Firstly, let me explain what a mamil is – it’s actually an acronym for ‘middle aged men in lycra’. Secondly, let me also state that boys, will be boys. Always.
These two statements set the foundations for the hearty documentary by John Scrivener. RIPCOR: RIDING WITH MAMILS is a modest, funny and inspiring film about a group of guys banding together, getting on their bikes and riding. They ride for the fun of it, for the love of it and for an all important cause: raising money for the PACE centre in Buckinghamshire – a specialist school for children with motor disorders, such as cerebral palsy. The riders derive from very different backgrounds, each with different traits setting them sometimes very apart. But when they ride, they ride together in the most unified manner. They’re a solid and complete team driving towards their joint goal. The two wheels they each ride binds them together as a brotherhood. That and the terms to joining Ripcor, to join you must own a bike but besides that you must have a passion for cake, beer and cycling – in that order.
It’s delightful, it’s riveting and it’s cool.
We follow the band of brothers in this wonderfully epic journey where they face their toughest ride to date; tackling the L’Alpe d’Huez in the central alps of France. A mountain that peaks at 3,330 metres. It’s one of the most famous mountains that has seen many cyclists through the ages, a mecca for any serious rider. But will the beer and cake catch up with them? No sir, they’re determined, if not a little disorganised to make it to the top and enjoy the mind blowing ride down. But determination and grit aside, will they make it? Now, that would be telling. They intend to stop at nothing, if they’re knocked down – they’ll get back up. In many ways this high spirited ride for the Ripcor team reflects the uphill struggle that the charity must face – whether it is intentional or not – it’s a wonderful metaphorical slant to the documentary.
Not only this, but from a cinematic point of view, RIPCOR: RIDING WITH MAMILS is a highly polished piece of film. The cinematography in this documentary certainly needs to be commended, it is not your run of the mill footage of talking heads and pan shots. It excellently blends clean and crisp shots of our riders being interviewed and beautifully captured scenery. Chock full of testosterone filled banter, this film truly highlights the meaning of the word camaraderie but in the most charming and entertaining manner. And whilst this film has a very sensitive streak with the motivation to raise money for such a worthy charity – it merges so well to the contrast of a group of middle aged chaps in lycra shorts. It’s delightful, it’s riveting and it’s cool. If you’re not laughing, you are probably shedding a tear, but either way you’ll be inspired when you leave the cinema.
RIPCOR: RIDING WITH MAMILS is part of FILM HUB: DOCS and screens on 9 September at 13.00 and 12 September at 17.30 at APH.