Global Sports: Vintage Bicycling & The Power Of Film

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Vintage Bicycling & The Power Of Film

By Rob Sutter


I believe that vintage bicycling has done a great deal in attracting an audience and it is clear why so many people enjoy it. There are a number of styles worth talking about and I think that they all manage to bring about nostalgic feelings for those who have witnessed such models in their heyday. When you throw in the idea of more modern technology, though, a marriage of both worlds can be seen. Film has shown cycling done in the past and a couple of instances stand out more than others.

While the 80's was a decade that I was unfortunately unable to live within, I love the slew of films which was released during that time. One such film was "The Goonies" and I think that any child from that time could attest to just how influential it was. A group from the Goon Docks in Oregon has their sights set on buried treasure but they travel via one particular method. With two-wheeled rides being utilized, a sense of adventure follows which has captured many an imagination.

The 2004 comedy known as "Napoleon Dynamite" is a tougher sell, mostly because of the idea that it has a number of fans divided. It seems like there is an equal number of individuals who both love and hate it. For the former, though, there is one scene involving a bike that stands out and it definitely shows just how Charlie Brown-like the Napoleon character is. After trying to make a small jump because of his friend's own ride, he manages to miscalculate said jump and fails in a fashion that can only be attributed to sillier comedy.

I think that "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" has been able to grab my attention mainly because of the ride Pee-wee Herman had in that movie. It was crafted just for that picture and after seeing just how outlandish it was, it wasn't hard to see why. It's not the first image that comes to mind when talking about vintage bicycling after all. It's one which has definitely earned its spot in the memories of those who have seen the movie and it piqued my interest in companies such as Linus Bike, too.

I know that I have left out a couple of other shining examples, though, "E.T." being just one of the major names. However, I wanted to give attention to those which haven't been as looked at as this one. There are a number of movies which have featured vintage bicycling, or even another type, in a great way. It goes to show just how tremendous this particular hobby is and how much of a role it can have on the big screen, many examples serving as proof of this.




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