If you've watched any of Danny MacAskill's jaw-dropping mountain bike YouTube edits, you may have noticed his love for Scotland. MacAskill has ridden the impossible on some of the most remote Scottish mountains, and it has seen the Red Bull rider rack up millions of views. He is also very keen to tell anyone who will listen about his love for all things e-MTB and in particular – the Santa Cruz Heckler.
For his latest film, MacAskill brings both of these passions together. Riding alongside Santa Cruz Syndicate team boss and a true legend of downhill mountain biking – Steve Peat, they hit Danny's childhood home – the Isle of Skye, to ride the Trotternish Ridge.
The ridge is a stunningly beautiful plateau featuring incredible views of Skye and the famous Cuillin Ridge. Trotternish links together two of the island's most famous tourist hot-spots the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr. These geographical landmarks make you think you've dropped straight into a scene from Jurassic Park or Lord of the Rings, and interestingly dinosaur footprints have been found on Skye, nearby at Staffin, but to date no hobbits.
The views are arguably the best you'll get anywhere in Scotland, but the ridge itself is no pushover. Well known as a hiking route it has a total length of around 36km, a total ascent of around 2,500m and multiple summit points.
Danny and Steve set out on their ride on a beautifully clear, if not cold-looking morning, as they traverse the ridge on two models from the Santa Cruz e-MTB range – Danny on his much-loved Heckler and Steve on the Santa Cruz Bullit. Both are carbon framed, full suspension e-MTBs featuring Shimano EP801 motors and plenty suspension travel to cope with the challenges of the Trotternish Ridge.
During the ride, there is plenty of what Danny calls 'spracheling'. As you learn in the film, it's how he describes the kind of time-consuming detours and incidents that delay or increase the length of a ride. So forgotten equipment, photo stops, mechanicals, clothing changes, and confused directions, can all be classed as spracheling – AKA 'mooching' or 'faffing'. It all adds to the enjoyment of the watch, that culminates in an epic sunset that only Scotland can deliver.
The Trotternish Ridge edit can be viewed right here, and specs on Danny and Steve’s Santa Cruz e-MTBs can also be found below, with more information available at SantaCruzBicycles.com.
Santa Cruz Heckler
- Frame: Santa Cruz Carbon C
- Motor: Shimano EP801
- Battery: Darfon 720Wh
- Fork: RockShox Zeb Base, 160mm
- Rear Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, 150mm
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle 12spd
- Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle
- Bar: Santa Cruz eCarbon
- Crankset: Shimano EM600
- Seatpost: OneUp, Dropper
- Saddle: WTB Silverado
- Brakes: SRAM Code R, 200mm F/R
- Wheels: RaceFace ARC HD 29” 27.5”
- Tires: Maxxis
- Color: Gloss Heirloom Red
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Price: From now $5,599 / £6,499
Santa Cruz Bullit
- Frame: Santa Cruz Carbon CC
- Motor: Shimano EP801
- Battery: Shimano 630Wh
- Fork: RockShox Zeb Base, 170mm
- Rear Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, 170mm
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle 12spd
- Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle
- Bar: Santa Cruz eCarbon
- Crankset: Shimano EM600
- Seatpost: OneUp, Dropper
- Saddle: WTB Silverado
- Brakes: SRAM Code R, 200mm F/R
- Wheels: RaceFace ARC HD 29” 27.5”
- Tires: Maxxis
- Color: Duke Blue
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Price: From $5,899 / £6,799
