Video: Celebrating the Zero Flow Lung Killing Technical Climb

Jun 6, 2020
by Miles Mallinson  


It's interesting how the area you grew up riding in shapes the way you ride a bike. I started riding in an place that was full of these awkward walking paths with zero flow and lung killing climbs. There weren't really any dedicated mountain bike tracks so you just had to ride what was there. Then I just got addicted to trying to get up these horrible climbs.

Nadge is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. The only 'roost' you'll see is when your back wheel steps out on a rubbly climb or when the wind blows a big plume of dust in your face.

So here's the first in a series of videos featuring some of my favourite nadgery climbs around!

Thanks to: Unite Components - Lem Helmets - Juice Lubes - Royal Racing

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105 Comments
  • 35 0
 like the video its nice to see a video edited with music which attract staying in and watch. all video auditors should learn and use reel music and not some generic cheep shit.
  • 11 0
 Thanks! Glad you like the music, wanted something that didn’t detract from the sound of the bike but came in now and again to give it a bit more flow
  • 1 0
 My thoughts exactly! well put
  • 4 0
 weird - I didn't notice any music I was watching so intently.
  • 3 1
 @miles-mallinson-bike: the only thing that would make this better would be to run the same with silent hubs. It is so beautiful out there that the zzzzzz kind of pulls me out of it. Otherwise, this was phenomenal.
  • 3 0
 @rrolly: yeah true, need a high engagement hub so clicks are always going to be there I guess. The onyx hubs are pretty quiet, but pricey.
  • 32 0
 Not all Freeride is pointed downhill, and this definitely nails the “Spirit of Freeride”. Great job on the whole thing, nice “trail, beautifully shot, and deft riding throughout. Thanks for the inspiration!
  • 3 0
 Thanks very much!
  • 17 0
 Really enjoyed this. Mesmerising. Scotland in the sunshine!
  • 7 0
 The perfect day also, a bit of wind kept the midgies away
  • 3 0
 Also love your website! Very handy!
  • 9 0
 This is so awesome! Definitely need the skills and a good meal like mashed sweet potatoes, fish and broccoli to be able to climb stuff like that! ;-)
  • 4 0
 ;-) every nutrient you need for horrible climbs in that meal
  • 7 0
 Great skills and powerful lungs! I like to ride a lot of this kind of climbing also - I have to in my area of the UK Pennines as lifts never got started. But Nadge is a couple of big rock steps up from my best level. This vid contains lots of the technical climbing details too, so worth re-watching to gain ideas. Its noticeable straight away that he doesn't rush and lets the challenges come to him.
  • 5 0
 Can imagine there’s loads of good stuff in the Pennines! Nadge can be anything though, not confined to the really hard stuff! Keep up the Nadge ????????
  • 3 0
 That ?????? was meant to be a thumbs up
  • 11 0
 Apart from his obvious skills the guy is VERY fit!!!
  • 5 0
 Haha thanks! This trail does not make me feel fit
  • 4 0
 No kidding. There is no way I have the energy to hop my bike when I'm at a steep tech section on the Shore.
  • 6 0
 Thanks for all the comments! Been meaning to make longer videos for a while but I didn’t want to do a crap job of something that could be a good video so I held off. Glad it’s been well received! Plenty more to come with some surprises here and there. Cheers!
  • 8 0
 I like to see the other side of technical riding aka the uphills! Look forward to the next video!
  • 2 0
 It’s the forgotten part!
  • 7 0
 the sound of it gives me chills
  • 4 0
 Haha same here, takes me back to feeling very out of breath
  • 4 1
 Why do none of the rocks move in Europe/Canada? In NE USA when you try to do this stuff the rocks slip or simply gang up and rock blast your rims sounding like the Trouble Pop a Matic Bubble until there are no more rims left.
  • 8 0
 In Scotland, not sure about other countries but the amount of work the path builders put in is ridiculous! Everything has to properly built or it will be destroyed in all the rain and temperature changes. My next video will be on a similar path but with even more intricate stone pitching which is a masterpiece!
  • 2 0
 Ha, so not true about Canada, North Shore aside where the do tons of rock armoured trails. My Assegai routinely chucks fist sized rocks up at my down tube or shins. I don’t quite understand how a front tire can launch rocks that big up at me, but I’m sure glad for down tube armour!!
  • 3 0
 Pop-a-matic reference was spot on! Nailed the sound.
  • 3 0
 I love the challenge of a technical climb, but I'm far off the jedi skills of this guy. When I finally manage to clean something that I've been trying for long, it's one of the best feelings of the sport. Thanks for the edit, keep it up! For anyone interested in this kind of riding Jeff Lenosky's YT channel has plenty of trialsy climbing edits and some excellent tips.
  • 4 0
 Loved this would rather try the climb than walk and challenge no dabs, hopefully more content like this!!! Going to watch this a few times cheers for the inspiration.
  • 5 0
 Yeah walking sucks haha! I got overtaken by walkers on this path on the way up though...
  • 4 0
 Beautifully shot video, really captures the grandeur of the North Face. Riding skills aren't too shabby either!
  • 2 0
 Not a bad spot for a trail!
  • 1 0
 Really loving watching this style of riding at the moment, trials on the trails. Instant follow on insta for you Miles! Question if i may, how much difference does wheel size and chain stay length affect your ability to hop about on and place your back wheel like this?
  • 5 0
 Thanks very much! I definitely prefer a 27.5 bike for techy climbs. 29 is nice in parts but the big wheels are pretty hard to shift about and they get chucked around easy. Also 27.5 accelerates a bit quicker. Definitely like a short back end, feels nice on the back wheel and trying to get a long bike over stepping stones seems like hard work.
  • 1 0
 Nothing but respect for Miles! Beautiful video, amazing riding skills and crisp/to the point editing (excellent choice of nondistracting background music)... Couldn't be happier for you sharing with us! Keep 'em coming ;-)
p. s. with no intention of exciting passions in the remarks session of PB... this is what mountainbiking (especially in a mixed dirt/loose rock uphill environment) sounds like, so I don' t get the comments about the 'bike sounds' /'effects' added, etc... Genuinely baffled about that... but hey, live and go ride!
  • 1 0
 Thanks very much! Definitely more to come! The mic’ed up bike isn’t done very much so guess it’ll take a bit getting used to for some
  • 2 0
 Awesome! Extremely nice and inspiring. Want more! Glad to see something other than the usual zillion generic videos of people going fast down trails and jumping.
  • 1 0
 Thank you! Definitely more to come
  • 1 0
 Agree a lot! I'm lightyears behind these skills,but slowing down and seek the features on the the trail,is big part of mtb imo. This video was a great break of,from all the park jumping stuff. Keep it up
  • 1 0
 That‘s my favourite type of uphill! Glad I‘m not the only one who likes to find flow in technical trialsy climbs. And the music is a nice contrast to the exhausting steepness.
  • 3 0
 Appropriate soundtrack for uphill technical climbing. Glad they at least showed a little of the downhill he earned.
  • 9 0
 To be honest the downhill on this track is as tiring as the up hill!
  • 1 0
 @miles-mallinson-bike: I second that - rode this track once from the CIC hut, and as someone rather lacking in both skills and fitness, the downhill was not much better - those endless ditch crossings get pretty tiring when you have no trials abilities and have to dismount each time! Big Grin Great views and 'big country' feeling though. And the last bit in the forest was good, when the speed picks up a lot. Smile

Love your video, well filmed and top skills!
  • 3 0
 How refreshing to watch a gnarrr video that's nice and steady and full of skill. Ace stuff, indeed
  • 1 0
 Thank you!
  • 2 0
 Watched it again. What gearing do you have and were you in the easiest gear most of the time? Looks like an upper body workout just as much as lower body.
  • 3 0
 Mainly stick to the top 3 lowest gears. Go for 3rd for the back wheel hop stuff. 2nd and 1st are for the steep tech bits. Its a hard one though because you'll sometimes need 1st for the first part then need a slightly stiffer gear like 2nd to get enough power down. Yeah upper body gets it, its actually mainly my calves and the front of my ankle that gets it the most. Having to push so much on the pedals is brutal!
  • 1 0
 Great video, well done on that climb, I can only wish I had that level of skill. Only thing missing is the heaving and wheezing of your lungs, how do you do that without them exploding?
  • 1 0
 That was awesome! I have some ancestors from scotland so maybe that's why this resonates with me so much - it must be in my blood! Anyways, great riding and video! I need to learn a rear wheel hop like that now!
  • 1 0
 Amazing skills and location!

What is the move called where you're up on your back wheel and you hop forward while staying up on the wheel called? How does one acquire this skill?
  • 2 0
 I imagine its called various things but I know it as a pedal kick. Ryanleech.com has some tutorials on basic trials skills that covers this. I first learned to just hop on my back wheel in one place and now can hop a bit with these pedal kicks. Its been a slow learning process for me but I think if you can get it figured out it opens a whole new world of things to do on a bike.

Ryan Leech is a paid subscription (but highly worth it IMO, even if you just subscribe for a few months during your riding season) but I've also found another trials focused skills website trashzen.com that I am pretty sure talks about the same skill.
  • 1 0
 im calling it, this the next niche. Trials riding, but with a destination, rather than hopping around a rockery. Nadge is to Trials what Enduro is to DH. Except, its still Enduro. Im on board.
  • 2 0
 Reverse mullet will be the first technology change. 24 inch front, 29 inch rear so you don’t loop out on steeps. Grippy tyres rear, xc tyres front.
  • 1 0
 This is amazing! Great work miles. And agree with others that the choice of music was excellent too. Now I'm ready for a mashup with a Nico Vink-style edit. Should be exciting. :-)
  • 1 0
 Nice one. Surprisingly moreish that! Great soundtrack.
Macdui next if your doing another, then ride off the top towards Loch Etchachan without a dab Smile
  • 1 0
 Ridden up Macdui from the non tourist side, it was minging!
  • 1 0
 Spectacular video and the music is just something else!! In and out between the freewheeling hub.
You know it’s hard when it looks that easy!!!

Love it.
  • 2 0
 Who needs meditation when you can watch something like this? Hypnotic. The background music was perfectly matched.
  • 2 0
 Thanks, had that tune in mind when I thought of the idea. Might pick a different instrument for the next one
  • 3 0
 Really enjoyed that. Great choice of music too.
  • 1 0
 Thanks!
  • 1 0
 This was a very well edited and put together video!! Only missed opportunity was the trip back down. As tech as that climb was I bet the descent was a blast!
  • 1 0
 It's a great descent for sure! Bit of a bone shaker
  • 1 0
 @miles-mallinson-bike: enduro bro....lol I think a longer travel squishy bike would result in pushing up the hill and entirely defeating the purpose of your video though huh...
  • 1 0
 Yuueww, well played my son, well played. Nice to see you in front of the lens for onceWink I've got a few nadgey climbs down here for you when we get the all clear.
  • 1 0
 Haha cheers Mark! Yeah need to make it down soon!
  • 1 0
 Impressive. We used to do climb challenges “back in the day”. But not like that! Found it oddly soothing to watch though!
  • 1 0
 Good on you for being able to handle that gnarly downhill after the exhaustion of hopping up! Great video (subtle editing, music choice!)
  • 1 0
 Haha it’s a long old way back down again!
  • 1 1
 I cannot watch videos, where the bike sound is so present and feels fake, because it does not fit to the viewing distance.
Is it real?
Reminds me a bit of animal documentarys, where fake chewing sounds are added afterwards.
  • 1 0
 Thanks for the feedback, I did wonder if I should balance out the audio for the distance. It’s all real-time audio though, done from a bike mounted radio microphone. There’s no way I have the patience to add in 3.5 mins of after effects
  • 1 0
 Awesome place! There's a certain kind of feeling after conquering a climb like that, that can at times be better than the gnarliest descents.
  • 1 0
 Between that and the climb out of Torlundy to get there it's a big day of climbing!!! Such a good video keep it up!
  • 1 0
 Haha worst bit is coming out of the car park up to the puggy line!
  • 1 0
 @miles-mallinson-bike: God I remember doing that on the DH bike and just about having my heart explode haha
  • 2 0
 Nice riding! Enjoyed that
  • 1 0
 Cheers! More to come
  • 1 0
 Amazing climb, next level skills, beautiful scenery. Do you ride with Danny Smile
  • 1 0
 Thanks! I don’t, big fan though!
  • 2 0
 Thank you for no slo-mo whips and shoe lacing
  • 1 0
 My heart was gonna come out of my chest just watching this, lol. Nicely done.
  • 2 1
 Alright let's see him ride it when it's wet
  • 1 0
 Actually a bit grippier on the loose stuff, had plenty of practice of riding it in the wet ;-)
  • 1 0
 Great filming and editing! Very intuitive and invisible, sick!
  • 1 0
 Cheers!
  • 1 0
 The trails there look amazing. Where is that? Sweden?
  • 2 0
 Highlands in Scotland!
  • 1 0
 @miles-mallinson-bike: Thanks. I just looked at the sign and it said *****sh mountaineering club. So, I was guessing.
  • 2 1
 Hub noise IS crazy... Onyx hub please
  • 1 0
 The music was perfect for that climb, that was beautiful!!
  • 1 0
 Bike climbs pretty well. Good suspension design Smile
  • 1 0
 Inspires me to want to learn climbing skills. Awesome video.
  • 1 0
 Nice skills! He makes it look so easy, but you know it's tough!
  • 1 0
 Long live nadge!
  • 1 0
 3
  • 1 0
 oops that was meant to be a heart emoji
  • 1 0
 Haha got it!
  • 1 1
 I bet Neil would still do it better
  • 1 0
 ;-)
  • 1 0
 Nice miles, ya animal!
  • 1 0
 Cheers Ronan
  • 1 0
 REPRESENT!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Asmr for mountain bikers
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