Ghost Peloton

rolf_f

I've been rehearsing for The Ghost Peloton in Leeds - an arts project in the 2014 Yorkshire Festival not a little bit inspired by the TdF.

Basically, it involves riding round in choreographed patterns to ambient music dressed in light suits and with the bike decorated with fantastic wheel lighting. All the leds are rgb and can be individually computer controlled to any colour at any time. As well as the dancy bit, we also did night filming on the Tour route on Buttertubs and Grintom Moor, Reeth (where one of the pics below was taken).

It is great fun though hard work - straight after work for four nights this week not getting home til around 11. All done after the second public performance on Saturday though. No idea what it looks like to the audience but it is quite an experience to perform in. Some pics below of rehearsals (bit random order!) and a link to Guardian article. The last picture in that is of me!

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2014/may/14/ghost-peloton-in-pictures

elbowloh

It's like Tron....

UndercoverElephant

Do you get to keep the lights? Would make winter commuting *really* safe.

rjsterry

Saw this last night on the Grauniad website, and was rather envious. Even more so, now. The photos look great, and I imagine the live experience is pretty good too.

rolf_f

rjsterry wrote:

Saw this last night on the Grauniad website, and was rather envious. Even more so, now. The photos look great, and I imagine the live experience is pretty good too.

I was ultra chuffed when I realised the last pic was me!

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Do you get to keep the lights? Would make winter commuting *really* safe.

The lights would be brilliant for commuting but they'd need to be completely redesigned; as they are they would be useless on a day to day basis. The whole point of these ones is that they have wireless external computer control and you don't need that for the commute lights. So that would save a big chunk of the hefty bar mounted battery pack.

Then there are the brushes (which connect with the four copper strips on the hub discs) which are attached between quick release and dropout. They are very vulnerable and wouldn't last long in normal conditions and they induce drag on the wheels.

But really, probably all you need is the light strips with different coloured leds on the spokes powered by CR2032s and with a nice random sequence generator.

When I get a chance I'll post some pics of the gadgetry close up.

keyser__soze

Didn't WrathRob or someone buy something similar from DX or another cheapo site recently? Not wireless/cool controls but def spoke lights that had random patterns.

UndercoverElephant

I've certainly been tempted by the ones on offer at http://www.monkeylectric.com/

Agent57

I've got two sets of Monkey Lights, which as suggested were great when riding at night in the dark. Real head-turners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xzQ_XMQh6E

rolf_f

Agent57 wrote:

I've got two sets of Monkey Lights, which as suggested were great when riding at night in the dark. Real head-turners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xzQ_XMQh6E

Where did you get them from? The website seems to suggest only via Amazon and I don't use that poisonous company!

Somewhat tempted!

kamiokande

I'm going to see this on Saturday, will try to get some pictures if possible. Good luck, Rolf.

Kieran_Burns

Rolf F wrote:

Agent57 wrote:

I've got two sets of Monkey Lights, which as suggested were great when riding at night in the dark. Real head-turners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xzQ_XMQh6E

Where did you get them from? The website seems to suggest only via Amazon and I don't use that poisonous company!

Somewhat tempted!

http://www.fawkes-cycles.co.uk/2286305/ ... tAod5zkAbw

rolf_f

kamiokande wrote:

I'm going to see this on Saturday, will try to get some pictures if possible. Good luck, Rolf.

Well, how was it?

wreckedmyklein

Yes. How was it? I was also in it and haven't really heard from anyone who actually saw it.

rolf_f

wreckedmyklein wrote:

Yes. How was it? I was also in it and haven't really heard from anyone who actually saw it.

Are you on the Ghost Peloton Facebook group?

wreckedmyklein

Nope. But I have just put in a request.

kamiokande

Unfortunately I couldn't make it in the end, but managed to get my ticket to someone else and they said it was very good. Mesmerising they said. I watched some videos on youtube it looks impressive, how on earth did the lead rider of each group remember where to go?

rolf_f

kamiokande wrote:

Unfortunately I couldn't make it in the end, but managed to get my ticket to someone else and they said it was very good. Mesmerising they said. I watched some videos on youtube it looks impressive, how on earth did the lead rider of each group remember where to go?

Two way radio. There's always some variation in timing - we spent a lot of time rehearsing it but we could have done twice as much rehearsal and still there would have been some variation in timing - it doesn't take much to change relative positions and it isn't as though you can monitor speed. So the less precisely choreographed routines had exits radio'd to the lead rider to get the timings right. I think the hardest part for the leaders is just getting the sequence of routines right; once you are actually in a routine it is fairly straightforward. But we'd been doing 6pm til 10pm rehearsals for five of the previous six nights so it was pretty sorted by the public performances and the imperfections are pretty much invisible to the audience!

wreckedmyklein wrote:

Nope. But I have just put in a request.

Oh good! I think we have got over 30 now but that includes some of the staff so there are still a few riders to find - including Josh of the BMX.

leedsmjh

I saw the Friday night performance. Thought it was fantastic, really impressive choreography/light show and impressively controlled cycling. It was beautiful and mesmerizing - I spent the whole performance smiling like a loon and and the very much non-cycling mr leedsmjh also loved it. I am still kicking myself for not thinking to bring a camera and having a flat battery on my phone. Chapeau to all involved - it was really really good!

msmancunia

I very nearly applied, but when I got the paperwork through I realised it was just before I went on holiday and work was (and is) slightly manic. Glad I didn't if it consisted of "impressively controlled cycling"! :oops:

Looks great Rolf - hope you had a great time

rolf_f

msmancunia wrote:

Looks great Rolf - hope you had a great time

I did - it's one of the best things I've ever done. The audience reaction was a brilliant thing to experience! Trouble is we now all feel a bit deflated that it's ended!

leedsmjh wrote:

I saw the Friday night performance. Thought it was fantastic, really impressive choreography/light show and impressively controlled cycling. It was beautiful and mesmerizing - I spent the whole performance smiling like a loon and and the very much non-cycling mr leedsmjh also loved it. I am still kicking myself for not thinking to bring a camera and having a flat battery on my phone. Chapeau to all involved - it was really really good!

Glad you had a great time Michaela. Don't worry about not having had a camera - there are loads of superb photos knocking around. We got some awesome reviews too....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/10840617/Ghost-Peloton-Waides-Yard-Leeds-review-astonishing.html
http://thecitytalking.com/lifestyle/2014/5/19/ghost-peloton-at-waides-yard-leeds
http://road.cc/content/news/119405-ghost-peloton-spectacle-plays-thousands-leeds-video

http://liveoopnorth.co.uk/2014/05/ghost-peleton/
https://www.360cities.net/image/ghost-peloton-spiral-hunslet-leeds-england#388.24,23.62,87.9

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=658174867581509&set=a.658155367583459.1073741835.401876093211389&type=3&theater

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sustrans/sets/72157644730894501/