Why we Ride

Close-up of a cyclist wearing a helmet and sunglasses riding a bicycle outdoors near a body of water, with greenery and hills in the background, for a documentary titled 'Why we Ride: the Buffalo Bicycle Classic' by Ethan Geiger.

Why we Ride: the Buffalo Bicycle Classic.

Cinematographer · Director · Producer · Editor

“Why We Ride” is a short documentary following two people: a student attending CU but without the means to self-fund it, and an adult who previously was able to go to college because of a scholarship and now participates in THE BBC, a scholarship fundraiser for CU.

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About the Project

The goal of this film was to attract new riders to the Buffalo Bicycle Classic. A major draw of it is the beauty of the route the race takes. It was important to capture the beauty of Colorado through this movie. This meant filming at the crack of dawn for a few hours, getting everything that could be captured, and repeating that day after day. A particular challenge was Jim’s interview, which was filmed outside during sunrise. Pumping in enough light onto Jim’s face was not only difficult from a technical standpoint, but it was difficult for Jim to keep his eyes open while being bombarded with light. Extensive post-production work was done to further increase the lighting on Jim and bring out the detail in the background. A careful balance had to be maintained between retaining detail and keeping the shots realistic. Early cuts of the film had much more dynamic range in Jim’s interview, allowing the audience to see all the details of the mountains, but this was later pulled back as it looked unrealistic.

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Info

Plot Summary

This mini documentary intertwines two individuals, Jim Pendleton and Jessica Nesbit, and how the Buffalo Bicycle Classic, and scholarship has affected their life. Jim, able to pursue college by obtaining a scholarship, is now able to help the next generation also achieve their dreams, all while doing something he loves.

Technical Details

  • Sound Mix: Stereo
  • Aspect Ratio: DCI 4K
  • Camera: BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K / Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
  • Negative Format: Blackmagic RAW / Prores 422HQ / Redcode RAW

Release Details

  • Country of Origin: United States
  • Languages: English

Production Status

Treatment
Pre-Prod
Filming
Post-Prod
Completed
Released
Full Credits (9)
Ethan GeigerDirector“Dr. Milksop,” “Seeking the Unkown”
Ethan GeigerProducer“Dr. Milksop,” “Seeking the Unkown”
Tim GrassleyProducer“Seeking the Unkown”
Ethan GeigerCinematographer“Dr. Milksop,” “Seeking the Unkown”
Ethan GeigerEditor
Jessica NesbitCast
Jim PendletonCast
Ethan GeigerCamrea Operator
Fritz McwhirterCamrea Operator