Chasing Legends

New cast for France! Lets me focus.

2011-06-28T06:44:00.001-07:00

Mac & Cheese Pizza? I love this town!!!

2011-04-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

Filling up

2011-04-27T16:53:00.001-07:00

Word

2011-04-27T15:25:00.001-07:00

Yea Poz

2011-04-27T13:30:00.001-07:00

When in Rome

2011-04-27T13:03:00.001-07:00

Lobby of the Orpheum

2011-04-27T12:05:00.001-07:00

Old theaters are rad

2011-04-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Wow

2011-04-27T10:51:00.001-07:00

Wish they'd put us on the marque

2011-04-27T10:29:00.001-07:00

News studios are always cool looking

2011-04-26T13:46:00.001-07:00

Gripped Films announces Gripped Racing Powered by Saab, Dogfish and Kenda

2011-04-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

Gripped Films is proud to announce our sponsorship with Saab, Dogfish Alehouse and Kenda for the 2011 season! New website at www.GrippedRacing.com to launch soon.

Chasing Legends in RIT University Magazine

2011-04-14T06:21:00.001-07:00

Director Jason Berry was recently featured in his alumni magazine. RIT has been very supportive by promoting our screenings and helping to get the word out about Gripped Films' work. More can be found here.

ONE NIGHT ONLY - in MADISON

2011-04-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

We're looking forward to our screening on Wednesday April 27th at the gorgeous Orpheum Theatre in Madison, Wi. Home of Trek Bicycles and one of the most cycling-friendly towns in America, Madison is a gorgeous city filled with healthy people. If you live in Moo-town or know someone who does, try to make it to this special one-night event. Director Jason Berry will be on hand for a Q&A after the show (and maybe even some cycling and log rolling with local World Champion Shana Martin). Click HERE for tickets.

Over 40 CANADIAN CITIES screening CL on Feb 2nd, 7pm

2010-12-17T13:11:00.001-08:00

Times Square is a different planet

2010-12-06T09:47:00.001-08:00

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Headed North

2010-12-06T05:19:00.001-08:00

Up to NYC for a shoot and hopefully a very important meeting. Not sure why so few people use the train, its soooo much better than flying.
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RIT

2010-11-24T09:14:00.001-08:00

Doing an interview with the university magazine. Amazing how much this place changed since I went here. And its nice to get so much support for our film.
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Better late than never

2010-11-15T13:11:00.001-08:00

Here are some images from the show in Marin a couple weeks back. Huge thanks to Dan Veto, Scott Penzarella and Studio Velo, the guys at Mikes Bike Shop, Bernice at the Lark Theatre, my good friends Marty and Jason and all the folks who came out to see the shows. I look forward to returning to this beautiful part of the world and riding with such good people.
This work of art (imported Viva Belissimo ) was given away, huge thanks to Mikes Bikes for donating it and to Dan (standing to my right) for making it all happen.

Climbing up from the beach - Scott & Marty at conversation pace

The birthplace of mountain biking

Our group ride

Self-made successful owner of Studio Velo Scott Penzrella points out the scenery as we climb Mt. Tamalpais. The views were stunning - so glad the rain held off!

Stoked to have Marty along for the adventure

Felt really good to stretch the legs after so much travel.

A brief stop at Muir woods - if only we had some mountain bikes to switch to...

I win 2 flights in a row!

2010-10-24T01:03:00.001-07:00

The "Screaming Baby Beside Me" lottery! How is it I am this lucky?
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While stuck in Rome...

2010-10-23T08:37:00.001-07:00

Germans have some decent beer however I'll stick to my beloved Dogfish.
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The line

2010-10-23T05:21:00.001-07:00

Which leads to a longer line before having to re-book to fly out tomorrow. Ze excellent.
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Mayhem in the seat beside me

2010-10-23T02:02:00.001-07:00

Seated. With screaming 2yr old and disheveled, clue-less, oblivious, control-less mother beside me.
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The O2 from the river. A full moon has risen over London. Time to head home.

2010-10-22T10:13:00.001-07:00

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Love bagpipes. Love fish too. London Aquarium in background.

2010-10-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

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Seeing London by water.

2010-10-22T06:47:00.001-07:00

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Minutes

2010-10-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

Before the start of the film, as I sat on stage waiting for the mic to start working...
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Brian and Rolf

2010-10-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

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Movie star Mark

2010-10-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

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Well branded

2010-10-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

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Catering putting the finishing touches on things

2010-10-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

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Hard to explain how big this place is!

2010-10-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

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Massive

2010-10-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

See that little guy sitting in a chair on stage? That's going to be me in a couple hours. Satellite check - all systems sync'd.
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Game time!

2010-10-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

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Taylor Swift

2010-10-20T10:35:00.001-07:00

Literally bumped into her coming out the lift (tho I admit I have little more than a clue as to who she is)
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Hmmm

2010-10-20T09:57:00.001-07:00

This must be the place
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Quiet, Cold Day

2010-10-20T08:02:00.001-07:00

After catching up on sleep I've ventured outside. A bit nicer than the dark rain of yesterday. Not a cloud in the sky here. Perfect day for hot chocolate. About to head down to the BBC to meet Cav.

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Ahhhh London

2010-10-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

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We are everywhere! This is Cinema Center downtown London

2010-10-19T11:51:00.001-07:00

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Game on!

2010-10-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

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Dogfish Head

2010-10-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

The source of many good things for Gripped Films.
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The Rolf & Brian Show

2010-10-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

I asked the guys for some quotes to feed to the UK press.

This from Bernhard Eisel:

"Just put some words in my mouth about the movie. I trust you!
Just make something cool! Great inside movie, amazing pictures and rolf and brian are too funny. In my opinion they whould get a reality show!"

Here is what I got from Brian Holm:

"Chasing Legends maked me realize, what my biggest Challenge during a 3 week long Tour de France is.
It to stay in same car as Fritz Aldag 5 hours daily and Listen to his bollocks $"+@;-"+¤"
-Brian

And from Rolf Aldag:

"If I would have known that jason is such a pain in the ass, I would have never talked to him.
Or:
Jason just got lucky on that movie. His real level of filming is at a mountain bike race, not the tour de france.
Or:
The only time I enjoyed working with jason was, when I missed the team bus and he gave me a lift with his camping car, including a pizza stop and a beer out of the fridge.
Or:
Great movie, who did it?
Or:
Every time I see the movie, a lot of great memories come up. It was a once in a liftime expirience and all of the team members loved to be part of it. It really shows the inside of the team and the tour and brings all the emotions across. That what the tour is about. "

Let me guess which one you take. If none of them is good, do your own.
-Rolf

Broadway Success

2010-10-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Huge thanks to everyone who came out to the CL screening on Broadway last week. It was a great success and I had a great time during my short visit to the city. Some images from the show and NYC:
Grand Central Station - I've always found beauty in small details, even in a hall as large as GCS. The details speak to craftsmanship of another era.

The classic NYC markets

Bikes everywhere, many with tape covering every inch, many with massively huge chain locks

Someone buying sunflowers on a rainy day

The very classy Symphony Space

Friend, fundraiser and first time marathoner next month Nancy Faingar and I in front of our display. Huge thanks to PowerBar for such much product to give away.

Big space to fill but we packed it

We gave the new cycling magazine "Peloton" a shout out for their great article about the making of CL. Online abridged version here: http://www.pelotonmagazine.com/
Check newsstands next month.

A happy director after the show

Packing the house!

2010-09-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

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Broadway Tonight!

2010-09-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

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Gripped Team Ride.

2010-09-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

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Hello Dallas! Come out to the show tomorrow night - ONE NIGHT ONLY!

2010-09-14T13:58:00.001-07:00

The Studio Movie Grill 7pm Sept 15th

Every now and then

2010-09-02T12:59:00.001-07:00

Its good to put the bike aside. Time to say hi to Earl. Thanks East of Maui Boardshop for the new wave killer!
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Tv10 in Rochester promoting tonights show

2010-08-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

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Win this Cruiser at the Rochester Show! (7pm)

2010-08-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

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Untouched Hemlock Lake

2010-08-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

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Upstate NY road ride - Gorgeous!

2010-08-13T12:16:00.001-07:00

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Hello TDL

2010-07-26T13:31:00.000-07:00

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JB in NYC

2010-07-26T13:12:00.001-07:00

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Bend Oregon - thanks for a great show!

2010-06-28T12:09:00.001-07:00

Back to the mixing board with Haik

2010-06-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

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Pierre Cogan 97 Years and Still Rolling

2010-06-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite parts of the film, Pierre left the Tour in 1936 because of WWII. He fought in a tank regiment and was captured. He escaped three times. After 10 years he made his way back to cycling and finished 7th in the Tour. Simply amazing.

No Words Needed

2010-06-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

Just some of our favorite images from the World Premiere Tour of California

In another day or two we'll get tons of photos up from the premiere. It was an amazing week, unforgettable!!

2010-05-26T18:54:00.001-07:00

Adrian!

2010-05-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

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Bakersfield Fox Theatre

2010-05-20T19:59:00.001-07:00

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Catching up

2010-05-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

With the boys. Just heard about Lance, ouch.
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Big Sur

2010-05-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

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Celebratory BM for Emmac

2010-05-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

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Hello Santa Cruz!

2010-05-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

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Mic Rogers in front!!

2010-05-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

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Santa Cruz

2010-05-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

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On to Santa Cruz

2010-05-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

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No one wants a ride in this rig.

2010-05-17T18:20:00.001-07:00

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Em, Phil and JZ

2010-05-16T11:44:00.001-07:00

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Paul working- kinda.

2010-05-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

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We did it.

2010-05-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

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Stars have arrived

2010-05-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

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Huh?

2010-05-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

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Finished. Word.

2010-05-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

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Tomorrows finish line of our hotel! C'mon CAV!

2010-05-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

Is right in front
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Upgraded marquee

2010-05-14T12:51:00.001-07:00

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Channel 3 News, live interview

2010-05-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

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Its ON!

2010-05-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

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CHAMPS ELYSEES

2010-04-27T20:39:00.001-07:00

The first time I lived through the 2009 Tour it took me 26 days.
The second time it took 9 months.
It's been a very long journey and I will be
so very happy to return to my life.
Photo is from the victory lap.
I was honored to be part of it.

Almost famous, but not quite.

2010-04-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

Robbie Ventura has some fun with director Jason Berry on the last day. No, you did not see this on Versus. He's just not that important. But the Versus guys were always fun to hang out with.

Phil watches a bit of Chasing Legends. Phil is the man.

2010-04-24T11:40:00.001-07:00

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spectators

2010-04-23T21:13:00.001-07:00

this guy was great

Cav's secret - Harbro Jelly Beans before a stage.

2010-04-23T16:52:00.001-07:00

Firepower

2010-04-22T15:41:00.001-07:00

TDF style.

Drivers Ed...

2010-04-21T18:17:00.001-07:00

Rolf doing an impersonation of Brian at the wheel.

Brian isn't amused.

In the Haik studio

2010-04-20T19:59:00.001-07:00

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Kim digs deep on Stage 16. The footage is amazing.

2010-04-19T09:43:00.001-07:00

Life as Cav knows it

2010-04-19T09:36:00.001-07:00

Bernies foot after 17 days of TDF. "The body is breaking down. And it hurts."

2010-04-12T08:59:00.001-07:00

The shooter being shot

2010-04-06T21:10:00.001-07:00

Tim gets the shot and is in the shot.

Bicycling Magazine - May Issue

2010-04-03T16:59:00.001-07:00

Check it:

Tim Scores Lunch On The Go

2010-04-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

Tim De Waele, one of the best pro cycling photographers in the world, gets a bite to eat.

Tims moto driver, nerves of steel.

After a long day Tim is a little nutty.

But he's once again earned a good beer!

Huge thanks Tim. You rock!

Bernie Cam

2010-03-29T12:40:00.001-07:00

If you didn't guess the cyclist from 2 blogs ago was Phil Liggett. And here we have a shot of the current world champions legs (Cadel Evans) as seen by Bernie Eisel.
And here is a rare glimpse of the director with camera in hand.

I'm not sure why he chose the hardest stage of the Tour (17) to let us put a camera on his bike but with it he went over 5 mountains, 4 were Category 1 climbs. Bernie - you are the MAN

CONGRATS BERNIE FOR WINNING GHENT-WEVELGEM!!!!

2010-03-28T13:12:00.001-07:00

A hint

2010-03-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

he won the Member of the Order of the British Empire medal - straight from the Queen.

Name that cyclist

2010-03-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

a few years back...but still a huge part of pro cycling and Chasing Legends...

The First Mountains

2010-03-25T06:57:00.001-07:00

The assistant organiser, Victor Breyer, stood at the summit of the Aubisque with the colleague who had proposed including the Pyrenees, Alphonse Steinès. Breyer wrote of the first man to reach them:

His body heaved at the pedals, like an automaton, on two wheels. He wasn't going fast but he was at least moving. I trotted alongside him and asked 'Who are you? What's going on? Where are the others?' Bent over his handlebars, his eyes riveted on the road, the man never turned his head nor uttered one sole word. He continued and disappeared round a turn. Steinès had read his number and consulted the riders' list. Steinès was dumfounded. 'The man is François Lafourcade, a nobody. He has caught and passed all the cracks' ... Another quarter-hour passed before the second rider appeared, whom we immediately recognised as Octave Lapize. Unlike Lafourcade, Lapize was walking, half leaning on, half pushing his machine. But unlike his predecessor, Lapize spoke, and in abundance. 'You are assassins, yes, assassins!' To discuss matters with a man in this condition would have been cruel and stupid.

Cultural Significance of the Tour

2010-03-25T06:51:00.001-07:00

Found some interesting quotes while doing research:

The academic historians Jean-Luc Boeuf and Yves Léonard say most people in France had little idea of the shape of their country until L'Auto began publishing maps of the race. They wrote:

At the start of the 20th century, the French were still largely ignorant (connaissent encore très mal) of the geography of their country. Maps were rare and little used, even at school. The physical shape of France and its contours remained an unknown for most Frenchmen ... Efforts to interest school children in the image in general and maps in particular were in vain. The book Tour de France par Deux Enfants didn't have a map of France before its 1905 edition, by which time it had sold seven million copies!
—^[139]

By the maps of France [that it published], the Tour de France became at the same time a teacher, in printing a map of the contours of the country – which was rare at least until the Great War – and populist in portraying France as a hexagon, a France not only amputated from 1903 of its "lost provinces" but also its overseas possessions and Corsica, never visited in a century and still missing from maps of the Tour de France.
—^[139]^{[n 3]}

Eugen Weber, in the foreword to Tour de France: 1903–2003 says:

The Tour contributed more to France than new-model heroes. It put flesh on the bones of values taught in school but seldom internalized: effort, courage, determination, stoic endurance of pain, and even fair play. It familiarized a nation with its geography. It brought life, activity, excitement into small towns where very little happened; it introduced a festive atmosphere wherever it passed; and it acquainted provincial backwaters with spectacular displays previously available only in big cities.

More Mountains

2010-03-18T05:30:00.001-07:00

Trying to pack a lot of mountain views into the movie - I think most people love the mountains so we'll deliver a solid dose.

Our friend Jan, always smiling

A look back to Monaco - preride on the prologue course with the team. Up close and personal.