Colorado High, Movie Review

This is not a travelogue even though it might take on that appearance. Last week I spent 7 days in Colorado in sponsorship support of the USA Pro Bicycle Challenge. During that 7 days I stayed in 6 different hotels, drove over 2200 miles, loaded and unloaded ice(over 2,000 lbs) and Athletes Honey Milk for the start and finish line plus the various expos in the different cities. All of this was in support of 130 professional riders that are considered the best in the world. The state of Colorado spent over $10 million in support of this event in the name of advertising tourism and put the state out there on national television on a daily basis. I came away from the event impressed with their efforts and impressed with the fact that at least every person in Colorado owns one bicycle at a minimum. At each of the stages the spectators were dressed in bicycle outfits and had their trusty two wheeler right there with them. I saw one family of five that all had a bike and the latest apparel. The next bumper sticker must say, “Either Cycle or Get the Hell Back to Texas!”

The heroes in all this extravaganza are on the average 5’7” tall and weigh around 140 lbs.,(anyone over 6’ are in the jolly green giant category and are very limited) with the leanest upper body for someone still considered living I have ever seen. Then their muscular body really starts below the waist line with highly defined sleek shaved leg muscles that almost look aerodynamic. Being aero is very important to these guys since any wind drag has a tendency to slow them down and they must push harder. Some would call these guys(no gals allowed in this group) great athletes but I question that term to describe them. The greatest cyclist of the past 15 year was our own Lance Armstrong, now past his prime, and he said that he was really not an athlete but simply a technician with a strong VO2 max. Regardless who wins the argument here these guys have a few things that make them athletes, for example they have defined muscles, breath hard, sweat, complain, boast, get mad, say stupid things, wear a helmet in competition, have an air of arrogance, wear a uniform of sorts, and love their field of armor, notably the bicycle.

See you on the roads, I am going for a bike ride, right now!!

Movie Review: “The Debt”, ***, This is a very deep movie about a former Mossad agent, Rachel Singer played by Helen Mirren, who endeavored to capture and bring to trial a notorious Nazi war criminal-The Surgeon of Birkenau-in a secret Israeli mission that ended with his death in the streets of East Berlin. But now, 30 years later, a man claiming to be the doctor has surfaced and Rachel feels she must return to Eastern Europe to uncover the truth. Since Rachel has become famous for her role in this high profile case she had also become overwhelmed by the haunting memories of her younger self and two fellow agents. Quite a deep story and one of those films that skip around in the time so you wonder what year it really is. Even though I only give it three stars it might show up on the possible awards list later in the year. Rated R for some violence and language.

EA, SH.......:)

greerman