This Is Freedom Road: wheelies down Bealach na Bà

If you read our article about BikeStormz last summer, you’ll know that there’s a whole urban riding scene where riders are really really good at wheelies. This film takes some of those riders, including Miles ‘Daddy Milo’ Carter, who contributed to the BikeStormz article, off to Scotland to ride Bealach na Bà.

The film is less about the riding and more about what riding means to them, and how the trip affects them. You’ll likely find it gets a bit dusty in here during the campfire scene. For these riders, it’s the first time they’ve seen mountains, waterfalls, Scotland – even left London.

This is Freedom Road is a brand new short film by London director Alex Tiernan.

Co-written by Tiernan and creative team Anna Whitaker & Bonnie Doman and shot just before lockdown, the film follows London gang – ‘BikeStormz’ – a group of teenagers from every corner of the city, brought together by a mutual respect for the ’Bikes up. Knives down’ movement.

Alex Tiernan // This is Freedom Road from You Are Here on Vimeo.

The group is led by charismatic mentor, Mac, whose frustration with the lack of opportunities for the group has led him to seek a route out of the city. With the help of BikeStormz they are given the chance of a lifetime to take their biking further afield than they could have imagined.

Described as “the underdogs, the have-nots”, we are invited into the interior worlds of these inner city kids, none of whom have ever left London. Their stirring stories of hardship, acceptance and self-overcoming leap off the screen and are wonderfully observed by the director.

Mac’s powerful message of discipline & self-belief permeates the film and the sense of hope and empowerment that he instils in the gang is deeply touching.

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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