Synopsis

"Golden Tree" turns a simple bike ride into a playful catalog of movement. Against Martin Brooks' upbeat blues-rock song, cyclists ride toward the camera without touching their handlebars, performing a succession of carefully named gestures and poses. The result is less a conventional narrative than a deadpan showcase of balance, timing, and eccentric physical comedy. Set outdoors in bright, summery surroundings, the video builds its charm through repetition, variety, and the increasingly inventive behavior of its riders.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video presents 50 different no-handed bicycle moves, including comic gestures such as "The MGM Lion," "The Canoe," and "The Oscar Acceptance Speech."

• The shoot took place at Hackney Marshes in London on a sunny day. Participants were invited to turn up when they could, making the production a collaborative gathering of friends and riders.

• The video's concept began with the song's summery character. The production used a list of roughly 100 possible bike moves, from which performers selected and developed their own contributions.

• "Golden Tree" was also presented under the tongue-in-cheek subtitle "A Professional Display of No Handed Bike Moves."

• Its mock authority was reinforced by the fictional "Official Federation of No Handed Bike Skills," which is credited with approving the moves.

• The video circulated widely online and was screened at events including the Victoria and Albert Museum's V&A Late and Adam Buxton's BUG music-video program.

• Brooks described the recording used in the video as an older bedroom demo. A remastered version appeared on the Golden Tree EP, released in March 2013.

• The Golden Tree EP was deliberately concise, with three songs each running for less than three minutes. Brooks cited upbeat rock and roll, including Chuck Berry, as an influence on the recordings.