Danny MacAskill takes stunt cycling Skye high

For me, this is the best Danny MacAskill video ever…

I particularly like the bit where fearless stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill is perched on top of the Inaccessible Pinnacle, adjacent to the summit of Sgurr Dearg. The seeming nonchalance with which MacAskill climbs the “Inn Pin”, as it’s called, with his bike on his shoulder, and the way he navigates Collie’s Ledge, a narrow rock terrace between Sgurr Thearlaich to Sgurr Mhich Coinnich, on his bike, are jaw dropping.

But the whole seven minutes 40 seconds of MacAskill’s new film “The Ridge” is visually stunning and electrifying, especially if you have walked and rock-climbed in the Black Cuillin as I have. This sharp gabro ridge is dangerous enough at the best of times and on two feet, let alone riding or carrying a mountain bike!

On Facebook MacAskill, who was brought up in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, wrote: “So proud to finally be able to share this!! Big thanks to Cut Media, Five Ten, ENVE Composites, Santa Cruz Bicycles, VisitScotland and Skye Adventure For making this film possible! Enjoy, like it, share it, then go ride your bikes in the hills.”

Here’s what specialist website PinkBike said about “The Ridge” (which was released just before 1pm today): “Today, Danny MacAskill launched his brand new mountain bike edit, “The Ridge”. Filmed on his home island, the Isle of Skye, the video shows Danny tackling a never ridden before ridge on a full suspension mountain bike. Conquering epic terrain, riding death defying cliffs and climbing up to the heavenly peaks, the clip has it all

“Supported by Five Ten and ENVE Composites, the film has been created by Stu Thomson and his team at Cut Media. This edit resonates a real cinematic feel with jaw dropping images and climatic atmosphere. However, capturing the stunning shots presented some challenges for the experienced filmer: “It was certainly one of the most demanding locations we’ve ever filmed, but a rewarding one at the same time. Danny and I are very proud of being from Scotland so it was great to be able to show off the amazing landscape along with Danny’s incredible riding.”

“Danny MacAskill’s technical riding skills shine through the gnarly terrain with rocks the sizes of small cars, unforgiving lines and huge cliff drops so close to the trail. You might find it somewhat strange seeing Danny on a full suspension mountain bike but for him it was a long-term wish to explore the Isle of Skye: “Ever since I was a kid growing up on Skye I have always dreamt about riding a bike up on the Cuillin ridge! The project took a lot of planning and was probably one of the most physically demanding films I have ever worked on! It was definitely a labour of love though as I wanted to show off the island for how it is and make everyone who lives there proud to be from this amazing part of the world.”

Here are my two earlier blog posts on Danny MacAskill: Way Back Home (Edinburgh to Dunvegan) (released November 2010, and Inspired Bicycles (Edinburgh) (released April 2009)

This blog was posted on 2 October 2014