Originally Posted by
techsensei
I've watched the movie Breaking Away dozens if not hundreds of times since I first saw it in the theater back in 1979. I watched it again last night. During the Cinzano 100 bike race, after Dave has his gear switched to the small cog by the Cinzano rider, Dave pulls back up alongside the Italians. Right at that moment, I never realized before that he is not riding the Masi. The bike in that scene has randonneur handlebars, and Dia Compe brakes.
The bike was a Sears Free Spirit that was painted and hand decaled (Masi refused to supply a set of decals this bike) for the film in Indiana. This was the bike that was used for the scene when the Italian rider sticks the pump in the front wheel of Dave’s bike. It also appears in the Cinzano 100 race scenes where there are front shots of Dave. You can tell because this bike has Weinmann brakes. The brake cable on a Weinmann sidepull brake is on the right side not on the left as in the Campagnolo brakes.
I own this movie... and many others on DVD (and blue ray). In the harsh Midwestern winter months I watch cycling movies and wrench on project bikes to make-up for lost cycling time.
Breaking away... isn't a great cycling movie. But it is a classic and for whatever reasons... it works.