mountain biking videos

Martyn Ashton made a big splash in the cycling world of YouTube this week with this insane video showcasing his ability to manhandle a very expensive Pinarello Dogma 2 from the Team Sky team in a series of amazing trials maneuvers. While I have seen my fair share of crazy road bike trials videos, backflips on golf courses has to take the cake with this one. What are they going to come up with next?

Thanks to products like the GoPro Hero and video on modern DSLR and micro 4/3′s cameras, it is easier than ever to capture the ride experience out on the trail, edit it and then share it with the world. What used to take thousands of dollars in fragile equipment can now be done with a couple hundred bucks and an average computer.

In the world of riding videos, life is great right now and it is just going to get better.

But, it seems that downhill, freeride and trials riders are the only ones taking full advantage of the new technologies. Every day, amateur video shooters are posting some incredible videos on Pinkbike.com and other mountain biking sites. While most of these videos do not have follow by elevated wire shots like you find in Seasons, they are incredibly well put together and entertaining.

So why do we not see more XC and AM focused mountain bike videos? I think there are 2 main reasons that can be fixed rather easily.

1. POV Shots Are Boring – Yes…if you stick a camera on top of your head, hit record and go riding…it is going to be a boring 10 minute video. Even on the most technical terrain, video flattens out what ever you are riding and the one camera angle is boring for viewers. The trick is to get multiple camera angles and have the help of your friends to get actual riding shots on the trail. When you bring these clips together in addition to the POV shots (look for alternative angles there as well like on the frame or fork), the video is a lot more interesting. POV shots in DH and FR are boring too if you haven’t noticed before.
2. XC and AM Riders Are Too Focused on Point A to Point B – Somewhere along the line, XC and AM riding got more concerned with reaching a destination or getting a certain amount of miles in rather than the journey it took to get there. What results is an atmosphere in group rides that is hard to take pictures and video. No one has time…we are on a mission to get to the end. I think we need to step back and enjoy the journey as much as the distance and challenge. Not only would we become better riders by sessioning and practicing, but that would open up the ability to take better pictures and videos of our rides.

To illustrate the point, the crew at Niner Bikes posted up a video they made on their Facebook page last week. This “After Work” video features two of their employees shredding a local trail on a Jet 9 and Jet 9 RDO. This video is very well put together and the shots are something that any rider could stage at their local trail.

Getting out after work. A ride during the golden hour on classic So. Cal trails with Niner’s Jet 9 and Jet 9 RDO.

Pedal Dammit.

Music:
“Hola Hola Bassa Nova” by Juanitos

Niner’s video is great because it shows that you do not have to be throwing massive whips like Thomas Vanderham to create an interesting and entertaining mountain bike video.

In this short clip for the Ellsworth Glimpse review, I actually shot everything alone by putting a GoPro on the frame and setting my DSLR on the ground in several places on the trail for a different point of view of the bike. What results is a more interesting watch due to the changing conditions.

My challenge to you guys is to make more video of your rides. Maybe there is a lot of great footage out there that just hasn’t been found yet (if so…pass it our way so we can feature it on the site), but we would like to see more exposure brought to other riding styles online. It can be done…we just need to do it…

Were you riding in 1993? If you were, downhill mountain biking was just starting to gain traction in the sport. As suspension started to extend what the bike was able to accomplish, riders were charging the hill with their 30mm travel suspension forks (The downhill RockShox Judy DH at 63mm wasn’t released until 1995…yes…you read that right. 63mm for downhill) and early rear suspension designs.

Sometimes we forget how far the sport has come in such a short period of time. This video taken in the World Cup downhill event in 1993 will give you an idea where downhill mountain biking gets its roots.

A friend of mine sent over this link off of PinkBike of Stund Best of 2011.

Let’s face it. There are a lot of videos making it around the web of mountain biking in the same locations over and over again. You are either going to see a bigger budget production or a GoPro strapped to a helmet (both are good FWIW), but there is an entire scene in between of great videos supported by watchers and sponsors that are completely free to view. Stund is one of those series and they put out an incredible watch and you don’t have to pay for it.

This sequence is their best of 2011 and it shows off some incredible riding. The entire clip is about 30 minutes long and completely worth watching all the way through. It is raining here all week so what is there better to do than kick back and watch kick ass mountain biking videos?

For those of you who have been following STUND this year and the past 2 seasons you all know what this show is about. Mountain Biking Lifestyle. That says a lot actually. We live and breath what we do in our lives and when you give that much of your life to a sport in the way in which we do, it becomes your life. The Best Of STUND is a chapter in each of our lives. There’s no doubt that each year we leave a legacy behind with this show. The time, energy, sacrifice and finances that each member of our crew gives to make this show can not be fully understood by anyone. We do this for the love, and we think that’s why everyone should be in this industry.

The fat has been chewed and left nothing but the lean cuts for one last sender of an episode. Ladies and Gentlemen… The BEST OF STUND!

Enough talk, let’s ride!

I saw this video scan across my Facebook timeline this morning and…as soon as I saw it…I knew I had to post it up.

Dogs and mountain bikers have always had a special relationship on the trail, but this video of Lily ripping up a downhill track is epic. If you like dogs, bikes or both…you will get a serious grin on your face from watching this video.

Lily Shreds trailside. on pinkbike.com

I received an email recently from the crew over at Projekt Roam about their recent video series. The concept caught my attention but even more interesting is the professionalism and riding in the actual episodes in different locations. After seeing the first installment, I knew these would have to be posted on Bike198.com. The feel, attitude and passion for riding can not be denied.

Hopefully, we will continue to see more videos out of these guys in the near future.

About Projekt Roam

Riding a bike allows one to indulge in the tangible feeling of being a kid again. Simplistic in it’s beauty, this machine we so fondly call “a bike” propels us forward time and trail again…

…[Projekt Roam was created] to seek out diverse locations and challenging terrain. An endeavor dedicated to bringing downhill and freeride trails into the public’s eye by the way of a website formatted to showcase North America’s gravity resorts, parks, and riding towns along with all the tools necessary to make your trip happen.

Projekt Roam Episode 1

Colt and Jessee take off for their first leg of their journey around North America and begin the adventurous task of filming and documenting the continent’s vast network of gravity fed mountain bike riding locations for the Gravity Ride Guide. Winter weather leads the duo into the warmer climate of the Southwest where they meet new friends and leave tracks across many of the trails in the heart of urban Phoenix, AZ, rustic Sedona, AZ, the unique terrain of Moab,UT, and the razor sharp rocks of Boulder City Nevada’s, Bootleg Canyon.

This GravityRideGuide.com webisode series features the best downhill and freeride mountain bike locations throughout North America.

“This is the product of our first time working with our cameras, first time filming and editing. It has been a learning process and we hope to improve more and more during the progression of our expedition, I hope you enjoy our new short film series Chasing Gravity, which follows us as we live on the road, traveling around North America in search of gravity fed mountain biking destinations for our new online Gravity Ride Guide.”
Colt Maule

2011 Moab Ho-Down MTB Film Festival winner.

Projekt Roam Episode 2

After a spell of bad weather Colt and Jessee soak up some spring sunshine in Santa Barbara, CA before heading upward and onward into Oregon. The pair kicks up some dust and even a little snow in Bend, OR then head out to Lyons, OR to check out the lush freeride area in Shellburg Falls and end this round of Oregon riding with the much awaited Black Rock Trails in Falls City, OR. Amongst waning days of June, the twosome start their Washington riding on the often muddy, rooted slopes of Port Angeles.

This GravityRideGuide.com webisode series features the best downhill and freeride mountain bike locations throughout North America.

Projekt Roam Episode 3

July starts off with a bang as Colt and Jessee celebrate their country’s independence in the Issaquah, WA area shredding the local biking hotspot at Duthie Hill. Creeping closer to the Canadian border, the twosome visit the sprightly town of Bellingham, WA and put some rewarding trail time in at Galbraith, part of the Chuckanut Mountain Range. The ending weeks of July find the duo having a blast riding in the outdoor recreation capitol of Canada, Squamish, B.C. August greets Colt and Jessee with sunshine and warmth as they make their way east to Kamloops and Harper Mountain.

This GravityRideGuide.com webisode series features the best downhill and freeride mountain bike locations throughout North America.

projektroam.com
gravityrideguide.com (plan your own mountain bike getaway)
Check us out on Facebook: facebook.com/projektroam

It is true…everything is cooler in slow motion. These two videos were put together by Red Bull to showcase the skills of Darren Berrecloth and Gee Atherton at the Red Bull Rampage. There is something hypnotic about watching these guys pull off amazing stunts in slow motion. Almost makes it seem doable by mortals…

Step Down To Wall Ride with Gee Atherton

1,000 FPS with Darren Berrecloth: 360 Step Down

Being able to manual a mountain bike is an incredible tool to have on the trail. By lifting the front tire up and rolling forward, you are able to keep momentum and speed through sections while also gaining control when done correctly. Especially on rollers and downhill technical sections, you can actually make the trail smoother, faster and safer by applying this technique.

In this video, you get to hang out with Santa Cruz Syndicate World Cup Champion Steve Peat and dirt jumper Blake Samson as they take you through how to do a manual on your mountain bike. This is part of a new series of videos by Bike Riders United. To submit suggestions for skills you want covered, head over to the Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport Facebook page.

Discuss on the forums here –> Manual A Mountain Bike

Here at Bike198, we have been long time fans of the GoPro POV cameras dating all the way back to the original Hero that was only VGA resolution. With each version of the GoPro, they keep on getting better. There is not an easier to use, higher quality camera for mountain bikers on the market. It is just that good for what we do.

The two shortcomings of the GoPro as we see it was low light production and the lack of a remote. This week, GoPro released the Hero2 Professional (MSRP 299.99) that promises to address both issues for GoPro users looking to get those features added to an already great POV camera. In addition to the new sensor, the wifi remote adds the ability to stream video over wifi and provide a sharper picture through a new lens. I am not sure when we would ever use that as mountain bikers, but it seems like a pretty cool feature.

However, these new features do come at a $100 premium over the regular GoPro Hero HD.

From GoPro:

GoPro cameras are used by more professional athletes, sports filmmakers, and core enthusiasts than any other camera in the world. The HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition is the most advanced GoPro camera, yet. Wearable and gear mountable, waterproof to 197? (60m), capable of capturing professional full 170º wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel photos at a rate of 10 photos per second, the HD HERO2 is the world’s most versatile camera. It is simply the smallest, lightest, most powerful HD camera in the world for capturing and sharing immersive videos and photos of your favorite activities. Whether your goal is to capture a great day out with friends or you’re gunning for the cover of a magazine, the HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition can help you nail it and look like a HERO.

Included are mounting accessories you’re most likely to use during outdoor sports like biking, skiing, skating, kayaking and so on. Other accessories are available via links on the right hand side of this page.

The HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition is compatible with all GoPro expansion accessories and BacPacs™, including the Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote (coming soon).

Get your GoPro Hero2 by clicking here.

Hero2 Professional Sample Video

Example of the kind of footage you can shoot with a GoPro

Get your GoPro Hero2 by clicking here.

This video was actually shot as part of a promotional series for the G9300 MUDMAN Compass. Luckily for us, the promotion is kept at a minimum and 95% of the video is about mountain biking with Cam Zink and Kyle Strait (also known for my favorite 661 Kyle Strait Knee Pads).

Outside of the huge drops these guys are pulling off in Utah, I think my favorite part of the entire video is when Kyle narrates “definitely one of the coolest parts about mountain biking is just being out there and it is just you and the bike”. He talks about how riding is “gravity fed” with no motors…just you grunting up the hill for the next shot at having gravity help you down. When I am out riding…that is really how it feels. Man power with machine conquering the hill. How fast or slow I am that day is completely dependent upon me as me and my rig of choice for that day seek out to do the impossible.

This is too crazy not to post. This viral video on YouTube shows a mountain biker in Africa getting taken out by a buck in a mountain bike race.

Mountain Biker, Evan van der Spuy of Team Jeep South Africa got taken out by a RED HARTEBEES at amountain bike race at Albert Falls Dam. Check out this crazy footage which was taken by team mate Travis Walker on his GoPro Camera – The BUCK sure does STOP HERE with Evan van der Spuy aka #BUCKNORRIS

Over the past week or so, there are two videos in the cycling community that have been going viral. One is a play off of serious road bikers with “SRSLY” and the other is an extreme dismount by a rider during a cross race. Here are both for your viewing enjoyment.

SRSLY by tpick

Starcrossed 2011 – Joey’s Ok