Reveal the Path may be a film described as a “visually stunning adventure by bike”, but even more so it’s what I would call an “auditory spectacle of incredible life wisdom”.

Last night I joined the sold out crowd at the Alamo Drafthouse here in Austin to experience the Texas premier of this amazing film from the creators of “Ride the Divide“, Mike Dion (Director) and Hunter Weeks (Producer).  Ever since Mike first contacted me and asked to help spread the word, I’ve been majorly stoked for the screening….seeing as it would be the first bike film that I’ve seen in a theatre.  Seeing those bikes and cyclists as larger than life figures on the big screen was enough to draw me in, but adding to it the incredible scenery from the worldly locations in which the film was shot totally blew me away.

Mike Dion – Director of Reveal the Path

But like I said, the visual aspects of Reveal the Path are breathless in and of themselves…especially if you’re a bike nut like me, but it was the words spoken from the films characters which filled me with inspiration and brought out my emotions.  It is that part of the film that truly provides its brilliance in my opinion, and it is for that fact that I say this is a must see, even if you’re not all that into cycling.  Oh, and it’s also very Family friendly.  I took my 6-year-old Son with me and he thought it was great….he also thought his huge bowl of Alamo popcorn was amazing and chugged back the whole thing.

Mike and Hunter are the creators of this film, but also ride in it as well.  They are joined by Matthew Lee (endurance cyclist and multi-time Tour Divide champion) and Kurt Refsnider (adventure cyclist and 2011 Tour Divide champ), and set off on an adventure which includes riding through Scotland, France, Switzerland, Morocco, Nepal, and Alaska.

Each of these locations was filled with beautiful scenery, wicked riding, and some of the coolest people this planet has to offer.  My favorite “supporting character” was a guy named Jez who led the crew through Scotland.  Following the movie, Mike explained that he came across Jez through Twitter of all places and he turned out to be a major part of this film.  Anyway, Jez’s view on life is nothing short of perfection and more than once he spit out some words that spoke directly to my soul.  My favorite line from him (as paraphrased by me) was that “time is used to measure the passing of life…but when you are really living, time is not a factor any more”.  He said it much better than I can remember, but he was saying this as an explanation to why time passes so quickly while out riding.

But the four main crew/characters themselves were full of inspirational comments and moments themselves.  Each of these guys were highlighted and shared thoughts on life that will stay with me forever.  Dang man, that Matthew Lee should be a freaking movie star or something….he looks right at home up on the movie screen and his response and actions to what goes on around him is oh so totally cool.

This film is funny, emotional, deep, and full of bikey goodness and by the time it’s over it’ll have you contemplating life and which path you should take next.  Because that’s really all life is….that’s all riding a bike is.  It’s a bunch of paths, and they are all yours for the taking.

“If we open ourselves to the path, we can experience so many more things”

Have a look at the list of screenings for Reveal the Path as it makes its way around North America, and if it’s coming to a city near you be sure to jump at the opportunity to see this one on the big screen.  Also be sure to pick up a DVD copy as well, because it’s a film you’re going to want to watch over and over.  Trust me….it’s a life changer.

Upcoming Screenings: http://revealthepath.com/screenings/

Order the DVD: http://revealthepath.com/store/

On June 12, Reveal the Path makes its way to Austin and into the Alamo Drafthouse for a screening of this “visually stunning adventure by bike”.  Oh, and we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away.  If you’re not located in or around Austin, the Reveal the Path Movie is holding premiers in many other cities this June and July as well.  Have a look at their list of upcoming screenings at http://revealthepath.com/screenings.

Reveal the Path explores the world’s playgrounds in Europe’s snow capped mountains, Scotland’s lush valleys, Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches and Morocco’s high desert landscapes. Ride along and get lost in the wonders of the world… Meet the locals living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading us to question what it means to live an inspired life – however humble or extravagant.

Reveal the Path was filmed across four continents and features two legends from the world’s toughest mountain bike race, the Tour Divide.  Seeing as this film is from the makers of “Ride the Divide” it only makes sense to include race legends Matthew Lee and Kurt Refsnider.

Amazing and inspirational cycling movies like this one unfortunately don’t make it to theatres as often as they should, so you won’t want to miss this special screening of Reveal the Path.  Tickets are available online at the price of $12.50…but we just happen to have two to give away.  Yep, the film’s director, Mike Dion, personally granted us a couple to give out…but even if you don’t win, I hope to see you there.

Reveal the Path Austin Premier:

Tuesday, June 12 2012
6:30PM
Run Time: 75 Minutes
Tickets: $12.50 each
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (1120 S Lamar Blvd)

Reveal the Path After-Party by Bicycle Sport Shop

Bicycle Sport Shop is hosting a Reveal the Path After-Party at Toasties Sub Shop on South Lamar…and everyone attending the premier is invited.  You can RSVP for this event by heading over to the Bicycle Sport Shop site.

Enter to Win Tickets:

Congratulations to Joseph M. de Leon who wins two tickets to Reveal the Path.  Thanks to all who entered and I hope you’ll still get tickets of your own and join us at the premier next Tuesday night.  See you there.

We’ll make this one as simple as possible.  Just leave a comment letting us know why you think cycling movies rock and you’re in to win.  Contest closes at Noon EST on Friday and we’ll announce the winner soon after.

Have you ever thought about taking the challenge of competing in the Tour Divide?  This is an “underground” cycling race that has become increasingly more popular over the years, and my friend Vance McMurry knows exactly what it’s all about because he gave it a shot last year.

Known as the world’s toughest mountain bike race, the Tour Divide starts off in Banff, Alberta and rolls along the Continental Divide for 2700 miles before finishing up in Antelope Wells, New Mexico.  On June 8th, the 2012 version of the Divide begins and although there may not be enough time for you to take part this year….I’m hoping that this video below will help inspire you to take it on next year if it’s something you’ve always wanted to do.

Vance McMurry is an endurance athlete from Austin and last year he took on the beast known as the Tour Divide.  Unfortunately he didn’t finish (and he talks about the gruesome details in this video interview), but he does know all about it and has some very encouraging words for anyone thinking of rising to this challenge.

Vance is the Founding Chair and Executive Director of the Texas High School Mountain Bike League and is helping to do amazing things for the sport here in Texas.  He believes that mountain biking brings families together, and gives high school students the self-confidence and strength to take on anything that lies before them.

Please have a look at what Vance has to say about the Tour Divide and get an insiders look at what it’s really all about.

If you have any questions for Vance or would like to know more about the Tour Divide, please leave a comment below and I’ll pass it off to him for a response.

If you’ve seen the Ride the Divide DVD or simply read the review we posted about it, and like what you saw….get ready for more incredible videos from these guys in the future.  Mike Dion and Hunter Weeks, producers of Ride The Divide are following up on the success of this video with two more releases that will take you down a slightly different path.

The Path

This video is considered the follow-up to Ride the Divide and is a story about Bike-Packing around the World.  The Path video is still under wraps, but from what I’ve read, it’s sure to be just as incredible as its predecessor.

Salsa Bicycles is the presenting sponsor of The Path and according to Jason Boucher of Salsa, their company mission is the perfect fit to what this video is all about:

“Bikes allow people to interact with and experience the world in ways not possible by other forms of transportation.  Bicycles enrich our lives and our experiences. We are excited to sponsor The Path and help a broader audience discover just that.” – Jason Boucher

The producers of this video are totally committed to positive change and I think that is super cool.  They are investing in the environment and promoting the joy of riding a bike along the way.  To take things further, a percentage of proceeds from The Path will go to 1% for the Planet and Adventure Cycling Association.

Expect to see The Path available for purchase and viewing next Spring/Summer, but to whet your appetite we have a couple of secret and never before seen stills from the shooting they did this past Summer.

Where the Yellowstone Goes

The other video coming out from the producers of Ride the Divide has nothing to do with cycling, but it’s sure to be a fantastic story to be enjoyed.  For this one they are looking for help and currently have a kickstarter campaign launched to bring in the necessary funds.  With 11 days to go, they are still about $15,000 away from their goal of $30,000.  As you will see in their kickstarter video, they are very passionate about this project…Check out their Kickstarter page and see if you can help them out.

Where the Yellowstone Goes follows a small crew on a soul-searching and inspirational journey along the longest free-flowing river in the contiguous United States: the Yellowstone River. They’ll rally together the supplies they need, including a hand-built drift boat and set course on a voyage of grand proportions and life defining events. Experience silhouetted moments of the crew fly fishing in the amber morning light, telling life stories by a fire and connecting with colorful folks along the way. Add to this the unending sounds and sights of a massive water flow, flanked on each side by huge, snow-capped mountains and plains full of elk and deer, bald eagles and the occasional grizzly bear. This is Montana, this is the Yellowstone River and this is one of the most spectacular and unique landscapes in the world.

Here is a quick teaser of what’s in store when they release Where the Yellowstone Goes:

To learn more about the Yellowstone River and this video project, please visit www.wheretheyellowstonegoes.com.

My cycling librarian friend, Krissy is here today to talk about a cycling movie called Ride the Divide.  This is the first one she’s reviewing for us and Krissy will be back again in the future to let us know her opinion on other cycling movies as well.  Krissy is a Library Director who has a strong passion for cycling, and is pretty much an all-around super nice person.  Check out what she has to say about Ride the Divide.

Oh, and also ENTER TO WIN your own copy of Ride the Divide….See bottom of post.

Ride the Divide Movie Review

By Krissy Nelson

Ernest Hemingway once said, “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.”  There is nothing like watching a quote come to life the way this one does in the documentary, Ride the Divide.  Ride the Divide sheds light on a race that many people know little or nothing about.  Considered to be an “underground race,” the Tour Divide begins in Banff, AB, Canada and spans 2,700 miles crossing the Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains down to Antelope Wells, NM, USA at the Mexican border.  It is a completely self-supported race.

Ride the Divide begins with some introductions to the cast of “everyday people” who have signed up to race the epic route and right away I was sucked into the personal stories of each.  Mike Dion, a husband and father of two, seems to be on a quest to find himself, Mary Metcalf-Collier is the first woman to attempt to complete the entire race, and Matthew Lee, a five time veteran to the race, has a baby on the way.  The three along with many others are tested with over 200,000 feet of total climbing, the harsh elements of snow and insane terrain, physical injuries, grizzly bears, and the true meaning of being alone.

In all honesty, I first wanted to see this film because I am a cyclist and my interest in the sport always compels me to want to see movies and documentaries about something I am passionate about.  That being said, within the first half hour of the film, I didn’t care much about the riding aspect anymore; I was lost in the stories and courage of each of these riders, and I think that is exactly what the makers of Ride the Divide wanted to depict.  The scenery is beautiful, and the small towns that the route passes through are full of their own characters too, but it was the experience of each of the individuals that pulled me into the documentary.

Ride the Divide is a film that has something for everyone.  It will pull at your heart strings, make you laugh, inspire you, and keep you on the edge of your seat as you get a roadside view of what it takes to be part of the most challenging race anyone could ever put themselves through.  This is a film that you will want to watch again and again…..and you’ll want to tell everyone you know to see it too!

I give this cycling movie 4.5 wheels:

*Special thanks need to go out to Mike Dion, Executive Producer of Ride the Divide as well as participant in the Tour Divide.  Mike was kind enough to send me the movie to watch and several other Ride the Divide goodies.  Thank you for creating this film and for being an inspiration to me.  Looking forward to seeing more from you in the future…

Ride the Divide Movie Website: http://www.ridethedividemovie.com

Twitter: @RidetheDivide

For more information on the Tour Divide: http://tourdivide.org

Enter to WIN:

The good folks at Ride the Divide are giving away 3 copies of their DVD to our readers.  Please leave a comment telling us why you should be the one who gets a copy.  Entries accepted until Thursday at Noon EST.

The Contest is now Closed.  Congratulations to JDKIMPLE, STACYBEARD, and REDDDESIGN who each receive a copy of the Ride the Divide DVD. Enjoy.