The Man Who Cycled The Americas
Discussion
Fascinating series, I've been watching it from the start.
It's about a guy who is cycling from the top of North America to the bottom of South America and also climbing two mountains on the way!!
One question for anyone else watching it. He started the ride with a cameraman with him but several weeks ago, the BBC guy left him and it's (apparently)just him and a handheld camera. Most of the shots are self-produced by him holding the camcorder up and speaking to it but occasionally you'll see a wider or longer shot of him cycling past some desolate piece of desert shot from maybe 200 yards away.
Is he actually stopping, setting up the camera, cycling past it then stopping to pick the camera up again? If so, how soul destroying must that be? He's just been joined by the BBC guy again but how did he do the last few weeks on his own??
It's about a guy who is cycling from the top of North America to the bottom of South America and also climbing two mountains on the way!!
One question for anyone else watching it. He started the ride with a cameraman with him but several weeks ago, the BBC guy left him and it's (apparently)just him and a handheld camera. Most of the shots are self-produced by him holding the camcorder up and speaking to it but occasionally you'll see a wider or longer shot of him cycling past some desolate piece of desert shot from maybe 200 yards away.
Is he actually stopping, setting up the camera, cycling past it then stopping to pick the camera up again? If so, how soul destroying must that be? He's just been joined by the BBC guy again but how did he do the last few weeks on his own??
Just watched it now, only seen the last episode, it was really good, balls of steal really.
Massive respect to the guy, I couldn't even imagine climbing that mountain now, let alone after xxxx amount of miles!
ETA possible answer: They may of made a library of shots to use for these panoramic views, or when the other cameraman came out to meet him, he could of been extra busy for a day or two, as these shots must of totalled, what, 10 minutes of actual viewing time?
Massive respect to the guy, I couldn't even imagine climbing that mountain now, let alone after xxxx amount of miles!
ETA possible answer: They may of made a library of shots to use for these panoramic views, or when the other cameraman came out to meet him, he could of been extra busy for a day or two, as these shots must of totalled, what, 10 minutes of actual viewing time?
Edited by Ross1988 on Tuesday 6th April 23:50
As you say, fascinating series. Would be fantastic to do but, somehow I do not relish the thought of sleeping out in bear territory and having to hang all the food-stuff well away from the tent in case a bear gets a whiff of it.
Must admit to wondering about the long-shots and how he managed them. Especially when biking in temperatures of over 90/100 degrees and having to set the camera, then go back and cycle past, etc. I think he may have had a tad more help than mentioned, but even so, I have great respect for the chap and his determination.
ETA: I also enjoyed his cycle around the world series.
Must admit to wondering about the long-shots and how he managed them. Especially when biking in temperatures of over 90/100 degrees and having to set the camera, then go back and cycle past, etc. I think he may have had a tad more help than mentioned, but even so, I have great respect for the chap and his determination.
ETA: I also enjoyed his cycle around the world series.
Edited by robinhood21 on Tuesday 6th April 23:55
Slaav said:
So it is just me that doesnt warm to him then?
(Possibly with a hint of envy) I just feel he is incredibly self serving and self indulgent.
He may well be achieving amazing things but it just comes across as an attempt to avoid having to get a 'proper' job.
Sorry
What, like being an Accountant?(Possibly with a hint of envy) I just feel he is incredibly self serving and self indulgent.
He may well be achieving amazing things but it just comes across as an attempt to avoid having to get a 'proper' job.
Sorry
I know where you're coming from. The sheer adrenalin rush from posting a journal trumps climbing a mountain in the Andes every time.
Not great IMO. In the episode I saw he was mildly irritating, not very interesting and a touch naive.
Everything was dangerous or edgy, like camping in a field or going into a shabby part of town. Certainly no Bruce Parry.
Plus this has been done many times, though maybe not with the climbing.
Everything was dangerous or edgy, like camping in a field or going into a shabby part of town. Certainly no Bruce Parry.
Plus this has been done many times, though maybe not with the climbing.
I've not seen last night's episode yet but the first one was mind-crushingly boring.
His round the world trip was quite interesting, seeing him pass through countries and different terrain, etc. The first episode had him cycling from Alaska to Mexico which was just a bit....dull. He didn't really meet anybody notable.
The second one through Central America was better.
The guy must have massive strength of mind to get on that bike everyday, especially on the mountain climbs, but I couldn't get over how fussy an eater he was! Started off a veggie, although on day 1 he decided that wouldn't work and tucked into a burger. Then, when crossing through Mexico, mentioned his refusal to eat spicy food.
I would have though he'd have had to be a bit more flexible given the amount of calories he had to consume.
His round the world trip was quite interesting, seeing him pass through countries and different terrain, etc. The first episode had him cycling from Alaska to Mexico which was just a bit....dull. He didn't really meet anybody notable.
The second one through Central America was better.
The guy must have massive strength of mind to get on that bike everyday, especially on the mountain climbs, but I couldn't get over how fussy an eater he was! Started off a veggie, although on day 1 he decided that wouldn't work and tucked into a burger. Then, when crossing through Mexico, mentioned his refusal to eat spicy food.
I would have though he'd have had to be a bit more flexible given the amount of calories he had to consume.
I thought the same about the long shots. I reckon the BBC guy turned up and spent 2 / 3 days taking loads of shots from different angles, which were then spliced into the story (notice most of the long shots were of the desert?).
Was his desire not to eat spicy food to do with his intollerance of it (i.e. he's get the s
ts).
Throughly enjoyed the show and whilst I guess loads of people have done similar before, I still have lots of respect for the guy!
Was his desire not to eat spicy food to do with his intollerance of it (i.e. he's get the s
ts). Throughly enjoyed the show and whilst I guess loads of people have done similar before, I still have lots of respect for the guy!
American iv said:
I thought the same about the long shots. I reckon the BBC guy turned up and spent 2 / 3 days taking loads of shots from different angles, which were then spliced into the story (notice most of the long shots were of the desert?).
Was his desire not to eat spicy food to do with his intollerance of it (i.e. he's get the sts).
Throughly enjoyed the show and whilst I guess loads of people have done similar before, I still have lots of respect for the guy!
I think you're right about the splicing in of shots of the desert. They could have edited them in quite easily without anyone being aware of it not in continuity order IYSWIM. I mean to normal folk like me, one piece of desert looks very much like another.Was his desire not to eat spicy food to do with his intollerance of it (i.e. he's get the s
ts). Throughly enjoyed the show and whilst I guess loads of people have done similar before, I still have lots of respect for the guy!
As for the spicy food issue, I don't blame him. If I was going to be on a bike every day for nine months, I'm not sure that anything giving me the squirts would be great to eat.
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