Is New Tech All That's Making Cycling Faster? | GCN Tech Show Ep. 33

Is New Tech All That's Making Cycling Faster? | GCN Tech Show Ep. 33

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Welcome. To the gcn, tech show coming, out this week we've got a new gravel, bike from mountain bike Legends Kona and we delve into the murky world of crowdfunding. For us our big, talking point this week our, cyclists. Getting, fitter or is it just tech making, us faster, more. On that soon. Before. We get on to our big talking point first. What's, hot in the world of tech this week, well. Not much Olli I mean it has been quite a quiet week really this week in terms of product launches, but it's no great surprise given how many massive. Product launches we have already had this year like five, disc-brake. Arrow road bikes for start not, to mention the gazillion, and gravel bikes have already launched but, that said there, is always room for one more and Kona have joined the party with their new early bidet yeah. Kona is a brand that's most established in, mountain, bikes and the, libre certainly, a bike that's unashamed, of its mountain bike routes. In terms of the official, GCN gravel, spectrum, it, certainly sits towards, the mountain, bike end of. The gravel, spectrum. And you're right it is an official, spectrum, all day I'm glad you're giving it as proper title, yeah yeah all this missing basically is a flat handle bar and says suspension, forks you know it's, got really long chain stays quite slack head angle so you'd think on paper it would corner like it's on Rails and it also has, massive, tire clearance yeah, it could be the perfect touring, bike as well it's got four sets of bottle cage bosses, it's got more on the fork it's, also got rack mounts, fender mounts and top. Cheaper hot cheap mounts as well so you know what mate well kkona a Canadian. Brand yeah this. Bike should, that's we called them Mountie, not. Really right sorry. Anyway if you if you loaded it up there's a possibility that you might even be able to move house with, this bike, how although having said that it. Must be relatively quick because Kona. Ambassador a mountain, bike 24, hour champion.

Corey Wallace as she rode spy to 14th, in the dirty Kansa so yeah, relatively, speedy as well anyway. Only a far cry from all the sort, of arrow bike Bonanza. Bikes, we've had recently, so that is very true right, stay. Tuned because we're gonna be delving into the craziness. Forward-slash. Potentially. Innovation. Heavy world of crowdfunding, but we now have our big talking point. Our. Cyclists. Getting fitter and faster, or is it just down to tech yeah. So over, the years records. Get broken we continually, see times, getting faster, in events like the team sued and the world our record, and even though there are more variables. When you compare, times up famous climbs apart. From a inexplicable. Blip in their late 90s early 2000s. Today's pros are definitely, faster, than previous generations the. Commonly held conception. Is that, improvements. Are down to us, humans. Getting fitter faster, and, stronger. But is this the case should we be so, self, congratulating. Are we actually constantly, improving. As a species, we. Are are we but evolution, I am yeah. You are an improvement evolution, takes thousands of years there doesn't it so it's, unlikely that, we'll have seen any kind of significant. Genetic improvement, in the last 50 years although actually you gotta take Lloyd II at the equation here because he is something of an outlier, on that, so the best years are ahead of him us what everyone says I mean well yeah yeah you, know when I look at loyalty ups of think. Quite positively, for the future the human race. Might. Say well. Back, to the topic, in hand let's, take a look at the world record, progression of, the, four kilometer team pursuit so, in, 1993. The. Record, stood at four minutes 3.8. Seconds, which is pretty quick no matter this is steadily, got, beaten year-on-year. Incrementally. Till now where. It stands at the present day at, three, forty, nine point, eight seconds, now, if we remove the tech then would, we still see that kind of incremental, progression, would, we've seen as much of it I wonder, if there's a way of checking. To see Ollie well. I think. The way to do it is to look at sports where you can remove the tech where, there's minimal impact, of tech so a good example would be a lot of track and field sports, an, example we can say would be the. Triple jump so the triple jump is one of the longest, standing records. In, history, and is. Currently held by, Jonathan. Edwards who you may be familiar with, some of you may be familiar with if you watch your a sport he's a presenter, on that now, back. In 1995. Jonathan, Edwards set the world trip board jump record at a whopping, 60. Feet and this has held for. 23. Years. Don't, worry Europeans that's 18 point 2 9 meters and, then also there's, another example in track if you're actually Randy Barnes, got. All round you know Randy Barnes yeah in 1988. He set, an almighty, shop, a record, of 22. Meters. Just over which is I believe about, 70, something feet, anyway. And that one has stood golly for 30 years, if you then put that in the context, of cycling. Well, what, about Moses, our record 1984. It'd be almost unthinkable for. The our record to be back at 50 kilometers wouldn't it yeah I mean. Yeah you can't think of that in cycling that it would last that long it is unthinkable yeah well. Speaking, of the era course I there's another great example there, and in, 1972. Eddy Merckx yes the. Eddy Merckx widely, regarded as, the goat smashed. The our record with a distance of forty, nine point four three one kilometers, that's, like it's, like forty, nine point four three one kilometers, per hour isn't, it yes. Really fast you work that out really, fast as well thanks man yeah complex maths someone's going to do, following. This the our record, was continually, getting broken and broken broken and athletes were going faster and faster and the UCI felt. That tech was advancing, the record too, quickly and therefore, it decreed, that only, attempts. Using equipment similar. To that of eddy merckx would. Count. Following. This Chris, Boardman gave me go widely regarded as, one of the greatest time, trial lists of all time having, won. Yellow, jerseys in the Tour de France the World Championships, and an Olympic gold medal, now. He. Took on Max's record using similar equipment and broke, it but, he broke it by, just ten, meters. And, this was in the year 2000. And, following that he, retired yeah, immediately, retard yet Ernie unsurprisingly. Perhaps now if he fast forward to the present day. The record, rules have changed once, again and so now riders are permitted to using, the same equipment that the UCI allow them to use on track, events like the Team Pursuit and since, that point the, record has been broken again and again and again and now it's currently held by Bradley, Wiggins of course with, a distance, of fifty four point five to six kilometers, however. Was, got this whole conversation started.

Really Is the danish rider martin, Toft madison, who recently. Tried and failed to break the record but. He calculated. Quite. Remarkably, I think that with an air density of, nought point nine kilograms. Per meters, cubed, he. It would actually only need to, put out a, very mind this is with a fully optimized, position, three. Hundred and ten watts to break Wiggins, his record three, hundred ten watts for an hour like. Eminently. Doable yeah, it's certainly doable especially, when you consider that a lot of professional. Cyclists, in the World Tour seem. To have functional. Threshold, powers of around four hundred and ten watts what. 410. 400. Was around that sort Robby. Gordon 11, was so specific. In. The case of the our record. The. Results clearly indicate that tech has a massive, impact in, progressing. Records, so. I guess this raises the question should. There be an, event, in cycling, where the, bikes and equipment, remains. Unchanged. Where it's purely, about. The fitness, the athletic, fitness of, the rider Japanese, Kiran racing where, they are all riding, exactly, the same bikes and equipment yeah. Well should. That should all riding, me like that I hope not, genuinely. I hope not but there are you, know there, are benefits, to having, standardized, equipment on there yeah so I think a good example is to think about, poorer. Countries. And developing nations so, in the, example. Say if you look at the Olympics, the, big teams, on the track such as Great Britain Australia. Germany, France, they're. Incredibly, well funded, and they can afford all the latest and greatest tech, skin C's wheels frames, and everything but, poorer, countries. Are going to struggle to match this and that, is where the the, gains are really being sort, of made year on you and year and you know if we look at the example of swimming, in. 2008. At the Olympics we saw a massive step. Up in World Records being broken and, this was largely in part down, to a lot of the the best swimmers wearing, the latest swimming, suits and basically. Underwater skin suits but these were incredibly expensive, prohibitively. Expensive to, swimmers. From poorer nations yeah, I totally agree with you I think we wouldn't want cycling, to, be any more elitist than already is but, I think tech is an intrinsic, part of it cycling with no tech it's. Just running the other day well. It isn't it like you know when the bike was invented, 150, or so years ago that, started, the tech arms race and so if you really want to see human, performance you got to take away our wheels well. I guess, I mean if you look at endurance sports in track and field as well you know the marathon, record has been being. Incrementally. Getting faster and tumbling, year, on your on year similar to some cycling, records and there's you know not huge amount of tacky marathon running but, I guess, maybe you could then look at improved. Training improved, diet improved, knowledge of sports science in all those you, know physiological, areas and maybe there's a lot of incremental, improvements, that are happening in. That but I guess you. Know with regards, to cycling, equipment, maybe. There's a pointer which will reach a peak in that you know how. When. We're gonna reach peak arrow presumably, there is a peak well, yeah I think we're probably getting fairly close to peak air onami anyway. Let us know what you think in the comment section down below has. Tech. Actually been responsible for cyclists getting faster or as always suggested, improved, diet improve training improved. Analysis, of performance is there actually more important. Yeah we can't wait for your comments so far away. Crowd. Funding is both a legitimate, way of launching new products but, also a, playground, for scammers and dreamers. So having scoured, IndieGoGo, and Kickstarter we. Are gonna let you, try, and decide which. Is which, scam. Or legit. What again is, a game how have we not thought of this before well let's see how it worked ready, first. Up we have this the Classen so this is supposedly. The world's most intelligent. Bike, helmet, it has motion, sensor. Software, built into it so the it will indicate and also, have a brake light for you and it. Also has blind, spot, detection oh. Yes, looking, at it looks pretty cool oh yeah but I don't think I want, one myself yet but, I'm. Gonna say legit, all he says legit, I say. The klaxon, smashed, its funding target on IndieGoGo. In. 2017. But, worryingly it, also smashed its funding target on Kickstarter, the, year before and, since, summer of 2017. There's. Not very much news. All. Right what about this then it's called that carry gun and it's the small bike rack that can safely Stowe's small parcels, clothes and packed lunches, to your bike.

Bungee. Cords travel it's simple and ingenious, there. Is simple and ingenious I'm, gonna say legit ollie well it, came out this summer yes hats impending. What mates funding target so could. Well be legit legit. Yeah, I'm, not. Particularly sighted, about his forthcoming release I'll be completely honest I think no, improvement on a rucksack but nevertheless there, you go that might be success story right. Then how about this, this. Is the 52. Speaker, which is a portable, a bluetooth, speaker shaped. Like a hip flask that attaches to your bike with, a quarter-turn mount right, scam who would want a hip flask for anything else other than to carry alcohol, let's cap scare, me says this is, legit, smashed it's funny target in May of this year and. It's. Even, got a website, okay so the. The, manufacturers. Potential. Manufacturers with this product say. That, it's mountable, on to your handlebars to, serenade, your cycling, trips the volume is perfect, for riding while, still being cognizant, of your surroundings. And be courteous to your fellow riders, yeah. Sounds, great that's ISO is, it shipping then where can i buy one. It's. Not it's not shipping just, yet, but, a pretty. Surly days I think maybe we need to just give them time you know to set up international. Distribution, and. Think. Yeah right, stay, tuned next week for more. Tech. Last. Week it was the Campagnolo. Shamal. Wheels, and, this week we. Have a new feature and, this. New feature is called screw. Riding, upgrades, by, upgrades, that's, right a new feature for the tech show upgrading. It's an intrinsic part of being a cyclist, particularly, a tech-savvy, cyclist, and so we want to see what you're doing and find, out why you're doing it could be a small upgrade, like changing, your chain over, some different kind of bolts, on your chain, set it can be bigger things like wheels or, a new paint job or. An entirely new group set do anything we might struggle with these new inner tubes probably, but you know yeah you probably just lie about, yeah. Don't, lie about stuff, by. The way if you want to get involved then, send. Us a before shot and, an after, shot your name location, and a brief description as to why you've done the upgrade, then, you can either get, the photo to us by using the hashtag, GCM. Upgrades. Or you, can send the pictures in using our loader, and a link to which is below yeah we really want to celebrate it's, pretty amazing part I've been a byte writer do. I get started only this week here's a picture of a bike which I upgraded, last week only. That's not any, bike that's my bike me yeah, yeah yeah. Is your bike but, I fitted, a brand new Shimano. Rx, or tegra, rear derailleur to it which has a clutch mechanism to. Keep the chain tension, on rough, surfaces you. Did thanks, mate I appreciate that yeah I even made a video about it and everything so we'll put a link to that below but, yeah. I did, get a big day though you, did and, you also blamed, me, for having, a dead chain when in fact it was nothing to do with me it was clean when I last saw it I did see the video that it was great and it a really, really interesting illustration of, actually how a clutch, met works if you haven't seen it I suggest, that, you can check it out I welcome. First though, I've. Taken it off again, partly. Because it, really. Really annoys me having, mix-and-match, group sets so. I've put the jitter, race really, back on but. Also because, I don't that boy needs it actually because it's very much a road bike and. It doesn't go really. Anywhere near, mega offroad. Did. You clean it, have. You cleaned it yeah no I confess, I haven't and, despite.

The Being, flexibly tank oil on the chair it's still running quite smoothly so, so, yeah but. No what, do you guys think not, about the buying but about the met oh yeah I was wicked I was like I was I wasn't sure if he would work but I was genuinely impressed, like, how how. It operated, and how it did actually stop the chain slapping around I'm not you don't before and I don't really have a mountain bike background, but yeah, I was cool, bit yeah I think so for for gravel and for cyclocross and, for anyway you're taking a drop our bike off road makes. Complete sense than that. It's. Now time for the giveaway and we, have four lucky, winners from, the rocker, glasses, unboxing, that I did last, week we do a deed right are you ready. Things. Crossed first. Up we've got Martin, bolo then, we've got Tobin burnt. We've got Robert Baumgart. And Meszaros. Salt, so, there we go for, very, very lucky, people yeah. We'll be in touch to send you either your Roker, GP, 1 XOR C P 1 X sunglasses, so stay, tuned for that. It's. Now time for bike, of the week and last week we had a clash of the disc brake Aero bike, Titans, for the Tour of Utah we, had Nicola conchis, Trek Madone vs., Joe, Dombrowski's, Cannondale. System. 6c. Fair fine now what isn't it we should you vote for I'm. Off the track I got shrekd yeah fair enough. I've. Already got track Madonn so I'm gonna go for the Dom, Bros system, 6 alright, what, did you go for that is the important question sorry, I only put it is the. Results are in and it turns out. With. 59% of the votes it's, the Train we're done, there, we go yeah you are influence obviously paid off away, the winner I think it's fair to say very nice indeed right what's up this week name well, this week we have. Jakob. Full sangs beautiful. Custom. Argon, 18 gallium. Pro versus. The. Customs. - custom bike swings a custom. Pinarello, a bully day of Dutch. National. Time Trial champion Dylan, van Bob well. There we go I'd say oh if it was based on changing sizes van ball would, have that in the bag wouldn't you yeah. What part of a chain ring right. Okay get, voting on screen, now we just say Bellator that paint job for fuel, songs done just down the road from us was it yeah 13, miles away or 20 kilometers, serious, cool we answer I'm a video on the bike as well so if you've not seen it yet check that out. Right. There next up it is, the bike vault that time where we get to see your amazing bikes. And, fundamentally. Pass judgments, as to whether it's nice or, super. Nice right. What's coming out first I well. First, up we have this. 2017. Specialized, s-works, tarmac, and it's located in New, Jersey you wear C and. It belongs to rich now he says this is his latest build, it's got did your face 9000. On it which I have to say right that, George. Or ace 9,000 I still love that chain sir yeah I think it's a classy it's brilliant yeah absolute beauty and, it's also got some rather tasty, town sidewalks, on it Victoria. Course of speeds on there yeah and cracking. Photograph as well love, the shrubbery, great, composition, young, marks for composition there now sir do you know I mean I'm, not sure I can fault that Ollie this, is easy this one this is a super nice ring the bell mate ring about. Not. Missed that. Right. Next up we've got Maximilian. Who's submitted. His, Colnago, Mexico. From 1984. 9 85 we've got a retro, bike he. Is from Germany said he rebuilt is completely, with, Shimano dura-ace. 7700. 7900. That's. Cool, isn't it, I still. Feel iconic, can't I go paint job that be Cerrone. Can. I just say mate yeah, you.

Don't Like something about this dear I did. White tires you. Know like I'm, not sure bike tires should be white did. You make do you know what though it's. All coordinated with cooler you know he's mixed it with the frame really, you know the saddle of the tape the tires it's all there but I, just. Think maybe. Get away with our Mexico, book in a, lot of places including, where we're, fortunately, better unfortunately, based unfortunately, based you they're, not gonna stay white for long given. Know that this bike is in pristine condition should, we not give it super nice because you're super nice having that change that's beautiful as well right there mr. super Maximilian, you guys have a super all, right. Then next, up next, up Oh got very, tidy, looking felt, f1r and, this is from Jim cotton he's, the Chilton's, in the UK, he, has got Mavic ask this wheels on there so it's a very light climbing, machine nice sort of carven finish, on the frame it's, also got an info, crank on there for some power measurement and a Roman Evo saddle, so, clearly. Set it up through specification. It's the blue in nice by Kali yeah but. I don't feel like I can truly see the bike I'm, blunder I'm squinting the photo I'm struggling to see it they sort. Of picked, a quite. Distracting, complicated. Backdrop, I'm. Gonna struggle to say that that's the super nice because I don't feel like I can truly gauge the. Niceness of this part yeah I think if. We if we can contrast, this with the first example with, the excellent, photo taken, by rich, that's, Ryan. Mirrors. AUSA, then, then. Yeah that the contrast, is stark yeah. Jim, it's a lovely bike but, it ain't is super nice right, then we have this one that from Connor, and he sent this in from Dublin, in Ireland. This is his, TC, i--'s giant, TCR, just. Finished an early morning spin up tick-tock hill overlooking. Dublin he says and, that is a mega. Looking bike I also appreciate. The risk that you've taken to actually lean your bike against, a rock outside. Because. That's. A precarious place to lean an expensive, carbon black yeah, I am. A big fan of his massive girthy, stem that, he's got there. But. Also I'm just a big fan of when you've got a nice lightweight frame, like. A giant TCR, but then you couple, it with big. Deep section wheels yeah, I've. Got a lot of time for that look lovely, proportions, as well I mean that is a nice, nice, like, petite, bike but. Whether it's supercool position, on there as well especially, that, definitely, takes boxes and color-coordinated, blue, cable outers I like. That only, super, nice it's a super nice for me to know, ok last, one then oh, look. At that yeah. So, we have got from Steven, here who's in Milton Keynes in the UK a, Colnago. C96. Decor now. What. He's gone for here. Is something. That we get quite often on the tech show which is the controversial, topic, of. Modern. Blended. With retro, retro. And modern modern, and retro, yeah. I mean it's be fair I am, a big fan of modern and retro bikes we've got a nice vintage, steel, frame classic, position but then we got Campagnolo. Wheels modern. Versions and an up-to-date Campagnolo, group set already. Say is chorus, and Shamal, meal a wheels i mean. I flippin love that bike I just. I just lightly object to that really, chunky four on campanula cracks and the previous, five arm crank set from Campagnolo lenses off perfectly, to a retro modern build yeah, this one jars ever so slightly yeah I mean I love the paint job on the frame I look at the ton saddles I love those wheels but. Yeah I do, find my eye just being, drawn, by. The chainset, a little bit too much it's funny isn't it cuz that frame should, dominate the bike but it's not it's the chain set isn't it in there do. You think do you think it's possible maybe, Steven to change the crank set out to a 5 ohm crank set and then you'll get an absolute. Straight-up. Super nice yeah I think. That's a nice for me it's a nice bike yeah Steven. That is a really. Nice bike but.

It's Not as super nice I'm so, sorry I feel awful because I mean clearly, put a lot of F in and that is an absolute, stunner oh man, you she was happily owned it yeah, yeah absolutely without if you ever want offload it there's, two people here that will bid for on eBay anyway. There we go that is an end to the bibot we'll bring it to a close for this week remember if you want to send in something we have our uploader, so, yet, share your bike with us and it, can be judged in a particularly, haphazard. Very unscientific, manner, but, we'll all see it and we will all love, it. Unfortunately. Sigh that, brings us to the end of the show but, it doesn't end there because you can still get involved with the comments section down below and please contribute. To the weekly talking, point that's right and once you've done that if you want to carry on having, discussions, and communicate. Amongst each other let me remind, you that we have of course a GCN community, Facebook, page many of you already know about this many, of you perhaps do not so, if you want to submit, your bike for unilateral. Approval. If you've got a text, question, then actually the community can help so ahead of its Facebook search for G cen that community. Page and you'll find it also, doesn't. In there there's, another video - what why. Not check out that one of ollie upgrading. My bike from. Jeera rice to altar grow rx that is a very interesting video on Adi suggest you watch it that one is just on screen now some, good science in that video in, fact.

2018-08-22 04:27

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Comments:

Why does the corner of Ollie's head keep disappearing at around 22:46?

hour records should be on a standard bike and as for pro racing like the olympics also should have standard spec bike so there's no tech advantage just rider performance to be fair .AND SYE YOU GOOF LEAVE THE NEW REAR DERAILLEUR ON ,you know it's better than what you had !! ARGON 18 . ALSO ALL PERSONAL BIKE ARE GREAT because they paid for it themselves within their budgets unlike you guys that get all your high end stuff for FREE !! STARTING TO BECOME BIKE SNOBS!!

Kona. Meh.

3:42 made me like the video... Almost forgot about that one.

This video was replaced by a 3min Leomo ad., weird

Maybe an official FTP test can be made into an olympic sport. C'mon everybody, you cannot separate the mind and body. There can be no measure of pure brute physical strength, there's always an element of technique. TECHnique. Even running barefoot, can be optimized with the use of one's mind. Tools (specializd shoes, skin suits and top end bikes) are an extension of what the mind can achieve. We have track and field events, that are by nature, doing away with tech as much as possible. We're cyclists, we love our tech just as much as we love our coffee, love how our lungs open up and the sweet sleep after a good hard ride. We're safer, faster and having the most fun than in any other period in history. What can matter more?

GCN team have you seen this video of the 1973 edition of the Giro in colour, English commentary. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUIr9LG1juw# What an eye opener. Professional cycling has come on so far, amazing to watch. Eddy Merckz looked so strong, and ruthless as a rider, respect!!

I've seen articles which describe Jessie Owens' record setting effort at the 1936 Olympics. Based on actual elapsed times, he would have finished some 14' behind Usain Bolt during his record setting run. Calculations show that IF he had the same tech advances as Bolt, to include the high tech track vs the old cinder track, he would've been within one stride of Bolt, not 14' behind.

#askgcntech - Can you do something on the options available for prescription riding glasses? I can't wear contacts (long story) and the options out there are beyond confusing. I am thinking about photocromatic lenses but they are expensive. Before I drop $300(US) (260 euro) on just lenses, I want to make sure the frames are going to last. Budget is an issue but for the right glasses I will spend it. For me it is more important to see where I am going than to get there fast!

Short Doc on progression of equipment vs. athlete http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/m/episodes/the-equalizer

Si was wrong in this video: WORLD HEADQUARTERS - USA Kona USA 2455 Salashan Loop Ferndale, Washington 98248 Kona is an American brand in north Washington State US

How do I vote on the mobile app?

6:00 How did Simon managed to make those complex calculations without glasses?

I thought only Brazilian people could do what Si did at 24:32! :o

Hello team Big fan of your channel team , when will you do a video of wide carbon disc wheelset, cheap sets vs expensive wheelset , also show what wheelset is the fastest 30mm wide systemsix wheelset hmm

1. 1988 world shot put record is during the apogee of the steroid period. For example, the women's 800m run world record is still from 1983 with no one even close since the 1980's. 2. When you cite Japanese keirin, you showed an image of UCI keirin with modern equipment. 3. When you cite 310 Watts at altitude, you should mention that human power output also decreases at altitude. 4. An interesting comparison is that in 1955, Jacques Anquetil won the Chrono des Nations at age 21 and did the 140km rolling terrain time trial at an average speed of 40.226 kph, with zero aero equipment. In 1958, he did the 100km course at 43.160 kph. These days, Ironman winners don't go much faster at the 180km time trial, even with fully optimized aero equipment. The 2017 world record at Kona Ironman was 42.764kph.

Tech is only a subcategory of the really big process that has been going on since the beginning of mankind really and that is knowledge!! Knowledge through science, experience and so forth will hopefully never come to a halt. In cycling this increase in knowledge about tech, our body etc is evident.

röka=to smoke in swedish :/

Without tech what else can we blame for being dropped???

When you say about going back to standard bikes is relative to your generation my dads standard bike is a steel frame but to me it’s a classic

I have not got any pictures of my upgrade, but after years of "OK" shifting but not awsome, I watched the rear derailleur setup video (thanks for the vid Si), changed my cables inner and outer(thanks for the vid Si) I revised my rear dereailleur (thanks for the vid Si), . And now THE best upgrade for my bike was a new derailleur hanger. THANK you GCN (And Si)!

" Maybe you can get away with that in Mexico "......

I believe nutrition science has played one of the biggest parts in speed advancement

FYI:Randy Barnes did 23,12m in 1990...it will possibly never be broken until drugs will be officially allowed. (Yes, i really knew this without google #sportsfanatic

Tech certainly helps however training methods have evolved just as much. You will find the same trends in long distance running. Before it was all about volume whereas now the preparation is lot more diverse and focused on the objective.

We all know aerodynamics is the key to going fast - particularly on the track. Aerodynamics is governed by how good tech is, ultimately advances in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and materials science govern how fast a bike can go. Humans haven't changed in the past century (fundamentally), the way people train has changed massively (driven by science), what sports scientists know will grow with research and technological advances. Ultimately, tech pushes speed and breaks records (though it takes fantastic athletes to do this - without a doubt). Bike frames barely changed between the 1960's and 1990's, since carbon fibre and CFD came about, bike frames have changed hugely. @Si, we are no way near peak aero yet, really we've only just started - the UCI are the biggest barrier to aerodynamics. Take away all the UCI rules and records will be absolutely smashed. Check out what the aerospace industry does (whatever aerospace does, cycling follows a few years after), morphing materials and advanced boundary layer control are the future of aerospace, bikes could use this too.

I have a modern midlife crisis bike. I also have a vintage bike. I'm not getting any PRs on the vintage bike. Pretty easily repeatable experiment.

Need to work on that intro lads

lol @8:32 you mention how Japanese Keirin racing requires all standardized equipment, then cut to a shot of carbon, aero-spoked/disc wheel track bikes that do *not* meet the standards required for this format -- presumably a shot from the more globalized "Keirin" format that evolved from the Japanese form for international track competitions. Japanese Keirin would have been an excellent example of an anachronistic event where tech was "frozen in time" as these riders are still required to use steel framed bikes with traditionally spoked wheels (and 36 spokes not 32!), etc.

Gents, I'm thinking a cheap cardboard spectrum board like the Top Gear Cool wall. Right side is the hyper aero, left of that is climbing bikes, middle is city bikes, leftish is groad, left is mtn bike, far left is down hill

the #1 tech advancement are power meters and their applications. The precision with which the drivers are paced is astonishing, and while you can ban it in the race(probably a good idea for the entertainment value) you cant remove it from training.

Good talk about this topic in sports in general. https://www.ted.com/talks/david_epstein_are_athletes_really_getting_faster_better_stronger

Bike Vault: Shimano 4 arm cranks= "iconic", Campagnolo 4arms = "chunky". #GlobalShimanoNetwork

03:21 it's us. Not the bikes. Your own channel has proved this.

01:42 what the fark are "fender mounts"!?!?!?! #GCNUSA been launched?

Si the problem with 5 arm campy chainset is the 135 bcd, I'm still on the fence for upgrading to a 4 arm 112/145bcd chainset because it doesn't look quite as good on an old frame, but it has its merits, I would have given that bike a super nice

Si and ollie are good individually, but not together. Their personalities are not complementary, but concurrent; GCN is slipping bad (Si and Mat, for example, were perfect together).

Show is always informative and entertaining. Bring the crew to northeast Tennessee mountains . The hospitality will astound you . As will the riding.

Can anyone tell me what’s going on with the visual effects with Ollies head at 22:46 did anybody notice it lol

What makes the new generation so much faster? Why it's their tattoos of course.

Kona isnt a Canadian brand, maybe you are confusing it with Norco?

More Vegans = more speed

Simon you know an awful lot about bikes but not so much about evolution. For species to evolve there has to be an environmental pressure that ensures the 'fitter' individuals survive and reproduce. Others will perish and their genes will not pass on to the next generation. For this to work in cycling then the best breed and others don't. My dad has 11 children and can't ride a bike!!!!

As other already said it is a several factors who made that we today can ride a bike faster and not the human evolution. Imagine how fast would Eddy Merckx been today? Surely he had been mush faster than in seventies. Great show again and I love see all new combinations of presenters! It is a "GCN Evolution"!

Should the UCI make the hour record attempts done on a schwinn spin bike????

No mention of the Flying Scotsman surprised me.

The hour record lies actually at 84.02 km - for women. For men, it's at 92.43 km. OK, it's not UCI compatible bikes, but still... It is human powered, though. So, is it tech? Yes!

How about the World Hour Watt Record? How different would the athlete look like, what position on the bike would they have? This removes the tech and body shape, I think this would be seriously interesting...

if they ever allow different bike forms, a good rider in a faired recumbant will double the hour record.

Track would have to go barefoot and naked to meet Sy's requirements for a non-tech, purely human sport. Hey, I'm for it!

Glad you mentioned swimming - they banned the supersuits in 2010 when really rich kids used to wear 3 suits at one time. World Records however are still being broken even without them. Apart from 200 free - that’s silly fast - all down to a £10000 nasa suit.

The tech question definitely hinges upon the benefit/marketing-only ratio. Some tech benefits the enjoyment of the ride, whilst some tech will legitimately help make you faster. Most of the marketing is targeted to the mediocre athlete that is ALWAYS looking for that edge of his competitors, sometimes at great expense. So the corollary questions is, "Does new tech make you faster or just help you BELIEVE that are faster?"

Ollie you are getting better. Keep it up.

Ummm please bring back all of Ollie’s head around minute 22.....

Si still showing he’s down with the kids !!

I personally think that sport is about human performance and tech should be taken out of the equation, but I recon this show would die if that was to happen .. great show by the way!

A popular TED talk circulating now also states that athletes have become more specialised, we have not evolved great cyclist, but those with a fysiological advantage has made it to the top.

Rich's Tarmac IS super nice. Rich is nice too.

You need technology to train better and become a better cyclist like for bikefitting Or indoor trainers etc...

New tech is definitely not all making cycling faster. Just check how gravel bike compared to pure road bike. But new tech doesn't need to always make us faster, comfort and versatility are also pretty important, sometimes even more important for normal riders like me.

Thanks for returning the 4, 5, and 6 millimeter blue-handle wrenches. I can sleep again.

3:00 have to say it but most people who hold 'conceptions' tend to have a either plan or a baby, whereas who hold perceptions will have an idea of how something is understood or regarded. Standards Ollie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8COaMKbNrX0

what's happening at 22:45 ?!

Stock car racing meet stock bike racing

Nowdays, when the equipment is not so important, the advanced and controlled doping techniques takes its place.

Why you didnt mention Graeme Obree ? He proved that gear is important.

RONDO bikes are best grawel out there

Let's be honest, the drugs are better now.

Theres a great TED talk called Harder, Better, Faster Stronger where a lot of this is talked about. They took the example of Jesse Owens when simulated to have run with moderd shoes and on a modern track and he went from running well over a second behind Usain Bolt to being within a stride. The 100M WR has taken big drops every 10 or so years due to, shoes, track surface etc...

Dan Robertson Still opening discussion to a new perspective to me, so it does what a good talk should do.

That talk uncritically repeats the Merckx vs Boardman story, on that basis I'd take any of its other pronouncements with some degree of scepticism.

We will have to take a look

I wish there was ABS for bicycles that gives perfect modulation in every seasonal condition every time.

Disc brakes are pretty good for that!

The Colnago by Steven from Milton Keynes to me is just pure blasphemy. Groupset is not my cup of tea on a retro frame, stem is quite questionable and worst of all the Thomson seatpost (they are great, but really only belong on MTBs). However I'm still insanely jealous of him because that frame is just so flippin' sweet :) Also great show guys, nice synergy between the two of you! :)

Glad you enjoyed this week's show!

Regarding Hour Records and such. UCI sanctioned events should be super strict: round metal tubed frames, basic tech, similar body position to have a pure mano a mano between athletes in different eras. The tech race can then continue in the currently underappreciated HPV-events where all current records are held by recumbent riding athletes. Win-win.

Cycling is a technological sport you need a bike to compete, arbitrarily fixing technology at one point in time serves nobody. Nobody cares about HPV records because the winner is the person who comes up with the best bike and they do not directly race each other or for that matter take corners. The sport looks silly when regular people or even triathletes can buy superior racing bikes to the ones the pros use. The regulations should be based on safety (e.g. no recumbents in TT's or tri-bars in group races) and cost regulation not about what the bikes look like. I would add a rule that if a bike used in the pro-peloton uses a patented feature the manufacturer must grant a free licence for 500 uses of that feature to any other bike company which sponsors a Pro team.

Every time they say “why not check out another video of...” and every time I’ve already seen it !!!

A serious GCN Tech fan!

This is a really interesting watch about athletic improvement, particularly in the change in perception of the 'perfect' body type for sport. More average body types were considered the best for all sports, which slowly changed over the years to recognise the benefits of being taller, stockier, more chicken like arms etc for a given sport https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8COaMKbNrX0

It’s interesting you mentioned the gap between developing country’s. In Thailand, many times the amateur ITT and TTT events will not allow TT bikes, disc wheels, Tri-spokes and such, because of the wealth gap. The basis being it creates a more level playing field, as not everyone even has a TT bike, but they may want to compete. Which is great and all, unless you have a new TT bike and Tri-Spoke setup your dying to compete with. But at the same time many of these events are open Class, so you get a 50 year old competing against 20 year olds, doh!

wiggns the cheat you mean

You absolutely butchered the hungarian name, but I don’t blame you. Still funny, though! :D

8:30 Talks about Japanese keirin racing - shows UCI keirin event with people using the highest technology available... such a bad example. Si meant the literal Japanese keirin with regulations for NJS approved equipment only, for the folks who don't know about those yet.

Cyclists are faster because the drugs are just so damn good these days!

...i need to see those shoes, si. also it's k-rin.

The comparison between tech and training effects on world records etc is pretty hard, since in cycling both have a huge impact. But in my mind, the tech development has done more in regards of speed than training and physilogy knowledge. Remember the penny farthing record video Si did? 100 years was it? But, I think you should take your eye of the cycling for a bit and look at swimming. The WR has dropped dramatically after every major tech innovation, the roll under water, sides for the pool to drop turbulence and as the latest, the swimming suit thing. So yeah, tech has done more, in cycling as well.

Nothing stopping anyone else attempting the Merckx hour record. That's not to say anyone at GCN could get close.

What's wrong with the colors in this show? This one seems oddly dull compared to most other shows. Did something happen post production?

Inexplicable blip.

New Gravel Bike: Giant Revolt! Come on, Si! How did you miss this?

It's tech, training methods, focusing on marginal gains, and most of all better doping programs. Even todays losers are faster than Lance ever was.

i do like the look of a 4 arm chainset, but on a tiny bike. 5 arm kinda looks more grow up i think

Tech is necessary to keep the excitement because the one thing that has evolved is that our attention spans have gotten shorter. Much like motor sports or shooting sports it all comes down to the skill no matter what tech u have behind you.

Since the birth of cycling I believe it’s weight and gearing. Aero and ergo are responsible for the minute advancements we see today though.

What bit of tech do you think has most made us faster?

22:45 Ollie's hair has rewritten some physics, sliding behind the tool wall while the rest of him stays in front!

So we should stop making advances because poorer countries can't keep up? I think not boys. With no tech I do believe we would all be riding the dandy!!

YES the hour record should remain as per Merckx on a standard non aero position road bike, the only advantage he had was doing it at altitude.

yeah you have to be very careful with kickstarter and indiegogo haven't donated anything but i've seen videos here on youtube taking about the scams and random people who just want money.

I think it's a combination of several factors.  Tech, training, nutrition, psychology, etc. Just look at the four minute mile.

God I love you guys

Ah thanks David

looks like ollie easily lost a few kilos since last week. whats the secret?

Fasted Everest training...

I have made some upgrades to my bike. So many in fact the only stock parts are the frame, fork, shifters, brakes, derailleurs

Interesting, looks like he put a suspension fork on the Kona for the dirty kanza

Tech is limited mostly by what the UCI will allow. Jumps in tech happen when the governing body changes the rules.

I think professional sports should be mainly about the human performance, not technological innovations. Innovations are great, but they cannot be the main factor. A bike should be made optimal within the constraints of the UCI regulations. Disc brakes are a good example of an innovation that is useful, because it enhances the braking performance. Lowering the weight limit is useless because everyone would just ride lighter bikes. The only difference is that it would cost us more money to afford the lightest allowed bikes, favouring the richest riders/teams.

Yeah. That 15 pound bike limit and a some wheelsets the UCI doesn't allow is stupid. Just let them use what they want and see if they can smoke some records. The way I see it is if some other team/dude can't afford to use components at the HIGHEST LEVEL, tough luck! Save up money, chump! Or get the hell on! This is the big leagues!

Avoided all of Ollie's videos and now I'm forced to watch him on GCN! BRING BACK MATT AND DAN!!! Can't stand this guy!

What about Beryl Burton's 12 hour record? That stood for 50 years (and was probably only beaten due to the tech TBH)

From the Bike Vault - How can you NOT give that retro/modern Colnago a "super nice"? All because Chorus has a 4 arm crankset? That bike was an absolute stunner!

Don’t love tech ??? Ride a bike with di2..... Perfection.

What's going on with Ollie's hair at 22:45 ?

Check out this one:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WiQnjhPxcvk

Glad someone sorted this before I got there! Agree on the drugs comment, although Ryan Crouser is throwing far for his age - could go 22.75 ish - whether hes clean is another matter.

What about an Aero haircut? Would that help?

You should consider running a Carbon Fiber Pie Plate. At 15 degrees yaw, actually produces NEGATIVE DRAG… The wind tunnel numbers are also exceptional at 5- 10 and 20, but the tunnel data at 15 degrees is way cool... Minus 80 grams drag, so roughly 11 watts forward power!

Me and Si are kindred spirits. Not a fan of white tyres or gold chains!

http://youtu.be/8COaMKbNrX0

The penny farthing time trial lets do that. :)

Not that I expect you to remember this, but just felt like I had to mention it: 7:20 it's pronounced like "Martin Toft Massen". And yes, I'm dane myself :-)

Is there another platform for your awesome channel. YouTube and their untimely commercials have reduced viewing experience to unbearable.

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