DIY GoPro Cable Cam
We set ourselves a new goal to build a smooth, lightweight cable cam that is small enough to fit in your day pack and able to accomodate a GoPro HERO or similar action camera. Here’s a little more how-to instruction if you’re interested in making your own – maiamedia.co.uk/2012/03/how-to-gopro-diy-cable-cam/
Howies CYB 2011 film
Here’e the film from our recent little adventure. Howies Coed-y-brenin Enduro MTB event. 60km or 30km of trail riding over a single lap course. The route itself was good with a mix of oldskool hike-a-bike and plenty of singletrack sweetness. Unfortunately you always have to go up to go down so there’s plenty of hill climbing thrown in. There’s plenty of refreshment options and changing facilities at the Coed-y-brenin centre on the day. There’s even a hot tub you can book for the end of your ride….impeccably organised and excellent fun. This is the link to the blog of the event I’ve already written up, it should give you more of an insight…. Howies Enduo blog post
Howies Coed-y-Brenin Enduro. It went up, then down, then up and up and up….
It all started with this tweet…
It finished like this… Read more on Howies Coed-y-Brenin Enduro. It went up, then down, then up and up and up…….
Alpification: A Mountain Biking Film
Finally made a little time to create this little edit of our recent mountain biking holiday to the French Alps. We spent the first week in a catered chalet with our own guides at The White Room in Sainte Foy and the second week self catered in Morzine. Both were fantastic and quite different in terms of trails. We completed over 5000m of descent on the first day alone, we got through 4 sets of brake pads each, ate too much cheese, celebrated my 30th birthday and topped it all off with a proposal of marriage! Not a bad trip.
How to ‘Alpify’ Your Mountain Bike
Alps Mountain Biking Bliss at The White Room
A review of The White Room, Sainte Foy, France – July 2nd to July 9th 2011
The guys I ride with around the Manchester/NW area had for the last few years entered the PPDS which takes place late June each year. I’d always been keen to ride in the Alps since I started mountain biking properly but the strands of other adventures had always got in the way. That was until 2011. Steve, the internet overlord and general organiser for our disparate group piped up saying he was thinking about an Alps trip and after a few hasty conversation with the missus we decided we were also in. Read more on Alps Mountain Biking Bliss at The White Room…
DIY Cable Cam Video
Here’s the footage from our first experiment with a DIY cable cam. Read more on DIY Cable Cam Video…
DIY cable cam….how to.
DIY cable cam, sounds simple doesn’t it? A cable cam is something we’ve been toying with as an idea for shots in our ‘film in development’ currently named ‘State of Flow’. At first I thought it was impossible but increasingly I’ve been coming round to the idea especially if we keep it simple.
Todmorden Cyclocross 2011
The race took place on the 2nd January 2011 and includes the infamous cobbled climb! It was an all new experience for me and my first trip watching a cyclocross event. Shot on my GH1 and testing out my new Manfrotto 561BHDV Monopod.
Cyclocross outing for my Manfrotto 561BHDV Monopod
I wanted to test out my new Christmas present, a Manfrotto 561BHDV Monopod, and what better place to experiment than Todmorden Cyclocross race.
As a videographer that enjoys that enjoys using DSLR’s I wanted a light weight, low fuss, support solution when filming. I haven’t been completely sold on the various shoulder mount options made by the likes of Zacuto and others because whilst they do get some good reviews they are ridiculously expensive and cumbersome. They seem to over compensate for DSLR’s not being standard video cameras and forget about the unique features of DSLR’s themselves. So after a little research on the internet I bought the Manfrotto 561BHDV Monopod and I am chuffed with my decision.
Read more on Cyclocross outing for my Manfrotto 561BHDV Monopod…
Inspirational Mountain Biking Films – Coming soon
My first long awaited mountain biking film is from Reset Films and now available to buy. It’s called Find and is there sequel to previously successful video Home. They have shot in some amazing locations (although they are most well known for their Scottish venues) with some of the worlds best riders such as Hans Rey, Peaty and Danny Mac. Their focus was to produce a film that not only inspires you to get the bike out on the trails, but a film that gives you a unique perspective from people who live and breath mountain biking. It’s definitely on my Christmas wish list.
Read more on Inspirational Mountain Biking Films – Coming soon…
A Mountain Biking Film: Wharncliffe Woods
Our second Team Pickle mountain biking video this time filmed at Wharncliffe Woods near Sheffield. I tried to make the most of the autumn colours, off camber roots and technical rocky sections. It’s filmed on my Lumix GH1 and I also took along my glidetrack. Small colour alterations have been made using Magic Bullet Looks.
Biking and Filming at Wharncliffe Woods
Patrick and I recently decided to make the most of the autumn season and get out on the mountain biking trails to film again. We wanted to capture a forest track with blue skies and crispy autumn leaves so what better place to start than Wharncliffe woods.
Slow Motion Bike Film using Twixtor
Here’s a sweet little slow mo bike film that has used Twixtor to slow the video down to 10% or less. Everything was shot on the Canon 7D in 720p 60fps. Twixtor has had some mixed reviews but this little video is smooth..
Ladybower Reservoir singletrack ride
A busy Sunday around Ladybower taking in Cut Gate path, a super duper section of singletrack from Ladybower north from the reservoir. The return trip is normally to turn your bike around and simply reverse what you’ve just done and I have to say that’s a great ride right there. These pics show some sneaky singletrack sections on an alternate return route back into the reservoir. It’s insane singletrack with either 10m vertical drops to your right or 70 degree grass slopes. The riding is slow technical riding with plenty of opportunity to go ‘off’. Still, didn’t see a soul for the whole of the afternoon. Brilliant! 41km and 1300m of ascent. Well worth the effort.
Lee Quarry MTB Video Success
We’re chuffed our recent mountain bike video shot at Lee Quarry has been so popular. People clearly loved the footage and after someone posted it up on the Singletrack website we saw a positive boom in the number of views and delightful comments from people who had appreciated our efforts. Not least of all Mr Brant Richands the founder and designer for Ragley who had designed the bike Patrick was riding. When Brant asked me to make a re-edit of the video with Ragley logos I was only happy to oblige.
Cragg Quarry trail – mini review
Cragg Quarry trail, the mini review – the latest addittion to the Adrenalin Gateway project, I believe, is completed and being ridden.
How to get there;
Cragg Quarry can be accessed from either:
Ragley Mmmbop bike review
Ragley Mmmbop bike review from a lover of full suspension bikes.
So I killed a Trek Remedy a few months ago which was a case of ‘user is an idiot’ rather than defective product. This put me in the situation of needing a frame of some sort in a hurry. I had some very specific requirements;
A Mountain Bike Film: Lee Quarry
I liked the aesthetics of video with DSLR’s so I recently dug deep into my pockets and purchased a Panasonic Lumix GH1. I now need to practice lots before I head out to India as volunteer videographer for Raleigh International in July. This is my first practice. The video follows Patrick mountain biking at Lee Quarry on his Ragley Mmmbop bike. I also took along my glidetrack. I’m looking forward to lots more DSLR filmming and getting to know the Panasonic GH1 a little better.
Manchester to John O’Groats: Summary of my LEJOG second half.
Friday – A day 0f contrasts, the softness of the sofa against the hardness of the road, the comfort of my bed v’s the ?. I had a touch of GPS failure which was probably more todo with my requirement that everything needed to happen immediately. Anyway the GPS decided to ‘do the right thing’ and I was comforted by all the numbers and times I could see on my screen. Going north through Manchester and out to Bury and up into the Yorkshire Dales was very interesting.
Read more on Manchester to John O’Groats: Summary of my LEJOG second half….
Twitter Updates for Team Pickle on LEJOG 2010-05-02
- #LEJOG we’re all gods children and he treats us all with equal disdain #
- #LEJOG yes i love scotland and punctures and famine and pestilence all the horse men me the apocalypse #
Read more on Twitter Updates for Team Pickle on LEJOG 2010-05-02…
Twitter Updates for Team Pickle on LEJOG 2010-04-25
- #LEJOG granite way is excellen cycle route to take. lydford gorge to oakhampton #
- #LEJOG 60 miles done. 36 to minehead. Go go go you legs #
- Still pedaling! #LEJOG #cycling Check out a map of my progress http://teampickle.co.uk/2010/04/18/paddys-lejog-progress/ #
Read more on Twitter Updates for Team Pickle on LEJOG 2010-04-25…
Lands End to Manchester: Summary of my LEJOG first half.
Day 1- Lands End to Lanlivery Puddle. Saturday 17th April 2010
Very late start about 12:30pm, drove down from campsite in Lanlivery Puddle, paid the parking fee at Lands End then dawdled some more. Got photo taken at sign, brilliant memento and off. Really lucky to have H with me for the first stretch to Penzance which was really nice. At Penzance I had some GPS battery issues, running down very quickly so bought some AA batteries and swapped them out. This is the cause of the dodgy numbers from Saturday. After Penzance I headed off and got trucking along. The route was very pleasant staying mostly on quiet roads.
Read more on Lands End to Manchester: Summary of my LEJOG first half….
The hazards of riding the LEJOG…
I thought I was aware of the many potential hazards involved in doing the LEJOG….blisters, painful achilles, chapped bits, un-friendly car drivers, pangs of hunger but never had I expected Velociraptor Raptors
