its the only one i can watch more than twice a year and when ever I do it gets me inspired to get out and ride. Like all bike flicks it has its not so good sections but overall I never get board of watching it. Life cycles has some great creative shooting going on but in essence is a 'watch it once' film.
Roam and Seasons +1
Collective was good, but not quite as cohesive? Felt a bit like they could go back to it and make it better after watching the second two.
Worst has to be Chlorophillia?
Belleville Rendezvous
BMX bandits is the best cycling film ever made.
This.
On a serious note and considering recent films only I really like Strength in Numbers.
Belleville Rendezvous
Yes indeed.
Dull american drawl
Why do they do this? Every film seems to have some Yank droning on and on about how spiritual yet rad their journey has been. It's awful. It's not just the bike films, overrated snowboard film Art of Flight is a prime example.
And while I'm on the topic, Where the Trail Ends is a pile of absolute toss.
Earthed series is the best for me.
Lifecycles was a film I'd show people who like nature and film-making rather than mountain biking. Another fan of Vast here. Absolutely the best MTB film I've ever seen as it doesn't seem to take itself too seriously and the most "pedestrian" part of it with Schnell and Wildhaber is the thing that makes me want to ride my bike with mates most of all and probably the bit I show people to explain why I love riding my mountain bike.
Vast overall just feels like a load of people who want to ride bikes and have fun, lifecycles falls short of that. I have the same issue with Where the trail ends. Impressive technically and some amazing riding but I can't relate to that sort of riding so it leaves me a bit cold.
For it to be the best bike film ever made, shouldn't it consist of more than 50% riding?
I like follow me,haven't seen strength in numbers or Vast though.
Why do they do this? Every film seems to have some Yank droning on and on about how spiritual yet rad their journey has been. It's awful. It's not just the bike films, overrated snowboard film Art of Flight is a prime example.
+1
I miss Earthed. Riding, actual riding. Not slow motion ****ing.
Its not an anti-American thing. Its just that American bike films (and other sports films by the sound of it) all seem to feel it necessary to have this rubbish narration over the top.
Earthed films were good.
Little Devil - Criminal mischief
Etnies - Forward
Both BMX, both at least a decade old, both better than anything else.
Another vote for Belleville Rendezvous
Brilliant film
BMX bandits. It's just awesome.
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Mondo enduro!
OR
On any Sunday.
And the "action only" extra on the Where The Trail Ends Bluray.
Pee-wee's Big Adventure!
Breaking Away in second place.
I miss Earthed. Watch The Collective regularly. My boys love BMX Bandits. Lifecycles is dull.
torsoinalake - MemberWhy do they do this? Every film seems to have some Yank droning on and on about how spiritual yet rad their journey has been.
Not just american ones, Find's dialogue is almost bad enough to be good. Worst I've ever seen.
And yes, VAST. Red travelllllinnnnnn socks
Life cycles? Not even in the top 5.
My personal favourite is MADE, not that well known, but an amazing film.
Follow me is probably the most well rounded and vast is also excellent.
Some of clay porters early stuff is good and seasons is also a gem.
EARTHED 3
end of thread
Is LifeCycles THE best bike film ever made?
With the sound off it's kinda cool I suppose.
Earthed series FTW
Chainspotting for me! But probably in the minority. Good soundtrack too.
Never really liked cycling fims until I watched Ride the Divide recently; my sort of riding, I dream of doing a long distance ride like that.
I also love a film called What it takes not strickly a cycling film - its about Ironman racing, but it inspires me to ride none the less.
Chainspotting is ace...I was well happy when I found out it was available on DVD. Takes me back to my early riding days, we used to watch that and Sprung all the time. So much so that the VHS tapes wore out.
I love Roam, more so than the other films by the Collective. Strength in Numbers is good too. I quite enjoyed Where the Trail Ends, but agree that the narrative is irritating. Even though there is some in the Collective films, somehow it's not too annoying.
The Earthed series were great, although I don't watch them all that much.
I think over all Roam & Seasons were definitive moments for me everything else up to LifeCycles was just copies of Roam and Season IMO
LifeCycles was another definitive moment for me, it brought back the ART IMO and something different the only issue I have with it and it is the ONLY issue was maybe too much ART and not enough riding but that's subjective I suppose.
Over all,
Roam
Season
LifeCycles
Are some of the best shot video/film work I've seen full stop 😀
Sprung 2 for me, it inspired a generation of potential shredders 🙂
I also like Home and Find for their lack of americanism, and good normalism! Have I just invented a word?
A Sunday in Hell
PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I must say I hate all the slo-mo films. Especially those that slo-mo half way through a trick.
Discussed with Mrs O last night and we came up with Chlorophilla.
Belleville Rendezvous is jolly good, though.
What about 'Find'. Great film... That section with Hans Rey, macAskill and Peaty in Scotland makes me wanna drive up there right now!
Otherwise 'Seasons gets my vote on the more mainstream options.
I watched vast and thought it extremely average and non inspiring and always go back to Roam and seasons and the Collective and for a change Follow Me is very good.
Cant believe no on has mentioned Dirt with Jason Mcroy
NWD10 is my favourite.
[quote=sneakyg4 ]Never really liked cycling fims until I watched Ride the Divide recently; my sort of riding, I dream of doing a long distance ride like that.
I must get round to watching that. I really enjoyed Reveal the Path.
yetitony - MemberWhat about 'Find'. Great film... That section with Hans Rey, macAskill and Peaty in Scotland makes me wanna drive up there right now!
After Home, it was like a pipe-bomb of disappointment. How do you make a segment with Rey, Peat and Macaskill and a helicopter and make it so damn [i]dull[/i]? The bit afterwards with them all pissed at the bridge inn was more interesting.
Dirt definitely inspired me back when I started riding, and JMC is sooooo smooth it's unreal. That S-Works M2 with Rockshox Mags and riser bars he rides is THE root of the hardcore hardtail. But it's otherwise a bit rubbish.
Chainspotting did have a stunning soundtrack, especially the Space Monkeys, Black Star Liner and Garbage 'Milk' remix.