The mere thought of trekking through the dark, snowy mornings of the Midwest sounds insane to me — even with the caveat that several of my coworkers do exactly that in their wintertime commutes. After seeing Mike Prendergast’s A Winter of Cyclists however, perhaps I’m the crazy one.
Capturing the “Icy Bike Winter Commuting Challenge” through 12 participants, Prendergast’s documentary sits down with (and follows the routes of) the cyclists as each attempts to complete the challenge’s 52 commutes between October and March. Despite such an ambitious number of frosty trips, Prendergast doesn’t limit his film’s focus to veteran cyclists. Challengers surveyed range from seasoned winter commuters to budding cyclists to a few featured Wisconsin residents. What’s more, Prendergast follows the cyclists on their morning commutes, so his coverage feels rigorous in its first-person perspective shots.
Through shared testimony (and the occasional voicemail message), A Winter of Cyclists captures the dreary and surprisingly rewarding experience of miles-long bike trips as riders divulge upgrades to their winter clothing as well as their personal motivations for participating in the program, which include environmentalist concerns and meeting personal fitness goals. Those attending the Barrymore Theatre’s screening this Wednesday night will also be treated to in-person appearances by Prendergast, Madison resident and commuter-challenger Heather McCullough and Madison Bike Winter’s Aaron Crandall. Considering Madison is home to plenty of people like this, there doesn’t seem to be a more ideal film to play right now.
- A Winter of Cyclists plays Wednesday, March 26 at the Barrymore Theatre at 7:00p. Tickets are $10.