Review: Boston Bike Film Festival, Day 1

The only narrative entry in Friday night's fest was "Have Your Cake," the story of a young woman's quarterlife crisis. Catty works in a party store, customizing folks' party experiences and "trying" to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She runs into a college classmate in her store and feels her own accomplishments insignificant in comparison to his music-writing career. Catty misses her own 25th birthday celebration out of self-pity and confusion, but things start looking up for her toward the end of the film. The bike connection comes in Catty's commuter situation: she has no car, so must bike to the party store on a bike with mismatched wheels. It's a good reminder that biking isn't always a choice, but sometimes a necessity. Think about that next time you honk angrily at a poor biker who's adding 30 seconds to your oh-so-important car commute.

"The No Gas Tour" covered Wisconsin singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey's 2007 gas-free tour, in which he toured by bike for 7 cities and 500 miles, pulling his guitar and equipment along behind him. The experience was so exhausting and painful that he did it again in 2008. This Bostonist was mostly excited by the fact that Mulvey toured through her hometown of Sheboygan (in both 2007 and 2008), but also appreciated the thought and effort behind Mulvey's efforts. On the 2007 tour, Mulvey rode an upright bike, but in 2008 he was sponsored by Wheel & Sprocket, who gave him a recumbent bike to ride. Of the nerdy appearance of the recumbent, Mulvey says he's "saving the environment one dorky mile at a time." Mulvey doesn't think his efforts are going to save the world by any means, but notes, "it's nice to be a little pebble in an avalanche" of efforts to change things for the better.

If Mulvey is a pebble, Cycle2city is a giant boulder--or at least aspires to be. The Australian organization provides super-fancy bike parking, locker rooms, and laundry service to bike commuters. Ride into Cycle2city, park your bike, shower off, change into your work clothes, and get your bike clothes cleaned up for your commute home, all for only $5/day. That might sound expensive, but Cycle2city notes that parking is at least $25/day in the city--that's a big savings right there. Lynette Chiang toured the facilities to find out what it was like. We were impressed, and hope the facility's as popular as it is pristine.

"Livin' Large with Bikes Not Bombs" covered some collection efforts by Boston's own Bikes Not Bombs. The organization takes in about 5000 bikes a year, which it refurbishes and donates internationally or sells at low prices to the community. It also teaches kids how to fix bikes, creating a future generation of bikers. Bikes Not Bombs has a volunteer night every Wednesday from 7-10pm if you'd like to get involved.

The last film of the evening was perhaps the most impressive. It followed Hybrid.Pedal, a 1000-mile bike ride from Portland (Oregon) to Salt Lake City done in partnership with members of The Conservation Alliance to raise awareness of conservation issues. The well-made film featured interviews with nature enthusiasts from across Oregon, Idaho, and Utah, demonstrating the confluence of goals for bikers and activists and showing how the groups can join forces for mutual benefit. There's gorgeous footage of nature and the bikers, shot by totally insane crew members. Perhaps the most professional and engaging film of the festival, Hybrid.Pedal nonetheless retained a sense of activism and community that is so often at the heart of biking.

The Bike Film Festival Day 1 was a success--stop by the Brattle tonight for more. Tonight's lineup introduces Bike Messengers in Amsterdam, DIY, Remember 2 Breathe, Miki Bikes, Another New Bike, and Full Cycle. If you're feeling ambitious, head to Landry's Bikes (890 Comm Ave) at 2:30pm for a ride around town and up to the festival! The ride will cover several infamous film locations around town, including spots from Good Will Hunting, The Departed, and The Surrogates (the new Bruce Willis film). The ride will be 10-15 miles total.