Nico Turner's 'Live To Ride' - New Series Starts Now

Apr 19, 2014
by Simon Nieborak  
Nico Turner, a young lad from Nottingham, who at the first glance may look like a regular guy for his age... but the talent he has developed over last few years makes him someone above average. True passion to cycling, creative mind and a good eye for detail turned him into a well known cinematographer in the mountain biking world.

Behind the imaginary bars
  Mountain Biking is one of my favourite things to do, so naturally when I got into film-making it was through the sport

Today, Nico is a successful camera-man who travels around the world to capture the best possible footage and present it on the screens of our computer monitors to get us all even more stoked about gravity cycling...One of his biggest achievements is establishing a popular series called 'Live To Ride' and here is the freshest fruit of his hard work.

''I am really excited to have this opportunity to create a new 'Live To Ride' web series over at EpicTV. I’m hoping to meet up with a whole bunch of awesome guys from the UK and make some banger downhill and dirt jump segments. I want to try and showcase some pretty cool stories in the series, so stay tuned for all the antics to follow!''

For the first episode Nico went to a small town Lousã in Portugal where he has met with the former British Downhill champion Alex Bond and a very interesting guy, Brett Wheeler, who has started a fantastic MTB holiday venture.

Alex was kind to sit down and have a little chat with us to catch up and tells us what's so special about this little and quite town in Portugal.

Live to Ride w Alex Bond and Brett Wheeler
Live to Ride w Alex Bond and Brett Wheeler
  Sun, dust, bikes...

What's your name and tell us a little bit more about yourself, please?
My name is Alex Bond, 24 years old from Wales in the UK. Aspiring to be a professional DH racer.

Why do you chose to train in Portugal and more specifically Lousã?
It's tradition now more than anything else. It's the 7th year a group of us have gone out there in the pre-season. We go back every year, because the riding is awesome, the weather is good and the people out here are so hospitable. It's basically got everything you need for a training trip.

What are the trails like?
The tracks out here, in my opinion, are some of the best I've ridden in Europe! It's the variety, that's so great, I think. You can ride a 20min descent and pass from rocky open areas into wide-open woodland then into rainforest. You don't get bored, because there are so many tracks that are really different.

Live to Ride w Alex Bond and Brett Wheeler

Could you get up to anything else while you are there?
There's always some cool cliff jump/swim spots that get hit up when we're here. The road riding and all mountain is pretty epic too! Some big climbs! I think the one climb last year on my road bike was 1hr 20 of pure climb! Also, if you've got a trials or Enduro Moto, this is probably one of the best places you'll ever ride!!

What would you say to someone who hasn't been to Lousã before?
I'd say you would have to check it out at some point.

How does it compare to training back home?
You get more bang for your buck out here. The tracks are longer, the weather is better, it just means you can get so much quality riding done in a short time! I've ridden more DH in the last few weeks than I did all last year, I reckon!

What are the races like in Portugal and why do you compete there?
The races out here are really good for a bit of pre-season testing and getting the jitters sorted early on. They're a good warm up for the World Cups, the tracks tend to be fast, rocky and wild, so they kind of get you ready better than the tight slow and wet races back home.

Live to Ride w Alex Bond and Brett Wheeler

What was it like filming with Nico?
Filming with Nico was awesome, but hard! He pushes hard for what he wants, but it's worth it any day when you see it finished!

What was your favourite part of filming?
I think it would have to be taking a deeper look at the tracks we always ride and finding new wild gaps to jump!

Tell us a few words about Brett Wheeler and Wheelers MTB holidays, please.
This year, when we came to Lousã, we found out that Brett has started a MTB holiday company just down the road. His setup looks pretty ideal, so would be great for people looking to come out here for a week's riding! He's a real sound dude and I wish him the best of luck with his business venture.



Nico, also asked Brett Wheeler a few questions... See below what he has got to say.

photo

What's your name and when did you start riding?
My name's Brett Wheeler, I'm 27 years old and I have been riding downhill for 18 months.

What got you into mountain biking and why do you enjoy riding?
After giving up motocross 4 years ago, I needed a new hobby... After trying downhill, it gave me the same adrenaline rush as motocross gave me.

photo
  Seems like MX doesn't fall far from DH

What was your occupation before moving to Lousã and why did you choose to move?
In England, I was a bricklayer, but with my new love of downhill and the harsh winters of the UK, I moved to Lousã with my wife to start Wheelers Mountain Bike Holidays.

What is your current occupation, Brett?
Owner, head coach and trail guide at Wheelers Mountain Bike Holidays.

What kind of riding is out there?
There is such a variety of tracks that we ride on. You can be on a loamy, dirt berm track to fast, rocky, big jumps track. All tracks are rider friendly, from a total beginner up to a world class rider. Tracks vary from 4 mins to our longest decent of 35 minutes.

photo
  Brett Wheeler riding down on one of his local tracks

photo
  Post-ride maintenance

How are you finding the first few guests at the villa?
We couldn't be happier with how our first few guests have been. They have been very easy going and making our job looking after them very easy.

What kind of feedback have you been hearing from guests?
The feed back has been amazing. The first group we had are regular visitors to the big name MTB resorts of Europe and say what we offer at the villa and the tracks we use are on par, if not better than what the regularly visit at a very good price.

photo
  Wheeler's villa is ready to meet and greet guest, now

Do you think you've landed the dream job?
Yes, totally! Riding my bike with new guests and experiencing the awesome feeling I first got when riding here in Portugal is a dream come true.

What are you looking forward to in the future?
For the future, I'm looking forward to seeing the business grow and it being in people's thoughts when deciding to go somewhere to ride the bikes. I also want to progress myself in riding and see how far that can take me.

Live to Ride w Alex Bond and Brett Wheeler
  Ah, Portugal...

For more information visit Brett's website at www.wheelersmountainbikeholidays.com.



Posted In:
Interviews Turner


Author Info:
lunatyk avatar

Member since May 4, 2008
92 articles

14 Comments
  • 5 0
 Thank you so much nico. The edit is amazing. We had a Lot of fun making this with you and simon. Check out our website on full details with a stay with us. €350 for a week Smile
  • 1 0
 nice to see the great trails we portuguese ride on!
  • 4 0
 Nice to see someone living out there dream. Looks like a beautiful place!! Meanwhile i'm stuck here on a base in NB without my bike until august with no mountains and snow outside... I'm missing BC and a little jealous right now.
  • 3 0
 Sorry you're stuck on the wrong side of a great MTB country. I hope you're able to cope ok. Good riding on the island these days.
  • 5 0
 Amazing work as usual Nico!
  • 5 1
 LOUSÃ POWER!!!
  • 3 1
 Lousa is the best Smile
  • 3 1
 Damn Bond, what a shredder ! great vid'
  • 2 0
 those trails look really fun
  • 3 0
 They are really fun. We have a huge variety. I have alot of the track on my pinkbike page
  • 3 1
 Looking good!
  • 2 1
 Yeah Nico! So happy for you buddy
  • 1 2
 now he have to go up to take the car







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