The van is superb- does anyone have a spare £150k they would wish to donate to my retirement fund. I would love to see Ollie and the team do a conversion on a smaller van (VW Caddy etc) for transporting bikes etc to events (races, Sportives) with toolkits, cleaning etc.
would be great to see some sort of conversion project! maybe not something quite this luxe, but something more affordable for us normal people would be ace!
I've got a converted VW T5 camper & I have to say I don't spend a lot of time on VanEnvy but good lord that is bloody amazing. Ollie you can ride as many Dogmas as you like but for the first time I genuinely was jealous of you here pal
I’ve combined having a camper and road cycling for the last 30 years and it really is the ideal combination. I book onto a sportive, find a campsite within a few miles of the start and that’s me for a weekend away. Love it.
Love how Ollie looks like 130cm tall on the wide angle. Can we please have the playlist of the „80s bangers“. That‘s exactly my style when I have to push through my intervals.
Oh that van, what a sweet ride! I once heard at a tandem rally "the best accessory for a tandem is a minivan!" Well, I use an old campervan as basecamp for relay team running and weekend biking and I think it's true, that if you can travel with bikes and bunks aboard and inside from the weather it makes attending weekend events so much more pleasant. That's such a deluxe and functional setup! I'd love to see Ollie and the GCN Tech crew do a van build. No matter your budget they are always filled with design compromises for competing functions and comfort all in a tiny box. It's great to watch a van build and would love to see where you all take it!
Imagine this: you and your friends,a couple of bikes and a month long journey in this van along the coastline of the Iberian Peninsula.From Girona all the way to San Sebastian.That would be super cool.
This is a lovely bit of kit. We have a VW Transporter T6.1 that was customer built Cambridge Campers last year, it really is a game changer when exploring the outdoors. My family and I are off on our holiday's this August to the French Alpes. My 6 year olf daughter was blown away not only by the VW Crafter but by the storage for the bikes and cleaning kit. Great content. Keep up the great work GCN 👍🏼
Yeah, I just wrote a similar comment as saying the VW transporter is a better opinion. im looking at transported at the moment only 45 to 55k new fully kitted out and around 14k up to second hand. 150 k of this one seems ridiculously steep when you get someone to build a similar van of 60 k.
The conversion that Matt Jones did to his VW kombi through “Van Haven” was more practical IMO. Combining accommodation and bike transport objectives sound great, but feel the accommodation aspect adds too much cost to the build and that really finding places to camp and use the facility vs a comfortable bnb or hotel is not that great
I bought a retired ambulance and made that my "doing activities" van. I can easily fit two mountain bikes and a curly bar bike under my bed I built. Pretty unique. Also annoying because everyone wants to talk to me about it when I just want to be left alone.
This is literally the dream. Remote working, sell the house - live in a van. Cycle van touring for eternity.... though with fuel where it's at, a long range elec version is the ultimate dream.... when such a beast exists I may get one. Might have to get divorced as well though....
@@maximusaugustus6823 marriage or partnering with someone? It's great being single until we get old and nobody to look out for you. That's the scariest part of the liner life
Really cool stuff. I'd be all in for renting one of those because even a lower-spec version of it gives you all the freedom you need. Just drive to a beautiful place and repeat on the next day, especially if bikepacking isn't your kind of thing.
My mate has almost finished a VW T4 conversion. Base van cost £2500, and converting it to a high spec cost another 7k. So less than 10 grand in total. Not as plush this one of course, but much, much cooler. And good spare parts availability will keep the T4 going long after this van arrives at the scrap yard in perhaps 15 years time. Plus the £140k saved would probably pay for a lifetime of free diesel, even at £2 a litre.
I was contemplating a van like this but went with buying the raw van, have it build up to have 5 seats, a complete workshop in the back that can comfortably carry 4 bikes without removing wheels, I can warm up on the bike on a turbo in the back with in ceiling AC, get power from a large battery pack charged either by wire or photovoltaic etc. It has an emergency toilet and an emergency bed, for when I can’t find a hotel. All that has cost less than half of what this costs, and for the remaining money, I can sleep in a nice hotel for the next 6 years ever night 😂. I am not a van life guy, just saying it didn’t make much sense to me personally.
Can you go to a global bike festival with that or hold such festival on your land though? It still looks like a great investment at a price of city apartment, should we talk Europe or US
When my grandfather retires, I may be doing my own van modification. Also I found the dropping my kids off saying funny as me and my dad say the same thing (perhaps a South Yorkshire saying as we are both from the county😂).
I have a cottage like that with a view of a lake, and the cottage ends up being just a lot of stuff you have to fix and that prevents you from having fun so the only things missing is a two people to one to drive and the other to manage all the stuff in the van… so you could ride
Yep get a full budget conversion done Or 2? One mechanic and a duel sleeper But you could have a bed fold out of the wall in the mechanic van also Alex did garage?
@@jeremynorth Interesting point of view, that was not really what I was getting at though. I am perfectly happy with a bit of commercial content when I get to watch channels for free.
Great van...maybe... some design issues/improvements imo.... like why have 4 seats around the table... make the front seats swivel, then just have 2 others. And closing the roof blind closes the air extractor? Blocking the side door when using the sink, the main bed being open by the back doors, etc. Could be improved imo. Amazing to have an indoor shower though.
It was only 3 months ago I thought of buying a van and converting to be able to travel round Europe and take part of cycling events... though NOT converting to this extent. UNBELIEVABLE!
My twin bro & I bought an ex citylink van with 320K Miles on it for £1700 in 2016. Filled it with all our belongings, booked the ferry, crossed our fingers and drove to Southern Spain where we now live. It got us here and has been a real asset moving olive wood and rocks and all kinds. At the start of the pandemic we converted it to a camper with garage specifically for cycling. Then we federated with Andalucía ciclismo, entered races and drove around Córdoba, Malaga, Granada, as well as a week of racing in Mallorca all last year. It's been amazing. We did most of the work ourselves except a local carpenter fitted the kitchen with marine pine cupboards and worktops. We don't yet have a leisure battery or solar but it's a work in progress. We got lucky its a straight van very well cared for and restricted to 70mph from new so never thrashed. This £150K beast is just amazing but for the £4k I have in my van.. I'd keep mine and take the rest in cash. 🤪
80s and Jazz Funk! Yeah, my kinda vibe too (I also have a PhD in a science, so maybe that's something to do with it!). Would love to have heard what you were going to play. Let's compare playlists!
Beautiful van and well kitted out. Surprised not to include security of van. Is there immobiliser, camera with motion detector connecting to phone etc? Parking a van in a quite area you want peace of mind and have the best of security.
So I have to take the front wheel off my disc wheel bike, which means dealing with the through axle which needs a tool, every time I store the bike? PITA
I kinda chuckle when hearing Ollie’s over-the-top description of this van…as if it’s the most tricked out, outrageous adventure van around. My goodness, compared to the ridiculous adventure, high-clearance, off-road and massive vans in North America, that little VW is a golly cute lil’ thang. ;)
What do you make of the van? Would you like to see Ollie take on his own project?
The van is superb- does anyone have a spare £150k they would wish to donate to my retirement fund.
I would love to see Ollie and the team do a conversion on a smaller van (VW Caddy etc) for transporting bikes etc to events (races, Sportives) with toolkits, cleaning etc.
I personally love the whole #vanlife thing, so yes, I would. I would be partial to extended travel capacity.
would be great to see some sort of conversion project! maybe not something quite this luxe, but something more affordable for us normal people would be ace!
Build a bike van that includes an Expresso Maker, and roof hammock, so Conner can sleep like a banana!
I've got a converted VW T5 camper & I have to say I don't spend a lot of time on VanEnvy but good lord that is bloody amazing. Ollie you can ride as many Dogmas as you like but for the first time I genuinely was jealous of you here pal
I’ve combined having a camper and road cycling for the last 30 years and it really is the ideal combination. I book onto a sportive, find a campsite within a few miles of the start and that’s me for a weekend away. Love it.
I wouldn't mind riding and living in that van DOWN BY THE RIVER
Matt Foley does Zwift ua-cam.com/video/oQvUv-uti68/v-deo.html
ensure you have a surplus of government cheese 🫡
Chris Farley? 👀
Did you fall on the coffee table and destroy it?
@@herculesrockefeller8969 face first, too.
80s bangers and jazz funk! I need this playlist!
Love how Ollie looks like 130cm tall on the wide angle. Can we please have the playlist of the „80s bangers“. That‘s exactly my style when I have to push through my intervals.
I'm on so
Haha!
I love how excited you get Ollie. That van is incredible
Should do a gcn special with four hosts bringing their bikes along on a road trip to ride Norway with that van!
Would be very cool!
Raw footage, arguments, bitching, farts and all.
Very good music choice, classic music is the absolute best
amazing van. I would retire very happy with this and my bike.
This is what I have been looking for on YT for days, its mainly MTB (which I still love) setups but I'm excited to see this one
What is MTB? 😕
@@gcntech 🤣 bikes that are allergic to tarmac 😎
Oh that van, what a sweet ride! I once heard at a tandem rally "the best accessory for a tandem is a minivan!" Well, I use an old campervan as basecamp for relay team running and weekend biking and I think it's true, that if you can travel with bikes and bunks aboard and inside from the weather it makes attending weekend events so much more pleasant. That's such a deluxe and functional setup! I'd love to see Ollie and the GCN Tech crew do a van build. No matter your budget they are always filled with design compromises for competing functions and comfort all in a tiny box. It's great to watch a van build and would love to see where you all take it!
Bikerdream on wheels....awsome....👊🏻🍻
Who needs a house with a van like that totally awesome 👌
Imagine this: you and your friends,a couple of bikes and a month long journey in this van along the coastline of the Iberian Peninsula.From Girona all the way to San Sebastian.That would be super cool.
That is some dream trip
I'm imagining.
One month? I love my friends, but one week is enough. Cabin fever would be severe after 4 weeks in a van.
Spectacular van nonetheless
yeah, just rent the van though. 150k pounds for that? nuh uh.
@@glowiever Yep! Or do a van conversion yourself,far more cheaper.
yes please team van build
Wow! Just incredible
Stunning. I’m currently in the process of converting my little Berlingo into a day camper. Wish I could afford something similar to that VW.
I loved my Berlingo, was the best cycling and camping car I’ve ever had!
Sounds awesome Lee!
I saw it parked near Schattberg X-press - it's a real beast
Forget Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s etc, lottery win and this is my first purchase, love it!!!
If I won the lottery I’d buy this for certain. Wow.
Thanks Ollie..looks great....Peace
"This bed is easily big enough for me"
*immediately hits head*
There was no way we were cutting that bit! 🤣
@@gcntech y’all ignored multiple takes without it, didn’t ya?
This is a lovely bit of kit. We have a VW Transporter T6.1 that was customer built Cambridge Campers last year, it really is a game changer when exploring the outdoors. My family and I are off on our holiday's this August to the French Alpes. My 6 year olf daughter was blown away not only by the VW Crafter but by the storage for the bikes and cleaning kit. Great content. Keep up the great work GCN 👍🏼
Yeah, I just wrote a similar comment as saying the VW transporter is a better opinion.
im looking at transported at the moment only 45 to 55k new fully kitted out and around 14k up to second hand. 150 k of this one seems ridiculously steep when you get someone to build a similar van of 60 k.
Sounds amazing Tony!
Those rails on the bike rack that slide out look exactly like the Rails you put on a rack mounted server.
Would love to see a van build
The conversion that Matt Jones did to his VW kombi through “Van Haven” was more practical IMO. Combining accommodation and bike transport objectives sound great, but feel the accommodation aspect adds too much cost to the build and that really finding places to camp and use the facility vs a comfortable bnb or hotel is not that great
Ollie, GCN needs to have to offer this van as a unboxing give away!!!
Nice van YES! £150.000 NAAAAAAA! Depreciating asset!
I laughed out loud at "If you want to drop your kids off at the pool"
Two bicycles included...plus the groceries, the essentials drinks . .seems fair enough to me
Ollie is litearlly living my dream, but tbh everyone at GCN is
Blake completely relearned his welding skills while building his rig, so, that's a priceless thing that this van won't provide you.
I bought a retired ambulance and made that my "doing activities" van. I can easily fit two mountain bikes and a curly bar bike under my bed I built. Pretty unique. Also annoying because everyone wants to talk to me about it when I just want to be left alone.
My wife talked me into one of these. I hemmed and hawed for about 10 seconds. We pick it up Thursday.
you guys should get a van similar to this and have a road trip as a group. then head to different cycling spots around the country. sounds really fun
I hope you do a build video. That would be cool.
Great van for any type of outdoor vacation 🔝👍🏻
Where’s the toilet? I see the built-in shower & sink @ 5:00, but no toilet. Also, can’t find it or this build on CLJ’s site. Regardless, great build!
So cool. GCN Team van / truck… that would be cool.
This is literally the dream. Remote working, sell the house - live in a van. Cycle van touring for eternity.... though with fuel where it's at, a long range elec version is the ultimate dream.... when such a beast exists I may get one. Might have to get divorced as well though....
Marriage is overrated and a bad deal for men.
@@maximusaugustus6823 marriage or partnering with someone? It's great being single until we get old and nobody to look out for you. That's the scariest part of the liner life
I agree, we bought a proper motor home for half this price that has everything this does except the outside shower
Here's the good news, if you get divorced you'll be doing quite a lot of living out of an automobile, you don't need a camper van.
@@maximusaugustus6823a bad deal for men ? They’re literally babysat by most women but ok 🤣
If only my life were this well organized lol. What a dream!
Really cool stuff. I'd be all in for renting one of those because even a lower-spec version of it gives you all the freedom you need. Just drive to a beautiful place and repeat on the next day, especially if bikepacking isn't your kind of thing.
My mate has almost finished a VW T4 conversion. Base van cost £2500, and converting it to a high spec cost another 7k. So less than 10 grand in total.
Not as plush this one of course, but much, much cooler. And good spare parts availability will keep the T4 going long after this van arrives at the scrap yard in perhaps 15 years time.
Plus the £140k saved would probably pay for a lifetime of free diesel, even at £2 a litre.
Where's the toilet? Is it the grey thing on the wall? Stunning van & great vid.
OMG what a beautiful van perfect traveler for us cyclists
I was contemplating a van like this but went with buying the raw van, have it build up to have 5 seats, a complete workshop in the back that can comfortably carry 4 bikes without removing wheels, I can warm up on the bike on a turbo in the back with in ceiling AC, get power from a large battery pack charged either by wire or photovoltaic etc. It has an emergency toilet and an emergency bed, for when I can’t find a hotel. All that has cost less than half of what this costs, and for the remaining money, I can sleep in a nice hotel for the next 6 years ever night 😂.
I am not a van life guy, just saying it didn’t make much sense to me personally.
Hey Lars, can you share your van build? It sounds great
We bought our four bedroom and two bathroom home with 2/3 acres of land almost the same price.
Can you go to a global bike festival with that or hold such festival on your land though?
It still looks like a great investment at a price of city apartment, should we talk Europe or US
This van is amazing. I need one 🤩😍
I would love to see you guys do a team car conversion. How about a classic Mini capable of carrying 4 bikes?
Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake woiuld be cooler.
I'd like to see a Mini capable of carrying 4 people
That thing is sweet. Sadly I’ll likely end up using our old minivan, a bike rack and a tent
Loved the tyre review!
Haha I love how your so excited about it Ollie was a good video would be great to have a van like this! It’s awesome
that van is what i need sometime
The GCN build should be "best bike van you can make for £20k"
Let's make it a real challange...5000 E.
Cye and the crew at CJL are brilliant - great vid and great van 👍🏻
When my grandfather retires, I may be doing my own van modification. Also I found the dropping my kids off saying funny as me and my dad say the same thing (perhaps a South Yorkshire saying as we are both from the county😂).
birra Moretti is the best thing in this Van. ciao dall'Italia
kitchen is very cool
20,000 likes? Your halfway on day one! Can’t wait for the project! 🚲🚲🙌🏼🤙🏼✌🏼❤️
Definitely want to see a GCN Tech van project with sustainability as a key design challenge 👍
I have a cottage like that with a view of a lake, and the cottage ends up being just a lot of stuff you have to fix and that prevents you from having fun so the only things missing is a two people to one to drive and the other to manage all the stuff in the van… so you could ride
Ths soooo needs to be more than an 11 min video! GCN+ Road Trip film please…👍🏻👍🏻🚚🚚
Yep get a full budget conversion done
Or 2? One mechanic and a duel sleeper But you could have a bed fold out of the wall in the mechanic van also
Alex did garage?
THIS is the VW Cresta van, and today I’m going to show you it’s quirks and features, and then, we’ll get it out on the road and take it for a drive!
love doug! 😂
9:55 for 150K GBP, I would expect proper edging on the carpentry
Do a team car or estate car conversion to a perfect family car/off grid vehicle with space for a roof tent and bikes and dogs and all the cool stuff
would love a camper. I'd have to make one though would be nicer to have a more personal build. hope gcn make their own!
Pretty happy with my self build then that has everything except the leather seats and pressure washer for 20% of the cost!
Lovely bikes and van
Oh my God, I am in love for the first sight
I am not even a car guy
I want to see such a build video as long as it's not a commercial for a company that does that. It must be diy.
Did Ollie really just whack his head on the side of the van immediately after claiming that it could accomodate his 6'1" frame? 😆
Yes and he was lying diagonally which isn't the width. More GCN BS to get sponsors on board
@@jeremynorth Interesting point of view, that was not really what I was getting at though. I am perfectly happy with a bit of commercial content when I get to watch channels for free.
😂
@@jeremynorth lol yes
Great van...maybe... some design issues/improvements imo.... like why have 4 seats around the table... make the front seats swivel, then just have 2 others.
And closing the roof blind closes the air extractor? Blocking the side door when using the sink, the main bed being open by the back doors, etc.
Could be improved imo.
Amazing to have an indoor shower though.
Van conversion = yes
Team car conversion = yes
Ollie vlog driving his van to iconic mountain climbs and then riding them in the alps for a month = yes
Would like to see a camper van, especially the off grid tech.
It's not off grid if it's connecting.
Wow that van is incredible! Only thing I'd change is the bikes, get some 29er full suspension mtb machines in there!! Grr yeah I'm a gmbn spy
"drop off the kids at the pool" you made me spurt my coffee out my nose. lol
🤣
You really dont need to spend £150k. thats insane.
I've seen them north of 1M
I just awarded the 11,111th like of this video to you. Well earned ;)
"so 6ft 1 me is fine..." instantly bangs head. :D :D
It was only 3 months ago I thought of buying a van and converting to be able to travel round Europe and take part of cycling events... though NOT converting to this extent. UNBELIEVABLE!
My twin bro & I bought an ex citylink van with 320K Miles on it for £1700 in 2016. Filled it with all our belongings, booked the ferry, crossed our fingers and drove to Southern Spain where we now live. It got us here and has been a real asset moving olive wood and rocks and all kinds. At the start of the pandemic we converted it to a camper with garage specifically for cycling. Then we federated with Andalucía ciclismo, entered races and drove around Córdoba, Malaga, Granada, as well as a week of racing in Mallorca all last year. It's been amazing. We did most of the work ourselves except a local carpenter fitted the kitchen with marine pine cupboards and worktops. We don't yet have a leisure battery or solar but it's a work in progress. We got lucky its a straight van very well cared for and restricted to 70mph from new so never thrashed. This £150K beast is just amazing but for the £4k I have in my van.. I'd keep mine and take the rest in cash. 🤪
Wow! Simply wow! ❤️🍻
Almost reached the 20k. Van Project incoming. :D
150,000 is a bit steep. I VW transpoter fully fitted.out if 65k
Lovely but I damned if it’s worth even half that cost
And I though Blake builds was finished when I saw the thumbnail :(
80s and Jazz Funk! Yeah, my kinda vibe too (I also have a PhD in a science, so maybe that's something to do with it!). Would love to have heard what you were going to play. Let's compare playlists!
Which company supplies the internals? Could anyone share any links? TIA
You need to do a van build like Blake has done. It I'll be good to see his finished van when it happens? 😊
1:50 "fully off the grid... with wi-fi" lol
On the other end of the spectrum I have a bergen with a tarp, hammock, sleeping bag and cocoon
What a Dream of a Van
My dream car in flesh... Unfortunately will still be, cause I'm short of those first 100.000. 😊😍
Excellent.
Beautiful van and well kitted out. Surprised not to include security of van. Is there immobiliser, camera with motion detector connecting to phone etc? Parking a van in a quite area you want peace of mind and have the best of security.
The Richard Hammond transformation is almost complete
I pop our bikes in the back of my €600, 2004 Berlingo, have a four man tent and camping gear. Now that's affordable 😎. But yes that's a nice wagon.
Vw combi conversion. It’s gotta the barndoor model
So I have to take the front wheel off my disc wheel bike, which means dealing with the through axle which needs a tool, every time I store the bike? PITA
I kinda chuckle when hearing Ollie’s over-the-top description of this van…as if it’s the most tricked out, outrageous adventure van around. My goodness, compared to the ridiculous adventure, high-clearance, off-road and massive vans in North America, that little VW is a golly cute lil’ thang. ;)
And ideally suited to the cute lil' roads of Europe.