I Built a Super Smooth Bike Rig

Imagine if you could film smooth-moving shots at speed, as a solo shooter? I built budget-friendly version of Hollywood's custom camera cars.
FEATURED GEAR:

CREDITS:
Behind-the-Scenes - Jon Moy
Editing Consulting - Tiara Westlake
Story Consulting - Urania Bellos-Hoole
Featuring Music by Erez Zobary
Host and Creator - Simon Cade


0:00 the problem with other stabilisation methods
0:55 finding some wheels
2:16 starting the build
2:24 tangent about my portable interview kit
3:05 back to the build
4:10 time to test the rig
6:54 touchscreen control problems
8:09 filming attempt 1
8:41 filming attempt 2
9:33 filming attempt 3
10:27 pros and cons
11:05 how has this project changed me?
12:24 one last thing...

[vladignatovich]

been watching this guy for 10 years. dude still has no budget for shooting. 10/10 btw

[JorgePowell]

Videos like this is why I love YouTube. Really enjoyed watching the process unfold from concept to testing, even though it didn't work out exactly to plan. Hope we get a Bike Rig V2 soon!

[bucharestbiketraffic]

Things to improve on a future rig easy to be used solo.

1. Use a full suspention bike and use the frame as point of attachment for the gimbal.
2. Try to use something for the vibrations like a big piece of rubber.
3. Using an autofocus, IS lens helps a lot.
4. Deflate the tyres, try using an ebike with a throtle.
5. Have fun! :)

[HoGa]

The only camera youtuber I still watch. It's everything I like, honest, humble, relatable and creative. The rest all look the same, talk the same, make the same content and even use the same gear and grades.

edit. If the gimball was attached from the middle rather than the bottom, it would help a lot. lower center of gravity too.

[IanLetarte]

Not only was this a really cool rig, it was also a fantastically told story.

[yonigalen]

I stumbled onto your channel tonight and after recognizing your voice, realized that I used to watch your videos over 10 years ago when I was a little kid! Glad your still youtube-ing. Hope you make it to a million subscribers!

[TILTA]

Interesting build, and great reason to start cycling more. Nice video

[AMPMReviews]

This would be like three people’s jobs on a set. A driver, focus puller and camera operator.

[ScottJeschke]

Here for the storytelling! Felt like a little TV show. Good to see you back. Crazy, I remember watching your stuff ten years ago when you were still a kid. One of the OG YT filmmakers

[ISRAADVISUALS]

the little vibration feels like 80s tracking shots tbh..has that feel to it

[fedfed]

Bro, I've been watching you for like 10 yrs. You inspired me a lot back in the day

[pkbreeze]

5:35 I know this spot, Storror boys not out that day.

[lucabudgen]

I'm not a videographer anymore but I was when I followed you YEARS ago. Still enjoy your vids from time to time anyway!

[CurrentlyStuck]

man it makes me so happy when you upload! need this to become your full time thing

[ruffprophetproductions]

im loving the cutaways with the match cuts that are dispersed throughout -- they really keep the viewer engaged visually

[KristopherSatchell]

This is a great idea for indie productions, a motorcycle or a e bike!

[Conbini.]

This is so entertaining to watch, probably every dude with a camera watching this is brainstorming on how to help make this work lol.

My contribution to the idea pile:

A tricycle e-bike with the fat beach cruising tires to absorb shock/smooth stuff out, with the lowest tire pressure you can get away with. Three wheels means you can go slow and don't have to think about balance.

The throttle means not having to pedal, one less thing to think about, focus control would obvi have to be on the other side of the handlebars from that.

Would be dope if you could control the gimbal similar to the focus wheel (idk if that exists) with some kind of physical joystick mount. Is there no lens stabilization that can reduce little jitters & bumps? How do they smooth out car footage that uses the big suction cup, I wonder?

[Rockhopper]

factor in the torque prior to shot and post shot add the time it takes to ramp up and ramp down, on the back of you bike mount a pole with fluorescent markers, on the bike you are shooting, you ask the rider to get the top of their handle with one of the markings on the pole and try as hard as possible to match that whilst shooting, that will keep your focus in shot, its what we do in precision driving for stuntwork in films. Also do not mount the gimbal centre over the front of the wheel you will get slight gimbal lock or something which is called castor effect, it amps the upward movement. Mitchell systems use what is known as a spring rig, you can build one yourself with a set of gas structs or a bungee, People will say deflate tyres or use suspension systems, that just adds more movement, a rigid frame is better, prevents sympathetic oscillation. another massive help is to put matching weights as close to the handlebars as possible so you become more neutral with balancing, the harder your gimbal has to work the more battery you use, and the motors get hotter. Good effort keep it up. I am a former steadicam operator, and spent a long time around U-Cranes (the term russian arm is now banned)

[VietinghoffAlex]

Love this! As a cyclist and filmmaker I've always wondered about the same setup.

[Pandorama]

Great to see you still making videos and developing your own style after all these years, Simon. I learned a lot from many of your videos so hope you keep it up! :)