In a land before YouTube and TikTok, a producer I knew introduced me to award-winning filmmaker Eric Matthies who shared my passion for cycling. Together, we created a TV pilot about cycling subcultures in Los Angeles. The show didn't get picked up, but the experience paid dividends we couldn't have imagined at the time. You can view the full pilot episode here. To see The Warriors alleycat film from the Bicycle Film Festival mentioned in this episode, go here. The Beastie Boys, Spike Jonze, Doug Aitken, Public Enemy, Soundgarden, a Tribe Called Quest, the Matrix, Man of Steel, 300, Nike, Converse & Vans are but a few of the artists, films & companies who have leveraged Eric's creative talents. He has made numerous award-winning documentary films with his partner, Tricia Todd including End of Truth, Killing The Messenger: The Deadly Cost of News, and Agile Mobile Hostile: A Year With Andre Williams. Eric is also the creator of Defy Apathy, a ‘zine and creative movement. You can learn more about Eric at www.ericmatthies.me and access the creative output of Defy Apathy at www.defyapathy.net. Cycling has transformative power for people and the world. Life Cycles is a new series within Choose the Hard Way that explores peak performance and the obstacles people overcome to do great things with guests related to cycling. Please leave us an iTunes review (even one word is great) and give the show a five-star rating on Spotify or iTunes. I do this show because I love bringing you the stories of my guests and I really appreciate you taking a second to support us. Subscribe to this show wherever you listen and go to https://www.choosethehardway.com/newsletter to sign up for the Choose the Hard Way newsletter.

Life Cycles: Eric Matthies x Andrew Vontz on the cycling TV pilot that didn't fly