Bikes and riverboats go together. So much so that we have a whole page dedicated to bicycling and river cruising. As a bike enthusiast, last week I attended the Asheville, NC premiere of a new movie, Shadow Of A Wheel. I believe many of our readers will relate to the film.
Shadow Of A Wheel was produced by an old friend, Paul Bonesteel. The feature-length film tells the story of 31 teenagers who spent one epic summer crossing America by bicycle in 1982.
During a presentation before the film, Paul told the audience at Asheville’s Fine Arts Theatre that those 31 teenage lives had been transformed during that summer and that his hope was that viewers would leave the film empowered to navigate life’s challenges.
Indeed, the film portrays challenges that many of the riders faced in the years and decades after their ride. Their cross-country adventure gave them the tools to make it through those challenges. I have my own story about how cycling liberated and changed me forever, crossing the United States back at around the same time Paul and 30 others were pedaling from California to North Carolina. But my story is for another time.
For now, I encourage you to watch Shadow of a Wheel, not because Paul is a friend, but because it is a film that I haven’t stopped thinking about since seeing it, and I believe it may affect you in the same way. Shadow Of A Wheel is a very human story and a very American one, interspersed with elation, exhaustion, comedy, tragedy, friendship, the vitality of youth and the wisdom that comes with aging.
I think you will find Shadow of a Wheel as meaningful and moving as I did. If you’re lucky enough to live in North Carolina, you can begin watching Shadow Of A Wheel on PBS NC July 7, 2023.
And if you’re off on a river cruise any time soon, straddle a saddle while in port and pedal. It will do your body, mind and soul a world of good.
Mary says
All though I was in my mid 20s in ’82, I can
relate to the young people I saw in the film. Even if my parents had agreed to let me participate in that journey, I don’t think I would have been able to overcome the challenges they faced. The traffic whizzing by, riding for miles, hours, sometimes in the dark, physical exhaustion and discomfort. I did learn the personal satisfaction that comes with hard work and perseverance. But my lessons were not on that level. I enjoyed the film very much, and am in awe of the participants, and their dedication to honor their commitment. I’ve lived in NC all my life, but don’t remember hearing about this event, til now. What an epic adventure!