Art of Grind
Since the 1800s bicycles have been a powerful liberating tool, starting with the first faltering pedal strokes of a child daring to venture a little further from home. Yet, somewhere in our cultural trajectory, many of us have forgotten the power of this simple machine to build community. This film celebrates the "Run what you brung" adage, and reminds us that, however we choose to engage with the ever changing world of cycling, there is more that brings us together than sets us apart.
Making of the film
As is appropriate given the duality of this film, the story has two markedly different speeds. It took just 2 days to film Pete Stetina cycling across vast swaths of Nevada. In complete contrast to that, over the course of approximately 6 months, Leo Martinez, Kevin Garcia and Justin Williams spent countless hours working in the dusty confines of Leo's dad's garage building a thing of beauty; El Mestizo.Their inspiration initially was a tribute to the old-school lowriders of the late 70s and 80s. However, with a mixture of parts and styles both old and new, this is more than just a hat tip to that period. This bike is neither this nor that. It spans both generations and cultures, hence having earned itself the name "El Mestizo" - a person of mixed race, commonly with European and indigenous roots.
