- Hello and welcome to the first ever GCN tech show.
- Coming up this week we discuss whether tech
can actually make cycling more fun.
- We'll introduce you to the GCN wall of fame.
The bike vault and tell you everything that's
cool in the world of cycling and tech.
(upbeat music)
- Jon, how good is this mate?
An entire show devoted to tech?
You'll be asking the question I'm sure
just what can you expect from it?
- That's right, we're gonna give you the
latest product launches, spy shots, tech releases
Everything from within the tech world of cycling.
- Yeah, and we also want to hear from you a lot.
For a start, we're going to need your nominations
each week for the brand new GCN wall of fame.
Which of the products that have most shaped
the cycling landscape.
We need you to tell us and then we can do the inducting.
- That's right and we want to see your bikes too.
Our friends at GNBN have opened up the bike vault
and we want to put in your road bikes,
your cyclo-cross bikes, your gravel bikes,
your touring bikes.
- Yeah, and you've already been sending them in
in fact on social media so we actually have our
very first ones to check out this week.
- And remember, things aren't actually set in stone.
We want to know what you want to see in the GCN
tech show.
- That's right, let us know in the comment section
down below.
But for now Jon, I think we better crack on.
What has the detector found this week?
- The detector?
Come on Simon, we can do better than that.
- I'm not sure we can mate.
This is kind of still GCN after all.
- Okay, well first up
Mathieu van der Poel him and his cyclocross team
have moved over to the Canyon and they arrived
in new Canyon Inflite SLX cyclocross bikes.
Well, that frame design was pretty polarising
wasn't it when it was launched?
And if anyone needs convincing out there
I think that's enough to convince them.
- Yeah I think so too.
That is one very, very nice looking bike.
And of course, the Mudiiita Canyon team
was also launched on January the first.
That will be headed up by British rider Nikki Brammier.
So those Inflites are gonna be a pretty common
sight in the cycle cross world as of now.
- Also, apparently Trek Segafredo are gonna be
using disc brake equipped bikes
all season this year, wow.
So the climbers will be on the Emonda
and the classic's riders on the Domanes.
- Yeah, it makes you think doesn't it
that there must be a Madone disc coming up soon.
And also, there's a pretty seismic shift isn't it
it wasn't just a couple of seasons ago
when the mere mention of disc brakes would have
most pro cyclists looking the other way.
- Bad, they look disgusting.
They don't look like they don't belong.
- And this is a big move you know?
The big race winners have got to be pretty convinced
in order to make this shift.
Maybe that's why in fact Trek have waited
until both Fabian Cancellara and Alberto Contador
have retired.
- [Jon] Yeah, two traditionalists.
Also hot this week, graphene.
Yep, graphene.
Apparently Vittoria have just taken a delivery
of 250 kilogrammes of this stuff.
Of course, they use that in their tyres
and their wheels.
- That's got to be a lot of graphene isn't it? You'd think.
Anyways, stay tuned because we have more tech
coming up later in the show.
- So each week, we're going to tackle a burning question.
And this week what better way to start than
with one very close to our hearts.
Does tech make cycling fun?
- [Simon] Yup, as you'd expect Jon, that we're probably
gonna be in agreement here but there are many
people out there that feel that tech can actually
detract from the simplicity, from the purity
of cycling because it is a physical sport after all.
Its elemental and therefore spending time worrying
about what brake pads you used or whether
your gears are charged up, could kinda
detract from it.
- On to that side, I would say, change your
brake pads and charge your group set before you ride.
Problems solved.
- Alright.
- Cycling is not just a physical sport though is it?
Running, that's a physical sport.
Cycling, is about human and machine.
And since its earliest days, we've actually been
defined by the bike that you ride.
- Okay, I take that, but isn't there a point at which
actually we're just trying to improve our perfection.
Well maybe not perfection, we're not there yet.
But increasingly we're seeing a law of diminishing
returns aren't we?
Is this new tech really any better?
I mean, are 22 gears meaningfully better
than 12 gears were?
And that's quite a topic of import now
because we're increasingly talking about
one bike, which has only got 11 gears remember.
So are people right in thinking then that
actually we're just being sold this idea of new tech
to make us want to go and spend money
when in actual fact, what we already had
was great.
- Rubbish.
You have to draw the line somewhere.
Unless you're riding around on a wooden-wheeled
safety bicycle then you're using a tech innovation
of some sort.
Maybe it's campagnolo's derailleur or look's
clipless pedals, remember, today's tech
is tomorrow's retro-tech.
People will be riding around saying,
why do I need internal gears controlled only by
the power of my mind when my wireless E-tap just fine?
- You really think that?
We're going to be riding around with internal gears
powered only by the mind?
- Well, I think that's a debate for another day.
- Okay, all right.
I take your point though.
But what happens when tech just kind of takes over
from riding?
I mean what happens if you're short on time
you've got an hour to ride and then when you go
to get your bike out you realise your group set
of batteries is flat, your powermeter's battery
is flat, your hedge unit battery is flat
your lights are flat, what are you expected to do?
- Okay, okay I agree with you there but
it's not just electronics is there?
There's mechanical group sets too.
Now they are tech.
And riding retro bikes are fun because of the tech.
Not because its simple.
But what I will give into though is consumerism.
Not that it's a bad thing per se
but I'd hate for someone to be dissatisfied
with what they've got because of the latest innovations.
- Yeah, absolutely.
Tech can make cycling fun but
whether that's because you're building up a
fixed gear bike out of low to roll bits
or you're renovating a retro bike, it doesn't have
to be about the latest innovation.
And it certainly doesn't have to be
about the most expensive.
And we'll be setting out to prove that fact
in the coming weeks and months.
- Yeah, let us know what you think in the comments
down below.
Does tech make cycling fun?
- Yeah, I've been having to think about why I do feel
that it makes cycling fun.
And for me it's the fact that it can totally change
your riding experience depending on what tech you're using.
So, for example, if you go out on a single speed
cyclocross bike for example, it's incredibly simple
it's incredibly pure and it's silent and it's so robust
but yet you're kinda doing the same thing when you then
swing your leg over a cutting-edge Aero bike
and it just goes ridiculously fast for no
extra effort.
Same sport but just totally different experiences.
- Yeah, as much as I love riding my carbon bike
with Di2 shifters, when I go on to my 80s bike
with down tube shifters, I still love riding it just as much
because it's a challenge and it's different tech
and you've just gotta reset your mind almost.
- You see running, running can't give you that.
You go out for a run and it's the same run
no matter what pair of shoes you wear.
- I don't go running so I don't know.
- No. I don't go running either, it's a (beep) sport.
- All right, I'm here in the dirt shed of the GMBN
channel and I'm with Martin Ashton, the man himself.
- Welcome to the Dirt Shed, how's it feel to be
in the top set?
- It's dirty, it's dirty in here, that's one thing.
- It is, it's quite grimy, it's different.
It's very real is how we like to call it.
So you're here to find out about the bike vault?
- I am, I want to know everything and anything about it.
- It's a pretty simple process right.
You guys send in your bikes and we get to decide
right, when we're playing the game if it's nice
obviously it's nice, it's a bike
or is it super nice?
Is it so good that it's super nice?
All right, so that's the levels, nice, super nice.
Okay, if it's super nice, you hit your horn
and then the person who's sending in their bikes,
well chuffed.
- Brilliant.
- That's basically how it goes.
- So that's how it goes.
- And you might give it a super nice because
it's just a beautiful bike or they've done something
with it that's kind of cool.
It's quirky, it might be that it's just so bad
it's good.
It might be just a great photo.
There's no real ...
Definitive reason but usually it's quite apparent.
- Right, well pass your horn.
- Hang on a second.
This is our horn right?
Because you're in the dirt shed and I can't just
let you take ...
As much as I'd like you to have GMBN bottle on GCN
(horn honk)
you can't use our horn, you need to get your own horn.
So GCN bottle probably and a ...
- I thought this was coming.
I thought this was coming so I came prepared.
And down here in my little bag of tricks I've brought
something.
- Right.
- It's a very special horn, in fact it's not
even a horn.
It's a siren.
- What's that?
- Well, it won't go around many handle bars, look at that.
Bit narrow, doesn't look very water proof but
designed for bikes.
I'm gonna hit you with it.
(siren)
I like that, I do like that.
- That, that is going to work.
- Right, go for it.
- Okay, soGilles Miny has this
a Stevens Xenon
- Okay, okay personally I think we've started it a nice.
- Yeah, it is nice isn't it?
- You're the technology here.
- Yeah, it's nice.
I like that bike stand she has, it's sturdy.
- You know the bike stand is what's doing my hair do
Yeah, I'm really into the bike but the bike stand is
sort of like maybe more than you needed, personally.
I think we started with a nice ...
- I've just been thrown a curve ball here.
It's Jan Trenson's Quattro Velo.
- That is what a Super Nice looks like.
(laughter)
- We can't see much of it can we?
It's not on the bike but we can see it.
Okay here we go the first super nice, ever
GCN tech channel.
- And deservedly so, look at that thing.
- Look at it.
What's he got on the top of it?
- Is that for a speed record?
- There's another one.
- Oh my god
- And something else
what looks like a fat mini bike in the background.
- It's super nice.
It's just obvious when you see one.
Nataliya Veleva’s BMC SLR02 Team Machine,
- Is it me or is that sort of standard set up?
Is it standard?
Is there something going on there?
- In their email, they did actually mention
that this bike is full ceramic bearings and everything
and that the cherry on the cake, was in fact the wheels.
- Full ceramic bearings.
- If that's not super nice what is?
- I think it's super nice actually.
- Is it?
What did that for you?
The ceramic bearings?
- It matches because there's a little red
mount there for GPS and there's few little
bits of detail.
- There's your horn.
- Bottle cage to match.
There's the horn.
Thought wasn't going to work.
Here we go, Tim Lauwers from Belgium.
He sent in this, a Giant TCR disc.
- I'm getting the feeling Tim don't mess around.
- He don't mess around does he?
He doesn't hang around either.
- No, he don't mess around.
When he takes that out of the old flat
he means business.
- I can hear those wheels on the tarmac.
- Hit the ground, hit that horn.
- Oh we're out, we're out of the bike vault.
See, I'm getting into it.
- I wanted more.
And I want everyone at home to send theirs in.
Email address here,
- Go ahead do it.
- Send your bike in.
You know, is it a nice? Or is is a super nice?
Can you get that all coveted super nice?
Good luck.
- More tech.
- Well, Christmas and New Year is a pretty quiet time
for tech and product releases
but one company heading into 2018 in fine style, is Condor.
- That's right, the iconic British brand is celebrating
its 70th anniversary this year.
Yeah, bonkers isn't it?
The founder, Monty Young started making bespoke
bike frames in London back in 1948.
Tom Simpson has raced one.
Bradley Wiggins has ridden one.
Dare I say Jon, I was even fortunate enough to race one
back in 2009 during what I affectionately call
the Mullet era.
- Wow, well I think we can expect some pretty cool
product releases coming out in 2018 actually from Condor
to celebrate that anniversary and before I start
going to town on the mullet years,
I think it's worth taking a look at what the pros
they'll be using in 2018.
- That's right, we've got more and more info
coming out now that this season has officially started.
Firstly, Sunweb officially moving from Pioneer
powermeters to Shimano powermeters.
Something that, somebody like Jon here,
thought he spotted back at the 2017 Tour de France.
- Also, more news from team Sunweb, is that the
Giant GPS head unit that they have been using
has been replaced by new sponsor Polar.
So that means that all the data can be analysed?
- From there instead of the Giant one.
- Exactly.
- Right, interesting.
Okay also talking about head units, we've got
Bora-Hansgrohe will be using the Wahoo element bolt
as I believe will Katusha-Alpecin as well.
Now, what about this mate?
Sky's new Pinarello Dogma F10
has just been released.
Some subtle changes there
notably the paint work.
Love it, loathe it or like it?
- I don't like it, I don't love it.
I think I loathe it, I don't like that
big white bit of panelling.
I'm not too sure on that.
Not convinced yet.
- No, no I don't like it either so I guess
I'm gonna have to loathe it in this
fairly poor descriptive choice we've got
of just three but anyway, there we go.
Now what we can neither confirm nor deny,
actually about this new Sky bike,
is whether nor not all team riders will have to
use mud guards for races as sported by new
recruit Dylan Van Baarle here in his Instagram.
- Yeah, I'm not sure about that but rumours are
that grand tour contenders, or grand tour riders rather
for team Sky, they have to use it.
- Rumour?
- Yeah, yeah
- Where did that get started?
- I can't reveal.
I also do like Dylan VanBaarle's Canondale
coloured saddle bag on there, yeah.
He looks like a true winter warrior there.
- To be fair, that is a pro who is actually
prepared for their winter training rides.
Fair play that man.
Now, also we talked about Katushi a moment ago,
they and team Dimension Data will be using the
new Oakley helmets, which I believe you first
got your hands on in 2017 Eurobike?
- Yeah, Dan Lloyd and I did, we got a quick
look at those.
I'm not convinced really by the look of them yet.
But maybe it will grow on me when I see more
more of them in the pelethon.
- Could be awkward if they start growing on you mate
so just watch out for that.
- Yeah, be a bit weird.
- Yeah.
- Also, and lastly but probably not least
in fact, Azuredezar LeMondial, they're going
to be using bigger wheels in 2018.
- Sorry mate, what?
- Bigger wheels, jockey wheels that is
so they're going to be using the ceramic speed,
over-sized pulley wheels.
Apparently they save you some watts.
- Yeah, what is like four watts or something like that?
- Something like that, yeah.
- Not to be sniffed at.
- Yeah, we're going to have to take a look at those.
- Yeah we should actually shouldn't we?
- Do some science.
(industrial sounds)
- Okay each week we are gonna pit two bikes
head to head and leave you to decide
which one is best.
- And we're going to use that term lightly, best
because what is one bike rider's favourite steed
is another's worst.
- Exactly.
Touring bikes
(gags)
- Hey, steady on, come on.
- Illustrate my point there Jon.
All right coming up, we have, first of all,
in the blue corner, Team Sky's brand-new
Pinarello Dogma F10.
Now you already know our views on it
but don't let that colour your opinions.
It is the one and only road bike of the season.
Aerodynamic and also light weight.
It's got Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 groupset on there
it's got Shimano wheels, it's got Pinarello's
own, most integrated behind stem.
And also, a cheeky little fi'zi;k's saddle sat on top
of that seatpost there.
- And in the other corner, slightly darker blue corner,
is 3T's Strada bike as used by the Aqua Blue Sport team.
Its got SRAM 1X group set, 11 gears,
it's got disc brakes - yes disc brakes - and it's
their only bike of the season.
- Exactly, so you need to decide which one is best.
You can choose Pinarello or 3T, Shimano or SRAM,
rim brakes or disc brakes, 22 gears or 11 gears.
Vote up there now, which one's it going to be?
The Pinarello or the 3T?
- You decide.
(industrial sounds)
- Well it's time to introduce you to the GCN
tech show, wall of fame.
Yeah, as you can see it's quite empty at the moment
or in fact, we're completely empty isn't it?
But then we can't really do anything without you.
Because what we need are your nominations for the
most important cycling products of all time.
Now it could be something that's completely changed
the face of the sport like deraillieurs
or clipless pedals or it could just be something
that's defined an era for a short period of time
like spinergy wheels.
And it doesn't even have to work very well
like Rock Shocks Ruby forks or Campagnolo Delta brakes.
Whatever it is, if you've got something to nominate
and we really hope that you have
get involved in the comment section down below.
Tell us what the product is and why it deserves
a place on our wall of fame.
And what would also be super helpful is
if you would happen to own said product
you'd take some pictures of it
and then send it to us on social media
using the hashtag #GCNTECHWALL.
Cannot wait to see what you start sending in.
This is gonna get geeky.
(industrial sounds)
- Now, sadly we're nearing the end of the very
first GCN tech show.
However, a little bit of an insight for you
coming up this week on Friday we're gonna take
you into the GCN tech clinic so you can find out
exactly what that's all about.
- Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that.
Sunday, we got a pro bike,
actually it's not really a pro bike is it?
It's one of mine but still, it's my Orbea
Orca disc with SRAM Red E-Tap on that
and it's lovely if I do say so myself.
And then Monday's Maintenance video is with Jon,
he's telling us how we straighten up our cock pits.
Yeah, handle bars, stems, shifters, all that kind of jazz.
And then of course we're also gonna need your help
with next week's GCN tech show so we not only
need your nominations for the wall of fame
but we also want you to get involved with the hot topic.
So, is one buy the future?
Or is it a compromise too far?
We know this gets you hot under the collar so please
get involved in the comment section.
- Yeah, and don't forget as well to subscribe to the
GCN tech channel, just click on the logo here.
And remember to like and share this with your friends too.
- Yeah, and if you want to watch another video here
on the tech channel, we haven't got all that much
choice at the moment, but what you do have,
it's not a bad one.
Five hacks for less flats.
I know that's not grammatically correct
but it did sound good in my head.
- Yeah, and click just down here, the latest GCN show.
Si, about your mullet ...
- You think I should grow it back?
Is that what you're saying?
- Yes, bring it back.
Bring back the mullet for 2018.