"If you’ve ever dreamt of challenging yourself and/or pushing yourself to a place far beyond what you previously thought possible, Bicycle Dreams is a film you must see. It’s beautiful, thought provoking, exciting, emotional, and scary. And like the riders who take part in this race, the experience of watching the film will leave you with a new perspective on life that will most certain remain with you for a very long time to come."
"This is a truly gripping film, with more drama in 8 days than an entire Tour De France. Bicycle Dreams is riveting, possibly because it's less about bikes and more about people. It's a dramatic saga with bikes simply and literally being the vehicles for hope, pain, disillusionment, despair, happiness, and as the title suggests, dreams. It's an impressive and deeply inspirational film."
"To say Bicycle Dreams is fascinating is putting it mildly. The 1985 film American Flyers was a fictional portrayal of a three-day race across the Rocky Mountains. Breaking Away in 1979 was also a fictionalized story of a young man’s desire to race. But Bicycle Dreams, in 2009 is not fiction. It’s very real and very inspiring."
"Bicycle Dreams is a heartfelt and intriguing look into the incredible physical, mental and spiritual demands that the most grueling sporting event in the world delivers by the truck load. From start to finish this film gets it grip on you and does not let go."
"Bicycle Dreams is a great film about the monumental tasks that we endurance people take on to find out who we are. I would give this move 5 stars and it would be a great addition to any film library. Who knows, maybe this will inspire the next Lance Armstrong or someone to just get off the couch and be a player in the world and not a spectator."
"You know a DVD is good when you immediately hit "play" as soon as the end credits are rolling. That's exactly what I did with Bicycle Dreams. The footage and editing are brilliant, providing a unique view into the minds and souls of those crazy enough to try and ride 3,000 miles across the US in 12 days. I think it's interesting to any athlete, but for endurance athletes this movie is a "must see". I've watched it three times now, and it just keeps getting better."
"They ride while sobbing. They hallucinate. Beyond the usual definition of exhaustion, they attempt to sleep, and fail. Then they get back on their bikes—often with assistance because their bodies are so trashed—and keep riding. It doesn’t make sense. But it makes for a great film."
"Stephen Auerbach was kind enough to send me a copy of his movie "Bicycle Dreams." What I did not realize is just what a wonderful gift it would be. His film is a captivating story of the human experience. It was literally an emotional roller-coaster ride for me. I would easily put this movie on the same level as "The Flying Scotsman" or "American Flyers." Do yourself a favor and see this Movie."
"Capturing emotional and physical breakdowns, personal triumphs and ultimate tragedy, Auerbach portrays these athletes wonderfully. Do they have to be a little crazy to compete in the RAAM? Probably. But they also have to be admired. “Bicycle Dreams” is a great film that captures the heart of this odyssey."
"Good cycling movies are hard to come by. Bicycle Dreams is as good as it gets, and it's about a lot more than cycling, which is what sets it apart."
"Bicycle Dreams celebrates the human spirit. Auerbach’s film would be an excellent addition to the home film library of any film enthusiast."
"I’ve been a cyclist for years and have never found a cycling related film that I found engrossing. I watch the Tour de France but completely understand why the majority of people think it’s boring. “Bicycle Dreams”, on the other hand, is something I think every athlete, and everyone looking for athletic inspiration, should watch. By the end of the movie you feel close to the riders, inspired to push yourself, and if nothing else, sheer awe at the physical strength and mental determination of these riders."
"Auerbach's Bicycle Dreams is colorful, compelling viewing of the 24th running of the longest human-powered race on the planet, the Race Across America. Extreme sports necessitates the exploration of exhaustion and ecstasy. Auerbach has delivered heavy doses of both."
"I have seen a lot of documentary films. Bicycle Dreams is without question in my top 5 of all time. See it!"
"I have seen several RAAM videos over the years and Bicycle Dreams shows the emotions of the race the best. RAAM fans will love the film. Even non-cyclists will enjoy experiencing how these road warriors deal with pushing their limits."
"The scenes of mad Slovenian Jure Robic (four-time RAAM winner and apparently impervious to sleep) and his challengers trying to fight off mental and physical breakdowns make for an intriguing drama. The result captures a good deal of the grit and poetry of RAAM"
"The movie, which some might suggest would be more appropriately named "Bicycle Nightmares," is an amazing study in energy management. The competitors tap every energy source: physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. It is both brutally inspirational and startlingly instructive. On one hand, it makes the challenges that we mere mortals face seem almost trivial by comparison. On the other hand, as we watch the competitors barter their sanity, money, health and even lives for an insignificant prize, it forces us to ask ourselves the same question the producers repeatedly ask the racers: Why?"
"How much drama can you extract from a lone cyclist pedaling an empty road beneath a huge sky? Plenty. This 105-minute DVD about the 2005 RAAM offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of ultra-marathon cycling. It's painful -- yet weirdly inspiring -- to watch the riders gradually break down as the miles mount. They hallucinate. They weep. They bicker with their crew. They collapse. But they keep going. It's about challenging your limits, one says. It's a spiritual journey, explains another. It's ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things, adds a third.As one commentator says, "There's no way these people are normal." And this is no ordinary cycling movie."
"Stephen Auerbach has captured the very heart of the race, resisting the desire to make just another documentary: there's not a chance this could be split into episodes and shown on the Discovery Channel over the course of a few weeks - it's far too engrossing for that. Generally, reviewing movies involves having pen and paper sitting nearby to make notes; I was too involved to write anything. I can't say that I understand why anyone would actually want to put themselves through such purgatory on a bicycle, but on the other hand, maybe I do. It's a very strange world out there, and Lance Armstrong may be right: sometimes it really isn't about the bike."
"I can't say enough about this excellent documentary about the Race Across America (RAAM), Bicycle Dreams. The documentary chronicles several racers experiencing both the ups and downs of racing this majestic race, while simultaneously making profound personal discoveries along the way. Again, I can't help but praise this film as it elegantly documents cycling and its intersection with human drama Do watch it."
"This film will put a new perspective on your own riding and the reasons you ride. I highly recommend you get a copy of this DVD and place it within easy reach of your indoor trainer. It belongs in your video library to be pulled out whenever you need a healthy dose of inspiration. Thank you Mr. Auerbach for your passion and commitment to telling the stories that inspire us all."
"Bicycle Dreams, a documentary about the RAAM (Race Across America), is a heck of a film. There are things in this movie that reward you for watching it, then watching it again later. This is a brilliant story of pain, strength, tears, and glory. As a viewer of the movie from the comfort of a couch, I found myself thinking many times, “is this real?” Amazing! I imagine every cyclist who has seen this movie has ridden a little bit further or harder ever since. Bicycle Dreams is an incredibly inspirational movie."
