Fastrack Bicycles

03/11/2026

The Ventum GS1 out in the wild climbing the back side of Figueroa Mountain near Los Olivos, CA
Learn how you can experience the sensations today!

02/22/2026

Trek Madone Sale! I have a 52cm SLR 7Gen 7 . Madone SLR 7 Gen 8 in medium and Medium/Large

02/14/2026

50 year Anniversary commemorative Treks!

01/18/2026

Who can relate?

Happy 71st birthday to Kevin Costner, the actor who wasn't a cyclist but somehow gave us one of the most authentic cycling films ever made.

On January 18, 1955, a future Hollywood icon was born. Three decades later, he would pedal his way into cycling history.

In 1985, Costner starred in American Flyers as Marcus Sommers, a sports physician and elite cyclist competing in Colorado's brutal "Hell of the West" race. The film became an instant cult classic, inspiring countless riders to chase their own impossible climbs and test their limits on two wheels.

The thing is...Costner wasn't a cyclist at all!

According to accounts from the production, when he and his co-stars took their first training ride, they managed just two and a quarter miles before collapsing. Yet by the time cameras rolled, Costner looked completely natural on a bike, carving through the Rocky Mountains on a red Specialized Allez with downtube shifters, toe clips, and a steel frame that defined the era.

The transformation required relentless dedication. After grueling 12-hour shooting days, Costner and the cast would ride in the evenings, building the stamina and technique needed to portray nationally-ranked racers. They trained with weights, studied real cyclists, and immersed themselves in the Coors Classic, the legendary American stage race that provided the film's breathtaking backdrop.

The result was something rare in Hollywood: a cycling movie that actual cyclists could respect.

American Flyers captured the raw beauty and brutality of competitive cycling. The Morgul-Bismarck circuit. The Tour of the Moon. Speeds hitting 60 miles per hour on treacherous mountain descents. The film didn't romanticize the sport; it showed the suffering, the strategy, and the unbreakable bonds forged in the peloton.

But what made the film endure for over four decades wasn't just the racing.

It was the story beneath it. Two brothers, one cross-country journey, and the shadow of mortality hanging over every pedal stroke. Marcus pushes his younger brother David to join the race, knowing he may be living on borrowed time due to a suspected brain aneurysm. The film asks a question that resonates deeply with aging cyclists: How do you live fully when time is running out?

For many riders in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond, that question isn't abstract. Every ride becomes more precious. Every climb is a defiance of age and limitation. Every finish line is a reminder that we're still here, still pushing, still chasing something greater than ourselves.

American Flyers understood that cycling isn't just about fitness or competition. It's about brotherhood. It's about testing yourself against the mountain and discovering what you're made of. It's about the quiet moments in the support van, the shared suffering on impossible gradients, and the unspoken understanding between riders who've been through hell together.

Costner brought that understanding to life, despite never being a "real" cyclist. His commitment to authenticity helped create a film that still inspires riders to tackle their own Hell of the West, whatever form it takes.

Forty-one years later, American Flyers remains a touchstone for cycling culture. The red Specialized Allez is iconic. The racing footage is still thrilling. And the themes, brotherhood, mortality, and the relentless pursuit of one more great ride, are as timeless as the sport itself.

So happy birthday, Kevin Costner. Thank you for showing us what it looks like to transform yourself for a role, to honor a sport you didn't know, and to create something that still moves cyclists decades later.

Here's to 71 years, and to the film that made us all want to ride a little harder.

01/07/2026

Look Vision Pedals… Safety First! In stock at FasTrack

11/28/2025

Deal of the day $4500 regular, sale $2000. 28 mph class 3 Bosch

11/19/2025

11/01/2025

Thank you to the cycling community for 28 fun years so far! Enjoy your ride today!

10/12/2025

FasTrack is open again Tuesday. Thanks.

09/08/2025

Some times a deal is not a deal.

Testing reveals that counterfeit chains are three times less durable and weaker.

07/17/2025

Thanks Diaa and Lance for the shout out!

Lance, George, Sir Bradley Wiggins, and Spencer Martin (aka The Professor) break down Jonas Abrahamsen’s incredible ride to win Stage 11 of the 2025 Tour de ...