James: Cobblestones are tough, and I mean that for both senses of the word. They're tough to
ride on and they're extremely painful when you fall on them. I mean, why would cyclists want
to ride them? We would avoid them at all costs, but actually, cobblestones have been the makers
of incredible races. I mean, races like Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix spring
to mind. Dusty scenes of grueling cobbled sections, bared teeth and punctures galore.
What would happen if a pure roadie, doesn't ride any cobbles, went up against a pure mountain
biker who doesn't ride roads? Who would win? Who would prevail? For this experiment, well,
I thought I'd team up with this guy. Yes, Blake Samson from GMBN.
[music] What's up, dude?
What's happening? Right, mate, I want to find out who is better on the cobbled climbs, because
we think of Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Marianne Vos. These are riders that ride off-road
in cyclocross races. Cross-country mountain bike riders, and they are the best on those classics. I
reckon this is going to be an interesting race. Blake: Yes. I reckon so.
James: You think you've got it? Blake: I think I've got it. Have you
got it with those little skinny tires? James: Oh, mate. You wait. You wait.
The first hill Blake and I are going to take on is called Alfred Hill
in Bristol. Now, this is a cobbled climb of 150 meters with an average grading of 17%.
Two, one, go.
You got me, dude. Blake: I just got
it. Just about. James: Oh, savage.
Blake: I'm going to throw up. James: Blake,
fair one. 50-second climb on a cobbled street. Blake: Yes.
James: You had me. I'm surprised about that. Blake: It's quite heavy, this bike.
I got a lot of grip, that's for sure. James: Yes. You weren't losing any
power from losing grip, which I was because
I was hopping on the cobbles. Blake: Yes, I could hear that.
James: You were able to maintain all the power, but then you're losing some power
in the suspension and the heaviness of the bike. Blake: Yes.
James: I reckon-- You've got higher max power than me. I want to see what you're like on a road bike,
on cobbles- Blake: Yes.
James: -on this climb. Blake: Yes.
James: Who's going to win then? Blake: Don't know. Let's go.
James: It's going to be an interesting one, this. Blake: Have you got a bike for me?
James: I've got a bike for you. Blake: Oh, yes.
James: It's going to match your helmet. Blake: Oh.
James: Oh. Blake: Perfect.
James: All right. Let's get back down, shall we? Blake, you know all the greats,
they've transferred all that power, that max wattage, that 30-seconds max wattage
and transferred it onto a road bike, onto cobbles and won a multitude of races.
Do you still think you've got it? Do you still think you can have me aboard that baby?
Blake: Yes, I think I can try. James: Do you really like how it matches?
Blake: Mate, look at it. Who would have thought it. Look at that, it's the same.
James: What I do for you. What I do for you. Right. Again?
Blake: Again. James: Are you ready?
Blake: No, not really. James: I better win this.
If I don't win this I'll be fuming. Blake: You can buy the coffees.
James: Three, two, one. Up. Up [unintelligible 00:03:46]
No. Blake? Blake: Yes.
James: Your explosive power transitions to the road bike. That was savage.
Blake: That was hard going. James: How many more have you got in your legs?
Blake: In that? Probably three. James: The pros, you know,
the van Aerts of the world, they would do that kind of effort after a 100-mile race.
Blake: After 100 miles, they'd do that? James: Big difference to sprinting into
a big dirt jump, isn't it? Blake: Yes,
a lot. 100 miles and you go and do that? James: Mate, now I've seen how explosive
you are on the bike, how much power you got, I reckon we take it back on the road. We head
to an even steeper climb and we think if you've still got it. You ready, buddy?
Blake: I'm ready. James: Let's hit the road.
Do you want a bit of time to recover? Blake: I heard there's a coffee shop down here.
James: Coffee shop. Let's do it. [music]
Mate, you whipped my ass. Blake: [laughs]
James: I can't believe it. Blake: Yes.
James: How do you feel putting power out down on a road bike?
Blake: Do you know what? From the mountain bike to that, that being super lightweight, knowing
it's got skinnier tires, but that was easier to get the power down, even though it was rougher.
James: Was it? Blake: Yes, I felt quicker on that.
James: What kind of power were you doing on that bike?
Blake: [unintelligible 00:05:33] my power's 18.52. James: 18.50?
Blake: Yes. Somewhere-- James: For how long?
Blake: I have no idea. James: A good 30 seconds.
Blake: Yes, a good solid. I reckon a bit more than 30 I could keep going.
James: I've got 1200 in me as a max power. Blake: That's good though, isn't it? Yours
is more endurance. James: Yes.
Blake: Mine's just-- James: I'm good after a 100-mile ride.
Blake: Well, actually, no. I'd need help to get to the end, to then put the power down.
James: Yes. I was impressed with your ride. I'm not
going to lie. I'm competitive, so I didn't like losing. I really didn't like losing.
When I saw you go, I was like. Blake: "No, come on."
James: After our coffee stop, we need to head to the road. See if you can transfer the power on
a steeper climb, but on smooth tarmac. Blake: All right. Sounds even easier.
James: Yes, I know. That's what I'm slightly worried about. I didn't think this through, did
I? We've come to Vale Street. Blake: Right.
James: Looking over beautiful Bristol in Southwest of England, and that's where we're headed. Let me
just show you this, let me just show you this. Blake: What, at this, here?
James: Now, this is topping out at 30%. That's why we're walking. We're not riding-
Blake: Will this work? James: -but we're going to have
to [unintelligible 00:06:49] up here. Blake: We're going to have to sprint up this?
James: Have you got it in you? I don't reckon I've got the power. I don't know if
I've got-- Blake: Okay. Let's get the mountain bikes-- You've
got to hike your bike up this. Dude, look at it. James: I'm just going to use the steps.
There we go. That is steep. Blake: This is really steep, dude. It doesn't
really show on camera. Nothing really does. James: No.
Blake: We've put the phone down on the floor, and that's what it is. That's how steep it is.
James: This is stupid steep, isn't it? Blake: This is ridiculous steep. Look at it.
James: 30%. You can see, actually, all the cars that have been have grounded it. Look, let's
see if this car grounds out. Blake: Let's see if this van--
James: Yes, he's done it. Blake: Oh, his back wheel is off the floor.
James: Oh. Right. You ready to hit the start line? Blake: Yes.
James: Because we know you're faster going down it, but can you go up it
the same speed? Blake: Okay.
James: Getting clipped in on a steep climb. Right, mate, you ready?
Blake: Yes. James: Three, two, one. Up.
Oh, I'm fired up. [unintelligible 00:08:12] I needed it. If that was 50 meters longer--
Blake: I think you would've-- Blake: I was crawling you back.
Blake: Yes, you were. I should have changed gear and then [unintelligible 00:08:24].
James: You had so much speed off the line. Blake: Can we not do that again?
Please, no. James: Shall we have a lie-down?
Blake: Yes, in the middle of the road, so we can get run over and--
James: That's killed me off. Blake: Yes.
James: That is insane, mate, how you can put out that much power. Unreal. Just shows
how those greats of cycling- Blake: Oh, mate.
James: -have learned so much from the off-road- Blake: Yes.
James: -stuff and taking it across and just-- Blake: And how we've done it vice versa.
James: Right, we need to get our breath back. Blake: Yes, yes. I think the ambulances are coming
for us. We need gas. I've run out. James: We're here.
Blake: Over here. James: There you have it. Two brutal climbs.
Blake: Yes. James: Ouch.
Blake: This one, the last one, probably the worst one.
James: Yes, 100%. I guess it just shows how from your mountain bike background, your initial burst,
your explosiveness on the bike really can transfer onto these pretty insane climbs on a road bike. I
guess this just brings it to attention, how Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and all
the cyclocross races that are transferred into the road, how they can transition from the mud
to the road and they've kind of just swept up. So on that note, Mr. Blake Sampson, I reckon
you've got Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders in you? Blake: I reckon so. Yes, if it was 45 seconds long
and with a coffee and two cakes in the middle, and then do the next stage to finish.
James: That sounds like my kind of race. [laughs] Right, guys. if you enjoyed having Blake along,
which I truly did, then let us know in the comment section below.
Blake: If you are taking part in all of these big climbs and epic ones in the back garden,
let us know. Comment in the section down below and give us a thumbs up like.
James: Yes, yes. Blake: If you like climbing at high speed.
James: Right, mate. What do you say, another coffee stop?
Blake: Please. [00:10:19] [END OF AUDIO]