Your input needed for our Video entry

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Permalink Reply by Alan Miller on May 7, 2009 at 5:21pm

Obviously it is indeed a very tight deadline. The conundrum with doing a video like this is that awkward moment, familiar to all cyclocrossers, when you have to explain the sport to a layman. "Um, uh, it's this sublime bike race on dirt on kind of road bikes where you have to, um, get off and run...oh and it's in winter...maybe just look it up on Wikipedia..." I would recommend not attempting this type of general explaination.

I think you should look at the images and words which inspire you to go out and ride your bike. For me it's:

-The astounding photos at pdxcross.com
-The photos and words of Eugene Christophe on cross at www.blackbirdsf.org/cx/christopheoncx.html This site records a rider cleaning the "trou du diable" dropoff -- also the moment mountain biking was invented. These old prewar cross pics establish the heritage of cross.
-A lot of stuff in your magazine, especially the interview with all the 2007 nationals winners -- that really conveyed the community of cross. If you had any video of those interview that would be great, otherwise video from nationals showing how big the sport has become would work well.

Some other ideas:
-Rather than trying to "explain cross" as above, I'd keep the focus tight. It would be great to see, say, different riders from first-timers to elite facing the same tough runup or barrier section in a particular race from the same angle. Maybe some of the riders bungle it completely, while some bunnyhop. Very important to convey that the sport is vibrant and inclusive, welcoming riders with various levels of ability.
-Or you could focus on the "making of"your magazine. Perhaps showing something like your awesome tire pressure tests. The danger in doing this is that it might make the sport seem too arcane, but it would demonstrate your passion for the business.

These are just a few ideas. I wish I had footage or music or something more concrete to offer. I'm a film school grad myself, but I think the distance of 10,000 miles between me and CX mag HQ would preclude collaboration.

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Permalink Reply by Cyclocross Magazine on May 7, 2009 at 5:34pm

10,000 miles? no problem. isn't everything digital nowadays? that's why we won a little digital video camera...
thanks for the input. good stuff. if you wanna help edit, let us know!

any tips on finding music that we'd have permission to use? myspace?

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Permalink Reply by brianhancock on May 10, 2009 at 5:46pm

A local metal band, nervz end, might be willing to help out:

www.myspace.com/nervzend

nervz end at yahoo dot commmmmmmm

Ryan is who to ask for! They played at the Ithaca GP two years ago and will most likely be back for this year's event. Great guys with an awesome sound. Check out one of their songs on the picture recap "video" at the Ithaca site: www.IthacaGP.blogspot.com

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