Must Watch: Gee Atherton Rides More Exposed Lines in 'Ridgeline IV: The Dolomites'
 | Watch the latest spectacular edit in the Ridgeline Series with Gee Atherton, the double World Champion Mountain Biker, world-renowned for his skill and daring on a bike. "Since the first hour of the first build for the original Ridgeline film, it's been the dream to take this concept to the most amazing places around the world. The potential to find awesome, remote mountain ranges where we can test ourselves to the limit… to really explore what's possible on a bike and how to film the most stunning footage… it's been like a running commentary throughout the entire project." - Gee Atherton. This film differs from its predecessors in that the team "didn't move a rock." It was about exploring with friends - an adventure into the mountains, where Gee would ride whatever they found, including some of the most unforgiving terrain of the series so far. And there's pedalling, even if it's at racing speed and inches from a ravine. Filming took place this August in the Italian Dolomites, where access to riding spots involved four-hour hikes, roped climbs, ladders and abseils. The team was burdened with camera equipment, drones, food supplies and Gee's bike, broken down to frame, bars and wheels to share the load. It was physically and mentally the most demanding week of the series so far, where a sense of adventure and genuine concern for their survival drove the team onwards in search of some of the most incredible scenes they have ever filmed. Gee said that from the start, he knew that he'd film this edit on board the Atherton AM.170, the latest in the Atherton Bikes range that he designed and manufactured along with his siblings Dan and Rachel Atherton and their close-knit team in Machynlleth, Mid Wales. Gee said, "It was a no-brainer - the AM.170 is tough enough to withstand being bounced off cliff walls as we hauled it up a cliff on a rope, lighter to hike up the mountain than my DH bike, pedals super well and is enough bike to tackle every inch of the steep and rocky terrain." He was accompanied by photographer Dan Griffiths (Moonhead Media) and "right-hand man" Jamie Robertson, who had both been with the project from the beginning, but in such perilous terrain, they also involved Brodie Hood, a high altitude and adventure specialist. Brodie is one of the few filmers to fly drones to the top of Everest, an experienced climber and a member of the Lochaber Mountain rescue team. As Gee put it, "Having Brodie with us kept us alive! But it also meant we could say yes to things we wouldn't have tackled alone… At the end of the film, there's a sequence where I ride down a ridge at sunset; Brodie devised a harness system that meant I could practise controlling my speed while he let out the tension until I got comfortable. The section of the film where I'm riding the slowest, picking my way down the ridge, was actually the most demanding of all. |
Photos: Dan Griffiths (Moonhead Media)
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hats off to you sir.
P.s. the rider isn't bad either
You assume a vast majority of people don't have common sense or good risk management skills. Your mentality is the same as those who opposed the progression of this sport since the beginning. Freeriding, slopestyle, DH MTBing and bike parks would not exist today if everyone shared your way of thinking.
You have a higher chance of dying in a car accident or biking to work so leaving the house must terrify you. That sounds like a fun life.
That edit was nuts, I wonder if Gee was inspired by Kilian Bron...
youtu.be/3IaY7a1D1sw?si=biLdc-uoNuAVThMG&t=45
This was the first time on pinkbike, that comments with worries about safety have not been downvoted into oblivion.
A feat that might never be accomplished again.
I recognisez in order of appearance:
-Sassonger (very recognizable from the Couloir below, the Valscura)
-Marmolada (the slickrock ridge)
-Tofana di mezzo (the big hole in the rock it's a famous spot of the Via Ferrata Aglio)
-Cima Undici (Strada Degli Alpini via Ferrata)
-Croda Fiscalina (Rifugio Pian di Cengia)
indeed the video it's edited so that it looks like one single location, but it's a mash up of so many trails and different mountains that it probably took at least one week to shoot them all...
Took a bit of inspiration from Kilian Bron and Tom Öhler, I recon ...
Gee is f*cking riding the bike. It's not even comparable.
Not slow.
Not silly.
Gee: Hold my beer...
-a guy with 2 kids who almost took himself out a few yrs back
FFS he rides section of Via Ferrata which you would clip into if you were walking and climbing.
The Gnew Gnar
Don't stop. Ever.
There wasn’t any need for showing Kilian Bron who’s boss - he does know.
At least wear a wingsuit next time.
This class of "freeride" bikes existed 10-12 years ago. Giant Faith, Transition TR250, Specialized SX Trail, Trek Scratch, etc. These were basically scaled down versions (180MM) of those companies DH frames with a single crown fork. But companies seemed to have abandoned the idea.
Plus DHWC will keep them important to brands - it may be that owning a DH bike is appropriate for 1% of the riding population, but it's such an important 1% when it comes to marketing...
I easily could have raced it in the USA where I don’t think most courses are full 200 worthy