Never in the way Anthill Films escapes the city with Nico Deportago-Cabrera

Never in the way Anthill Films escapes the city with Nico Deportago-Cabrera

Chicago-based bike messenger Nico Deportago-Cabrera sees city maps like a central nervous system. Everything’s connected. Roads and buses and people and cars, all carrying bits of information around a giant organism and making it live and breathe. “The point,” he says, “is to never be in the way. If you’re never in the way, then you’re always right where you need to be.”

In cities, we each play a part in making the hectic network thrive. But for many, including Nico, there’s an undeniable draw to wide open spaces.

In “Never in the way,” the new short from Anthill Films, Nico ventures to the Arizona desert with his Checkpoint to unplug and explore an unknown landscape starkly different from the daily chaos of Chicago. From Flagstaff to Phoenix, he connects the dots his own way, guided by the spirit of adventure and limited by no schedule or commitment.

And in the end, he finds something you only get when you’re far from what you know: perspective.

Nico Deportago-Cabrera standing beside his Trek Checkpoint and checking his gear
Rider standing with bike at depot in Flagstaff
Checkpoint SLR

Checkpoint

These bikes are capable, versatile, fun, and equipped with the rugged parts that hold up on a variety of surfaces. Whether you’re looking for a pure gravel bike or a tough, multi-surface ride for fast commutes and all-road adventures alike, you’ll find your perfect match in Checkpoint.
Get your gravel on

About the Author: Trek

Our mission: we build only products we love, provide incredible hospitality to our customers, and change the world by getting more people on bikes.