*What happens when a son challenges his father to embark on a 350-mile cycling journey? For filmmaker Eric D. Seals, it’s more than just a ride—it’s a tribute to resilience, health, and the power of connection. “Bike Vessel” follows Seals and his father as they push their limits on a four-day trek from St. Louis to Chicago, rediscovering their bond and redefining what Black health means along the way.
In the exclusive clip above, get a glimpse of their inspiring journey—one that proves healing comes in many forms, sometimes on two wheels.
Per the news release, the film follows director Eric as he proposes an ambitious idea to his father: bike together from St. Louis to Chicago—350 miles in 4 days. Twenty years after Eric’s father, Donnie Seals Sr., almost died and had three open heart surgeries, he makes a miraculous health recovery after discovering his love for bicycling, bringing his son Eric along with him.
“We always intended to make ‘Bike Vessel’ an easily accessible film, and we know that bringing our story to INDEPENDENT LENS will allow us to reach our main goal for making this film—to educate the Black community on prevalent health issues,” said Eric. “We hope that after watching the film, the community will have a greater sense of love for their bodies, love for their health, and hopefully, a new curiosity of exercise through cycling or whatever their ‘vessel’ may be.”
Here’s the official “Bike Vessel” synopsis:
Knowing his dad miraculously recovered from three open-heart surgeries after discovering a passion for cycling, filmmaker Eric D. Seals proposes an ambitious idea: Bike together from St. Louis to Chicago. 350 miles. 4 days. On their journey, the two push each other as they find a deeper connection and a renewed appreciation of their quests for their own health and to reimagine Black health.
With Black cyclists making up less than 1% of professional riders, this film offers an inspiring perspective on representation, wellness, and the power of cycling to transform lives.
“Bike Vessel” debuts on PBS’s INDEPENDENT LENS on February 24 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). The doc will be available to stream on the PBS app.
Watch the trailer below.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Arrives on Digital Platforms with Exclusive Bonus Features | Watch