bicycling on fences, rooftops, trees…

Sometimes Signs of Life show up in odd places. I was aware of at least three thoughts (in addition to “What the…?!”) as I watched this video. First, the amount of time spent practicing to be this good on a bike is astounding. Second, it took a bit of work to put this video together. Dave Sowerby, the filmmaker, didn’t just stumble onto a few great shots. Finally, while I was excepting the typical extreme sports montage, what is shown here is closer to art. Sowerby’s direction, Danny MacAskill’s cycling (if that is the correct word for what he does), and the lovely soundtrack by Band of Horses add up to a surprisingly moving piece of video.

(via kottke)

David Swanson

April 28, 2009

video

Danny MacAskill, Dave Sowerby

8 responses to “bicycling on fences, rooftops, trees…”

Josh Stock

April 28, 2009 at 6:06 am

Reminds me of this guy:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=515642196227308929

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Keith

April 28, 2009 at 6:23 am

This video has generated so many thoughts. First, the opening act of riding a bike on the top of a cast iron fence…it’s dumb. But he did it beautifully. I’m reminded that we Christians should not be on the fence. We can’t have one foot in the world and one foot in the Bible (for lack of a better term). We can’t be lukewarm but must be committed fully to be in Christ.
Not long after the first “trick” (for lack of a better term) I recognized that this guy is not a random punk teen cyclist. He’s a master. A work of art. Watching someone make the mundane (riding a bike) a piece of art gives me great joy. I love watching, for example, master bricklayers. They can do things with bricks and mortar that few others can. It goes from a job to joy, from work to art. It’s even greater when the master is doing it for the Master and for His glory.
Am I an apprentice, journeyman or master in my work, in my walk, in my talk, in my family? Have I taken anything “mundane” and made it a work of art through Him and for Him? I don’t think so. If I have, I have likely taken the glory for myself.
Finally, to God’s glory, the last scene where the camera focuses on a beautiful purple flower then to the cyclist with a georgeous blue sky behind him and lovely green grass below. What a creation. What a Creator.

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stanford

April 28, 2009 at 9:29 am

That’s gorgeous. I think we are wired to resonate with transcendence in almost any form. I love it.

Though, I also think a good sound track is 40% of a good film…and if you are going to pick a one song track, Funeral wraps that 40% up…a perfect existential accompaniment (especially given the ‘Danger of Death Sign’ in the opening sequence).

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Glenn

April 28, 2009 at 10:28 am

That is perhaps the coolest thing I’ve ever seen on a bike! That is art in motion!

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Jeremy Witteveen

April 28, 2009 at 12:07 pm

I saw this on Kottke last week. It’s great.

Parkour is amazing. Parkour on bikes, even better. It’s incredibly rehearsed and incredible to watch in edited video form. Once rehearsed, it’s like shooting a film with a good actor, they do the same thing every time over and over and over.

Check out District B-13 (or “Banlieue 13” en Français) for a feature film of really good Parkour from the supposed inventor of the form David Belle and also Cyril Raffaelli — who was in Die Hard 4. Raffaelli did some of the stunt work in Transporter 1 and 2. He’s great.

I thought one of those guys had something to do with the Parkour in the last Bourne picture, but I guess not.

Trailer for District B13: http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/districtb13/

According to IMDB: “There weren’t any special effects (wirework, computer graphics…) used in 90% of the parkour scenes.”

Thanks for the repost.

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Otakudad

April 28, 2009 at 9:32 pm

That is awesome. Just awesome. Thanks for posting it.

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Hayduke

April 29, 2009 at 9:22 am

This is not bicycling; this is stunt riding. It’s a meaningless appeal to destructive behavior that does nothing to promote bicycling.

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otakudad

May 1, 2009 at 12:11 am

Hayduke:

An appeal to destructive behavior? How? I understand that it’s dangerous. So is high-tension wire repair. So is fixing potholes in the street. So this guy does bike tricks? What’s so destructive about it?

I understand that cyclists (like long-range type bikers) may take offense to the term. I don’t know, as I’m not one. But the comment seemed a little harsh. Is there a reason for that?

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