cycling with steadicam

[Thomas English]

There was an article years ago about a steadicam operator in south america operating loads of shots for a feature film off a bike. I remember reading this years ago thinking that he was insane.

 

Since then there has been the advent of the back mounted vest much much lighter cameras. More importantly the number of cool new step through chopper style bikes as well as ladies bikes. Has anyone made any progress in this department ? any new thoughts? In my early days of operating I would have thought it was completely insane but now i am fairly comfortable with the idea in my head.

 

off course it is by no means in the world a solution for even half of the higher speed shots demanded and it is definately not something you would ever sell to a producer in advance over the phone but on the juxtaposition having a bike permanently in the back of the van is a useful thing for a lot of reasons. I just don t know if I would leave a rickshaw or a segway in the van.

 

I don t think it s the kind of thing I would use if I was not dop on the job as well.

[RonBaldwin]

Jeff Mart has been doing this for years. I think he cut half the handle bars off his bike for sled clearance.

 

I'm sure someone here has pictures...Erwin?!

[Brad Grimmett]

I remember seeing some BTS footage of him a few years back shooting off of a bike on top of the US Bank building in downtown LA for a music video. It didn't necessarily look dangerous, but just the thought of it sent shivers up my spine.

[Janice Arthur]

I remember seeing some BTS footage of him a few years back shooting off of a bike on top of the US Bank building in downtown LA for a music video. It didn't necessarily look dangerous, but just the thought of it sent shivers up my spine.

 

 

Brad;

 

I agree, it makes me crazy to think of it.

 

Imagine . . . he gets home, and the little missus says "How was your day Honey?".

 

"Oh, same old, same old."

 

Janice

[Janice Arthur]

To all;

 

I know you guys will laugh but a bike with some "Training wheels" wouldn't be too bad. Beefing up the training wheels would also be good.

 

I think you'd have to have a "girl's" bike and a vest you could make really short but it would work.

 

Jeff's idea of cutting off the hand bar would be necessary too.

 

Controlling the bike would be much easier as well as stopping and starting.

 

JA

[Thomas English]

that s what I am thinking at the moment, a lovely ladies bike you can walk through and the seat sit s as close to above the pedals as possible. Back break control and upgraded wheels. I am not quite understanding the cutting handebars thing, you want your spine as straight as possible so handebars need to come back as far as possible to be comfortable.

[Janice Arthur]

that s what I am thinking at the moment, a lovely ladies bike you can walk through and the seat sit s as close to above the pedals as possible. Back break control and upgraded wheels. I am not quite understanding the cutting handebars thing, you want your spine as straight as possible so handebars need to come back as far as possible to be comfortable.

 

 

The handle bar thing refers to three things;

 

1) you are operating with only one hand on the center post and therefore the handlebar on that side is never used.

 

2) the handlebar on the side the gear hangs on has a chance of being seen in the shot or hitting the rig.

 

3) So what Jeff Mart has done is simply cut off the handlebar on that side. It is really just in the way.

(I guess you could leave it but it is going to be annoying.)

 

(Don't lower the seat too much, being able to use your thighs to pedal properly is essential. Once you're using some training wheels idea you won't feel so "tippy" when going slow and starting and stopping. (i.e. you won't need to lower seat so much))

 

Also don't assume you'll need upgraded tires. A regular bike tire will hold at least 200-225 lbs and unless you're huge even the rig won't overwhelm them. Lastly remember you may end up with an expensive "experiment" that may not get used much. Try the existing ones first.

 

(Companies make "industrial" bikes for running around companies. They are very heavy duty etc but they weight a lot and cost more. Transporting them to the shoot can also be a drama. I've thought of buying one in the past but for the times I'd actually use one they weren't worth it in hassle and cost.)

 

JA

Edited July 12, 2007 by Janice Arthur

[Gus Trivino]

Here you are.

All fixed! :lol:

 

Gus

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUJhd-vJ50E