Ride the Divide (2010)

Let's be realistic.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

2700 miles from Canada to Mexico... on a bike! Extreme endurance stuff!! If you enjoy a challenge and like bikes, this is the documentary for you. It's made very much on the fly and is really just a document more than anything, but there's enough polish to help it along and the people are honest, tough and put it all out there. Guy Martins book talks about it and his own account is awesome, but it's great to see it on film, if just for the scenery alone. Not sure I'd be able to do this, but the thought is pretty cool.

Until I came across this film on Netflix streaming movies I had no clue that this "race" was even held. Seeing the film apparently it is held every year, for how long I don't know. This one is the 2010 competition.Sixteen riders, 15 men and 1 woman, left Banff and headed to Mexico along the Continental Divide. For those who may not know the significance of the "divide", it represents the very jagged north- south line where water on the east side flows eventually to the Atlantic and water on the west side flows to the Pacific. The highest peaks in the USA, mostly in Colorado, are along the Divide.But there is no road or trail for bicycles that actually runs on the Divide, so what they really are doing is traveling a path that follows the Divide and at times crossing the Divide.The film is done well and is interesting, but I feel it has one big flaw ... it never focuses on some of the key landmarks along the way. For examples Waterton in Canada and Glacier in Montana. Where did they cross the Divide? What elevations? Also in Colorado, did they go through Rocky Mountain Park and ride the trail ridge road, or did they have to bypass it? Did they ride over Independence Pass, or bypass it? I know they went through Salida, but overall I would have found the film even more interesting if they had focused a bit more on the actual route. But the film shows how difficult the "race" is. Many of them dropped out, by the end probably over half although the film doesn't make that very clear. Some had injuries and couldn't continue, some couldn't take the loneliness, or just the effort required each day for about 3 weeks.But the hero of the film is Matthew Lee who went on to win. (He also won in other years.) Matthew is just the perfect type of person for this kind of adventure. Even though his wife was due to have a baby shortly, and he was clearly a family man, he also relished the challenge and being out there, by himself, with time to reflect on life, he started each day with a smile and just pedalled on. And he mused, as hard as the "Ride the Divide" race is, it likely doesn't compete with the task of being a parent. I enjoyed following Matthew's trek along the Divide. Also the lady who had swelling in her legs, actually dropped out, but after talking with her husband went back and finished the race, I believe 9 days after Matthew.

Excellent film. I bought it on a whim after seeing the trailer, not really expecting it to be such a great piece. After I started it, I at first I thought it plunged in too fast with too little introduction to the ride and the race, but as it played out, I saw that the characters had the space to develop during the ride. There was a real connection, and I found myself really rooting for the characters. Have I any criticism? No, none that I can really think of. It was weighted about right for me. It was paced beautifully. There was No forced narrative, no melodrama, just people in the landscape, doing their best. What all the best stories are about. Of course, I'm a cyclist, so I might be a touch biased, but I think even if you're not a cyclist, the scenery is breathtaking, and the human stories so engaging it will keep you with them all the way.

Viewed this film at the premier in Vail, and I must say that it is fantastic. The film made the audience laugh, cry and cringe. The cinematography was amazing, and of course mother nature did help make it that way. The film encompassed the good and bads of mountain biking 2700 miles without a sag wagon. The initial 'Why?' questions were soon vanquished as you are presented with the hardships and soul finding experiences that are their day to day basis. Somewhere in there, you realize the fact that this technically is a race, with a winner that is greeted only by a Mexican border guard and no prize??? Now you are hit with the devotion to the journey. By the middle of the movie, you understand why so many riders are unable to complete the "race". Now the viewer understands why there is a film about it. The scenes are beautiful, the journey is rough, and the end is satisfying, lets just leave it at that.