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The world of cycling is a funny one. It’s run by middle-aged men with high blood pressure gambling on the success of future protégées. To become a successful cyclist you have to be willing to make sacrifices and give away a part of yourself. In the depths of winter, Wiltshire becomes virtually uninhabited. Everyone hides from the cold outside and huddles by the fire. Jack however has no time for an easy Sunday morning lie in. His routine begins early and by that I mean really early. For him the alarm sounds at 5am. He has just enough time to wolf down his cereal before he hops on the bike to battle against the elements. His coach has warned him of the consequences of failure. He has no time for that. In the end he has had do the inevitable. He is isolated by his friends. The clash of their lifestyles means they fall apart. This film explores the rift in youth culture. It is about the minority who want to succeed and the majority who fail and are in search of escapism.

The real success of this film is the narrative which dissolves you into Jack's world. Director Tom Bridge has successfully reworked the ending of the film to incorporate a dramatic twist. A real success to this film is some excellent cinematography. The opening establishing shots are simply breathtaking with some lovely shots of wiltshire countryside at dawn. Parts of the film are shot in black and white too which brings out great definition and picture quality. Black and white is also, according to Bridge, used to help the audience differentiate between the two separate worlds but this isn't especially clear because a lot of it is shot at night. However the film's unique selling point surely has to be credited to some spectacular editing. The transitions are silky smooth and complement the rhythm of the music, which feels well suited to the film. The famous song “Sinnerman” by the legendary Nina Simone is used in the final sequence and gives it meaning as well as maintaining the fluidity.

Despite the positive aspects of the film does have its downfalls. The film appears under developed and there is to little exploration of the characters. The fast pace of the film allows little time for insight into Jack's profile which is an essential component for any film. Nevertheless its downfall is the reason for its success. It will certainly appeal to those of us with a short attention span and love to be kept on our toes. The film is literally action! Action! Action! Even the pleasant establishing shots at the start feel a little hasty which contributes to the fast pace of the film.

In a recent interview Bridge told Box Office about how his childhood fascination with cycling inspired many aspects of the filming. “I clearly remember going to see the tour de France as if it was yesterday. It was an unforgettable experience and at that point I truly appreciated what it takes to become an athlete. The amount of motivation and energy those men have is mind boggling. I really wanted to capture that aspect in my film”. In essence this film does exactly that. Having said that this film isn't just for die hard sports fans. In fact it appeals to a broader audience, one that appreciates good narrative and stunning cinematography all captured in a pacy five minutes.