High Speed Cross DVD Reviews

Since there are only about two XC/Solo mountain bike movies in existence, and I own them both, Wifey bought me two Cyclocross DVDs for Christmas. (Thanks Wifey!!)

To me, Cross is the next best thing to mountain bike racing, so Cross movies are the next best things to get my legs moving and a fire in my loins. 24 Solo, Off Road To Athens, and various "other" www. MPEGs work best. ;)

The two DVDs are Pure Sweet Hell and The Nine Ball Diaries. Both rock, but in different ways. Here's some random thoughts on both. And I do mean random. I was jotting notes and drinking beer whilst watching...

First up is Pure Sweet Hell. I knew P.S.H. was gonna rock when I noticed a quote on the cover from one of my all time favorite cycling writers (Mike Ferrentino) and another one on the back from kick ass USA Today writer/Solo MTB racer, Sal Ruibal. The film is shot in Super8, and is a great gimps into the rise of Cross in the U.S.. It's very much a documentary on the sport, but done in cool indie rock sort of way. Here are the random notes and thoughts I jotted as I watched....

The Kelly jerseys rocked and made me want a T6 Masher jersey.

The race footage/music at the end of Chapter 1 is the single greatest part of any cycling video EVER. (PERIOD!!)

Cross racing is truly a bi-polar freak out.

Watching this reminds of that Superchunk DVD that I have.

The soundtrack has a Joy Division meets Modest Mouse indie feel.

The Cross crowds rock.

I want to live in Northern California.

Check out those vintage Pumas and toe clips! Of course they weren't "vintage" then.

JUNGLE CROSS!!

I think I want a Cross bike next fall.

I think I need another beer....

So from all that randomness I guess you MIGHT be able to tell I REALLY liked the film. I've watched it twice now and started it a 3rd time. Each time I see or hear something cool. The movie works on a ton of levels and should be required viewing for anyone who loves riding their bike in the mud and dirt.

2nd up is The Nine Ball Diaries. This film was also really good, but in a different way. The race footage was incredible and the film quality was amazing. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as P.S.H.. I wish they would have had a narrator to put the story together rather than Tim Johnson telling it. Johnson is an amazing racer and watching him in the movie is incredible. But a story teller/writer he's not and that's OK, but I kept longing for The 9 Ball Diaries to be Adam Craig, Dave Z.'s diary. For them to be telling the story, or for it to be about no one in particular and just a sweet film about a cool ass sport.

Interviews with Johnson, his wife, teammates etc., were cool and the insight into a PRO's life is always neat to see, but somewhere it fell flat. It still rocked and I recommend if for anyone that digs Cross. If you're borderline on the whole Cross thing, then I would go with Pure Sweet Hell first.

I'm not much on reviewing movies, but I thought I'd share anyway.

Later.