- 99% of the time, when we're commuting, it's always a rush.
It's an absolute, full-gas effort to get home, or to work,
as soon as possible.
- I mean, as much as I love to wake up really early,
I do like to enjoy a relaxed breakfast before leaving
at the last possible moment and rushing in to work.
And the same in the evening.
As soon as the clock strikes 5:30,
I'm on my bike and racing home.
So with that in mind, we've been thinking,
does a commute have to be something we rush?
Can't we wake up a bit earlier, or get home a little later,
and have some real fun?
And I mean some real fun.
- Now what I'm thinking is,
Hank has suggested we try and have fun.
And we've only got one hour to do it.
So in my mind, there's only one way to do this,
and that's to get off-road.
I do wonder, though, just what is Hank's interpretation
of an hour of fun?
Here he is.
- I think the best way to have fun in your hour
on your commute is on a road bike.
- [Opie] The road?
- Speed, beautiful lanes, power fitness, no question, mate.
- Well, we'll see about that.
It sounds like a challenge to me.
- Challenge accepted.
- See you at work.
- You're off that way, I'm--
- Good luck. - Go and take a canal boat.
(determined electronic music)
- Right then, I have chosen to go off-road today
because I firmly believe, if you only have one hour,
you may as well spend it getting dirty
and improving your technique off-road.
I'm going to be taking the canal path down to Bath.
And I could take it all the way, but I've been told
about some great local trails which I just feel
I ought to check out on the way.
(determined electronic music)
- And I guess, it's no surprise that I'm hitting the roads.
I've planned the route on Kamoot,
to make sure I'm taking the quietest
and most beautiful ones.
I mean, look at it!
I'm flying down here, this grin ain't coming off my face.
- Now today I'm riding Si's Orbea Terra gravel bike,
which he has really kindly lent me, for a couple of reasons.
I don't have my own.
But the main reason is, he's trying to convince me
that gravel can be a lot of fun.
And to be really honest, so far,
I can't deny it, he's right.
(bike chain whirring)
Canal tow paths run alongside just about all canals
and rivers in the U.K.,
and you can ride your bike on pretty much all of them, too.
And in fact, they're often a direct way
to get between big cities,
which makes them perfect for your morning commute.
Anyway, my first bit of trails is just up there.
Let's see if I've still got what it takes.
(excited rock music)
- Speed equals fun. (cheers)
Yeah, buddy!
(cheers)
Oh, it's amazing!
I have to say, I'm pretty happy with this route.
I've hardly seen any cars and I've hardly really stopped.
I guess I've only stopped at junctions, really.
Saying that,
I might take a selfie.
(happy electronic music)
(powerful rock music)
(bike chain whirring)
- Whew, that was surprisingly tough, actually,
all those off-road sections.
It may be a surprise to a few of you,
but here in the U.K. recently,
we have had a incredible amount of rain.
Which means those off-road trails have turned to slop.
Not ideal for these gravel tires.
Anyway, it's all good fun.
On the tow path for the next few kilometers,
so I'm going to build up some speed.
I wonder how much fun Hank's having?
(powerful rock music)
- On my commute, and I'm loving it!
Woo! Smile on my face all day long.
Look at that view, yes.
(camera clicks)
Right, back to the lanes.
The point I'm trying to make here
is you can ride however you want,
As long as you got a big smile on your face,
that is the goal.
So for me, it's going hard.
Well, at least on the climbs,
and fast on the descent. (laughs)
(powerful rock music)
Not a bad view there,
not a bad view.
That's where I should've got a selfie.
(cruising electronic music)
Right now, Si's getting to Bath.
Now I could take the direct route, slightly more busy,
or I could take the fun route.
A few more climbs, less cars.
And ultimately, in my point of view, it'll be funner.
I hope.
Opie cannot be having more fun than me.
- Ha, the last real bit of off-road.
(powerful rock music)
- When the sun's out, the smile's out.
(powerful rock music)
I'm loving this.
Especially on-board my Orbea Orca Aero.
This is the bike.
(powerful rock music)
(cheers)
(bike chain whirring)
I wonder where Opie's got to.
Ah, I thought I can hear you.
- Beat me to it.
- How much fun did you have, mate?
- That was genuinely one of the best hours
I've had on a bike for a little while.
How about you?
How was your choice?
- Genuinely, absolutely loved it.
I had so much fun, I don't think this smile
is going to come off for, well, quite a while.
- You definitely look happier than you did before.
- Yeah, I reckon I could do that every day,
what about you?
- Every day?
No, probably not every day,
because I'm a little bit dirtier than I like to be.
I've now got to wash Si's gravel bike,
which is a bit of a pain.
And it took a little bit longer than it might have.
But on the whole, maybe once or twice a week, I think?
How about you?
- I'm telling you, mate, I could do that every single day.
I mean, what better way to start the day
than to have a big grin on your face?
- I feel like you're making that up.
Because I happen to know for a fact,
you love your sleep far too much
to wake up early every day to go ride your bike.
- Yeah, I'm not going to lie, that's quite true.
So if I maybe did it once or twice a week,
I'd be able to get enough sleep,
but also absolutely love it when I do get on the bike.
- Yeah, fair enough,
that's kind of a good balance, isn't it?
- Right, mate.
Who won?
Who had the most fun?
- Well, I can see how this is going to go,
you're going to argue that you did,
and I'm going to argue that I did.
So I think we need to send it out to the viewers
for them to decide.
- Yes, let us know in the comments section below
if you prefer the--
- Dirty tow path ride, or Hank's intense road ride.
- Yeah, we would love to hear from you,
so do let us know.
Make sure you give this video a big thumbs-up.
- And for another commuter video, click down there.
- We better get to work.
- Ugh yeah, forgot about that. - Yeah, let's go.