Movie Review-The Hard Road and Pro The Movie

by Trish Albert, March 2005

Thanks to a friend, I got to borrow two movies to watch this week while I toiled away on the trainer in my living room. Jamie Paolinetti, a former pro rider, directed both of the documentary style movies.

The Hard Road looks at the Net Zero Professional Cycling Team during its only year of existance from the beginning of the season until the end. Jamie gives an insider's view into what the life of a US based Division 3 Pro is like. Viewers are taken behind the scenes to see daily life on the road, at home, and the sacrifices the riders and their families make to pursue the dream of riding professionally. Being pro on a Division 3 team (now Continental team) means low pay, long hours, many sacrifices, and possibly working a second job in order to pay the rent. The average salary of a D3 pro is about $10,000/year. The riders often discover who they really are, what motivates them to race, and what it takes to make it in the professional ranks.

The movie is a little rough around the edges. The sound and video quality are occasionally poor. For some of the races, it appears as though a home video camera was used instead of a production quality camera. During those times, the unsteady and grainy video is distracting. This may be attributed to some race footage being supplied by the race promoters. Also, the story jumps around in an order that does not always make sense.

Despite a few shortcomings, The Hard Road is a movie for any cycling enthursiast that wants to learn more about professional racing behind the scenes. Jamie conveys the story of the triumph and heartbreak of the Net Zero team.

Pro the Movie is must watch for anyone that is into bike racing. Jamie Paolinetti takes viewers behind the scenes of the Wachovia Cycling Classic, the US National Road Race Championship, held each June in Philadelphia. The focus is on several teams including Healthnet, US Postal, and Webcor. Cameras follow the teams through "Philly Week" as well as to the homes of several riders as they prepare for Wachovia. Viewers get a feel for what it is like for the riders behind the scenes in Americas biggest race. It is easy to feel the hard work, heartbreak, and rewards that come with riding professionally.

Pro the Movie was more professional-the sound quality of the rider interviews was better, the sound track did not interrupt the story, and the video was professional quality throughout. The narration and story line are more cohesive and smoother.