When life runs you down, you have to get back on the saddle.
Pearson Constantino grew up bicycling past fields of corn on the open roads of New York’s Finger Lakes. There he began dreaming of pedaling a historic route across America’s landscapes with his older brother Pete. As an adult, Pearson used his bicycle not only for fun, but also as his main mode of transportation.
In late June 2006, while cycling to work, Pearson was hit from behind by an SUV. He suffered crippling injuries including a shattered femur, a crushed lumbar vertebra and severe head trauma; his helmet saved his life. The driver didn’t stop and was never apprehended.
After two surgeries and two weeks confined to a hospital bed Pearson was determined, not only to get back on his bike, but to fulfill his dream of riding across America. During his painful and laborious recovery Pearson was outraged to learn that car crashes are the leading cause of death for people under 35 and he began advocating for programs and legislation to increase safety on the roads.
Pearson struggled through two years of grueling rehabilitation and numerous physical and personal setbacks. Finally, on his 30th birthday, though still plagued by constant pain in his back and hip and lingering memory loss, Pearson and his brother Pete began their ride across historic US Route 20. Route 20 is the longest and one of the oldest transcontinental roads in the United States. Their journey across this 'Main Street' America began at the Pacific Ocean in Newport, Oregon and ended 3400 miles east at the Atlantic in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This route traversed the beautiful and diverse American landscape from the natural wonders of Yellowstone to the bustling cities of Chicago and Boston, from the mighty Mississippi River to the calm Finger Lakes and it allowed them to interact with a wide variety of people.
The documentary, The Long Bike Back, is a portrait of Pearson's odyssey from the hit-and-run crash through his recovery and his quest with Pete to ride across the United States. The film highlights their mission of sparing others the trauma caused by reckless drivers and showcases Pearson’s indefatigable spirit of perseverance and optimism. Despite his pain and struggle Pearson says, "Out of a really horrible accident, I get to become the luckiest person in the world, and I don’t forget that at any moment."
Although The Long Bike Back revolves around bicycling, it is not simply a film about cycling. It is a universal story about a man following his dream despite overwhelming obstacles. It’s about life handing you lemons and learning to adapt in order to turn them into lemonade, and this is relevant to everyone. The Long Bike Back is a parable for all of life’s obstacles and for the personal events that become defining moments; that separate life into before and after. And it’s about learning to thrive in the new world of the "after".
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