It’s definitely dusty in here. This film from Teravail shows Steve Bate MBE and David Smith MBE talking about their friendship, and what riding means to them in the face of their respective incurable conditions. It’s uplifting, moving, tear jerking and inspirational, all wrapped up in one short film. Grab a cuppa, and maybe a hanky, and settle down for the next ten minutes.
Here’s the press release:
Two Gold medal winning GB Paralympic athletes feature in a new short film presented by bike tyre manufacturer Teravail produced by Dave MacFarlane of DMTwo Media.
Having both wrestled with and tried to come to terms with life-changing medical conditions Steve Bate MBE and David Smith MBE talk about their friendship and a common bond of riding bikes that has kept them going through some of the darkest days they’ve known.
Steve Bate living a life of failing eyesight as he slowly goes blind and David Smith having been through his sixth spinal surgery to remove a tumour from his neck headed to the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland August 2022 for a rare ride out together on roads and gravel tracks that sees an emotional exchange as they talk about what has kept them going and of the support each other has given.
Steve Bate MBE is an adventure cyclist and two-time Paralympic Gold Medal winner, having won silver and bronze riding on tandems with a pilot, in addition he is a commonwealth games bronze medal winner, has won world titles across the track and road and soloed Yosemite’s El Capitan after receiving a diagnosis for the eye condition Retinitis Pigmentosa.
David Smith MBE is a Nike Athlete, Speaker, Writer and Coach, he has competed internationally in several sports including GB Rowing, and British Cycling winning a Paralympic Gold medal and two world titles. David has overcome tremendous adversity and now shares both his experience in high performance sport and his first-hand experience of fighting for his life with a rare tumour and living with paralysis.
Dave MacFarlane of DMTwo Media has been producing films for over 10 years having screened at multiple film festivals around the world and filmed in some of the world’s most remote locations. Finding Time was put together as a short documentary with support from Teravail – bicycle tyre manufacturer and partner brand of Steve’s. Dave MacFarlane said of the filming process ‘It was as emotional to shoot the film and edit than it is to watch. Having the responsibility of trying to tell both Steve and David’s stories weighed heavy but I hope I’ve done justice to the power of the stories and of their sheer determination in overcoming adversity.’
Steve is just about to set off on an attempt at the HT550 – in winter, a challenge not completed by many, and one which will be especially challenging for Steve given the lack of daylight and his lack of night vision. You can dotwatch him here.
Steve says he knows times are tight, and he doesn’t usually ride for charity since riding is his job. But he reckons this is enough of a challenge that it might be worth a small donation to Rider Resilience.
Steve is a STW local, and catching him in the off season is always a joy (though even after a night in the pub, staying on his wheel on the way home is a tough ask. If you want to feel inferior, try struggling to chase a man on a fat bike when you’re on a gravel bike). We wish him well on his winter HT550 and look forward to hearing all about it!
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