Pre-trip FAQ
Who am I?
My name is Leon McCarron, and I'm a 23 year old filmmaker originally from Northern Ireland.
What are you doing?
In Spring 2010 I will cycle out of New York City, crossing the U.S.A and Canada until I reach Los Angeles. From there I will make my way to New Zealand, where I will again travel by bike from Auckland in the North, to the tip of the South Island. Finally I will head to Australia, where I will pedal the length of the East Coast. I have also now officially extended the route to take me through SE Asia as far as Hong Kong.
Whats so special about that?
During my journey I will be offering people I meet the chance to speak with me on camera. Snippits of these interviews will be posted on this very website as I go along, but a longer documentary is the ultimate goal and will be compiled upon my return. The focus will be on people with a true passion in life. I want to speak to people who have a story to tell about what it is that they love in life - my interest is social documentary, storytelling. I feel that no matter what the topic, as long as the subject is invested enough in it, the footage will make for intriguing viewing.
I will also document my personal journey - the sights I see, the hardships I encounter and (hopefully) the fun I have! I will be cycling and camping in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to over 40 degrees, traveling through bear country, dealing with tornadoes, earthquakes and goodness knows what else, so at the very least you should get some cheap laughs!
So why bicycle?
I think, flat out, bicycles are just the best mode of transport going. They keep you fit, they're good for the environment, they're easy to fix and maintain, and they're a whole load of fun to ride! However, on top of that I think this project benefits from my slow (potentially very slow!) movement across countries. Travelling by bicycle allows me to fully experience the environment I'm passing through, and makes it very easy to interact with the communities I will encounter - in fact, using this mode of transport I think it would be impossible to ignore them!
Why this route?
I've been doing a couple of film internships in New York City, so the film will start there for obvious reasons. The diversity of North America astounds me, and it has always been a personal ambition to cycle through it's variety of landscapes, people and cultures. The hop to New Zealand is not a short one, but again it stems from a personal dream; to cycle the length of the two islands. I think the film will benefit from this cultural shift, making for interesting viewing. Finally, all the locations on my route are linked by populations of indigenous peoples, who I hope to be lucky enough to speak with on camera. Hong Kong is currently the first "goal" (having already shifted from Sydney) but not necessarily the final destination - this trip is all about interactivity and co-operation, and if it's possible to continue onwards, then I'll be straight back on the bike!
What are you taking with you?
I will be riding out on a Santos Travelmaster, which I will take with me to New York. I plan to have 4 pannier bags, 2 front and 2 rear carrying all my clothes, bike parts, food, maps and water. On top of that I will have a tent, a sleeping bag and finally the equipment for filming - a HD camcorder, a tripod and all the bits that are needed to upload clips along the way. That makes quite a weight to cycle with! I will however aim to use technology only for the purposes of the film, and will thus for-go GPS and other aids in favour of a trusty map and a compass. My full equipment list can be seen here.
Anything else?
This project really relies on interactivity - sure, I'm gonna be the one conducting the interviews, but the project will only succeed if I have subjects to talk to, and most importantly, people following on the website. It promises to be a really unique expedition, especially with the interviews being uploaded en route, and it's essential to have a strong online following. If you like it, great! Keep up to date with me, and tell your friends - email me, leon@leonmccarron.com and tell me what you think!
Who am I?
My name is Leon McCarron, and I'm a 23 year old filmmaker originally from Northern Ireland.
What are you doing?
In Spring 2010 I will cycle out of New York City, crossing the U.S.A and Canada until I reach Los Angeles. From there I will make my way to New Zealand, where I will again travel by bike from Auckland in the North, to the tip of the South Island. Finally I will head to Australia, where I will pedal the length of the East Coast. I have also now officially extended the route to take me through SE Asia as far as Hong Kong.
Whats so special about that?
During my journey I will be offering people I meet the chance to speak with me on camera. Snippits of these interviews will be posted on this very website as I go along, but a longer documentary is the ultimate goal and will be compiled upon my return. The focus will be on people with a true passion in life. I want to speak to people who have a story to tell about what it is that they love in life - my interest is social documentary, storytelling. I feel that no matter what the topic, as long as the subject is invested enough in it, the footage will make for intriguing viewing.
I will also document my personal journey - the sights I see, the hardships I encounter and (hopefully) the fun I have! I will be cycling and camping in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to over 40 degrees, traveling through bear country, dealing with tornadoes, earthquakes and goodness knows what else, so at the very least you should get some cheap laughs!
So why bicycle?
I think, flat out, bicycles are just the best mode of transport going. They keep you fit, they're good for the environment, they're easy to fix and maintain, and they're a whole load of fun to ride! However, on top of that I think this project benefits from my slow (potentially very slow!) movement across countries. Travelling by bicycle allows me to fully experience the environment I'm passing through, and makes it very easy to interact with the communities I will encounter - in fact, using this mode of transport I think it would be impossible to ignore them!
Why this route?
I've been doing a couple of film internships in New York City, so the film will start there for obvious reasons. The diversity of North America astounds me, and it has always been a personal ambition to cycle through it's variety of landscapes, people and cultures. The hop to New Zealand is not a short one, but again it stems from a personal dream; to cycle the length of the two islands. I think the film will benefit from this cultural shift, making for interesting viewing. Finally, all the locations on my route are linked by populations of indigenous peoples, who I hope to be lucky enough to speak with on camera. Hong Kong is currently the first "goal" (having already shifted from Sydney) but not necessarily the final destination - this trip is all about interactivity and co-operation, and if it's possible to continue onwards, then I'll be straight back on the bike!
What are you taking with you?
I will be riding out on a Santos Travelmaster, which I will take with me to New York. I plan to have 4 pannier bags, 2 front and 2 rear carrying all my clothes, bike parts, food, maps and water. On top of that I will have a tent, a sleeping bag and finally the equipment for filming - a HD camcorder, a tripod and all the bits that are needed to upload clips along the way. That makes quite a weight to cycle with! I will however aim to use technology only for the purposes of the film, and will thus for-go GPS and other aids in favour of a trusty map and a compass. My full equipment list can be seen here.
Anything else?
This project really relies on interactivity - sure, I'm gonna be the one conducting the interviews, but the project will only succeed if I have subjects to talk to, and most importantly, people following on the website. It promises to be a really unique expedition, especially with the interviews being uploaded en route, and it's essential to have a strong online following. If you like it, great! Keep up to date with me, and tell your friends - email me, leon@leonmccarron.com and tell me what you think!
