Bike In Movie - Quicksilver

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is following up on its highly successful Bike In Movie in June when they screened Breaking Away to an audience of over 130 people and one dog. On Wednesday, July 6 they will be screening Quicksilver, staring Kevin Bacon.

I would like to commend the BCGP for continuing this effort and I hope that this will become an annual summer event. The BCGP made a tremendous effort to promote the screening of Breaking Away,

This time the BCGP has elected to use stealth marketing. Instead of following the concept of, if you build it they will come. They have tried as hard as possible to not let anyone know about the movie. There is nothing posted on the homepage of the website, the BCGP blog, or Twitter, even the Facebook page has a vague reference. Only if you click on the events link of the BCGP Facebook page can you find out the name of the movie and where it is being screened.

So what would I do?

This should be prominently featured on their Facebook page, BCGP website, blog, and Twitter page. Don't assume that only your membership is going to be interested in this screening. Avoid planning any event so close to a major holiday weekend; there is a very strong probability that your attendance is going to be smaller than normal since many people will take advantage of the long holiday weekend. Wait a week; your attendance will be better.

Where is Philadelphia's Bike Culture?

One of the things that I find so frustrating about the greater Philadelphia area is a lack of bike culture. Something beyond the century rides that populate the calendar and rides with an ineffective political messages like Critical Mass and the Word Wide Naked Bike Ride. The one thing that Philadelphia lacks is events that can be described as a party on wheels.

For example Los Angeles has the Midnight Ridazz, a loosely affiliated group of cyclists who have created social rides that are described as a party on wheels. In New York City Times Up has a diverse collection of rides that explore New York City like moonlight rides through Central Park. Car free happy hours are becoming more commonplace and yet none of this happens in Philadelphia.

We have a city full of college students and business professionals that these types of rides and events would attract. But there is a lack of vision and leadership, no one seems to be willing to step up and take some initiative on a consistent basis.

Occasionally there are glimmers of hope, flashes of creativity that show the possibilities when people make an effort. Like the Bilenky Cyclocross, a cyclocross race that occurs in December in a local junkyard with a course designed by Bilenky Cycle Works. What started out as a slightly silly, slightly serious race has begun to attract racers from beyond Philadelphia. In three years the Philadelphia Tweed Ride has grown over 125 riders and how many rides have you heard of that include a rest stop to play croquet. Most recently the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia transformed the top level of parking garage into an outdoor movie night that drew a crowd of over 130 people and one dog.

There is potential and there are possibilities. It will take inspiration and motivation to create rides like the Midnight Ridazz and other events.

Save the Date - Breaking Away

On Wednesday, June 8 the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia will have an open air screening of the 1979 classic film Breaking Away, complete with coal fired pizza and ice cream. This film follows cycling obsessed Dave Stoller (Dennis Christopher)a recent high school gradate and his three friends Mike (Dennis Quaid), Cyril (Daniel Stern), and Mooch (Jackie Earle Haley) as they try to figure out the next phase of their lives as adults. This New York Times review accurately sums up Breaking Away without any spoilers. Breaking Away won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and in 2006 the American Film Institute placed Breaking Away as the eighth most inspirational movie in 100 years.

One of the frustrations I have with Philadelphia is a lack of a bicycle culture, unless you are into riding with a club and centuries. I hope that this becomes a monthly summer time event and that the BCGP will consider some additional films. Such as RAD starring Nichole Kidman, BMX Bandits, American Flyers, and the classic love story between and man and his bicycle, Pee Wee's Big Adventure.