MUST WATCH: Gee Atherton Gets Hunted by a Falcon

Jun 6, 2013
by Karl Burkat  


This is of note: The Peregrine Falcon is renowned for its speed, reaching over 322 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop (high speed dive), making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom.

Also check out the footage from the birdcam www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid=VM8tShcn-dY&v=jTJYc8O1ocM

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245 Comments
  • 406 2
 All very well but I wonder how Gee would have faced against the peregrine falcon world champion? For all we know, this bird could be a complete amateur!
  • 51 2
 I approve this comment ^.
  • 28 0
 you sir, made my day! thanks!
  • 22 1
 Oh god it's a real live euro Ricky bobby. Instead of a puma he rides with a falcon. I hope they name the bike millennium falcon now
  • 23 78
flag sicsoma (Jun 6, 2013 at 10:36) (Below Threshold)
 wow do we fu*k with nature. isn't it enough that we are on top of the food chain? i sure like Gee, and i sure like falcons, but this seems both ridiculous and pointless.
  • 75 0
 Trail dogs chasing you was getting old, birds are much better for slo mo shots. Personally im waiting for bears but catching and domesticating one seems like alot of trouble.
  • 13 6
 Some of the slow mos were really cool, but I thought there were too many. Getting the fastest bird in the world chasing one of the fastest riders in the world, and then putting them in super slow motion seems like it defeats the objects a bit
  • 10 9
 Did not get a real sense of Gee's speed from that. Too much slo-mo.
  • 8 4
 sicsoma what are you talking about? this is the most bad ass idea ever!
  • 3 1
 Hell yea that shit was bad ass! Coolest thing seen in a while. I think the bird taged him like 3times , but you new it when he grabbed the bait bag haha !Coolsheet
  • 9 0
 Reminds me of the time a crow started attacking my head with his talons while I was riding my bike to class for no apparent reason. There's no doubt in my mind that bird was a seasoned veteran.
  • 6 0
 Peregrine Falcon's are for a amateurs..... Lets see how Gee would go against the Millennium Falcon!!!!
  • 10 2
 I thought hes gonna be hunted by F16 Falcon. Bit dissapointed Smile
  • 9 28
flag z-man FL (Jun 6, 2013 at 14:08) (Below Threshold)
 I could not agree with sicmosa any more. Putting an animal in danger for such a stupid and pointless reason is not cool!
  • 37 4
 Your a moron that Falcon was doing what birds of prey do..... Hunt shit.

Do you throw a ball for your dog...... is that putting him in danger? Oh we better not ride horses because that puts them in danger. You probably shouldn't walk outside on a rainy day because all the worms are in danger of being squished under your feet.
  • 6 0
 wheres his backpack/hawk/"prey" at 3:17 on the drop
  • 34 0
 Ten bucks says that bird gets picked up by redbull in a week or so. hahah
  • 15 20
flag BristolBikeProject (Jun 6, 2013 at 16:33) (Below Threshold)
 This is one of the stupidest things ive ever seen
  • 6 0
 Fookin right! he could still have training wings on for all we know !!
  • 3 2
 Ya fuck dogs and birds... Trail bears they're the future.... Red bull talk to us when that's a thing....... But really this video was awsome.
  • 5 1
 Pssh, The Claws been doing this for years but instead of a Falcon he just uses Grizzlies.
  • 4 0
 I'm calling Brigitte Bardot right now!
  • 3 0
 truly dissapointed in the edit of the bird cam.. just a few short clips of it Blank Stare
  • 8 0
 The bird could be doping for all we know?
  • 8 0
 UCI Sanctioned?
  • 4 0
 @DrJean.... good! id honest to god be the first guy that would let a trained bear chase me while i ride my bike......cause hey if it does kill me......
1: that is a hilarious way to die and
2: my friends speaking at my funeral.......hilarious!! i know they'd all say "well hey look, we all knew a bear would get him eventually.. i mean hell if you look at from a statistical point of view he lived wayyyyy longer than he should have! i mean it sucks and all but he went out doing something that he loved, that's cycling and he also went out being chased by something he loved...... a grisly bear."
  • 2 0
 I wanna see a vid of someone being chased by a mountain lion on a bike
  • 1 0
 Hmmm good idea mate
  • 2 0
 @mintlife365.

You should start some sort of Internet kickstarter program where we can all donate money to make that happen. I got 20 on it.
  • 1 0
 That'd hilarious... But I can't I already have a project up, I acctually have to take that one down and put up my new one... And I was kidding.... But that'd be awesome
  • 3 0
 I bet you would put down some of the best times of your life with a bear chasing you. Its amazing what a little motivation will do to the human psyche.
  • 1 0
 Yeah it's pretty funny what a bear would do to my times as long as I didn't eat it I bet I would get picked up by red bull lol
  • 116 2
 Eco friendly Top Gear race!
  • 10 1
 www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_539303&feature=iv&src_vid=VM8tShcn-dY&v=jTJYc8O1ocM
Falcon GoPro
  • 10 44
flag Lehel-NS (Jun 6, 2013 at 6:22) (Below Threshold)
 Still an Apache VS a Lotus is more bad ass.
  • 103 0
 All that was missing was Rob Warner commentating...
  • 13 1
 that was amazing! Big Grin and good luck for fort william this weekend, gee!!
  • 9 0
 they should run red bull fox hunt with gee again. if you catch him you win his bike.
  • 20 8
 I always feel sorry for birds of prey that are cooped up like this , possibly the most free animal in the world with a hood on in a cage , what a life.
  • 8 3
 mmhhh bigburd, you might have a point there, but to me it looks like the falcon in this case is having a ton of fun
  • 5 0
 Where is that trail!?
  • 5 0
 Antur stiniog I think , Wales
  • 3 0
 I think its Antur Stiniog in wales
  • 8 2
 Most of these birds that are kept in captivation are given an amazing life. They regularly get to go an hunt but are trained on recall. There is a reason they use the hoods but I can't remember ATM.
  • 6 0
 RyanWensley, its to keep them calm, if they saw something tasty while they were strapped to a glove or pole they'd injure themselves going for it, so it is a good reason Smile
  • 12 0
 It's a crash helmet.
  • 2 0
 That's it. I knew it was used for something good and not bad.
  • 3 0
 If they really didn't like the way they were being treated they would just fly away! They stick around because they get to hunt and eat all the time. Life is good.
  • 110 2
 Strap a big steak to his back and let a cheetah run him down...then I'll be impressed.
  • 19 0
 I'm not sure if the big steak on his back is needed, becuse probably cheetah would take Gee as a really big one.
  • 6 2
 Cheetahs are actually surprisingly tame. So don't count it out!
  • 10 1
 My thoughts exactly...a Cheetah would be interesting to watch hitting those switchbacks as fast as Gee does.
  • 3 0
 Extra incentive.
  • 13 1
 How can you have a fare race with a cheetah?
  • 2 16
flag Corphies (Jun 6, 2013 at 8:46) (Below Threshold)
 a falcon is faster than a cheetah anyways.
You just want to watch him get attacked or something? That's kind of f*cked up bud.
  • 18 0
 it would probably cut corners and cheat. Waaaaaay........ sorry
  • 4 1
 Cheetahs are burst of speed only animals. they don't have the endurance to go for long times. It's possible that it would tire out and stop.
  • 10 0
 pretty sure a cheetah would catch gee in the first 200m lol
  • 4 0
 ^MuddyRusty- Yeah, there is no way to have a fair race with a cheetah! Cheetahs never prosper!
  • 2 1
 A falcon is over 100km/h faster than a cheetah while diving and its diving basically the whole time. Its going downhill.
Also I don't think the cheetah would handle the terrain as well as the falcon just flying over most of it.
  • 50 0
 Red bull: gives you wings, but not enough to out ride a falcon..
  • 17 0
 So basically if Gee was a rabbit, he would have been eaten by a falcon by now.
  • 16 0
 I could probably race a penguin
  • 16 0
 gee that bird was absolutely flying
  • 1 1
 Flying... Haha yeah that's what birds do best
  • 14 1
 Starting tomorrow I'm training with a turkey vulture and a bag of chicken innards!
  • 5 0
 That accounts for my lack of speed, I've been using a chicken and a bag of turkey vulture innards
  • 12 1
 3:23 Whoops, no pack. Lots of shots without the GoPro either. Cool video though.
  • 5 1
 You can't expect them to have camera men all the way down the track.
  • 2 0
 Yeah, there were a few short scenes where he didn't have a backpack on. But I suppose that to get enough footage for the vid they would need a fair few goes at it and they wouldn't have sent the bird down every time.
  • 10 2
 Next time there is a board meeting at GT headquarters about new ways of promoting the brand I want the GoPro footage of that meeting - I want to know how those brilliant ideas come to life.

Doesn't have to be GT, I take any company... we had a dozen of inside-factory vids lately, I want "The office" version of MTB company environment.
  • 11 1
 2'22'', the falco shreds an invisible berm !
  • 10 1
 I thought trail dogs were f*ck*n crazy, this is unbelievable Big Grin
  • 7 1
 Ha! I see what you did here GT.
Really original way to advertise your new bike! : main slogan - faster than a Falcon !
  • 18 1
 the falcon got the bait, so not really
  • 2 0
 Yeah if you watch the behind the scenes Gee got caught 9 times out of 10. Although I'd like to see anyone do any better.
  • 10 0
 I'd consider it a success if I made it down that run twice. Never mind the falcon or the other 8 times.
  • 5 5
 I could do better than that , just lay down
  • 1 0
 Speaking of THAT new bike...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJrL6kEOhWQ&feature=player_detailpage
  • 5 1
 LMAFO The most cooky and craziest video ever, of course done by a Brit. Awesome, my favorite video of all time!! Maybe cuz I took a couple rips. But either way I'm in awehaha !
  • 2 1
 yeah, ill uptoke that
  • 1 1
 420 blaze it faggot
  • 6 1
 It's all fun and games until you get an endagered species caught in your spokes.
  • 2 0
 Lucky for us its not endangered
  • 3 1
 why so many negatives, this was amazeing to see that nature still overrules this planet, we just rent time on it.. To me this is one of the best videos of the month I have seen and I don't look at the negative I look at the positive, which to me is , Hey Gwyn , Gee is gonna do it this year along with Danny Boy and Sam the Man Hill.. The End..
  • 1 0
 one more thing Steve Smith is going to take the overall wins. I just see Gee winning more than two this year.
  • 1 0
 Alright boys we need a new way to get people to watch our videos any ideas? Lets attach some bait to the back of a rider and have a falcon chase after the rider the whole way down the trail. Thats crazy, so crazy it might just work!
  • 6 0
 that was dramatic..
  • 5 0
 That sure beats a trail dog.
  • 3 0
 The whole time I watched this I was thinking, Where's the birdcam? Then Redbull goes and adds a link to the birdcam version, and totally redeems themselves.
  • 4 0
 Where the beer flows like wine
  • 6 0
 This hawk gets 50 miles to the gallon.
  • 2 0
 950 miles to the pigeon
  • 2 0
 That was super cool!
What would have put the anxiety level up a few notches though would be to put some raw meat in that bag and have a wolverine chase him.......but the bird was a sweet idea.
Smile
  • 5 0
 Can i add the falcon to my dirt fantasy league?
  • 3 0
 that was one of the coolest, most original videos I've seen in a while. It's amazing how effortlessly fast the falcon is if you watch the falcon cam.
  • 5 0
 Damn that bird's fast. Maybe it's a PereGwin Falcon?
  • 1 0
 Was this really about speed? That falcon was way WAY faster. I think this is more about precision/aim and skill on the birds part.

Of course Gee is super fast but that bird could've grabbed the bag earlier on had it not for bad aim haha

All in all it was a great idea and video!!
  • 5 1
 That was so incredible...
  • 4 0
 I must say, the title alone sparked my interest.
  • 2 0
 damn, great vid. And I see it as RedBull gives you wings, Gee rides for Red Bull...GT has wings...Falcons obviously have wings, friggin fast
  • 1 0
 SO EPIC. I can't even express how much that inspired me to strap meat to myself and let birds of prey claw at me while riding. Or for that matter doing anything. The possibilities are endless!
  • 2 0
 put mcdonald fries on you and watch shit loads of birds gets on you
  • 4 0
 www.pinkbike.com/photo/9679987

The backpack is gone Wink
  • 2 0
 yeah I saw that too. Nice edti LOL
  • 3 0
 It should ´ve been Rachel racing against the falcon so it would ´ve been the ultimate race of bird against bird...
  • 3 0
 This feels like something Top Gear would do, more of these pointless test plz!
  • 1 0
 When I first read the title, I thought he was attacked by a falcon on an actual race. If he really wants to show us how fast he is, he needs to beat Aaron Gwin. Not use a falcon as a gimmick...
  • 1 0
 staged. pretty cool regardless. but you'll notice in half the shots gee doesn't have his helmet-top is missing, and in some shots he isn't wearing a backpack. but still a really cool and enjoyable clip.
  • 2 1
 Love the slow mo as he comes off the drop, wish I was back there doing that as I was a few weeks ago: www.pinkbike.com/photo/9654793 !
  • 3 0
 Ahh, heck that just looks like the swooping magpies in spring! Razz
  • 5 1
 wow
  • 3 0
 And the winner in UCI world cup is.... The FALCON!
  • 3 1
 How most people train: at a gym
How Gee trains: gets chased by a freakin falcon
  • 2 0
 Call me dumb, but everytime i click on the 'birdcam' its just the same video..??
  • 3 0
 That guy just gets all the birds........
  • 3 0
 Eagle: "Gimme my f*ckin GoPro back!"
  • 1 0
 Those guys at GT got some weird R&D techniques. Would have been cool if it was a bald eagle. Oh wait, that's Gwins edit. Lol
  • 11 1
 A Bald Eagle would totally suck due to it's 4km turning circle. Just like American cars ;-)
  • 4 0
 Apply cold water to the burned area.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, I'm on fire after that one.
  • 3 0
 GT's Earn Your Wings takes a whole new meaning
  • 3 0
 Can I get to hunt Gee with a paint ball sniper rifle?
  • 1 0
 great vid and my favorite local trail. antur stiniog in north wales. just down the road from where all 3 of the athertons live.
  • 2 0
 Gee's fast!
The bird is fast!
The shots are stunning!
What more do you need?
  • 12 0
 Girls in bikinis!
  • 2 0
 between man and bird lol, I thought he was going to say mother nature or something to make it sound cooler
  • 1 0
 Must have been hard for Gee though. Think about every time you get swooped by a magpie or any bird, it's annoying... And it was constantly happening to him.
  • 1 0
 sweet slow mo with the bird above him...i like how this isnt just the standard "epic" DH vid Smile
  • 1 0
 That was pretty Good! No point to it but just awesome to watch! Loved it!
  • 1 0
 Can't believe the bird didn't knock him down at any point. At 200mph it must hit like a ton of bricks.
  • 2 0
 it only hits 200mph in a vertical dive, not in level flight. Smile
  • 1 0
 That makes sense. Good thing he was hauling it. Guess if he was just sitting around the bird could have dove on him.
  • 1 0
 It wasn't all filmed in one run, the location of the GoPro changes, and sometimes it isn't on gee's helmet.
  • 1 0
 That's impressive! Let me try the same thing this weekend but with my pet turtle named TURBO!
  • 1 0
 When i finally become a falconer... this is definitely how i will train falcons. This is how i can combine 2 of my passions
  • 1 0
 Can someone tell me where I can get that time of my life back? I feel it is owed to me...
  • 1 0
 Shit he woulda had me before half way down belly up makin a meal outta me lol
  • 1 0
 Not fast enough for the bird,hopefully he will be fast for other wc athletes.
  • 2 0
 I liked the narration by Michael Caine.
  • 3 0
 that is one ANGRY BIRD!
  • 2 0
 fantastic !
next time with F-35 ??
  • 1 0
 the falcon is an elegant and beautiful animal.... and looks powerfull too.....nice vid
  • 3 2
 What the hell is that music all about? Anyone else hear the theme from that crappy Mortal Kombat movie? (From 2:40 onwards.)
  • 3 2
 it was epic.
  • 1 0
 My road/cross bike is a 1980s Falcon. I don't think it's as fast as its namesake.
  • 1 0
 worlds fastest bird, one of the world fastest riders. show the film in slow motion. makes sense.
  • 2 0
 nice! but... a bit wtf...
  • 1 0
 Man, thats some harry potter shit! I so want a falcon to follow me around mtbing!
  • 2 0
 Ecosystem + a Welsh track + Super Gee = A great video :-)
  • 1 0
 That's cool and all but I would like to see how he fares against something like a leopard, cheetah or a liger...
  • 1 0
 That GT looks simply awesome ! Great video by the way ! Cant wait for Fort William Wold cup !
  • 1 0
 that boys got some serious pace! nice to see sleeker tubing on the new GT too
  • 1 0
 Had a dog chase me. My mom used to put liver in my back pocket so id be popular with animals.
  • 1 0
 Curious to see how many other WC racers will jump on board with this if Gee goes on a tear this season. Wink
  • 1 0
 I could show footage of some stupid dogs chasing my cycling leg. Anyone interested? Oh I forgot I am not famous.
  • 1 0
 this is nothing , I just tell the ex I aint got her money, get away from her and your a pro
  • 1 0
 It was to my understanding that everyone had heard, the bbbird, bird, bird, the bird is the word!!!!
  • 1 0
 Damn...love the bird cam.
  • 1 0
 Who needs a dog when you've got a bird?
  • 1 0
 Awww shit.. Every racer should do that on race day.
  • 1 0
 can anybody let me know wich bike is Gee riding please?
  • 1 0
 too slow Gee, too slow!! well.. at least you tried to be fast!!! Big Grin
  • 1 0
 So cool! PEDAL PEDAL PEDAL!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Trail dogs are so last year guys. Behold the trail falcon !
  • 1 0
 Are birds the new trail dogs?
  • 1 0
 fastest animal of the animal kingdom? not anymore!!!
  • 1 0
 stop with the slo mo already!
  • 1 0
 there are sequences where is no falcon in vid and no bag on gee's back .
  • 1 0
 I think the Falcon needs a better challenge.
  • 1 0
 His gopro is missing at 3:05 3:10 and at 3:16...
  • 2 0
 Awesome way to train !!!
  • 1 0
 Bad Freakin' A, loved it!
  • 1 0
 wow~~~ !!! i've never seen like this~~~ love it.
  • 2 1
 www.pinkbike.com/video/316145

my (lower budget) version
  • 1 0
 My trail dog could do better...
  • 2 3
 Cool concept but crappy editing - did anyone else notice there were several shots in which Gee wasn't even wearing the hydration pack, much less the 'bait'.
  • 2 0
 VOD!!
  • 1 0
 Bike looks like one of the new releases. ACH YARH.....
  • 1 0
 Birds of prey and bikes, two bloody good things to combine, good work!
  • 1 0
 trail dogs getting replaced?
  • 1 0
 That Birdy looked stoked when he saw that bait!!!'
  • 1 0
 the best training ever Smile )))
  • 1 0
 i felt like i was watching bear grills!
  • 1 0
 That doesn't look like a gt
  • 1 0
 heli-cam? thats for pussies, real man use falcon-cam
  • 1 0
 GT prototype, looks good from far away, looks like horse shit up close
  • 1 0
 What was that soundtrack? So awesome. Made me shiver.
  • 1 0
 Gee got the bird flu. Explains his last few seasons...
  • 1 0
 One of the best videos ever on PB!!!
  • 1 0
 LOOK AT THE BIIIIIRD!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 grat vid, next time try lion, hyena,cheetah and make sure they are hungry
  • 1 1
 There is only one word for this... AWESOME.
  • 1 0
 Jaysus!!
  • 1 0
 Flea Atherton!!
  • 1 1
 One of the sickest vids I've seen. Love the bird version too.
  • 1 0
 Gt proto frame ??
  • 1 0
 What trail is this?
  • 1 0
 that was gnarly
  • 1 0
 simplemente genial
  • 1 2
 What is this bloomin discoverychannel ole weezebag ole mate cheereeos this and that!!?..?!.
  • 2 0
 Can I have some of what you're smoking?
  • 1 0
 Ya come to flatbush brooklyn and take a breathe. Instant high.
  • 2 1
 Epic...just epic!
  • 3 2
 3:20 whrs backpack?
  • 2 0
 exacytly Frown
  • 1 6
flag Corphies (Jun 6, 2013 at 8:43) (Below Threshold)
 it's a tiny package on his back. It's just the angle, that's why you can't see it.
  • 3 0
 nope bad edit LOL
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9679987
  • 2 0
 Yeah its a shame. Would have been nice if they at least pretended it wasn't all just completely set up shots.
  • 1 0
 Oh brutal, I thought that yellow 3 on his back was the bag lol
  • 2 1
 epic
  • 3 4
 Some of the shots he doesn't have the pack on his back..... Continuity Red Bull man!!
  • 1 0
 www.pinkbike.com/photo/9679987
  • 1 0
 Han Solo would be proud.
  • 1 0
 What did I just watch
  • 1 0
 trail birds ftw!
  • 1 0
 That was cool!!
  • 1 0
 Does Gee ride a large?
  • 1 0
 Very odd video...
  • 1 0
 one bad ass bird
  • 1 0
 Hoooo Love it
  • 1 0
 Green Tea Extract
  • 1 0
 Hahahahaha good call
  • 1 1
 Now that was a great idea!!
  • 1 2
 Not falling for this one , pause 2.06 clearly backpack n yellow sack , pause 3.16 off drop and no backpack just no 3 .
  • 1 0
 That was awesome!
  • 6 9
 That owl has big balls.
  • 17 0
 Falcon*
  • 6 0
 Lol......
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