Hollywood Rides A Bike: Cycling With the Stars

by Steven Rea

As National Public Radio puts it, “Bikes have come to connote coolness, urbanity and romance.” And as a senior executive at one of those world-class advertising agencies opines, “Everyone loves a bike―sometimes it’s a metaphor, sometimes it’s an archetype.” But come on, people!!! Hollywood always knew the appeal of the bicycle! That’s the “why” of film critic Steven Rea’s homage to Hollywood on two wheels (okay, sometimes three wheels), Hollywood Rides a Cycling with the Stars . This image-filled tome is proof positive that Hollywood, well, yes, pedaled its wares, long before biking became über-trendy. Rea has assembled the ultimate tribute to twentieth-century foxes and a universal collection of cycles . . . these photos of film folks on spokes are sure to be treasured by fans of all ages, genders and persuasions. Already the leader of the bike pack online with his universally recognizedRides a Bike blog on Tumblr, Rea has preserved the best in Hollywood’s documented cyclology in these pages, never to be lost in cyberspace. Hollywood Rides a Bike shows classic stars―from Shirley Temple, Betty Grable, and Brigitte Bardot to Bogie, Gable, and Bing―on wheels, then proves there’s way less than six degrees of separation between Kevin Bacon and all the best bikes Hollywood prop shops have to offer. One hundred twenty-five rare vintage photographs will make bicycle lovers drool over classic models and one-of-a-kinds. Then, especially for cycling aficionados, there’s a special index just about the bicycles! Not to disappoint movie fans, another index is devoted to the book’s Who’s Who of Hollywood stars. For everyone who ever pedaled to the movies, ate popcorn in a cinema, or watched a classic movie channel, Hollywood Rides a Bike is a coffee table must-have. In fact, it’s a double-copy must-have . . . keep an extra in your pannier for easy reference. Steven Rea writes about movies. He is a member of the National Society of Film Critics, and he teaches film studies courses at Drexel University, and produces the popular photo blog Rides a Bike. He also rides a bike.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Media Tie In

160 pages, Hardcover

First published February 29, 2012

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about 150 pages of photographs of movie stars riding bicycles, or simply posed with them. There is a short introduction. Most of the photos are older - only a handful after 1970 or so. Some are off movie stars on bikes in scenes in movies but more are of movie stars on bikes riding around the studio or in some publicity photo that happens to include a bike. The author has often been able to deduce what the bicycle is and provides that information, which is amusing and pleasing if one is interested in that sort of thing. One of the studios apparently liked "Rollfast" cruiser bikes that appear more than others.

As it happens, the author also has a blog that provides the same sort of photographs - http://ridesabike.com/. It says, "Rides a Bike was launched on Thanksgiving Day, 2010 — a photo blog designed to showcase and celebrate two big passions of mine: cycling and cinema." It appears a new photo is still added about once a week. There is a pull-down list of all the movie stars who appear in a photo (or in some cases, more than one).

I got this from the library, paged through it a bit, and was amused. For that, the book is better than the web site I think - but maybe not. Browsing quickly still seems something a paper book can do than a blog-format web site.

[Theresa F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stylish photography with that classic look, a treat to look at. The author also seems very knowledgeable about the minutiae of the various vintage bicycles featured in this collection. In fact, the author seems more interested in the cycles themselves than in the Hollywood stars that are showcased with them. In one instance, the photograph features who the book describes as a "dapper" looking Clark Gable, yet the first thing the author notices about the image is that the rear tire on the bicycle is flat.
While I appreciated the book visually, in an aesthetic sense, I did have trouble getting into the parts of the text where the author was listing off the noteworthy features of the different bikes.
Did I like it? It was engaging to look at, not quite as engaging to read overall.
Would I reread it? No.
Would I recommend it? For the photography, yes. Fans of classic Hollywood would probably enjoy these less well known images of industry defining stars. However, I think you would have to be a cycle buff to really get the most out of it.

[Michael Relland · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute cute -- history & invention collide in an entertaining romp through old Hollywood. It helps to know or have watched these movie stars but you can imagine doing something like this with famous folk from our time and it would likely offer a nice antidote to social media's current valuation of them. Ex, I would love to see a nice pic of Hemsworth riding with some baguette in his bike basket rather than be asked for the 40th time about what it was like to film the Avengers.

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun ride, er, read! Surprising photos, interesting text and a beautiful format. Take it for a spin!

[Kasey Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

some sweet ass bikes in here.

[JBP · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun photo/coffee table type of book from film critic Stephen Rea that has him writing about movie stars who've been caught riding, walking, sitting on or just being next to a bicycle. The dates range back to the 1920s but the bulk of the images are black and whites from the studio system era. Movie stars. There are also screen shots from films with bike riding and publicity stills utilizing bikes, but my favorite images are the ones of the stars as they've been photographed acting naturally on the bikes.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw film critic Steven Rea at a "reading" for his book, a collection of photographs with moviestars (mostly oldtime) on bicycles, and I found it quite amusing how deeply, seriously fascinated he was with the bicycles! I'm looking at the bikes as merely a prop for the moviestars, but this film critic saw those moviestars as merely a means for the photographs of the bicycles to exist. In every picture he presented he gave so much detailed information on the bicyle, and then, oh, by the way there's Brigitte Bardot or Humphrey Bogart sitting on it. It's a lovely book.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's just something about a bike.
There's just something about a Hollywood star.
And, who doesn't love the movies?

Put them all together and Steven Rea created a hit.


This book is fantastic eye candy, a cultural artifact, and a fun source for choosing new-to-me vintage movies to add to my Must See list.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book with a quirky concept which tickled the vintage film lover in me. These pictures were a delight, and the captions led interesting insight as well as humor. If you like bikes or old movies, this is the book for you.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

collection of photos featuring movie star legends and bikes with interesting bits of trivia