Bike Vessel follows a father, Donnie Sr., and his son, Eric, as they bike from St. Louis to Chicago in four days. The catalyst for the journey was the many health scares that Donnie Sr. had due to his unhealthy lifestyle. The film flashes back to the moments that led up to all three of his open-heart surgeries, where we learn that Donnie Sr. has been battling heart problems for a large portion of his life. Donnie Sr. decided to do something about it, so he walked to a bike store and bought a bike hoping this could be the right step forward. Donnie Sr. struggled to ride the bike home, however, so he decided that baby steps would be the best way to get started. He initially only biked around the block from his house, but he eventually worked his way up to greater distances. Eventually, Donnie Jr. decided to join him and his biking hobby, where he eventually came up with the idea for the Chicago trip.
It’s a father-and-son dynamic that’s not uncommon to see, but this relationship is far from cliché. We learn so much about the duo through how they interact with each other. Donnie Sr. is described by his family as an introvert of sorts, while Donnie Jr. isn’t afraid to tell his father what he thinks at any given moment. It was very rewarding to see how they disagreed in the training leading up to the trip and how they trusted each other more during the journey. For example, Donnie Jr. doesn’t so much agree with all of the extra equipment and supplies that Donnie Sr. packs, but after facing many flat tires on the road, Donnie Jr. realizes just how right his father was.
The journey was far from easy, however, as doubt and flat tires were frequent. Donnie Sr. shows reverence early on, thinking that he physically couldn’t make it all the way through. Eric, on the other hand, faces many flat tires that make them question what it is exactly that they’re doing. It was nice to see other people helping them out with their journey, such as a bike store attendant finding the exact sizes and brands that Donnie Sr. prefers for his tires. There are other moments where the men share their story with strangers on the street, where they are only met with positive reinforcement.
The film stresses how important your health is and how a little change can blossom into something life changing. Donnie Sr. talks about how he often indulged in fat-heavy foods and how it became hard for him to do the things that he loved to do when he was younger. Footage of doctors talking about diet and exercise is played throughout the film, linking processed foods and unhealthy fats as main causes of heart disease. This adds credibility to Donnie Sr.’s health transformation, as you can see visually how much Donnie Sr. has changed for the better.
