This is a copyrighted (c) 1999 work by Richard L. Gilmore all rights reserved.

Script by Richard L. Gilmore (c) 1999
Spec script working title [This Old Bike 99] - 1
Draft 2
by Richard L. Gilmore 3/16/99
montage
A) BLACK SCREEN -- Period music, simple, single instrument or small ensemble, major key.
B) DRAWING of running machine, rider in 50% profile facing right. Image moves across screen left to right. As the image passes, reveal text "1790 Running Machine"
C) DRAWING of the hobby horse moving right-to-left. Passing image erases text from above and reveals "1817 Hobby Horse"
D) DRAWING of the first pedaled bicycle moving left-to-right. Images erases old text and reveals "1839 Treadle Cycle"
E) DRAWING of the first mass produced bicycle moving right-to-left. Text revealed "1861 Michaux's Velocipede"
F) DRAWING of a penny-farthing moving left-to-right. As the image passes, a wipe transition reveals an outline map of the U.S. with the text "1884 Thomas Sevens, First Bike Ride Across America"
G) ... images photos, old film clips, videos in more or less chronological order close-ups of derailleurs, races, moving up through time. Whatever looks good and builds excitement and interest. There should be a series that starts with `50s balloon-tire-bombers to films from the RePack races in Marin County California to modern mountain bikes. As we get to the end of the history montage, the music has become modern and complex to complement the images of free style riding, trials riding, kinetic sculptures, full-suspension mountain bikes, all the good stuff.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT.BURKE-GILMAN TRAIL - DAY
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

2
Full-screen shot of a busy day on the Burke Gillman bicycle trail.
Pull back to reveal host standing next to the trail as cyclists continue to whiz by in both directions.

RICHARD
Hello and welcome to [show title].
Do you enjoy bicycling?

EXT. BIKE RACKS - DAY

University of Washington bicycle parking area with students riding, parking, and picking up bikes

RICHARD (V.O.)

Did you ride a bicycle when you were in school and want to get back into riding?

EXT. WOODED COUNTRY ROAD - DAY

Loaded touring cyclists on rural road. Camera follows approaching cyclists, pans as they pass and stops on a scene with rolling hills f.g. and Mt. Rainier b.g. as riders continue out of the screen.

RICHARD (V.O.)
Do you want to ride farther or faster?

EXT. DAY - (STOCK)

Counterpoint tandem, Kinetic sculpture

RICHARD (V.O.)
Have you ever seen someone riding a strange looking machine and wondered why?

EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY

Cyclist holding rear wheel in air while stabalizing the front wheel with her toe working on adjusting the rear derailleur.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

3
RICHARD (V.O.)
Would you like to learn about repairing and maintaining your bike?

BACK TO SCENE

Richard on the Burke-Gilman

RICHARD
Well, this is the show you want to watch.

(beat) I'm Richard Gilmore, amateur bicycle builder and life long road bike rider.

Pull back or pan to reveal Roger

RICHARD
(continuing; beat)
And this is my partner, Roger Bare (beat) mountain bike rider and younger guy to broaden our demographic appeal.

ROGER
Thanks Richard. You know, I've been thinking that because this is our first show, we should look at what it takes to get started bicycling. (beat) It, of course, takes a bicycle.

EXT. GARAGE - DAY

(Richard walks
on, opens garage
door...)

ROGER (V.O.)
Lots of people have an old bicycle or two living in their garage.

(... and lots of
stuff falls out)

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

4
CLOSE SHOT - NEWSPAPER WANT ADS

ROGER (V.O.)
Used bicycles are available through the want ads or yard sales.
DISSOLVE TO:
Richard standing over a much too small bicycle

EXT. BIKE SHOP - DAY

ROGER (V.O.)
Perhaps the safest way to get into bicycling is by visiting your local bicycling professional.

ANGLE ON ROGER AND RICHARD

ROGER
With dozens of shops listed in the Seattle yellow pages, how did we end up at __________ cycles? It wouldn't have anything to do with the proximity to _________ bakery?

RICHARD
Roger my friend, that is one of the many advantages of road bike riding (beat) bakery touring. But that is a whole show unto itself.
(turning to
camera)

RICHARD
(continuing)
You're right, Seattle has an amazing number of world class bike shops.

ROGER
and these were the first people to believe your line about us being some big deal TV show...

RICHARD
Hey, you gotta start someplace.

INT. BIKE SHOP

5
Medium shot door. Camera follows as hosts enter.

ROGER
We are here to find out what someone should be looking for when purchasing a bike.

Meet and greet shop guy

ROGER
First you need to figure out what you are going to use the bike for.

INSERT - SERIES OF SHOTS
Roger in mountain bike scenes on single track and in mud, Richard on a hill descent. A flyby enter screen left cut to closeup 50% Richard with background ripping by or rider's POV

BACK TO SCENE

SHOP GUY
So Richard, I understand that you are mainly a road rider. Let's fit you up on a touring bike.

You start by standing over the top tube of the bicycle. Next reach down and grab the top tube in front and behind you. Keeping your feet flat on the floor, pick up the bike as high as you can. With both wheels equally raised off the floor, it is easy to see your stand over clearance. On a road bike your clearance should be about one inch or a little more. Never over two inches on a bike with a horizontal top tube.

RICHARD
So I don't have to know my inseam measurement?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

6
SHOP GUY
No. What we do at the shop is try bike sizes until you find one that fits.

RICHARD
This seems a lot like buying clothes.

SHOP GUY
Good analogy. You should always try it on before you buy.

RICHARD
OK, what's next?

SHOP GUY
Let's look at saddle height. We want to adjust the saddle so that your legs are nearly straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Shop Guy moves to front of bike and holds the handlebars.

SHOP GUY
(continuing)
Now I want you to grab the brakes, put your feet up on the pedals and get as comfortable as you can on the saddle.

Pause for Richard adjusting to the bike

SHOP GUY
(continuing)
Now pedal backwards at a moderately slow speed. I'll watch to see if your legs extend far enough or if you are dropping your hips at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

RICHARD
My hips are dropping as I pedal, would mean the saddle is too high?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
7
SHOP GUY
That's right.(beat) OK stop pedaling with your left foot at the bottom of the pedal stroke. (beat) Alright, come forward off the saddle and stand on the floor so I can adjust the height.

Shop Guy moves to the saddle and makes an adjustment

SHOP GUY
I am raising the saddle because your legs did not seem like they were fully extended. Getting a nearly full extension lets you use your leg muscles more effectively and protects your knees from injury.

RICHARD
>Knee injury? Sounds like we're talking about pain.

Shop Guy moves back to front of bike and Richard resumes his position on the bike.

SHOP GUY
Yes, most people get specific types of pain for specific types of adjustment problems.

INSERT - rider with the saddle way too low for his height.

If you were to ride with the saddle too low, your leg would not extend properly. The area under your kneecaps would likely start to ache.

INSERT - rider with the saddle much higher than need be.

On-the-other-hand if the saddle was too high when riding, you would have to extend your leg too far and your hips would alternately drop. Some people get a lower back ache

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
8
SHOP GUY
(continuing)
from this while others feel knee joint pain on either side of the kneecaps.

BACK TO SCENE

The truly lucky people get both types of pain.

RICHARD
You mean that bicycling shouldn't hurt?

SHOP GUY
Absolutely. (beat) Except for that glorious pain of well used muscles you sometimes get the next day.

RICHARD
Sounds to good to be true.

SHOP GUY
Now we need to adjust the fore/aft position of the saddle. I would like you to stop pedaling so that your left foot is forward, half way between the bottom and top of the pedal stroke. This makes the crank arms parallel with the ground. Now I want to see if your knee is basically centered over the spindle of the pedal.

RICHARD
So you are making saddle adjustments in relation to the pedals?

SHOP GUY
I know that some people make their fore/aft adjustments in relation to the handlebars, but handlebar position can be changed. The position of the pedals is fixed. We'll get to the handlebars in a moment. (beat) Your fore/aft

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
9
SHOP GUY
(continuing)
position looks good, so we will leave it alone.
The last saddle adjustment is something the rider must deal with, the tilt. We generally start with the saddle parallel with the ground. Small changes and miles of riding will be the key to finding the position that provides the greatest comfort.

RICHARD
I must be getting close to being fit to this bike. Anything else we need to look at?

SHOP GUY
One last important thing. I'll hold the bike while you get back into riding position.

pause while Richard remounts the bike.

SHOP GUY
(continuing)
Now look down and tell me if you can see the axle of the front wheel?

RICHARD'S POV - HANDLEBAR

RICHARD
Only partially. About half is blocked by the handlebar.

BACK TO SCENE

SHOP GUY
Good, that is close enough. Ideally the axle should be totally hidden by the handlebar, but changing the stem is a pretty major operation on a road bike. If the stem were way in front or behind the axle, I would suggest we try another bike with a different stem length.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
10
SHOP GUY
(continuing)
Handlebar width is another issue. Ideally we like to see the width of a handlebar be the same as the width of the shoulders. Yours seem pretty close.

Finally there is the issue of crank length. Generally the longer the femur, longer the crank we install on a bike. No one has come up with any hard and fast rules on crank length.

RICHARD
I know that one school of thought says, if you like to pedal fast, use a slightly shorter crank. If you like to mash higher gears at a slower pedaling speed, use somewhat longer cranks. This seems like a comfort issue similar to the saddle tilt problem.

SHOP GUY
Exactly. Fortunately the handling of a bike is not really affected by the crank length, so we don't worry about it too much for a test ride.

RICHARD
Well, slap my brain in a bucket, I think I'm ready to go.

Pop on a helmet and head out for a test ride.

EXT. BIKE SHOP - DAY

RICHARD
Initial test riding is best done in a large paved area such as a playground or parking lot. Go at a time when there will be little or no foot or vehicle traffic.

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY

11
ROGER
On the way to the test ride area get comfortable with the brakes and shifting.
As Roger describes the tests, CAMERA FOLLOWS Richard as he tests brakes, shifting, and some shallow turns.

ROGER (V.O.)
Gently test the brakes. Some brakes are more responsive than others. Get a sense of what to expect with differing amounts of brake pressure.
Check out the shifting. If there are problems, take it back to the shop for a quick adjustment.
Next try some swooping or linked turns on your path.

EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

ROGER (V.O.)
After you have arrived at an open area try holding a turn and see how the bike feels. Try different amounts of turn. Some bikes feel like they want to turn ever sharper. Some want to come back out of the turn. I like a responsive bike that gets in and out of turns quickly. Others like a more leisurely handling bike. What's right is what's comfortable for you.

If you are confident in the bike's handling and your riding skill, try riding with no hands. This can reveal frame alignment problems. The bike should ride straight up and down under you. If not, check that the wheels are fully seated in the dropouts. If there is no problem in the wheel mounting, it is likely the frame is not true.

ROGER'S POV - RIDING BEHIND RICHARD

12
RICHARD (V.O.)
Have a friend ride behind you and look to see if the rear wheel is in line with the front wheel when you are riding straight.

INSERT - BIKE SKETCH, WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
RICHARD (V.O.)
If the wheels are out of alignment, they will appear to be side-by-side when the bike is running straight.

INSERT - BIKE SKETCH, WHEELS CLOCKED
RICHARD (V.O.)
Another frame problem is indicated if the wheels are clocked. The wheels when viewed from directly behind form a narrow V or skinny X.

RICHARD
(continuing)
A bike with a suspected frame problem should be immediately returned to the shop. They will want to know about it.

INT. BIKE SHOP

ROGER
Back at the shop you have decided that this is the bike of your dreams, the price won't kill you yet this ride will make your friends weak with envy. You now have to find out what kind of service and support you can expect. Service and support after the sale is one of the big advantages to buying new.

SHOP GUY
And people should take advantage of the basic support you will find at most bicycle shops. The thirty-day tune-up is essential to proper maintenance and safe riding on a new bike.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

13
ROGER
What kind of services do you typically get on a thirty-day tune-up?

SERIES OF SHOTS

A - cable adjustments

B - bearing adjustments

C - brake inspection

D - derailleur alignment

E - wheel truing

SHOP GUY
One of the most common items is taking up the slack in the brake and derailleur cables. New cables do most of their stretching in the first thirty days. The mechanic sets all the adjustment knobs to their starting position, pulls out the slack, then readjusts the brakes and shifters so that everything is working like it should.

Most shops check and adjust the bearings in the wheels, the bottom bracket, and the head set.

Brakes are inspected to make sure the pads are properly contacting the rims.

Other services can include checking derailleur alignment, wheel true, and inspection for loose fittings and hardware.

BACK TO SCENE

14
SHOP GUY
(continuing)
Be sure to ask your bike dealer for a list of included items.

ROGER
You give thirty days for the purchaser to bring a bike back for tuning.

SHOP GUY
Yes. Most shops are pretty strict about the thirty days. If you bring it back on day thirty-one, many shops will charge you regular rates for a tune-up. That's because shop personnel are scheduled with the previous sales in mind.

ROGER
But you can bring it in after say twenty days, or even ten days?

SHOP GUY
Yes. In all cases it is probably a good idea to call a few days in advance. That way your bike's tune-up can be scheduled so that you can get it back quickly.

ROGER
And mileage is not an issue?

SHOP GUY
I would recommend that you bring your bike in for its thirty-day tune after riding two-hundred to five-hundred miles. There are a lot of riders who will do that in less than a month.

ROGER
What else does a bike shop do for the bicycle buyer?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

15
SHOP GUY
It depends on the experience and knowledge of the rider. Some people want to keep up with all the latest technology. A good bike shop lets you check out the latest and greatest gear and accessories.
But I don't want beginner or weekend cyclists to feel intimidated. Nobody is born knowing all about bicycles. People in the bike business love to talk about this stuff and turn people onto cycling. We want you to become cyclists because the more people ride, the better it is for everyone.

EXT. BURKE-GILMAN - DAY

RICHARD
Well here I am on my perfectly sized, fitted, and adjusted road bike. But what about you Roger? We got so much information about buying road bikes. Does any of that help the mountain bike buyer?

ROGER
Most of what "shop guy" told us about does apply to mountain bikes. There are a couple of important differences. First frame size. Your stand-over clearance is about one inch. For mountain bike, the stand-over clearance should be about three inches. On uneven terrain, your foot may have to travel farther to reach the ground.

You must be careful about test riding a mountain bike. All the riding tests we described for the road bike are legitimate for a mountain bike. You just have to make sure that the tires on the bike are designed for pavement.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

16
RICHARD
So what's the problem with these knobby mud slinging monsters?

ROGER
Nothing, if you are in the mud.
Look at the knobby tires on this bike. This tire is pumped up to the high end of its pressure range. However, notice how I can move the knobs around with my finger.
INSERT - EXTREME CLOSEUP - TIME-LAPSE KNOBBY TIRE IN A TURN.

ROGER (V.O.)
As the tire rotates, the knob you are riding on mushes out to the side when turning. As the next knob comes in contact with the pavement it is already sliding.
That means - like the skid you were pulling - the tire has less resistance to skiding out from under the bike.

RICHARD (V.O.)
So that's why people run smooth tires on hard pavement (beat) there is no interruption in tire contact with the pavement.

ROGER
But in gravel, mud, or sand, smooth tires don't stand a chance against a knobby.
So testing the basic handling characteristics of a mountain bike on pavement is a good idea with smooth road tires. Do the same set of tests on the brakes and shifters. Check out the handling in turns. If you are intending on riding off road, you probably want a bike that handles quickly. Responsive handling helps you overcome the ruts and bumps you encounter on the trail.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

17
RICHARD
If, however, you want to use your mountain bike as a rugged urban riding vehicle for commuting or occasional curb jumping, you may want to opt for a more sedate handling geometry.

ROGER
Well, we have everyone on bikes, what do we do now?

RICHARD
Actually, we still have a group that needs some help getting into bicycling... children.

ROGER
Man, I remember learning how to ride. I was amazed when it finally happened, but what a struggle.

RICHARD
I know. I have had the opportunity to watch a child try to learn to ride. Fortunately I read about a technique that works remarkably well.

NEW SCENE -

RICHARD
You must make some changes to your child's bike. First, remove training wheels you won't be needing them anymore. Next, remove the pedals. This will take a fifteen millimeter or _________ millimeter pedal wrench. As you can see, a pedal wrench is narrow to get into the thin wrench flats on the pedal axle.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

18
ROGER
Each pedal unscrews in a different direction. The easy way to remember how to unscrew either pedal is to imagine that you are pedaling the bike normally while holding the wrench on the pedal so that it doesn't spin with the cranks. I call it pedaling off the pedals.

RICHARD
Pedaling off the pedals, well that will certainly help me remember how to take pedals off.
Because removing the pedals means the bike now has no brakes installing a front hand brake is a necessity. The front brake lever mounts on the left handlebar. I have a trick for remembering that (pause) right rear. The right brake is the rear brake. Also the right shift lever is the rear shift lever. Right rear _ that means the left side is the only place left for the front brake.

ROGER
If you don't feel comfortable doing this alteration on a bicycle, take it to a shop. It might cost you the same as the price of a good pedal wrench. If you do plan on buying a pedal wrench, or any bike tool for that matter, buy quality. Your knuckles will thank you.

RICHARD
The last thing you need to do is lower the saddle so that the child's feet easily touch the ground. With a hand brake and feet able to reach the ground, the child has the confidence of being in control.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

19
RICHARD
(continuing)
Make sure your child has a thorough understanding of how the front brake works. Now, let the child play with the bike in a safe area. It is preferable that the area have a slight slope.

ROGER
And make sure your child uses a helmet. Parents, should set the example by always wearing a helmet when riding. Richard, you say that you have used this technique before?

RICHARD
Yes

ROGER
Well, what happened?

RICHARD (V.O.)
The young man in question liked to show his parents things that he had learned - and he didn't like failing in front of mom and dad. This was making learning to ride a traumatic experience for him. One morning around ten A.M. I modified his bike and let him start playing with it. He had been using training wheels, so he was leery about the changes. I showed him how to use the hand brake and told him to ride it down the sidewalk. There was a gentle slope.

ROGER (V.O.)
Did you hang around and watch?

RICHARD (V.O.)
No, I went in the house. His parents did other things. We left him on his own. He would play with the bike for about one half hour then stop and do something else.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

20
Then he would pick up the bike again and play for another half hour. At about four P.M. he came in all excited and told us he wanted to show us something. We went out and watched as he rolled down the slope on the bike, feet off the ground.

ROGER
That's great. I'll bet it was exciting for everyone. Did you put the pedals back on?

RICHARD
No, I waited for a couple of days. He was begging, but I wanted to make sure he had the confidence he needed before we added the complexity of pedaling.

ROGER
Yeah, I see what you mean. Pedals, raising the saddle... a lot of new stuff.

RICHARD
Remember when putting pedals back on, there is a right and a left pedal. Often pedals are marked "R" and "L". I would suggest that you use an old toothbrush to clean out the threads on the crank arms before you try installing the pedals.

ROGER
It is also a good idea to put a little grease on the threads. This provides protection from rust. Also the pedals do not have to be tightened hard, just the act of pedaling will keep them tight.
(beat)
So things went well for your young friend?

(CONTINUED)/DISSOLVE TO:
CONTINUED:

21
RICHARD
Yes, he did have a couple of falls in the next few days, but that's how life works. Anyway, when he started kindergarten that fall, he was one of the few kids in his class who could ride. He was very proud of that.

ROGER
How did you come up with this method for teaching children to ride?

RICHARD
I read it in a book. And I have to give the credit to Richard Ballantine and Richard Grant for their wonderful creation, Richard's Ultimate Bicycle Book published by Dorling Kindersly Incorporated of New York.

ROGER
Do you think this technique might work for an adult who never learned to ride?

RICHARD
I have never heard of an adult trying it, but I don't see why not. I would love to hear of any experiences you might have with learning to ride, or anything about bicycling for that matter.

ROGER
Why don't we give our audience an e-mail address where they can send questions and comments.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

22
RICHARD
Good idea. I think that all you have to do is look at the bottom of the screen and you will get all the information you need to contact us.

SUPER mail, e-mail, phone whatever we end up using.

RICHARD
Man, we barely got started and we’re out of time.

ROGER
No kidding, I wanted to find out about wheels, different gear patterns, check out some suspension systems, and...

RICHARD
(interrupting)
... and get that garage cleaned out.

ROGER
What’s with you and that garage?

RICHARD
Well, ah (beat) it’s my shop. It’s where I build my bicycles. I thought people might be interested in seeing how a bicycle frame is built.

ROGER
Sorry, that will have to wait for another time.

RICHARD
We do have time for one important item. Pay attention on the road as you ride. The most important thing protecting you on a bicycle is your skill and judgment.

ROGER
Thanks for watching. We’ll see you next time on ____________________.

FADE OUT.
THE END