We cyclists are painfully aware that quality movies about our beloved pastime are few and far between. There's "Breaking Away," "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" and...well, not much else.
Next week brings the latest bike-centric cinematic entry with "Premium Rush", featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a New York bike messenger with the wrong package to deliver and Michael Shannon as the dirty cop looking to -- ahem -- slam on the brakes. Let's hope this one surpasses the last bike messenger movie that had Kevin Bacon doing some weird bike seduction dance.
To ring in the arrival of this late summer distraction, two local groups, Tempe Bicycle Action Group and State Bicycle Co., are hosting rides that end at screenings of the movie that Jackalope Ranch has already deemed as one of the must-see movies of August.
The Tempe Bicycle Action Group will do a casual ride for 20 lucky movie-goers to a special advance screening on Thursday, Aug. 23. The ride meets at Tempe Beach Park at 6 p.m. and departs for the theater at 6:15 p.m.. TBAG only has 20 passes, so if more than 20 show up RSVP to attend, a lottery will be held to see who gets a lucky ticket.
If you aren't one of the chosen 20 to ride over with the TBAG group, State Bicycle Co. is cranking things a bit faster with an Alley Cat race the following night, Aug. 24, with all participants getting a complimentary movie ticket with race entry. The race gathers at Tempe Beach Park at 7:30 p.m.
Regardless of which ride you join, be sure to bring lights, locks and cash for popcorn. Cycle will be catching this flick as well, so be sure to check back for our review after the movie's release on Aug. 24.
And as the poster says, ride like hell.
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