It's been a good while since I've kept on top of this site and blog. Knocking on 6 years in fact. But I'm going to try and continue posting BTS photos and stories from projects I've worked on along with gear updates and general ramblings. Pinned TV PodcastIt was a great evening down at the Pinned TV HQ chatting to them about cameras, racing and everything inbetween for their PinnedTV podcast. Check it out on the link below - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2IgyxvdQcKqKRR6ggEAupc C70 + 18-80mm Cine Servo Lens
0 Comments
Released in June 2022, Tea & Biscuits 2 premiered in 4 places on a main UK tour, along with 40+ other worldwide screenings at bike shops, cafes and venues. Which is pretty bonkers really. I was quite overwhelmed. The film itself took over 16 months of production end to end, which for me is quite long, but for a major feature film is very short. My previous films were done end to end in around half that time. We wanted to keep the UK vibes but also expand and do some trips further afield. We got to Greece, Italy and France for some wild sections with big name riders such as Vinny T, Sam Hill and Phil Atwill. We had a bunch more sponsors too thanks to the Misspent Summers team, with Propain Bikes and Oneup Components being the title sponsors. The World Premiere evening at EWS Tweed Valley. Back at Llandegla OPA, my favourite premiere location. Raffling some bits off at Stif Bikes in Bristol. A dream come true, being able to film Sam Hill at Pila for a few days. Scoping some (in my mind) silly lines and chatting shite about Greg Minnaar asking the UCI to cut roots out at night to make the track easier. Lando the trail dog, the star of the show. Chloe Taylor on the scandi flicks. Bex Baraona fresh off her first EWS win in Scotland. A cold, wet Welsh day with Dan Atherton and Jim Monro. Euan Thomson, the film's biggest underdog and the riders favourite section. Unbelievable balance and composure on the bike. Our week in Greece was eventful with Phil Atwill and the Greek riding squad. Here's Darren Evans, well being Darren Evans. Phil was hired by the local mayor to build a family track that was suitable for all ages. What he actually built was a fast and hectic downhill track full of gaps and typical Atwill features. Marco Lamaris. Proper young talent. Anastasis pulling some shapes. This guy embodies the spirit of Tea & Biscuits. Just go and ride your bike and have fun, no matter how old or beaten up your bike is. You don't need to newest kit to have fun. The full squad in a little village in the Greek mountains. You don't need a new bike every year. End of. Jake Gilfillan dropping in. And yes that's the bike Rat rode in British Pie 3. Sam Cofano destroying Cheshire loam. Sam Cofano. Again, ultimate young talent. These lads deserved another film segment. Quietly doing their own thing but absolute operators on a bike. Big squad out in St Andrews for a very dry and dusty loam segment. Remi Gauvin coming in hot. It was great to get the Rocky Mountain team involved in a film segment. Max Rendall pulling shapes. Ryan Middleton overcooking the savagely deep loam rut. ![]() Reece Wilson drifting over the brow in what became the film poster image. Bit of an honour having Reece turn up for the filming after his world champs win! Long live Dimmo FM. Big trains in the sunshine. The legend himself, Tommo Walker. Down in the big smoke. The London squad. Not quite as sketchy as it looks. Pretty good tracking vehicle as it turns out. Mike Jersey Taylor, the BMX legend back on the streets. This time with about 160mm more travel. Wheelie king Wyn Masters boosting the hip. And finally, the trip to France to see Vinny T. In December. A bit of a stupid idea really but it was the best week filming I've had maybe ever. Pure fun. Looking over to Switzerland on the other side. Joel Anderson, like a pig in shit. Moody mountains. ![]() Bikes, sledges, motorbikes. All of the fun activities. There we have it. Lots of BTS bits and shots from Tea and Biscuits 2. All photos from Ben Winder, Will Brignal, Ian Lean and Tom Caldwell.
Better late than never, but here's some of the BTS shots from the first Tea and Biscuits film, released in March 2020 with a sold out Llandegla OPA premiere. Literally days before the world shut down for the C word. Some tasty giveaways from our title sponsor, Nukeproof Bikes. Not long after this, Brayton managed to snap his fork crown and also fall into a ditch in the minivan rental. It was an interesting trip to say the least. Grandad and Grandson. Josh Gleave ripping the loam in Cheshire. I used this Panasonic HCx1000 for a few years. Good, but not great, and fairly terrible in low light situations. Fancy coffees all round in Surrey with Bernard Kerr and Olly Wilkins. Again, fairly difficult to explain this image. Double slide tackle from Emyr Davies and Brage Vestavik. Somerset bad boys, Isaac Anderson and Toby Down.
I headed out to Loosefest a month or so ago for Dirt Magazine and Wideopen MTB for the first time to witness the insanity that is this jump line. Now, if you're not familiar with Loosefest, watch the video below and prepare to have your jaw dropped. If you do know what Loosefest is about, then you'll understand it's a group of mountain bikers who don't race (which is what you'd typically do) but just do big jumps and make cool videos, That's about the jist of it really, but a percentage of these riders have made a career from it. Not racing, no podiums.. just doing really cool sh*t on their bikes, getting loads of exposure for brands and sponsors, and bringing in the keep that way. The brains behind it all and living legend, Nico Vink. He still thinks that the jumps can bigger and that we haven't hit the limit yet. Kiwi Conor Macfarlane is a prime example of a rider who doesn't really race, but gets by by doing the craziest events in mountain biking (Red Bull Rampage, Loosefest), having sponsors who help him out, shooting videos and just generally having a good time without the pressure of race runs. Style dog Remy Morton. Known for his banging Instagram videos. He took a huge slam on the last jump here and is on the road to recovery. Bas Van Steenbergen. Or Steezeburger as we branded him. His first time at the event, scared sh*tless at the start, but couldn't get enough of them by the end of the week. A seriously cool dude who has pulled off the 'professional freerider and video guy' down to a tee. The real rebels... Ronny Racing. Travel Europe, live in an ambulance, and have a good time all the time. They are XL cans of beer in their hands too. The most talked about up-and-comer, Somerset's very own Joel Anderson. BMXer turned mountain biker, Tom Isted is an absolute nutcase. Ronny Racing's vessel. Sputnik 2.0. We don't race, but we still go fast as f*ck. Arguably another living legend. Kristoff Lenssens is his name, and is Nico's best mate. Flat out in the digger, and does every jump Nico does, but has near enough zero presence on social media, so barely anyone knows his name. If there was ever an underdog. This is the general attitude from the group of individuals here towards the rest of the MTB industry. Style dog Craig Evans enjoys the Belgian sunshine before sending himself over some 80ft gaps. Josh Lewis is another example, no racing, or not much at least. He puts all his time and effort into videos, riding skills and developing the 50to01 brand. Talk of the town.. Josh Bryceland. Everyone knows he's not racing now. He's just having a good time. Will he return to the world cups though? Finishing with the biggest rebel of the lot... Jasper Flashman. Anti everything this man is, and I wouldn't put the guy down as a racer. It seemed like he was pretty much the backbone of the Loosefest community, and the freeride scene back in the UK.
Until next year! |
Tom Caldwell
Filming bikes, riding bikes and everything in-between. Archives
February 2023
Categories |