Alan LeMay
The My Cycology Podcast is a conversation with ordinary people doing extraordinary things on bikes. Brett Cotter’s story is adapted by My Cycology’s host Alan LeMay.
Cyclists live in a world where the extraordinary happens everyday. We climb hills that once felt impossible, ride distances we never imagined, and discover parts of ourselves we didn’t know were there.
And while most of these moments never make the news, they shape us. They turn ordinary riders into people who quietly achieve extraordinary things.
What’s even more powerful is how cyclists carry those everyday extraordinary things into places you wouldn’t expect: into their communities, their relationships, their work, and sometimes into creative ventures that change lives far beyond the bike.
This is one of those stories. A story about a cyclist who became a teller of cycling stories. A rider who built a global stage to celebrate the remarkable things other riders do with unexpected, extraordinary, life changing impact.
A Seed That Took 30 Years to Sprout
Brett Cotter, founder and curator of The Big Bike Film Night, has dedicated his life to finding, honouring and sharing the human stories behind the ride.
His Film Night has become a celebration of cycling culture across continents, but at its heart it remains something beautifully simple: a cyclist telling the stories of cyclists.
The idea first came to Brett more than three decades ago. As a young backpacker travelling through Canada, he wandered into the Banff Mountain Film Festival and felt something shift.
Sitting in the audience, he wondered why cyclists didn’t have a festival of their own, a place where their adventures, challenges and triumphs could be shared on the big screen.
The idea stayed with him, quietly waiting.
Years later, Brett settled in Lake Taupō, a New Zealand town where cycling is part of the community’s DNA. In 2014, Taupō unveiled a giant 3‑metre road bike sculpture overlooking the lake, a symbol of its cycling identity.
A month later, vandals severely damaged it. Repairs would cost around $15,000, and the sculpture wasn’t insured.
The community rallied. Brett wanted to help. And suddenly, that long‑dormant idea found its moment. He organised a one‑off cycling film night to raise funds. The cinema filled. People laughed, cheered, clapped. Brett sat in the stairwell, the only seat left, watching the crowd respond with joy and connection.
A few days later, someone stopped him in the street and asked: “When are you doing the next one?” and that was the beginning.
Cycling as a Way of Life
To understand why the Film Night resonates, you need to understand Brett. Cycling isn’t a sport to him, it’s a lifelong companion, a constant in his life.
He grew up riding with his twin brother exploring neighbourhoods and discovering freedom on two wheels. Decades later, in his late 50s, he still rides for transport, adventure and the sheer joy of being outdoors.
Cycling has shaped his values: resilience, curiosity, presence. The grind up a steep hill becomes a metaphor for life. The flow of a narrow trail becomes a reminder to stay in the moment.
That philosophy infuses the Film Night. It’s not about racing. It’s not about gear. It’s about people, ordinary riders doing extraordinary things.
Why 20,000 People Show Up to Watch Cycling Films
Each year Brett reviews around 84 short films, about 14 hours of content, and whittles them down to a curated selection of nine or ten. His criteria are clear: education, entertainment, originality, inspiration. But diversity matters just as much. Mountain bikers, road cyclists, commuters, adventurers, families, everyone should see themselves reflected on screen.
The result is a cinematic experience that feels less like a film festival and more like a community gathering. As Brett puts it, people come to be inspired, to learn, and to be transported somewhere new, surrounded by fellow riders who share their passion.
One quote he loves captures the essence perfectly:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” The Big Bike Film Night is built on that feeling.
The Film That Sparked a Movement
Among the many films Brett has showcased, Cycling Without Age is an example of a film not easy to forget.
The documentary follows volunteers who use pedal‑powered rickshaws to bring joy to elderly or disabled people who can no longer ride themselves. Audiences were deeply moved. In multiple towns, people walked out of the cinema asking how they could start a chapter in their own community and many did.
A Global Tour, One Town at a Time
Behind the scenes, the Film Night is a massive undertaking. Brett spends months sourcing films, negotiating rights, booking venues and stitching together a tour that spans multiple countries. This year he’s away for 91 days, travelling from Tasmania to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond.
If you’re curious, inspired, or simply love bikes, you can find all screening dates and locations at: www.bigbikefilmnight.nz
A Cyclist and a Story Teller for Cyclists About Cyclists
Cycling stories aren’t really about bikes. They’re about people, their courage, their joy, their challenges, their connection to the world around them.
The Big Bike Film Night reminds us that cycling is more than a pastime. It’s a culture. A community. A way of life. And thanks to Brett Cotter, that culture now has a home on the big screen.
