More films, but where's the helmet?

As suspected, more films came in at the eleventh hour. I think my biggest distress over this is that so many cyclists in these films are not wearing helmets. What kind of message are we sending? You can ride anywhere, in traffic, on mountain bikes, doing BMX tricks, but no helmet? In one film, the cyclist actually describes an incident with a taxi where he was clipped, went over this handlebars, and landed on his face. The litany of injuries followed: two black eyes, three chipped teeth, 12 stitches in his forehead (and a partridge in a pear tree), but he was back the next day - and laughed over the fact that his mother sent him a helmet - but of course, he wasn't wearing it. Two weeks ago, I witnessed a young teenage boy flip over his handlebars, bringing the bike crashing down on him. Every joint (sholders, wrists, knees, elbows, ankles) was bleeding and he had a golf ball-sized lump on his temple that had blood pouring out of it. Now there's a reason we wear helmets kiddo - when we called him mother, she laughed, "that's the 2nd time this week...". Great parenting skills, lady! He's not going to wear one if YOU don't... My best friend's husband lost his life when a dog came charging out of a house and knocked him over. He road every where and was a Boston bike commuter before almost anyone. This day, however, he was riding out on a country road, should have had time to react, but somehow did not, and now he's gone. They were married 8 months. What a waste. It happens - and it is more about the people you're going to have to leave behind than just you. So think about it and strap it on. Okay - getting off the soapbox now!

Of of the films from last year was about a singer-songwriter named Peter Mulvey. This year, Peter is expanding his tour-by-bike. He's riding in Michigan to a few gigs, then riding to New York to play, and then riding to Massachusetts for a few more gigs (2 at Passims - 9/25 & 26, 1 at the Lizard Lounge on 9/24, as well as one in Northampton). He hauls his guitar and the rest of his gear on a trailer behind his recumbent. Bravo Peter! I'll see you at the Lizard!

http://www.petermulvey.com/the-long-haul-tour-2009/

Listen for our commercials on FNX!

I don't have a schedule yet, but Phoenix Media Group offered us $5K worth of radio advertising. So if you listen to WFNX, you'll hear a plug for the BBFF during the week starting Monday, the 21st of September. Hopefully, this is just the boost we need to make the BBFF a bigger, splashier event than ever! And with the big guns (the NY bike film festival) coming to town sometime in October, we're going to need it!

5th Annual BBFF

It's nail biting time again. Every year, I say, "how do I do this by myself?" (and often, "why?"), yet I keep plugging away. But enough of the whining... This year, we have ZipCar back as a sponsor, Progressive Asset Management has jumped on board (so expect to see them and feel free to turn your IRAs currently invested in wonderful conglomerates like Exxon Oil over to these nice guys, Eric and David), and Wainwright Bank has graciously added to our coffers. We've gotten some awesome films so far, and more, from e-mails I've gotten, are still on the way. This year, the Brattle has their own beer/wine license, and sadly, we have to bid the magnificent folks at Harpoon adieu. *sniff* Thank you, Jessie Cox for all your help over the years. We will have nurse our CBC beers instead. But I am also very excited about our movie site tour on Saturday the 24th. We've had some help from Sam Baltrusis (http://www.loadedgunboston.blogspot.com/) in setting up our route and will include both films of the past and currently or recently completed films. In fact, this year, we'll be cycling by Cam Diaz' condo where she's holed up while filming in the area with Tom Cruise (though presumably not holed up together... don't want to start rumors!).

I'm going to try and update this frequently, so check back for more updates!