Essential viewing
Here are a handful of the most exciting and influential films in mountain bike history
Won’t Back Down: The Steve Peat Story
Not all mountain bike films are American, and Won’t Back Down is as British as they come, documenting legendary downhill star Steve Peat’s career and his quest to become downhill mountain biking world champion.
We are privy to the highs and lows of this brutal and fast-paced sport through the eyes of the most successful (and down-to-earth) man in the business. Expect old footage, Lycra and memorable moments from Rob Warner, Peaty and the early days of downhill.
Best bit:
The elusive World Championship win in Canberra, Australia
Where the Trail Ends
With the biggest drops and jumps, ridden by the biggest names from Red Bull Rampage, WTE is one of the best mountain biking films ever. The cinematography is slick and polished, and the soundtrack is spot-on too.
And then there’s the riding — jaw-dropping, inspiring and frightening, including an insight into what back-country riding is about for some of the best riders in the world.
Best bit:
The ridge-line opening sequence, which perfectly mixes stunning images, music and riding.
Strength in Numbers
Compared to Where the Trail Ends, Strength in Numbers is slightly more eclectic in nature and features all manner of different off-road riding — it does a good job of showing how inclusive mountain biking is, and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside.
It’s a good watch for the riding too — Gee Atherton at the World Cup, Brandon Semenuk riding deep loam and Graham Agassiz hitting jumps through Star Wars style trees.
Best bit:
The sequences filmed at Fort William with Gee Atherton.
New World Disorder
NWD is where freeriding movies began; filmed back in 2000, the resolution is pretty poor and there are no zipwire or helicam angles to dazzle us.
That doesn’t seem to matter though, because there’s real passion in this edit, and watching Josh Bender hurl himself off cliffs on an inappropriate bike will never get old. Expect loud music, baggy jeans and huge hucking.
Best bit:
The ‘Jaw Drop’ in Kamloops, Canada; a 55ft cliff sent by freeride pioneer Josh Bender: “Life’s too short not to go big, man!”
The Ridge
The eponymous ridge here is the Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye — a jagged spine of sharp rocks, complete with perilous drops to either side, which is impossible to ride… unless you’re Danny MacAskill, the greatest trials rider of his generation.
It’s a delight to watch, terrifying at the top of the ridge, mesmerising on the way back down and shake-your-head bonkers as he front flips that fence at the end.
Best bit:
When the camera pulls away and the ‘ridge’ is revealed for the first time.