good back-story, and good acting

The first must-see film of the year.

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I really wanted to like this film, the subject is so interesting (especially to a cyclist)but the film has very little focus. The film makers seem unsure what the focus of the film is (despite the blurb), sometimes we focus on the ride, sometimes the places we are going through, sometimes the film makers themselves. We meet riders that we never visit again or only for two seconds, riders that often seem interesting and engaging. We listen to phone conversations about or with people that we have no idea who they are and we switch focus on to different riders all the time but with no depth or follow up. It misses the human element, there is very little back story to the riders, how they trained and prepared for the event or why they are doing it. The emotions and struggles they go through is very poorly covered and with little understanding, the whole event and feelings of an event like this seem to come as a constant surprise to the film makers. We don't even get to know who came where in the results. Mary's story is the only one that is almost followed through but even then it's patchy and very surface. It's a real shame, this film and subject could be so interesting but a lack of focus, preparation and editing leave this one of the most disappointing films I have seen by no means the worst, it's still watchable but just too surface and nothing really to engage you.

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.