Now to the GVL RT film...We wanted to bring forward the raw cycling emotion of the GVL riders and merge it with the urban reality of Medellín. We are well aware that the Givelo brand is no longer only in Colombia, it is worldwide, and it is an honour to expose our roots via the GVL RT to the global cycling community. There could only be one location for the filming and that was in the city itself. This production was one of the toughest we’ve had yet, fighting with the weather conditions constantly and rescheduling twice to get all the content we needed. Originally the idea was to shoot the production in one evening and night, starting at dusk and going through the night until we were happy with everything we had. Filming actually began inside a local Giant workshop, loaned out to us as one of the team's sponsors, before heading out to the streets. Here, it gave us a chance to pause on what can be a pretty hectic city, and focus on each rider. We wanted the film to be as much for the riders as it was for the brand – so it had to be personal - and in the small workshop area, we could get up close and direct with each of them.

The morning chill was more than apparent, especially as the riders had already been soaked in the early hours, but with a quick stop, an unlimited supply of coffee, and a few new pairs of socks, it didn’t hold us back and we continued filming quickly.

Filming continued against the clock to get a good number of scenes ticked off, only stopping every so often to check the content before the pre-dawn hues started coming through. Working with racers really made things easy as they effortlessly navigated the streets and could get within centimetres
of the tailing crew. But there is no stopping the start of the day. The streets became busier and the light began to change, meaning we had to wind down and make the final calls with photography and filming. The crew had shot a tremendous amount of content, that when edited may not seem that much, but it was exactly what we needed to create a short film packed full of energy.

Footnote: As the world of cycling merges with the world of fashion, this film was an opportunity for us to do our part but also to add another layer to this evolving industry. These are real riders, with real stories that make up a team looking to disrupt the local cycling scene and bring some acid racing to it. Cycling is what it is here (Colombia) because of riders like those in the GVL team. The dedication and grit these riders show are what fuels a brand like Givelo to go further and never settle. This added “real” layer is what it's all about, and as the team would say, “On the edge of chaos we thrive”.