Some time ago I lamented that my days of MX on heavy European Maico's and Husqvarna's required Real Skill and were mocked by young'uns flying like birds and doing double backs, landing from on high on little cat feet...and I smugly attributed it all to the hp/lb and suspension magic of today's bikes...
And now this little bastid puts the lie to all of that with on a tiny rigid BMX...damn.
Merely clicking "Like" or saying "+1 to neato" is faint praise for this short.
Is this the guy who did all the unicycle stunts for the film at Banff Film Festival about 5 years ago? Great movie about how what the mind can imagine humans can do.
What's the difference between a park bike and a BMX?
Tam, thanks for finding and sharing this, it was the best 7 minutes I've spent at work for several months.
Park bikes are pretty much BMX geometry with 24-26" rims, sometimes with or without suspension forks and disc brakes. Typically designed for skate parks and urban free-ride/trials riding like Danny does in the video.
Ups the respect when you realize its not a "little" BMX, but a grownup size 30 or so pound bike.
Thanks, Tam, I used that in class this morning. I've got a student with a lot of issues who doesn't want to do any work and is good at getting adults to read to him and write for him. We journal with a photo projected on the wall as a prompt, but his journals are usually one sentence, such as "Life is a bitch" or "Life is another day." He loves bikes, though. I found the video on the Red Bull site so it would come through our web filter, and it got me about half a page from him. That ride on the front wheel is an "endo," and that's what my student wants to learn.
If you go to the Red Bull site, there's an entire series about this video. The other five are behind-the-scenes, showing stages of a year-long leadup to filming this one. When they started, Macaskill was injured and not sure he'd be able to recover in time to get it done (and that was before they even had a script; they just knew he wanted to do something big.) I haven't had time to watch the rest of the series, but I think I will. I'm recovering from surgery right now, staying out of the gym, and maybe I can learn something. Patience, if nothing else. http://imaginate.redbull.com
That guy's got the agility of a seal's nose.
ReplyDeletejf
I'm so glad they posted the outtakes at the end...makes me feel a lot better that he's human...
ReplyDeleteMad skillz, he has!
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love his skillz, my cynical side is awaiting the rise of ER visits by young boys who haven't put in the time to develop similar skillz.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side, the obituaries should be fascinating reading.
I'm speechless, and smiling.
ReplyDeleteCorey
It takes a lot of leg-muscle to do any of that on a pedal bike, at least a trials-bike has some suspension to help absorb the landing.
ReplyDeleteWay cool!!!
ReplyDeleteSome time ago I lamented that my days of MX on heavy European Maico's and Husqvarna's required Real Skill and were mocked by young'uns flying like birds and doing double backs, landing from on high on little cat feet...and I smugly attributed it all to the hp/lb and suspension magic of today's bikes...
ReplyDeleteAnd now this little bastid puts the lie to all of that with on a tiny rigid BMX...damn.
-chaz-
That is simply amazing. To even think about riding downhill, backwards, on the FRONT WHEEL? How did he come up with those stunts?
ReplyDeleteWow
ReplyDeleteJust..... WOW.
Anon, if it helps, it's actually a park bike with 26" rims and squishy high volume tires. That said, my park bike has front suspention at least.
ReplyDeleteMerely clicking "Like" or saying "+1 to neato" is faint praise for this short.
ReplyDeleteIs this the guy who did all the unicycle stunts for the film at Banff Film Festival about 5 years ago?
Great movie about how what the mind can imagine humans can do.
What's the difference between a park bike and a BMX?
Tam, thanks for finding and sharing this, it was the best 7 minutes I've spent at work for several months.
What's the big deal? Anybody can do that stuff.
ReplyDeletePark bikes are pretty much BMX geometry with 24-26" rims, sometimes with or without suspension forks and disc brakes. Typically designed for skate parks and urban free-ride/trials riding like Danny does in the video.
ReplyDeleteUps the respect when you realize its not a "little" BMX, but a grownup size 30 or so pound bike.
Mad skillz indeedy! Watched it, picked my jaw up and called in the 4.5 year old, who thoroughly approved of the video.
ReplyDeleteGood video. Oh, to have a tenth of that talent.
ReplyDeleteNow that was full of awesome.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand, it was cool to watch .... OTH..... if he had put that much effort into something useful, he might have cured cancer or something.
ReplyDeleteAt least he has probably given several EMT's and ER's some good practice on treating straddle injuries ....better him than me!
Absolutely brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that, Tam. Very entertaining.
ReplyDelete"if he had put that much effort into something useful, he might have cured cancer or something."
ReplyDeleteMore likely he would have been kicked out of his chemistry class for juggling flaming test tubes while balancing his chair on one leg.
Thanks, Tam, I used that in class this morning. I've got a student with a lot of issues who doesn't want to do any work and is good at getting adults to read to him and write for him. We journal with a photo projected on the wall as a prompt, but his journals are usually one sentence, such as "Life is a bitch" or "Life is another day." He loves bikes, though. I found the video on the Red Bull site so it would come through our web filter, and it got me about half a page from him. That ride on the front wheel is an "endo," and that's what my student wants to learn.
ReplyDeleteIf you go to the Red Bull site, there's an entire series about this video. The other five are behind-the-scenes, showing stages of a year-long leadup to filming this one. When they started, Macaskill was injured and not sure he'd be able to recover in time to get it done (and that was before they even had a script; they just knew he wanted to do something big.) I haven't had time to watch the rest of the series, but I think I will. I'm recovering from surgery right now, staying out of the gym, and maybe I can learn something. Patience, if nothing else.
http://imaginate.redbull.com
Why do they call it a park bike? Short for "par cour" or something?
ReplyDelete