Matthew Modine

In the ’70s, the story goes, Matthew Modine was broke—too broke even to spring for subway tokens—and trying to make it as an actor in New York. One day, he was selling lemonade to raise funds when he saw a man throw a bike on the ground and take off. Modine figured that he’d wait the day; if no one came to get the ride, he’d make it his. The Raleigh beach cruiser became his vehicle for running errands and getting to auditions.

Modine would later rise to fame as Pte. J.T. “Joker” Davis in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. Since then, he’s also garnered critical acclaim in films such as Gross Anatomy and Short Cuts, as well as hit TV shows like Stranger Things and Weeds. In 2023, Modine starred in the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.

Although he’s ridden bikes for years in New York—even after making good money, as he prefers two wheels—he’s never been a Lycra guy. That changed when he starred in Hard Miles, which was released in U.S. theatres this past spring. In the film, based on a true story, he stars as Greg Townsend, who leads a group of young male delinquents on a 1,600-km ride to the Grand Canyon.

Both he and the young actors had to learn how to use racing bikes quickly. “Well, just like all the kids in the film who had never clipped into a bike, I had to learn,” he said. “No one had even worn Lycra. We all had to experience that together. Clipping your feet into pedals takes cycling to a whole different level.”

Once they got comfortable on the bikes, they learned how to navigate corners and descents in only a few days. Since filming was about to begin, they had a crash course from some experienced riders, including former pro Phil Gaimon.

“He’s a longtime cycling advocate.”

“We were a tight-knit cast, experiencing everything together. Whether it was the pedals or learning how to descend,” Modine said, “it felt like a journey where we were all equals, spending lots of time together. We really had a great time.” Once shooting was over, however, Modine went back to his usual cycling kit—jeans and sneakers. But he was happy with the experience.

The 65-year-old actor does more than just use his bike for transportation: he’s a longtime cycling advocate. In the late 2000s, Modine founded New York’s Bicycle for a Day. The goal of the charity is to spread awareness of the benefits of cycling for greener communities and healthier lifestyles.

Hard Miles was well-received by both the industry and the audience. Would he do another cycling film? “I do love bikes, so you never know what’s next,” he said, “just maybe no clipless pedals the next time.”

FAST FACTS
Matthew Modine

Profession Actor, filmmaker
Lives New York
Bikes Puma foldable for riding around New York City, In Hard Miles: Ventum with 12-speed Shimano Ultegra