Beyond Bikes - A COLLECTION OF FILMS CELEBRATING THE POWER OF SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN BIKING

The power of riding for your mental and physical wellbeing is well documented and to be celebrated. Everyone experiences challenges in life. Facebook selfies and glorious Instabangers rarely tell the whole story.

It aims to bring important conversations into the cinema, challenging thinking about ‘normal living’ and gives voice to the opportunities that emerge when you grab life by the handlebars.

Whether or not you ride bikes, this celebration of Scotland, bicycles, and the human spirit will soothe and excite in equal measure. We bring you three main films highlighting human stories that have the healing power of bikes at their heart.

Short films that showcase human courage in the Scottish cycling community, telling stories of lives transformed through cycling as well as the ‘flow state’ of mind achievable when long-distance adventures turn meditative.

With epic short films by Scotty Laughland, surprise guests, and epic raffle prizes, all raffle proceeds from this special event will go to The Scottish MTB Health Fund.

This film reveals the remarkable story of Scots Asian diversity pioneer Aneela McKenna whohas tackled racism and discrimination in her own life with the help of mountain biking. It invites viewers and the cycling industry to open their hearts and minds to how racial discrimination feelsand to be the best, most enriched version of themselves.

A few years ago, Aneela McKenna was at breaking point. Embroiled in a racism grievance case against her boss, her self-confidence, respect, and belief had plummeted to an all-time low and she needed a timeout. Taking an extended career break, Aneela embarked on a solo mission on her trusty mountain bike in search of what she most needed to mend and renew herself.

She turned to her favourite place in the world-the Outer Hebrides, the site of many happy memories of adventures with her husband Andy. In this film, Aneela and Andy revisit these remote Scottish islands and pedal their way through life's ups and downs.

Aneela McKenna said - “If the film can engage even one person who would ordinarily have disengaged from this kind of story or argued that racism does not exist in 2022-it’s done its job. We hope viewers are left with a sense of what discrimination can feel like, how it affects others, and to reflect upon what they can do to help enrich society and the world of MTB by making it a more diverse and inclusive space.”

DMBinS are breaking new ground by delivering a holistic approach to positive health outcomes through an innovative Mountain Bike Trail Therapy programme.

Graeme McLean Head of DMBinS said, ‘We wanted Scotland to be a place where everybody thrives. We wanted to reset how Scotland thinks about wellbeing and health. Our Trail Therapy programme is something we are exceptionally proud of and have worked hard to secure funding to be able to pilot, then roll out in South Lanarkshire and Tayside.

We are delighted to be able to share this short film about the programme. The film focuses on the journey of one of the participants who has used mountain biking as a strategy for his recovery. Interviews capture the feelings of the participant, a mental health professional and Paul, our Trail Therapy leader, who continue to help support this recovery journey.

Our hope with this film by Joe Norledge and Reuben Bakker-Dyos supported byTrek Bicycle, will promote the benefits of the programme far and wide and perhaps unlock the potential for it to be rolled out nationwide.

Mind Over Mountains is a short film about the mindset behind riding far and fast. Challenging the idea that speed and suffering go hand in hand, it follows Annie Lloyd Evans, Huw Oliver, and friends as they ride Scotland's stunning Cairngorms Loop ITT on a perfect August day.

Moving fast, light and in the moment, they show us that love for a landscape and joy for the simplicity of movement are what fuel unforgettable rides.

Huw Oliver said –‘In those hazy areas between night and day, elation and fatigue, possibilities and unknowns, is where we find the state of flow that takes us outside of what we know and towards what we could be. This is a film about using mountains to overcome the hurdles we put up in our own minds.’

This film night has been made possible with funding assistance from Film Hub Scotland. To ensure that as many people as possible can be part of the film night and the conversations around the issues raised, a tiered system of ticketing will be in operation.

Folks will be encouraged to pay for the ticket that they can afford. Tickets are available from the venue.

The event will cater for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community as a BSL interpreter will be on hand for each film.

The proceeds from the film night will be donated to the Scottish MTB Health Fund to help DMBinS fund more projects across Scotland, taking real, tangible action by providing moreMTB & MentalHealth (Trail Therapy) Programmes, getting more women and girls riding, delivering urban MTB initiatives, supporting more MTB disability hubs and increasing the diversity of riders on the trails.

BOOK TICKETS HERE