No. I ride the gravel bike. My summer bike can't take mudgaurds, has rim brakes, and components which cost more to replace (even if the replacement is the same frequency) It also means (as ollie pointed out) I can feel the benefit more at the weekend. I did ride the summer bike to and from work in the summer for a while last year, just spent my life cleaning it! Personally I find the less racey position more comfortable with a backpack!
Commuting points aside, thank you for giving the extra screen time to the bike shop. Co-ops are fantastic and really deserve more recognition for what they provide the community.
Actually, @Global Cycling Network you should do an episode on these, where you go and put in some volunteer time, show what they do, how they work. We have at least two near me, one in Albany, NY (Albany Bike Rescue), and another in Troy, NY, (Troy Bike Rescue) (not sure if they are affiliated with each other) which I only found out about from a coworker once when my bike was broken. I knew of the Troy facility from Facebook, but not what they did, or how it worked. these work by volunteering time and effort in exchange for parts and learning how to build/repair bikes. I found out about the other one later, but how many other people don't know about these?
Co-op is a good commuting point though. It makes it easy and cheaper to replace the wearable parts like brake pads and tires and such and keeping the wheels true. They usually have little work stations where you can do it yourself and get help if you need it.
@@thrownchance Spend money on the lock. £100 gets a decent U lock one. Abus are great. Worth it for peace of mind. Expensive bikes don't suit commuting. Even with a good lock they could take the components off. Most of us don't have safe storage.
I'm not from Bristol but I really like when I see GCN bring in and plug local business - like the coffee and today's bike shop. It's community business that help define and area and help a community in my opinion. Good job
Phil Heard yeah they shit the bed on that one. I’m sure the reason why is they did the whole video comparing superbike to normal bike and found out there is no fucking difference in the city.
Calm down , single speed is perfect bike for commuting, That's what they show , commuting it's not a race, u can use single speed even for relaxing ride on country sides roads like road bike so calm down That was good comparison What shows you U don't need spend fortune for that kind of "commuting" 😂
@@kamillisowski2931 I rode a single speed when I was a kid. Unless the terrain is table top flat and there is no wind, I wouldn't ride one now. Gears aren't hard to come by these days. The point is well made. Single speed bikes might be good for youngsters trying to get into shape but they are not as good as the simplest geared bike for commuting. I think an entry level road bike vs a super bike would show virtually no difference between in the commute they filmed. Of course, Hank is a professional rider not long out of racing and Ollie is a bit older so my money would be on Hank, but if it was a commute to work the two would be pretty close. Hank wouldn't have had time to order and have the waitress serve drinks.The issue is how much money do you have to spend on your bike.
@@ronbyers9912 I know mate, even with Tourney set on cheapest bike U can enjoy your ride and ride so fast, difference comes in gear ratio, gear durable,frame weights and brake distance Like was mention In older movie ☺️ But Single speed Is still alright for normal ride without any big climb's 😊
honestly, if I was commuting on that, it wouldn't be staying outside at all while I was at work. I only leave mine out if I have to as it is, and mine is only a $600 bike. I've seen people steal even cheap bikes, or just wheels, or just the saddle. I once saw three bikes all on the same street, all chained up securely, and all three were missing saddles. I always use a long cable lock, and always go through both wheels, frame AND the saddle... but like everyone points out, that's only just mostly effective.
Or you worry it will. Not worth the marginal gains. You get fitter to compenstate anyway. Just like people on e bikes end up less fit. Your fitness depends on the level you work out at.
Yeah even if you had a good view of it someone would still run off with it. Especially california with the idiot laws they've passed in the past 5 years it's now turned into a third world country failed state similar to Venezuela. People will push you over and steal your macbook right in front of you.
After work at happy hour one summer day, I drank 4 shots of espresso blended with ice and Mexican rice milk (horchata). Upon consuming it, I rode 30 miles with a heavy backpack in street clothes (jeans and tennis shoes) into a downpour. And was still jazzed at the end of it.
I ride a Giant Defy that didn't cost too much. I think any cheap 22 speed road bike would be similar to a super bike for that commute, but you used a single speed.
I always bike to work (around 15k), but almost never use my Canyon Aeroad to get me there. There isn’t a safe spot to put my bike (nor are there any showers). Occasionally I get the Canyon out, and I put it next to my desk (frowned upon in general, unless by fellow cyclists). When I do so however, I find that I am only able to shave a few minutes of my commute, which is broken up by traffic lights every 2k. Since the wait for the ‘ready-set-go’-green is so long, you’re barely able to make big improvements, even versus the fairly ‘leisure’-style riding some other cyclists have, we al get stranded at the same traffic lights. My other bike is great for commuting and still pretty fast, and I don’t have to worry as much about it being stolen. Also, not having to change into lycra and having cycled at a steady pace is quite pleasing. I now only bring my aeroad to work when I go for a ride with some mates after.
This is exactly me as well. (though my fancy carbon isn't a Canyon). I do 14k in Central London each way, lights every few hundred metres with a couple exceptions, very little room to get much out of the nicer bike
Same situation for me. Got an Aeroad for the weekend, during the week I commute on a gravel bike with a rack and Basket on the back to hold my stuff. I try and use the commutes and recovery rides, but occasionally I'll get ambitious and pass roadies who then try to race. The other day I passed a roadie and held it at 40 kph for the last 2 km home, absolutely full gas for me, emptied the tank, he got to sit on my wheel and seemed pretty surprised that a dude in sneakers and a business shirt was doing that on a bike with a basket :)
Plus the aero position of the more expensive bikes is not safe to see clearly on a commute into a city/town. You need a more upright position to see peds stepping out, doors opening, cars over running junctions.
Great video! The message I got from this video is that it really does not matter what bike you ride for your commute as long as it is in good order and you enjoy the ride. A seven-minute difference does not seem significant for a commute as long as it is taken into consideration at the start of the ride. Besides, being seven minutes slower just means seven more minutes of a thrilling ride - it's not a bad thing. It's about the ride - not the race - when commuting. I also ride a 17-year-old, US$30 cheap bike which I purchased from a community, non-profit, bike organization (UBP - Urban Bicycle Project in Wilmington, Delaware). My steel steed has served me well for years. Oddly, I place US$50 worth of locks on it for its sentimental value rather than its market value.
@@Maxwaehrens I agree, but they've also poured clear water claiming it was tea😅, so it might just be a production thing (but yes, almost certainly scripted)
Could have been ad lib, original script could have him leaving while Hank talks to camera. No reason he had to leave for real. But it certainly highlights the issue of riding a bike for commuting to save money. A stolen bike can punch a bike hole in the budget.
Yes. Loved the cheeky ending. Sit outside but you can't always watch it. Tone of Hank implies it was ad-lib and physical reaction to almost run after the bike before acknowledges it is his mate.
@@jawzdu5549 the frame and wheels are locked, so i'll just help myself with the groupset, cockpit, saddle, and crankset. Thank you very much for the donation!!!
Great video but please do this again with an actual cheap road bike and not a single speed. Maybe a bike from halfords or something along those lines..
@@timroden6617 Probably still negligable. I should be able to reach a similar time on my big, heavy 'Union Load' bike as I usually cycle between 20-25 km/h; so I should be able to do a commute that length in rather similar times. Big difference would probably be that on a commute that long I'd probably be exhausted already when I reach work. (for full disclosure: I cycle in the Netherlands and I have no idea how hilly the area between Bristol & Bath is, so if it was a route with lots of hills I would take much longer)
The thing is that a specialized langster like the one in the video can go for upwards of £400, whereas you can grab a Halfords special like a Carrera virtuoso for half that
I commute on a 1989 Kona fire mountain fitted out with panniers for all my stuff. I don't get a sweaty back and I still think it's fun to ride. It's super comfy, absolutely bomb proof, plus a heavy bike is a better workout so I get fitter.
Don't tell everyone! I have a Lava Dome and a Cinder Cone steelies and they are cracking. I've put drops bars on them, turned one into a cruiser and am always playing with them(!). Light, versatile, cheap and yes steel is real. Both keepers.
Can get quality old school 26r mtbs for next to nothing, often in very good condition. My rock lobster cost £90. 853 steel frame that today would cost £500 for the frame alone. It's really comfy. UN52 bottom brackets £10 - last years even in Uk conditions. Get far more deals on components. I got a super high quality 1.1 8th headset for £20 (reduced from £100) that should last 10 years or more! mt35 26inch wheels with discs for next to nothing! Chain rings are deore, and being steel they last longer than all the super expensive ali stuff. And so on.
And I don't worry about it being nicked even in the city. i got a good quality abus u lock for £50 (reduced from £100). It's total freedom and nothing to worry about. No repayments. Just as a bike should be !
Great video as always well put together and presented. Also good to see both bikes have pro's and cons and that whatever the value of the bike the benefits of cycling are sold. Why more do not cycle is beyond me. All the best guys and thanks again Andy
Great to see some love for the singlespeed commuter. Been riding my fixed to work everyday for the last 9 years, about 25000km, so far it's only needed a new set of rims, 1 set of tires, some brake pads and a £5 chain each year. Cogs are 1/8" steel so will never wear out! Bargain!
My wife has always refused to tell me how much her vintage Rickenbacker 4001 cost. She’s never asked me how much my bike cost (a lot less I’m guessing...).
That was just irresponsible putting things like that on a video that my wife can see. How’s a chap going to maintain his platinum discount on Wiggle for just £200 a year?
@@charliewhiskey8440 what does the ride length matter? It's the wrong tool for the job, it's decent for cleaning but it's not like chain oil is hard to come by.
@@charliewhiskey8440for winter commuting, WD-40 works in a pinch just to get the nasty off the chain. But something like Finish Line 1-Step is better (it has a little lube in it).
Lots of people keep parroting it doesn't work but I'm not sure whether you're really speaking from experience. I'm been using the stuff for a while (and other expensive stuff before). I'm sure it's not "the best in absolute performance" or "lasts the longest per application" but it is pretty good at "cost over time" and "time efficient" especially with that straw applicator.
This is a favorite video by GCN. Maybe not the most technical, or even the most informative, compared to your other videos, but the banter and camaraderie was enjoyable to watch.
Why did they choose a single speed though? You're not comparing great bike vs old bike. You're comparing great bike to an old bike that's never in the right gear. That's a shit comparison.
Because it was a comparison between a bike that has expensive components, vs a cheap bike that costs almost nothing to maintain. That's what a cgeap bike is. Everyone making comments that the bike should have had tiagra, don't know what a real cheap bike is.
@@MrBJPitt I spent $16 vintage 10-speed for my commuter bike. Costs a little more in annual maintenance than the single-speed in the video but I'll take the ability to pick an easier gear in a headwind any day of the week, and on a good day I can get it up to nearly Hank's average result if I left the house a little later than I should have, haha.
@@michaelpirrone outliers don't count. It's like someone saying they got a system six for free because a friend is generous, it's free but the real price is not.
@@MrBJPitt Hardly an outlier. There are thousands of road bikes from the 1970s and '80s tucked away in people's garages and they end up in garage sales, estate sales, and thrift shops all the time. Yes it would sell for more at a shop like they went to but even at that rate it wouldn't be more than that single-speed.
20+km commute with a pack that size. Not the comfiest. Single speed means more sweat, so you'd need a shower at work, no question ! But - support your local bike recycler 😊
I bought a Spesh Allez Sprint for commuting - absolutely fantastic! Made my commutes more FUN. The office dragon did make a bit of a fuss about me bringing my bike into the office but now most of us do it, and in this age of climate change and congested cities there are few valid arguments against it!
Been riding a Eastway Zener for more than 3 yrs in Hong Kong. Reasonably light and medium price. Survived a number of falls without major damage. Found disc brake easier to maintain and trustworthy in wet weather. For reliability definitely no electronic shift.
There should be a later sequel, round 2. As already mentioned by other comments, a single speed compared to a costly high tech, electric shifting super bike? That is 'apples to oranges'. The cheap bike should have been multi-speed equipped. Even with basic derailleurs, the maintenance is still very low cost. Also, the 'cheap' bike should have had toe straps on the pedals! Entertaining & informative and I do enjoy GCN's creativity & variations of 'this Vs that' themes.
Same thing I thought of when I watched him purchase the bike.... I thought they were going to do some upgrades on the cheap bike but they left it as it was... So there was no way the cheap bike was gonna have any advantage.... Do some upgrades on that cheap bike and then do this video again....😁😉
I've used both, but the cheap bike is set up for max comfort with the bars, tape, tires. Then I dont have to be so careful of the road condition either. And a heavy pack, miserable on the best bike. Also I dont want to be sweaty and tired when I get to work so why race there.
I love sailing on past lycra wearers on multi £k carbon framed road bikes with my sloppy homebuilt electric bike, while 'pedaling' and laughing like a maniac :D
Very entertaining. Great fun for me watching Olli and James present. One clearly notices all the fun they had doing the video. It´s nicely narrated ( I specially like the ending), graphics and paints have proper context and are even funny ( Is this really Daniels car?). The camera work is done quite well, especially the riding shots ( I like the slowmo details even more though ^^). The edit is quite pro, nice rythm, fluent cuts. Good music choice, also …. You´re really improving your production skills steadily. I really appreciate that! Can´t wait to see more from you!
Not really, bikes with gears cost much more; even a new 'normal/regular' city bike with only 3 or 7 gears costs a few hundred euros more than one without gears. So testing a cheap bike with gears is much more unrealistic. And a super bike without gears is not a super bike.
I recently bought my first ever carbon bike. Any theft issues aside, I'm sticking to my trusty aluminium bike for commuting spring to autumn and then I'm on a mountain bike with spike tyres for winter. £200 may be the textbook cost but accidents happen. I'm currently trying to live without a car so I go by bike or bus.
Rafael Malmegrin it all depends on your route and this route having gears would have made it faster and less effort, it was the lack of gears that made 90% of the difference between them
@@elliottslab and yet the time was hardly significant. Kind of a good reason to use the single speed to demonstrate this point isn't it? Why do they need to use a 22 speed bike to tell us what is obvious?
I have a cheap aluminium single speed bike that was bought brand new 10 months ago mainly to commute. I've been improving it over time by replacing the flat bar with drop bars, putting a 50 teeth chain ring with a 17 teeth sprocket, and a pair of 23mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tires and proper lubrication. The results are amazing, and now I'm able to ride between 85 and 110 Km every Sunday. My objective is to have two bikes: the cheap one I mentioned before for everyday use, and a BMC TimeMachine road 02 or aTeammachine ALR 02 Tiagra for longer rides because, if I've been able to pedal those distances on a cheap but pretty bike, I'm wondering about how much I will be able to ride on a very decent one.
love the ending! hahaha.. greetings from Indonesia. I was looking for a new bike and GCN is really helpful for me to decide which bike I should get. Really fun videos, informative and thorough explanations about all the things I need to know. Super nice channel!
As much as I like riding my summer bike to work, there's a lot to be said for having a pannier rack rather than a backpack. Riding 9 miles each way with a backpack isn't great.
If I commuted with my Canyon Endurace (not super, but a nice bike) I’d be sitting in meetings constantly worried about it getting eyed up and stolen by a determined thief. No such worries with my rugged Boardman hybrid. Plus the pannier rack means I don’t have to use a backpack 🙂👍🏻
Lots of variables but great fun to watch. I'm curious to learn more about the new frame material Hank's bike is made of at 45secs. Hank said its made of 'carbinumfibre' which sounds brilliant and strong and light. What were you both carrying in those MAHOOSIVE rucksacks??
I used to commute from Bath to Bristol for work and trust me, that is a drudge of a route in the winter. Some days the train was so much nicer than riding in poor weather, but it cost me £400 a month for a rail card even back in the early 2000s. That was when the railway was at its worst though, the line collapsed at Keynsham, the trains were always late and the carriages were so full at the end of the day that I would have to stand up if I could even get on my train. The beauty of the bike commute was riding home in under 90 minutes. Commuting by public transport took so much longer because I needed to catch the bus to the railway station, which added another thirty minutes. The cyclepath there was joyous, until on parts of it, it became common to have difficulties with angry locals who enjoyed tormenting cyclists. If I had to do it these days, I would consider an e-Bike or even my motorbike rather than dreadful public transport.
Would had been interesting to see a comparision riden by the same person with a power-meter and using the same power on both trips. That way you could have seen how much more time the race bike really saves.
That totally misses the point of this. Traffic lights don't care how much faster you are going for a certain wattage. And they've already done the cheap bike vs superb bike video...... With exactly what you asked.
I always thought GNC was tryna sell you an expensive bike. But this was a great and left alot of respect for the cheap bike! 7 min more... its all good we saved $$$
If you can afford a super bike, you can afford a cheap/decent commuter. The main things for me on a commuter are proper mudguards, easy to maintain and potentially somewhere for luggage something I wouldn't stress about if it got nicked (gives you more post work flexibility of you fancy going for a pint somewhere. Why I commute on a single speed, also the added bonus of it a being a nice bit of daily training. Keep the nice bikes for after work and weekends. Basically pub bike/commuter.
I commented elsewhere that you can build up a decent vintage steel frame with something like 105 2x9 for around $200. Throw a decent wheelset you have laying around on it and you have a great bike that you don't have to be paranoid about.
I'm seriously thinking of jacking in the motor for everyday commuting. They've just built a new secure bike store where I work, so vids like this are a great encouragement.. don't take your eye off your bike Hank.. specially with Mr Bridgewood around!
I live in a small city and most days I commute on a single-speed much like Ollie's. It's surprisingly pleasant for stop and go traffic, since I can focus entirely on my surroundings instead of faffing with gears. I'm much, much more comfortable leaving it unattended too, with its bolt-on wheels, low profile, and the Abus u-lock I do not leave home without.
Good insight. I had a cheap and a "super" bike. The cheap bike is heavy (not even aluminium frame), while the "super" bike made it much much less effort to ride.
A cheap project bike is good to have for when the weather turns bad. Much cheaper to maintain; easily pays for itself. Use the superbike for good weather only.
In my opinions superbikes have no place in commuting. You will probably want mudguards and a rack always on, and I am a strong supporter of dynamo powered lights. Also, I would want (relatively) cheap but reliable components (say Tiagra/105 max) to keep maintenance costs down. I really don't look forward to replacing a 150€ dura ace cassette because the previous got trashed by the harshness of winter commuting (mud, sand, salt). So to me personally, if anything, this test's outcome seems to favour the single speed. 7 minutes difference across 20k means 15 minutes a day. It's not a huge difference, and it is time you can easily reclaim by, say, watching one less GCN video per day :P . The total time is remarkable in and by itself btw, my 10k commute (within Berlin) takes almost as much.
Why dynamo lights - just get rechargeable LED lights - they only need a charge once every 50-100 hours of use. I do a 20km commute (each way) too but most of mine is off road. Let's be honest, going down a river. canal bank or cycle path is a lot more relaxing and safer than main roads - It takes me an hour but that's fine. I'd never do it on road...
Andy McNish || Dynamo lights just let you have a consistent light source without having to worry about batteries at all. For someone like me who is a bit on the forgetful side, they can be a lifesaver.
@@andymcnish I agree that it's very subjective. Aside from the point raised by Spectrum I would also add that a dynamo *might* have an edge in terms of environmental friendliness (not really sure tho).
I'm on my first ever bike since being a kid. It's a cheap hybrid that I take bikepacking. I've converted it to a 1x drive train which a week ago meant Bla Bla Bla to me. And to me it's the best bike in existence lol. Whatever gets you off faster than a walk and puts a smile on your face is the best bike for you.
Ollie taking the Orbea wasn't agreed beforehand 😁😁😁 But... !!! A commute bike with the right geometry and set up as close as possible to mimic the carbon racemaschine, delivers a fantastic training. You need less aero and a heavier weight on the training bike. It adds a lot. If Ollies had been a 5 to 10 speed, it would have been perfect.
Also, the map route overlay is completely different to the video. According to the route, you didn't even go through the city centre as the video shows.
He's got your bike AND he's going on vacation! Honestly, I did it like Ollie did for years. A 32 lb mountain bike during the week and then on the weekends, went racing or riding the trails on my 24lb fancy bike. Pedalling the fancy bike was like being on vacation!
Single speeder here all day. Less maintenance, easier to do when needed, less things to break when someone smashes the bike while locking it on a rack, etc... Plus the inclines on my commute make for a pretty good work out.
If I were able to take my bike inside with me, I would ride my best bike. But the idea of going to the thrift store and getting a clunker for $25 is appealing just so I don't have to worry so much about it getting stolen, and if it does get stolen, not a huge loss.
There are great bikes that are not either 25 bucks or $10,000. A fairly lightweight steel frame can be built up with a used 105 groupset for around 200 bucks. If you have an older but decent wheelset the bike will still be pretty zippy and fun to ride. I pass plenty of kitted out roadies on my early 80s neo-retro builds when I decide to put in a few extra miles after work. : ) And I'm not super paranoid if I decide to lock it up outside the bar either.
Agreed with Tim, spend a bit more than $25 and you will be surprised just how close you can get to the expensive bike. Esp. if it has gears and the same rider! Also things like quick gear shifts - you get used to what you have, so it all seems the same after a while :) And you will have saved a lot of money.
I feel so slow, I been cycling for a couple months and I average 13-15 mph on a 7 speed Cervelo P3 Carbon with drop bars, and short stem. (17.5 lbs with lights and flat pedals.)
Do you ride your best bike today work?
well, i don´t have more than one bike
My best bike is cheap bike
Nope. My old CX bike gets workhorse duties instead.
No.
Because panniers.
Hank and Ollie look like they are on their way to Mordor with half the world on their back.
No. I ride the gravel bike.
My summer bike can't take mudgaurds, has rim brakes, and components which cost more to replace (even if the replacement is the same frequency)
It also means (as ollie pointed out) I can feel the benefit more at the weekend.
I did ride the summer bike to and from work in the summer for a while last year, just spent my life cleaning it!
Personally I find the less racey position more comfortable with a backpack!
Commuting points aside, thank you for giving the extra screen time to the bike shop. Co-ops are fantastic and really deserve more recognition for what they provide the community.
Cheers Brad, we're lucky to have the Bristol Bike Project on our doorstep!
Actually, @Global Cycling Network you should do an episode on these, where you go and put in some volunteer time, show what they do, how they work. We have at least two near me, one in Albany, NY (Albany Bike Rescue), and another in Troy, NY, (Troy Bike Rescue) (not sure if they are affiliated with each other) which I only found out about from a coworker once when my bike was broken. I knew of the Troy facility from Facebook, but not what they did, or how it worked. these work by volunteering time and effort in exchange for parts and learning how to build/repair bikes. I found out about the other one later, but how many other people don't know about these?
How can I upvote you more? My Regards go to all Mother-Theresa´s of Bikes that take in old junkers and give them some love and a second life.
Co-op is a good commuting point though. It makes it easy and cheaper to replace the wearable parts like brake pads and tires and such and keeping the wheels true. They usually have little work stations where you can do it yourself and get help if you need it.
It's not about the speed, it's about not getting stolen
Right. Or riding in the Rain or Snow...
True, safe storage is pretty damn important!
@@gcn what's the weight difference with heavy duty chain on superbike?
Well, in my experience, if it has a racing bike handlebar, it will get stolen.
@@thrownchance Spend money on the lock. £100 gets a decent U lock one. Abus are great. Worth it for peace of mind. Expensive bikes don't suit commuting. Even with a good lock they could take the components off. Most of us don't have safe storage.
I'm not from Bristol but I really like when I see GCN bring in and plug local business - like the coffee and today's bike shop. It's community business that help define and area and help a community in my opinion. Good job
Cheers Kieren!
great experiment.. until you used a single speed. Went from 'cheap bike versus super bike', to 'geared bike versus single speed'.
Phil Heard yeah they shit the bed on that one. I’m sure the reason why is they did the whole video comparing superbike to normal bike and found out there is no fucking difference in the city.
Calm down , single speed is perfect bike for commuting, That's what they show , commuting it's not a race, u can use single speed even for relaxing ride on country sides roads like road bike so calm down That was good comparison What shows you U don't need spend fortune for that kind of "commuting" 😂
@@kamillisowski2931 I rode a single speed when I was a kid. Unless the terrain is table top flat and there is no wind, I wouldn't ride one now. Gears aren't hard to come by these days. The point is well made. Single speed bikes might be good for youngsters trying to get into shape but they are not as good as the simplest geared bike for commuting. I think an entry level road bike vs a super bike would show virtually no difference between in the commute they filmed. Of course, Hank is a professional rider not long out of racing and Ollie is a bit older so my money would be on Hank, but if it was a commute to work the two would be pretty close. Hank wouldn't have had time to order and have the waitress serve drinks.The issue is how much money do you have to spend on your bike.
Yup totally pointless..
@@ronbyers9912 I know mate, even with Tourney set on cheapest bike U can enjoy your ride and ride so fast, difference comes in gear ratio, gear durable,frame weights and brake distance Like was mention In older movie ☺️
But Single speed Is still alright for normal ride without any big climb's 😊
Cheap bike will win for commuting... since the superbike will vanish.
Perhaps the next trend could be invisible superbikes.
honestly, if I was commuting on that, it wouldn't be staying outside at all while I was at work. I only leave mine out if I have to as it is, and mine is only a $600 bike. I've seen people steal even cheap bikes, or just wheels, or just the saddle. I once saw three bikes all on the same street, all chained up securely, and all three were missing saddles. I always use a long cable lock, and always go through both wheels, frame AND the saddle... but like everyone points out, that's only just mostly effective.
Or you worry it will. Not worth the marginal gains. You get fitter to compenstate anyway. Just like people on e bikes end up less fit. Your fitness depends on the level you work out at.
Yeah even if you had a good view of it someone would still run off with it. Especially california with the idiot laws they've passed in the past 5 years it's now turned into a third world country failed state similar to Venezuela. People will push you over and steal your macbook right in front of you.
Guaranteed.
Have 5000 coffees and any bike becomes a super bike!
Better ditch the bibs for when it needs to exit.
🤣
More like superyou
After work at happy hour one summer day, I drank 4 shots of espresso blended with ice and Mexican rice milk (horchata). Upon consuming it, I rode 30 miles with a heavy backpack in street clothes (jeans and tennis shoes) into a downpour. And was still jazzed at the end of it.
try red bull..drink liters of it
I ride a Giant Defy that didn't cost too much. I think any cheap 22 speed road bike would be similar to a super bike for that commute, but you used a single speed.
Not similar. But I agree much closer
"cheap 22 speed" for a commute bike go to Halfords and buy the cheapest new road bike, 1 or two years worth of use and its knackered rinse and repeat
I have a giant defy as well. It's a pretty decent bike.
I’ve just nabbed a Giant 1 Escape on road Sport for £200
Giant cross city is good too
Wife: soooo you need a £5000 downhill mtb for your work commute?
Me: gcn told me it was economically viable.😁
Hahahaha
Well that's not great not horrible either..
Alan Dougan wife: Nah you need a 15k tt bike
I'm pretty sure wives would ban all the global channels if they knew about them.
@@andrewnorris5415 speak for yourself, my wife watches with me :D
DerpyNerdy you’re delusional
I always bike to work (around 15k), but almost never use my Canyon Aeroad to get me there. There isn’t a safe spot to put my bike (nor are there any showers). Occasionally I get the Canyon out, and I put it next to my desk (frowned upon in general, unless by fellow cyclists). When I do so however, I find that I am only able to shave a few minutes of my commute, which is broken up by traffic lights every 2k. Since the wait for the ‘ready-set-go’-green is so long, you’re barely able to make big improvements, even versus the fairly ‘leisure’-style riding some other cyclists have, we al get stranded at the same traffic lights. My other bike is great for commuting and still pretty fast, and I don’t have to worry as much about it being stolen. Also, not having to change into lycra and having cycled at a steady pace is quite pleasing. I now only bring my aeroad to work when I go for a ride with some mates after.
At least you can do some great cyclo-cross start drills at all those lights!
This is exactly me as well. (though my fancy carbon isn't a Canyon). I do 14k in Central London each way, lights every few hundred metres with a couple exceptions, very little room to get much out of the nicer bike
Same situation for me. Got an Aeroad for the weekend, during the week I commute on a gravel bike with a rack and Basket on the back to hold my stuff. I try and use the commutes and recovery rides, but occasionally I'll get ambitious and pass roadies who then try to race. The other day I passed a roadie and held it at 40 kph for the last 2 km home, absolutely full gas for me, emptied the tank, he got to sit on my wheel and seemed pretty surprised that a dude in sneakers and a business shirt was doing that on a bike with a basket :)
Plus the aero position of the more expensive bikes is not safe to see clearly on a commute into a city/town. You need a more upright position to see peds stepping out, doors opening, cars over running junctions.
110% agree with the theft nervousness part. I'm always uber nervous any time I have my pretty bike in the public eye..
Great video! The message I got from this video is that it really does not matter what bike you ride for your commute as long as it is in good order and you enjoy the ride. A seven-minute difference does not seem significant for a commute as long as it is taken into consideration at the start of the ride. Besides, being seven minutes slower just means seven more minutes of a thrilling ride - it's not a bad thing. It's about the ride - not the race - when commuting. I also ride a 17-year-old, US$30 cheap bike which I purchased from a community, non-profit, bike organization (UBP - Urban Bicycle Project in Wilmington, Delaware). My steel steed has served me well for years. Oddly, I place US$50 worth of locks on it for its sentimental value rather than its market value.
I place a good lock on my cheap bike so I don't have to worry about finding another good cheap bike or a ride home at the end of the day :D
Hanks reaction at the end was beautiful. I hope Ollys behaviour wasnt scripted as that's pure class. (And proves a very valid point)
He "forgot" his backpack so that most likely was scripted.
@@Maxwaehrens I agree, but they've also poured clear water claiming it was tea😅, so it might just be a production thing (but yes, almost certainly scripted)
Could have been ad lib, original script could have him leaving while Hank talks to camera. No reason he had to leave for real.
But it certainly highlights the issue of riding a bike for commuting to save money. A stolen bike can punch a bike hole in the budget.
Yes. Loved the cheeky ending. Sit outside but you can't always watch it.
Tone of Hank implies it was ad-lib and physical reaction to almost run after the bike before acknowledges it is his mate.
GCN features such as this are like a soap opera, and we know soap operas are real. So stay tuned and don't touch that dial.
Didn't mention the extra time washing your superbike after every ride...
Yeah, true... that would be an extra 5! 🤣
Ah yes, time to bring my Cervelo S5 with Sram red eTap to school.
My biggest concern since getting eTap is some prick stealing my batteries.
Darth Father why stop there? Just take the whole bike
@@jawzdu5549 the frame and wheels are locked, so i'll just help myself with the groupset, cockpit, saddle, and crankset. Thank you very much for the donation!!!
Great video but please do this again with an actual cheap road bike and not a single speed. Maybe a bike from halfords or something along those lines..
It'd probably be the same results. When I went from a single speed to my "super" bike, the overall time was negligible.
Bring out a 20 to 30 year old 10 speed with grooved tires.
@@timroden6617 Probably still negligable. I should be able to reach a similar time on my big, heavy 'Union Load' bike as I usually cycle between 20-25 km/h; so I should be able to do a commute that length in rather similar times. Big difference would probably be that on a commute that long I'd probably be exhausted already when I reach work.
(for full disclosure: I cycle in the Netherlands and I have no idea how hilly the area between Bristol & Bath is, so if it was a route with lots of hills I would take much longer)
The thing is that a specialized langster like the one in the video can go for upwards of £400, whereas you can grab a Halfords special like a Carrera virtuoso for half that
I commute on a 1989 Kona fire mountain fitted out with panniers for all my stuff. I don't get a sweaty back and I still think it's fun to ride. It's super comfy, absolutely bomb proof, plus a heavy bike is a better workout so I get fitter.
Don't tell everyone! I have a Lava Dome and a Cinder Cone steelies and they are cracking. I've put drops bars on them, turned one into a cruiser and am always playing with them(!). Light, versatile, cheap and yes steel is real. Both keepers.
Can get quality old school 26r mtbs for next to nothing, often in very good condition. My rock lobster cost £90. 853 steel frame that today would cost £500 for the frame alone. It's really comfy. UN52 bottom brackets £10 - last years even in Uk conditions. Get far more deals on components. I got a super high quality 1.1 8th headset for £20 (reduced from £100) that should last 10 years or more! mt35 26inch wheels with discs for next to nothing! Chain rings are deore, and being steel they last longer than all the super expensive ali stuff. And so on.
And I don't worry about it being nicked even in the city. i got a good quality abus u lock for £50 (reduced from £100). It's total freedom and nothing to worry about. No repayments. Just as a bike should be !
Great video as always well put together and presented. Also good to see both bikes have pro's and cons and that whatever the value of the bike the benefits of cycling are sold. Why more do not cycle is beyond me. All the best guys and thanks again Andy
Cheers Andy! 👍
I sold my car 2 years ago as I commute every day but my bank account seems no better off as I end up buying new bike stuff instead of petrol 🤣
lol unsubscribe from this channel and some mags. will save a fortune 🤣🤣🤣
proves cyclists are good for the economy
I noticed the same problem...eventually I'll run out of semi-necessary accessories, right?
Eh. That's what you think. You didn't factor in insurance, maintenance and parking fees for your vehicle. Unless you're from the UK.
Jon smith you realise it’s a joke right? And meaning just new bike stuff in general not maintenance bits 🤦♂️
Best ending ever! You can spot the genuine fear for a split second 😆
Yep, that split second "oh shite" moment you get when you look and your bike is gone! The worst feeling.
Super Bike to work: try not to walk home challenge
Love the budget bike type of videos
Great to see some love for the singlespeed commuter. Been riding my fixed to work everyday for the last 9 years, about 25000km, so far it's only needed a new set of rims, 1 set of tires, some brake pads and a £5 chain each year. Cogs are 1/8" steel so will never wear out! Bargain!
"Cost of cycling per year about £200" Don't tell my wife I can get away with only spending that on bike parts!
@@s.9075 Did the wife catch on?
@@s.9075 I have a guy at work that gets his drone and bike parts delivered to work for this very reason.
My wife has always refused to tell me how much her vintage Rickenbacker 4001 cost. She’s never asked me how much my bike cost (a lot less I’m guessing...).
That was just irresponsible putting things like that on a video that my wife can see. How’s a chap going to maintain his platinum discount on Wiggle for just £200 a year?
when I die, my biggest fear is that my wife sells my cycling gear for what I told her it is worth.....
One of my favorite GCN videos. Cheers to whomever came up with the bike stealing gag at the end. Well done!
A commuting bike requires: WD-40, tirepressure and one service per year and no worries
great video GCN!
WD-40 is not a lubricant my friend.
@@myownsite but it works just fine for commute length rides.
@@charliewhiskey8440 what does the ride length matter? It's the wrong tool for the job, it's decent for cleaning but it's not like chain oil is hard to come by.
@@charliewhiskey8440for winter commuting, WD-40 works in a pinch just to get the nasty off the chain. But something like Finish Line 1-Step is better (it has a little lube in it).
Lots of people keep parroting it doesn't work but I'm not sure whether you're really speaking from experience. I'm been using the stuff for a while (and other expensive stuff before). I'm sure it's not "the best in absolute performance" or "lasts the longest per application" but it is pretty good at "cost over time" and "time efficient" especially with that straw applicator.
This is a favorite video by GCN. Maybe not the most technical, or even the most informative, compared to your other videos, but the banter and camaraderie was enjoyable to watch.
Should've given a cheap multi-speed bike to Hank, to see if he could overcome its weight & aero disadvantages, and have Ollie on the superbike.
Hank going full gas, screaming "woohoo", as the indication on the floor of the road is SLOW. Love it.
Hank with the weirdest gear choices of all time
U kom minutu?
Happy to hear that I am not the only one who has noticed the horrible cross chain use of the DI2.
Why did they choose a single speed though? You're not comparing great bike vs old bike. You're comparing great bike to an old bike that's never in the right gear. That's a shit comparison.
Because it was a comparison between a bike that has expensive components, vs a cheap bike that costs almost nothing to maintain. That's what a cgeap bike is. Everyone making comments that the bike should have had tiagra, don't know what a real cheap bike is.
@@MrBJPitt I spent $16 vintage 10-speed for my commuter bike. Costs a little more in annual maintenance than the single-speed in the video but I'll take the ability to pick an easier gear in a headwind any day of the week, and on a good day I can get it up to nearly Hank's average result if I left the house a little later than I should have, haha.
@@michaelpirrone outliers don't count. It's like someone saying they got a system six for free because a friend is generous, it's free but the real price is not.
@@MrBJPitt Hardly an outlier. There are thousands of road bikes from the 1970s and '80s tucked away in people's garages and they end up in garage sales, estate sales, and thrift shops all the time. Yes it would sell for more at a shop like they went to but even at that rate it wouldn't be more than that single-speed.
@@michaelpirrone this segment is about buying from a reputable place, so someone doesn't break their face from a junk bike.
20+km commute with a pack that size. Not the comfiest. Single speed means more sweat, so you'd need a shower at work, no question ! But - support your local bike recycler 😊
that single speed looks like a really nice bike anyway, i would use it
I bought a Spesh Allez Sprint for commuting - absolutely fantastic! Made my commutes more FUN. The office dragon did make a bit of a fuss about me bringing my bike into the office but now most of us do it, and in this age of climate change and congested cities there are few valid arguments against it!
Glad u mentioned the theft risk. The cost/year is going to be much higher when the super bike gets stolen.
Good video
Oh yes!
'When'
Damn you making me scared.
Also if the bike has to be repaired in case of accident... If frame is damaged well, just cry :-D
Been riding a Eastway Zener for more than 3 yrs in Hong Kong. Reasonably light and medium price. Survived a number of falls without major damage. Found disc brake easier to maintain and trustworthy in wet weather. For reliability definitely no electronic shift.
Shimano disc brakes rule for commuters.
There should be a later sequel, round 2. As already mentioned by other comments, a single speed compared to a costly high tech, electric shifting super bike? That is 'apples to oranges'. The cheap bike should have been multi-speed equipped. Even with basic derailleurs, the maintenance is still very low cost. Also, the 'cheap' bike should have had toe straps on the pedals!
Entertaining & informative and I do enjoy GCN's creativity & variations of 'this Vs that' themes.
Same thing I thought of when I watched him purchase the bike.... I thought they were going to do some upgrades on the cheap bike but they left it as it was... So there was no way the cheap bike was gonna have any advantage.... Do some upgrades on that cheap bike and then do this video again....😁😉
I've used both, but the cheap bike is set up for max comfort with the bars, tape, tires. Then I dont have to be so careful of the road condition either. And a heavy pack, miserable on the best bike.
Also I dont want to be sweaty and tired when I get to work so why race there.
the single speed on a 21km "commute" was a weird option but 200 pounds for that bike was a great deal :)
Single speed are nice
Cheap electric commuter bike vs the super bike..
I love sailing on past lycra wearers on multi £k carbon framed road bikes with my sloppy homebuilt electric bike, while 'pedaling' and laughing like a maniac :D
Cheap c 4 cylinder car vs a super bike that costs more
I like Ollie (James too). Ollie's charismatic voice cracks me up though. His inflection is what does it.
@@robbie_rohm88 How do you know I'm a guy though? The first name "Jaime" is a unisex name.
Very entertaining. Great fun for me watching Olli and James present. One clearly notices all the fun they had doing the video.
It´s nicely narrated ( I specially like the ending), graphics and paints have proper context and are even funny ( Is this really Daniels car?).
The camera work is done quite well, especially the riding shots ( I like the slowmo details even more though ^^).
The edit is quite pro, nice rythm, fluent cuts. Good music choice, also ….
You´re really improving your production skills steadily. I really appreciate that!
Can´t wait to see more from you!
Olie nick'd your bike mate! Hilarious to see Hank catching him whilst riding the budget bike
There can be no Ollie-video without him making his mark, but sneaking bike at the end... Your killing me 😂😂
Thank you for the great show GCN!
Should have been a bike with gears, really needed two similar style drive trains.
Not really, bikes with gears cost much more; even a new 'normal/regular' city bike with only 3 or 7 gears costs a few hundred euros more than one without gears. So testing a cheap bike with gears is much more unrealistic. And a super bike without gears is not a super bike.
I recently bought my first ever carbon bike. Any theft issues aside, I'm sticking to my trusty aluminium bike for commuting spring to autumn and then I'm on a mountain bike with spike tyres for winter. £200 may be the textbook cost but accidents happen.
I'm currently trying to live without a car so I go by bike or bus.
Great video Ollie and James!! GCN 👍😉.
I mean, it's a hell of a bike for the money: Sugino Messangers, Gatorskins, looks like decent bars... That's a steal!
Amazing the deals can get second hand.
A single speed is a mistake
Why? It's cheap reliable and will last years without any maintenance besides some chain lube.
Rafael Malmegrin it all depends on your route and this route having gears would have made it faster and less effort, it was the lack of gears that made 90% of the difference between them
@@elliottslab and yet the time was hardly significant. Kind of a good reason to use the single speed to demonstrate this point isn't it? Why do they need to use a 22 speed bike to tell us what is obvious?
@@MAGAIVER A kick scooter is cheaper though.
@@Getoverhere666 and can be a lot fun . I'm down for some kick scooter commuting.
I have a cheap aluminium single speed bike that was bought brand new 10 months ago mainly to commute. I've been improving it over time by replacing the flat bar with drop bars, putting a 50 teeth chain ring with a 17 teeth sprocket, and a pair of 23mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tires and proper lubrication. The results are amazing, and now I'm able to ride between 85 and 110 Km every Sunday.
My objective is to have two bikes: the cheap one I mentioned before for everyday use, and a BMC TimeMachine road 02 or aTeammachine ALR 02 Tiagra for longer rides because, if I've been able to pedal those distances on a cheap but pretty bike, I'm wondering about how much I will be able to ride on a very decent one.
A single speed vs a multi gear bike is not a fair comparison.
love the ending! hahaha.. greetings from Indonesia. I was looking for a new bike and GCN is really helpful for me to decide which bike I should get. Really fun videos, informative and thorough explanations about all the things I need to know. Super nice channel!
As much as I like riding my summer bike to work, there's a lot to be said for having a pannier rack rather than a backpack. Riding 9 miles each way with a backpack isn't great.
That's said, there's also something to be said for smashing it home on the summer bike on a Friday afternoon at full gas! :D
Panniers all the way. All that weight on your back is a drag, plus you can't easily look over your shoulder.
The good old english summer.
Thanks for the video. I will now have to think more about my new bike to buy.
If I commuted with my Canyon Endurace (not super, but a nice bike) I’d be sitting in meetings constantly worried about it getting eyed up and stolen by a determined thief. No such worries with my rugged Boardman hybrid. Plus the pannier rack means I don’t have to use a backpack 🙂👍🏻
Great film, good fun and makes a good point. I never use my best road bike to commute, but a nice spec commuter does make the daily grind more fun
Lots of variables but great fun to watch. I'm curious to learn more about the new frame material Hank's bike is made of at 45secs. Hank said its made of 'carbinumfibre' which sounds brilliant and strong and light. What were you both carrying in those MAHOOSIVE rucksacks??
I used to commute from Bath to Bristol for work and trust me, that is a drudge of a route in the winter. Some days the train was so much nicer than riding in poor weather, but it cost me £400 a month for a rail card even back in the early 2000s. That was when the railway was at its worst though, the line collapsed at Keynsham, the trains were always late and the carriages were so full at the end of the day that I would have to stand up if I could even get on my train. The beauty of the bike commute was riding home in under 90 minutes. Commuting by public transport took so much longer because I needed to catch the bus to the railway station, which added another thirty minutes. The cyclepath there was joyous, until on parts of it, it became common to have difficulties with angry locals who enjoyed tormenting cyclists. If I had to do it these days, I would consider an e-Bike or even my motorbike rather than dreadful public transport.
We're very lucky to have it!
200 pounds per year?
40 would be more realistic.
no i'd say 200 is about the right price...
gar I didn’t spend anything in my bike for 5 years. Now I changed the chain after around 40000km of commuting. I used just two pants on the saddle.
Nah, £200 is about right. Assuming it’s gonna get stolen once/year.
I love these videos! Keep up the good and entertaining work!
Would had been interesting to see a comparision riden by the same person with a power-meter and using the same power on both trips. That way you could have seen how much more time the race bike really saves.
That totally misses the point of this. Traffic lights don't care how much faster you are going for a certain wattage. And they've already done the cheap bike vs superb bike video...... With exactly what you asked.
I always thought GNC was tryna sell you an expensive bike. But this was a great and left alot of respect for the cheap bike! 7 min more... its all good we saved $$$
If you can afford a super bike, you can afford a cheap/decent commuter. The main things for me on a commuter are proper mudguards, easy to maintain and potentially somewhere for luggage something I wouldn't stress about if it got nicked (gives you more post work flexibility of you fancy going for a pint somewhere. Why I commute on a single speed, also the added bonus of it a being a nice bit of daily training. Keep the nice bikes for after work and weekends. Basically pub bike/commuter.
I commented elsewhere that you can build up a decent vintage steel frame with something like 105 2x9 for around $200. Throw a decent wheelset you have laying around on it and you have a great bike that you don't have to be paranoid about.
@@TimFitzwater most bikes guys know your commuter is usually a Frankenstein of bike shit you've collected over the years!
@@cllris Exactly!
I'm seriously thinking of jacking in the motor for everyday commuting. They've just built a new secure bike store where I work, so vids like this are a great encouragement.. don't take your eye off your bike Hank.. specially with Mr Bridgewood around!
Do it Rich, the best way to start the day!
At least get one with gears to make a decent comparison.
Single speed bikes are very viable low maintenance commuters. Great comparison!
Interesting, next time let’s pick a geared cheap bike vs the geared super bike.
Never thought I'd see Bristol's Turbo Island in a GCN video. :D
Having done that exact commute via bus it can take anywhere from an hour to two hours on the worst days. Cycling definitely the war forward
I wonder why people other than the elderly take the bus. Biking is so fun! Ok not so much when it rains lol
Ollie, is a weapon. Noone messes with him! Cheers mate!
So a super bike vs a fixie... I don't get what you were thinking GCN?
This is NOT a fixie, son, it's a singlespeed. Get it right.
I live in a small city and most days I commute on a single-speed much like Ollie's. It's surprisingly pleasant for stop and go traffic, since I can focus entirely on my surroundings instead of faffing with gears. I'm much, much more comfortable leaving it unattended too, with its bolt-on wheels, low profile, and the Abus u-lock I do not leave home without.
It would be interesting to test a super bike against a bike at the price limit of the ride-to-work scheme. (Is that still £1000.)
This is so true
£2000 as of June 2019 . (limit increased to allow some to buy ebikes / discourage people from driving)
Good insight. I had a cheap and a "super" bike. The cheap bike is heavy (not even aluminium frame), while the "super" bike made it much much less effort to ride.
How did I miss these guys filming right outside my house?
😭
A cheap project bike is good to have for when the weather turns bad. Much cheaper to maintain; easily pays for itself. Use the superbike for good weather only.
In my opinions superbikes have no place in commuting. You will probably want mudguards and a rack always on, and I am a strong supporter of dynamo powered lights. Also, I would want (relatively) cheap but reliable components (say Tiagra/105 max) to keep maintenance costs down. I really don't look forward to replacing a 150€ dura ace cassette because the previous got trashed by the harshness of winter commuting (mud, sand, salt).
So to me personally, if anything, this test's outcome seems to favour the single speed. 7 minutes difference across 20k means 15 minutes a day. It's not a huge difference, and it is time you can easily reclaim by, say, watching one less GCN video per day :P .
The total time is remarkable in and by itself btw, my 10k commute (within Berlin) takes almost as much.
Why dynamo lights - just get rechargeable LED lights - they only need a charge once every 50-100 hours of use.
I do a 20km commute (each way) too but most of mine is off road. Let's be honest, going down a river. canal bank or cycle path is a lot more relaxing and safer than main roads - It takes me an hour but that's fine. I'd never do it on road...
Andy McNish || Dynamo lights just let you have a consistent light source without having to worry about batteries at all. For someone like me who is a bit on the forgetful side, they can be a lifesaver.
@@andymcnish I agree that it's very subjective. Aside from the point raised by Spectrum I would also add that a dynamo *might* have an edge in terms of environmental friendliness (not really sure tho).
I have a thousand euro Scott speedster and it a a super bike (to me) thanks for this vid guys. Great work. Ollie is the king of the feature video.
Hell yes! Cheers pobg
195 pounds for a single speed refurbished bike.
you could get a pretty decent new 7 speed bike for that price.
I'm on my first ever bike since being a kid. It's a cheap hybrid that I take bikepacking. I've converted it to a 1x drive train which a week ago meant Bla Bla Bla to me. And to me it's the best bike in existence lol. Whatever gets you off faster than a walk and puts a smile on your face is the best bike for you.
Ollie and James! What a dynamic duo :)
Ollie taking the Orbea wasn't agreed beforehand 😁😁😁
But... !!!
A commute bike with the right geometry and set up as close as possible to mimic the carbon racemaschine, delivers a fantastic training.
You need less aero and a heavier weight on the training bike. It adds a lot.
If Ollies had been a 5 to 10 speed, it would have been perfect.
Heading south on Prince Street, ok, then east on The Grove 🤔
Also, the map route overlay is completely different to the video. According to the route, you didn't even go through the city centre as the video shows.
That ending was hilarious!
195 quid for a bike with a track-frame, Sugino cranks/chainring and new Gatorskin tires? As if...
Wait, Ollie got an absolute steal, sugino crank and crank ring are quality stuff.
I love single speed riding in that sort of environment.
Always amuses me the term "super bike" and it actually used in reference to a push bike!!
I commute on my gravel bike best all round bike
He's got your bike AND he's going on vacation! Honestly, I did it like Ollie did for years. A 32 lb mountain bike during the week and then on the weekends, went racing or riding the trails on my 24lb fancy bike. Pedalling the fancy bike was like being on vacation!
Now let’s see what happens when Ollie ride the super bike to Bristol and Hank ends up riding the cheap bike back to Bristol. 🤔
Just love these guys and this channel🥰 great battle, btw😁
Ollie well used to single speed bike after doing "how hard used cycling be vlog", 🤣🤣
Single speeder here all day. Less maintenance, easier to do when needed, less things to break when someone smashes the bike while locking it on a rack, etc... Plus the inclines on my commute make for a pretty good work out.
Nice!
If I were able to take my bike inside with me, I would ride my best bike. But the idea of going to the thrift store and getting a clunker for $25 is appealing just so I don't have to worry so much about it getting stolen, and if it does get stolen, not a huge loss.
There are great bikes that are not either 25 bucks or $10,000. A fairly lightweight steel frame can be built up with a used 105 groupset for around 200 bucks. If you have an older but decent wheelset the bike will still be pretty zippy and fun to ride. I pass plenty of kitted out roadies on my early 80s neo-retro builds when I decide to put in a few extra miles after work.
: ) And I'm not super paranoid if I decide to lock it up outside the bar either.
Agreed with Tim, spend a bit more than $25 and you will be surprised just how close you can get to the expensive bike. Esp. if it has gears and the same rider! Also things like quick gear shifts - you get used to what you have, so it all seems the same after a while :) And you will have saved a lot of money.
IDK why you're both assuming what I commute on. I commute on a 2009 Allez. It bluebooks for around $200.
@@f0ntaine649 Assuming nothing and having no attitude. I have no expensive bikes!
Loved seeing them shout out and support a nonprofit. Much respect for that.
Duracell bunny? Energizer Bunny! 😅
Ha! My commuter bike is an old ladies (Grandma style) bike about 20Kg. Works great and very good training...
I feel so slow, I been cycling for a couple months and I average 13-15 mph on a 7 speed Cervelo P3 Carbon with drop bars, and short stem. (17.5 lbs with lights and flat pedals.)
Just keep cycling and you'll get faster :)
There are three ways to get faster, ride your bike, ride your bike and ride your bike 😄
Have fast days where you sprint hard. And more days off to begin with.
@@andrewnorris5415 thanks for the support. I'm making slow progress. I can only hold 20 for maybe 5 miles.
Single speed might be good for short commutes inside a city, but I would want gears for 20km commutes. Even on a cheap bike.