Grinding gears - world premier of The Godmachine
by Justin Henehan
Being a rabid cyclo-fiend, I immediately noticed the small posters of scribbled bicycle outlines all around Auckland city’s library building.
I had a closer look and saw something that rang my bicycle bell: a week before a friend had sent me a Quicktime teaser for a bicycle messenger documentary.
That Sunday also happened to be the day an iconic cafe and long-time Auckland cycle courier hang-out was to close forever.
In the space of 15 minutes I received four text messages from old cycle courier buddies saying they were at Brazil cafe and I should meet them to come see this documentary.
The posters were for the world premier of New Zealand based Director Jan Steffan’s The Godmachine.
Steffan’s documentary is about the grimy daily grind of bicycle couriers in four very different cities: Hamburg, Tokyo, New York and New Zealand.
It explores the experiences and philosophies of four individuals through candid interviews and harrowing on-bike filming sequences shot during the couriers’ daily runs.
The documentary was great - a must see if you’ve ever ridden a bike and enjoyed it.
During question time after the film one audience member asked about groups that do rides around Auckland city and whether anyone was planning a competition like the cycle messenger world championships for New Zealand.
This drew a blank from the audience, amongst whom there were many avid cyclists and pedalies.
It’s sad but we don’t have anything like the bicycle-culture there is overseas.
The amount of real bike nuts I know makes me think it’s simply a matter of lack of will or organisation.
But that’s no reason we can’t start now.
This Friday all keen cyclists are meeting at Mexicali downtown for a social ride and a few beers.
Be there or get a flat tire.
Wished my pictures worked.
Justin, where is the city of New Zealand (par 6)?
In the country of Auckland of course!