A Review of “Ride the Divide”

Photo credit: Steven Gleasner

If you have the opportunity to see Ride The Divide, you really should! This documentary brings the experience of Tour Divide, the world’s most challenging mountain bike race, to the movie screen.  Yes, it’s really tough: it has racers navigating their way along a 2700 mile rugged course along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The film has its moments of both humor and drama. If you’ve ever been in an endurance event, you’ll really sympathize with the characters as they trudge through snow-covered mountain passes pushing their bike along, and deal with pain, injuries, mechanical break-downs and the will to go on. As a woman, I was really rooting for Mary Metcalf Collier, who in this movie, is attempting to be the first female to complete this race. Her story is particularly inspiring!

 In a great supporting role, this documentary has spectacular scenery, many glimpses of very close encounters with wildlife and best of all, an introduction to some great small towns and the characters they meet along the way such as the unforgettable Larry & his dog! If you’ve never heard of this race before, you’re not alone. The decade-old race is arduous:  the climbs total  200,000 feet, there are no designated rest stops, no support crews are allowed, riders spend long stretches alone in the wilderness, sometimes spending the night in a tiny tent in bear country. Finally, the clock never stops and riders must complete the race in a month or less. It is no wonder that so few people attempt it, much less complete it!

Ride the Divide may inspire you as you take on your next endurance challenge, and it will certainly give you a taste of an amazingly tough race while you can comfortably sit in a cushy chair munching on some popcorn! Here’s a link to a schedule of showings across the country, and a chance to meet the intrepid filmmakers. If you aren’t able to see it then, you can purchase a DVD at their site—a portion of the proceeds go to the Livestrong Foundation. For a taste of what to expect with this movie, check out the preview below.

Mary Metcalf Collier riding through southern New Mexico Photo credit: Stephen Gleasner

Ride The Divide Movie Trailer from Ride The Divide on Vimeo.