A Unique Take on a Bike Ride Film
The new film OCVA, created by Portland-based artist and software developer Ryan Francesconi, presents much more than just a typical bike ride. Released on March 27, 2023, the 30-minute film explores themes of environmental destruction, the fragility of nature, and a deep connection to the land through the experience of cycling. But it also delves into political commentary and the relationship between transportation and time.
Rather than focusing solely on the physical challenge of cycling, OCVA captures the emotional and philosophical journey of its creator. The title, OCVA, is an acronym for the Oregon Cascades Volcanic Arc, a series of volcanoes that Francesconi turned into a 400-mile mixed-terrain bike route in 2016. In the film, viewers get a glimpse of Francesconi’s passion for bike route planning, his love of cycling, and his artistic interpretation of nature as he navigates Oregon’s forests.
Francesconi, who is also one of the key organizers of “Our Mountain Mothers” (OMTM), a community of cyclists who love exploring rugged, unpaved paths, takes viewers on a poetic ride that blends original music, nature sounds, and personal reflections.
The Inspiration Behind OCVA
The idea for OCVA was born out of Francesconi’s distress over the destruction caused by wildfires in Oregon in 2020. Reflecting on his return to the Clackamas River area, where much of the scenery he had known and loved was gone, he felt a powerful need to express his grief and awareness of the impermanence of the world around him. Francesconi recalls, “I couldn’t believe how everything had disappeared. I was so familiar with that landscape, and it was just gone.”
The political landscape also played a significant role in motivating Francesconi to create the film. The administration under Donald Trump had harshly treated federal land agencies, cutting management positions and promoting logging policies that handed over control to the timber industry. These actions left Francesconi with a renewed sense of urgency about preserving natural spaces, and the film serves as a powerful artistic response to these political changes.
A Meditation on Transportation and Time
OCVA is more than just an artistic expression about biking. Francesconi weaves a narrative that critiques the transportation culture in the United States. In the opening scenes, Francesconi narrates his journey to the starting point in Klamath Falls by train, highlighting how traveling by rail changes one’s relationship to time. “Traveling by train requires you to let go of control,” he reflects in the film. “This is at odds with the abrasive ego of transportation and entitlement in the US.”
His experiences of traveling without a car for the past 11 years have shaped his views on transportation. Francesconi acknowledges, “I think walking is the best, honestly, but it just takes forever to get anywhere. The bike is the perfect balance – it’s not too slow and allows you to stop anytime you want.”
The film serves as a subtle commentary on the need to reconnect with our environment and slow down. The simple act of riding a bike gives one the freedom to stop, observe, and appreciate the world around us. In contrast to modern transportation’s rush, OCVA encourages a slower, more mindful pace.
The Call to Action
Francesconi hopes that his film will inspire viewers to embrace a more thoughtful approach to travel. As he explains, “I want people to experience the process of riding to a trailhead, rather than just driving up and walking in. That journey, from A to B, gives you respect for the land and helps you connect more deeply with it.”
OCVA arrives at the perfect moment, as many cyclists begin planning their late spring and summer adventures. For Francesconi, the film is a call to get on your bike and explore nature, while considering the impact of how we get there. By showing the beauty of the landscape, he hopes to encourage viewers to see these places before they disappear, whether through development or environmental change.
At its heart, OCVA is a film about appreciating the landscapes that are slipping away from us. Francesconi hopes that, despite the fragmented attention spans of today’s world, audiences will make it to the end of the film and leave with a deeper respect for nature and the journey of cycling.
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