We tried a YouTube Video.
It's a working progress.
I love writing. There’s something special about bringing words out to a story. If I could, I’d ride my bike and write all day - well, I kinda do do that.
That being said, my own watching and viewing habits are very much through podcast and video. I spend more time watching YouTube or listening to podcasts than I do reading.
Where am I going with this?
We Tried Video
This past weekend at Mid South Gravel we tried the whole video thing. I’ll be honest, I didn’t realise how difficult it was. It’s just not the video production, but the storyline. There’s a skill to putting together and structuring a video - a skill that I don’t have, yet.
We were staying in an Airbnb with Alexey Vermeulen and Avery Stumm, two men who are leading the charge when it comes to privateers producing content. Watching the two of them work, alongside their photographer Robert Barranco was seriously impressive.
On our pre-race ride, Alexey was texting or calling our follow car every five minutes guiding them on what to film or something cool he’d seen. Then there would be the parts of the ride where he’d disappear behind the car for minutes to record to the camera. It was impressive to watch.
In the other corner, you have Dan Hutchinson and I. Dan is an amazingly talented photographer and my skills lie in writing and riding bikes. Both of our skills are valuable, but we’re missing the one key skill that’s missing for modern-day media: video.
Dan is handy enough with video, but he’ll be the first to admit that it’s not his speciality. Then, my brain is very good at planning what I want, but I have no clue about the logistics it takes to put something like it together.
In an ideal world, I’d race bikes and write words. Dan would take photos and document it all. However, in the modern-day fight for budgets, video is an important part. That being said, I don’t think you should ever start creating something with financial gain in mind. You’re doomed to fail.
For example, I’ve had a few people reach out and ask if my Substack helps to get new partners. Almost certainly, yes. But, this is also my third year of writing on this platform, any my eighth in total. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that.
I want to produce a video because I think it’s a way of showing people what it’s really like on the ground. When I was racing on the road I always wondered what it was like to race in these far-flung places. Now I’m living it, I want to document it too. Words can take you so far, but video is even better.
The Cost
It all takes money. It’s another trans-Atlantic flight to get Dan here, another bedroom in the accommodation (though granted we shared a bed this time), another person to feed for however many days, and if you’re going to do content properly you need a car.
The bill keeps going up, and if I’m going to do this I’m going to do it properly. I can’t really afford to bring Dan over to the US this year, but I’m going to go for it because why not? There’s also the bonus that Dan, a man I’d class as a close friend, is finally getting his work showcased.
I’ve never been able to afford to pay Dan. I’ve covered all of his expenses to go places but not once has he asked for a penny from me. Even if I tried he’d shrug it off. Yet, now I can just afford to fly him to places, he’s finally getting the attention he deserves. I hope so much that we get to the point where Dan is shooting for top cycling brands and coming out to races because he’s been paid to, because he’s incredibly talented. Fun fact: Dan’s day job is not a photographer, crazy right?
The Video
This is a very long-winded way of saying, we tried a YouTube video this week. It’s not perfect, it’s far from it. But, everyone has to start somewhere. Dan, you’ll be reading this - thank you. Thank you for dealing with my shit, thank you for flying out and thank you for taking a risk. We’ll get better.
Please stay with us as we learn, look awful, and inevitably mess up. And, don’t worry, my writing is going nowhere.
Side note: I’ve got a couple of cool video ideas in mind, including an LA to Vegas FKT or ‘Speed Project’. Hopefully, more to come later.
While you’re here…
I’ve added a paid subscription and a ‘Buy Me A Coffee’ link to this post. As the year progresses, I’m planning on building this blog and putting out articles which I’ve always wanted to write but for whatever reason, haven’t wanted to pitch. Your contributions allow me to do that.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/joelaverick
The following brands are racing partners of mine which allow me to do cool stuff.
Readers of this Substack can save 30% on seller protection when they list a bike with the code ‘JOELAVERICK30’, use this link to get going!
Great start to YouTube. It was different from other videos pros and creators put out - more artistic. It is a really good perspective on Mid-South and cool style!
I saw Alexey’s Mid South video and thought it odd you didn’t get a mention, being in same team and sharing a house 🤔. Just a couple of very brief shots in the background.