Julia Wrona not to be reproduced without permission, contact for details.
THE LONG BIKE BACK
2 brothers... 2 bicycles... 1 dream... A story of hit-and-run, recovery and the triumph of the human spirit.
Pearson Constantino has always enjoyed the power and freedom of riding a bicycle and dreamed of pedaling across America’s diverse landscapes. He began planning his cross-country adventure with his brother Pete in the late spring of 2006. In June of that year Pearson was cycling on a suburban New York road, as he had done hundreds of times before, when he was struck 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.
After two surgeries and two weeks confined to a hospital bed, Pearson, broken but unbowed, resolved not only to get back on his bike but to fulfill his dream of riding across America. During his painful and laborious recovery Pearson learned that more than 44000 cyclists are injured by cars in the United States each year and he began advocating for programs and legislation that would increase the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.
Pearson struggled through two years of grueling rehabilitation and numerous physical and personal setbacks. Finally, in August 2008, although still plagued by constant pain in his back and hip and lingering memory loss, Pearson and his brother Pete rode 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 and allowed them to interact with a wide variety of people. Their trip was filled with challenges and humor including unexpected terrain, inclement weather, accidents, inhospitable road conditions, bicycle breakdowns, and funny and touching encounters with local people.
The documentary, The Long Bike Back, is a portrait of Pearson's heroic odyssey from the hit-and-run accident through his recovery and his quest with Pete to ride across the United States. The film highlights their unrelenting drive to spread their message to America—to have everyone experience the joy and freedom of riding a bicycle and to spare others the trauma caused by reckless drivers. The visual backdrop of Pearson and Pete’s inspiring personal journey is the American landscape from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast, from the natural wonders of Yellowstone to the bustling cities of Chicago and Boston, from mighty Mississippi River to the calm of the Finger Lakes; it is a road trip film. The Long Bike Back will showcase the spirit of resilience and overcoming of obstacles, the true American spirit.
The Long Bike Back has what people are looking for now: a powerful and uplifting story about conquering a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. At its core, the film is a comeback story and viewers are looking for tales of triumph to give them renewed hope that they too can persevere. The Long Bike Back will make audiences laugh, cry and, most importantly, stand up and cheer.
