On Yer Bike

It is true to say that in many respects the bicycle has never been more popular than it is today – hence this 2-disc release. A cursory look at the streets of London will tell you that. This DVD set aims to tell you everything you always wanted to know about the bicycle but were afraid to ask!

The history of the two-wheeler could be described as debatably fascinating and here we are going right back to the good old days of the penny-farthing and the bone-shaker, and you are given a generous amount of sheer undiluted viewing pleasure. Well this is perhaps stretching it a little far to say the least. The set contains no less than a staggering 29 films, of which 17 are 5 minutes long and others consist of archive material – covering a period from 1899 to 1983.

In truth this set could only really appeal to the avid bicycle enthusiast. Many of these little gems from the past are hardly worth a look: a number are old adverts – and if the idea of ‘Fat Man on a Bicycle’ (1914) clocking in at 1min. and/or ‘Women Wheelers’ (1929) appeals, this oh so terribly British affair will be right up your street. Perhaps you could cycle up that street on a Hercules, a Raleigh, or a Molton.

DISC 1 has slightly more going for it with the inclusion of a few films featuring actors of a sort and an actual script. Unfortunately these films are almost as laughable as they are patronising. ‘The Ballad of the Battered Bicycle’ (oh please!), and ‘Skid Kids’ might even suggest just a little bit exciting. No such luck! This is the early Fifties and the English sense of fair play predominates and presides over all. ‘How a Bicycle is made’ (1945) is a virtual nightmare at 17min. for the non-cyclist, as for the cyclist…

DISC 2 has ‘Cyclists Abroad’, a spiffing little documentary following the British Cycling Touring Club’s adventures in another country (in this case Austria) in case you haven’t guessed it by the title. Here we meet two Scotsmen, a couple of miners from Scunthorpe, a Welshman in search of a Tyrolean pipe, someone or other from Surbiton, and a host of other ‘sexily clad’ thrilling characters. All in glorious colour, complete with soppy music and the kind of voiceover narration that thankfully was buried years ago.
‘The History of the Molton Bicycle’ (1972) – a 20min. discourse about the small-wheeled portable model is narrated and ‘performed’ by its creator who comes across like the headmaster of some stuffy old minor public school. This hardly rocks either!

Not for me this one, and after watching On Yer Bike I felt like getting on a scooter!