Wall of Death

Bikes


still photography: Gary Margerum

You may have seen The Wall of Death travelling the festy byways of Britain these last couple of years.

Our friend, photographer and vintage bike culture fancier Gary Margerum has spent the last couple of years documenting the lifestyle of the creators, collaborators and show people of the roots and culture carny show that evokes a curious sort of displaced nostalgia for anyone interested in bikes and derring do.

There’s a book from Gary on the way in which he documents a year in the life of the show – boards, bikes and all – and we look forward to that. Benedict Campbell‘s film (below) brings out, meanwhile, the all-encompassing lifestyle that is the creation of such a spectacle.

What we like about the whole idea of the Wall of Death is the refreshingly committed attitude of a band of men and women who dedicate their lives to riding very old bikes at ridiculous angles for the public’s wonder and delectation.

It’s a little slice of folk heroism from the margins. Enjoy.

THE WALL OF DEATH from benedict campbell on Vimeo.

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