“I’d like to thank the (Canadian Cycling Magazine) Academy”

With the Oscars airing Sunday, I’m reminded about films featuring cycling. Not just classics about Classics, such as A Sunday in Hell (embedded below because you can never watch it too many times), or Hollywood flicks, such as Breaking Away, but more recent cycling films. Here are three awards I’d like to hand out. Drum roll please…

The CCM Oscar for best documentary about a Canadian frame builder goes to…Marinoni: The Fire in the Frame

In 2014, I caught Tony Girardin’s documentary on the Montreal-based frame builder Giuseppe Marinoni. It’s a great look at Marinoni, a veritable Canadian cycling institution, and hour world-record holder. I might add, Marinoni set his record before the current onslaught of attention for the distinction. Yes, he was there before it was cool. (Take that, Jens Voigt, Jack Bobridge and Rohan Dennis!) Girardin’s film does an  excellent job of capturing the charismatic, mercurial and driven Marinoni. (Full review of Marinoni: The Fire in the Frame.)

The CCM Oscar for best documentary about a side-burned Canadian mountain biker goes to…Working Dogs

I had got a preview copy of Sam Smith’s Working Dogs in early fall and reviewed it for the December 2014/January 2015 issue of the magazine. Smith is known for his cycling-related films, such as the Behind the Barriers and Transition series. Working Dogs is not only a bio about Geoff Kabush, but it looks at the primal drive the seems to not only to be in the man, but in man’s best friend. I spoke with Kabush about the film. For Canadian XC and CX champion, the work is a memento for him of his career and where he came from. (Full review of Working Dogs.)

[vimeo height=”350″ width=”620″]https://vimeo.com/119789184[/vimeo]

The CCM Oscar for most innovative viewing for riding the trainer goes to…CCM associate editor Andre Cheuk

Yes, you can accuse me of bias for this one, but I’m sticking to my guns. Andre pitched me his idea a while ago, but it’s now out there: Asian action films are the best things to watch while riding the trainer. Not only is Andre’s suggestion fun and a bit silly, it works. Need an action sequence to keep you pumped during your 20-minute FTP test? Well, Flash Point is your flick. Get the movie to the 55-minute mark, and go! (Andre’s three film and trainer-workout recommendations.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yJUZF-f1zo

The CCM Oscar for the classic about a Classic that you can never watch to many times goes to…A Sunday in Hell

Boy, Eddy Merckx sure is fussy about his saddle.