What has cycling given me? Bad knees, a bad back and an insatiable urge to ride my bike up and over stupid hills! It has also given me life long friendships, experiences of bike packing when I was in my 20s and then of course the minor head injuries sustained when I very suddenly stopped cycling and took up hurling myself over the handlebars and into trees! Also, this weekend is Star Wars celebration in London... Sadly, Paris-Roubaix will have to wait. I suppose I could watch it, while still in my Stormtrooper helmet! 🤣😂
I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, with a predicted life span of 4-6 months, my right lung is entirely compromised. I just celebrated my 10th year with cancer. I am 61 years old, and just did a full cardio exam and was told that fitness wise I am 30 years old, but health wise, I am end of life.. :| I have proven "end of life" is not End of Life. I owe it entirely to my bike, and my refusal to put it down, did my first 211 km ride last summer. I'll hop off the bike to watch the GCN show :)
My friend’s mother has been cycling since her teens - now in her 80s. She was knocked off her bike by an idiot driver in 2020, when she was 4500 miles towards reaching the 5000 mile target she had set herself for that year (she was 80 at the time). Her hip was fractured, obviously requiring a replacement. However, after a speedy recovery, she was back on her bike and is again cycling as before. A truly inspirational woman!
Inspirational story - I had been diagnosed with a cardio issue years ago that required a pacemaker to be implanted. I was an occasional rider but then I was introduced to indoor training and GCN around the same time. I then started regular cycling and became hooked. After a year of intense training, riding indoors and outdoors, my regular pacemaker checkups revealed no pacing activity was detected. Seems the pacemaker has never triggered once in almost 2 years. Needless to say, my expected PM battery range of 7 years has been extended far into the future. Cycling saved me and GCN is my inspiration. Thanks so much for everything you do.
that's so crazy! i've been cycling for a few years now but i've just gotten my own pacemaker implanted and developed a simultaneous obsession with gcn and indoor training! it's inspiring to hear your similar story and would love to hear any pacemaker/cycling tips (if they even exist)/advice if you have any to share
My dad has been riding regularly for about 50 years. He used to spend a month each summer riding in France, and would put in about 17K KM each year. Now, at 92, he mostly rides (pedals) on his trainer, but still puts in 4+ hours a day.
Andre. Good for him. At the age of 90, last year, I finally decided that the hills around where I live had become too much of a problem, so I fitted a simple friction drive e-assist kit to my road bike. This works very well and has allowed me to get back to hilly areas I had been avoiding, and extend my rides a bit, enabling me to do 3,000 km last year. Quite an input is still needed on those hills, though. I don't think it is necessarily the cycling itself, but continuous lifetime exercise which is important for longevity. An avid cyclist in my yoof, I ceased cycling at about 25 years old, but have been cycling again since I retired 25 years ago. I maintained my fitness, though, by playing regular squash until the age of 70. Probably the cycling assumes more importance the older one gets as it is an easier exercise to perform than many others. I claim no particular credit for my situation because it is largely a question of luck - many people are disadvantaged through chronic illness and disability, which fortunately I have so far avoided.
176kg down to 103kg through cycling! Not enough room here to tell the full story! I'm always amazed and motivated when I hear other people's stories of how cycling has changed their life! I've often thought about sharing mine but never got round to it. People are amazing 👍
This is great to hear! Cycling really can be a great force for change. The GCN app has an amazing cycling community, this could be a great place to share your story 👉gcn.eu/app
@@playmoreguitar5393 not me my friend, I'm no legend. There are plenty of folk out there with much more inspirational stories than mine. I feel grateful for a second chance. 👍
@@gcn joke's on you, a picnic almost always gets included on any or all of the said activities, especially when I do something near 80-100 kilometers! 😂
I have an cancer that can’t be cured I been in remission for 12 years cycled at least 6 days a week. All the other people treated at same time as me have died within 3 years (6 people ). I am also controlling my diabetes through cycling and lost 45 lbs as well. 70 years old and hope to cycle till I die.
I used to be a lazy pile of trash. I started riding again casually around 5 years ago. A year later I started commuting on a fixie about 15km each way, slowly fell in love with the process of cycling, started chasing KoMs on my routes to/from work. Now I'm working towards joining races to start testing myself further and enjoying the sport. Cycling has absolutely changed my life in several ways, not just my health and I love every bit of it..
Inspirational story. A friend of mine, a 95kg diabetic decided to take up cycling. First ride we left him at the side of the road to make his own way back (we didn't abandon him). Three years later, he was an infinitely healthier 75kg cycling maniac who dropped me on the lower section and beat me up Mt. Ventoux from Bedoin by 20 minutes!
Next a couple more thousand km in Turkey (a beautiful and huge country), then Georgia, and then hopefully Central Asia (pending situation around the Caspian Sea).
I’ve been cycling most of my life and am never far from my next ride. With over 50 years under my belt I was recently told to visit a thoracic surgeon. I was sent to all manner of tests and then saw the surgeon. He told me that that my ascending aorta was in danger of bursting which would most likely result in a quick demise. 15 days later I underwent open heart surgery and they replaced a section of the aorta with a piece of Dacron tube. I’m currently three and one half months post surgery. I’m happy to report that I’m back on the bike and I’m starting to actually start to feel glimpses of my old self. I’m turning 65 this year and I’m getting a little better each week now. If your trying to lose weight or rehab an injury cycling is one of the best forms of exercise you can do. Just remember that as we age we also need load bearing exercises as well. Cycling and swimming do not offer the benefits of things like walking, or hiking, and weight lifting. Even old fashioned jumping jacks, push up, bar dips and such are load bearing. These exercises promote strong bones so when you fall off your bike at the post box you don’t break a hip. Many older cyclists that have neglected load bearing exercises that I know have fallen at stopped or very slow speed and broken hips. To sum up, never stop riding!
I started cycling just 2 years ago and it was fun. last year this time, I had lots of stress and couldn't even sleep well. But I did cycling more often and ended up doing ~700 to 800km over the summer with my city bike that I bought for 100€ :) That helped me soooo much and I started to feel much stronger and healthier. I could sleep much better too and did not to go to therapy anymore. This year, I bought a nice gravel bike and I am planning to do even more than last year. So, cycling did help me a lot last year and I do recommend it. You can do it with a cheap bike, just pick new routs each time and treat yourself with something nice afterwards. Big fan of yours (started recently to watch your videos + GCN auf Deutsch) and thanks
Thanks for sharing your story! It's great to hear that you found solace in cycling, we hope it can be the catalyst for you getting back on track🙌 Keep spinning and enjoy that gravel bike, we've got this great video on gravel tips 👉ua-cam.com/video/J6A7e5E_aj4/v-deo.html
68 years young still trying to do at least 100 miles a week around the bath area, hills and all! bath to bristol (and back) and also bath to corsham via box hill (and back) are good for a bit of cardio!
Not sure it qualifies for special achievement but in 1974 I wanted a racing bike but my parents couldn’t afford one. So I went to the local dump found a frame, forks and handlebars. Then found two buckled wheels. Cleaned everything and sprayed the frame. Went to my local bike shop and Mr Cox showed me how to fix a buckled wheel. Spent the next several weeks saving money up from my milk round to buy crank, cassette, brakes etc. (now called a group set) and built my first bike. Entered my local junior race and came 19th out of 53. Still riding and still racing be it virtual nowadays and might yet try the over 60’s hour record 😅
My wife and I took up cycling again about twenty five years ago when we were woefully unfit and heavy smokers. We started with day rides, then long weekends taking tents or staying in motels. Then we went touring in New Zealand for two weeks every Christmas for a few years (we are Australian), we have done all the passes. When we retired we started touring in Europe for a few weeks, a different country each year. every year, unsupported taking our bikes. Eventually we moved to Switzerland and still cycle in the mountains most days. I am 77, my wife is 70 and we are both in perfect health, I give cycling credit for that - I am by no means a natural athlete, short and stout and never won a sporting competition in my life.
Cycling helps you live longer. Excellent! After two major crashes over a two year period have left me with 21 fractures, including a fractured skull and three fractured cervical vertebrae, some people seem surprised to hear that I'm still riding. Now I can tell them it's going to help me live longer.
Hey GCN.. Love you show…. I’m a 56y/o avid cyclist…100-150 miles a week @52 I suffered a cardiac arrest on a 35 mile ride, saved with CPR by the cyclists behind me(hero). Immediately rushed into ER where I received 2 stints…..quad bypass surgery 6 weeks later…fast forward to today…still riding(and better than I have ever ridden)100-150 miles a week. Had a cardiologist visit yesterday 4/5/23.. my cardiologist states it’s amazing how well ive recovered and maintained…thank you for your dedication to cycling.. you keep me motivated ❤
I used to be a runner and completely ruined my knees and basically stopped exercising and gained a lot of weight. After 10 years of carrying that weight, I decided to take up cycling and walking, and I lost over 200 lbs in 3 years. I have maintained my much healthier weight for the last 15 years from eating better and riding my bike. It's made a huge difference in my life and at almost 60, I am far more active and have so much more endurance than many people my age. I typically ride 2.5k to 5K miles a yr and doing 70 miles rides is not a big deal for me, which looking back on my first ride, that 3.2 miles was a killer and thought my heart was going to come out of my chest. My stress levels are next to nothing, I have excellent blood pressure, lower HR, and better outlook on life.
This BP thing always annoys me - I have neen on BP meds since I was 60 - I am now 91 - I cycled avidly in my yoof, played squash until I was 70, started serious cycling again 25 years ago, am the same weight now as I was at 21, and I STILL need those bloody BP meds. There ain't no justice.
Blood pressure from 155/95/80 down to 111/65/45 from cycling and fitness training. I am 69 years old. Weight loss over 2.5years is 33kg. Love cycling up and down the Danube around Vienna
Last year I cycled across the Netherlands in 3 days, each of those days were longer than my longest ride had been up to that point. If that isn’t amazing, I also managed to watch every stage of the Tour de France live AND keep my job 😅
I was out doing a 58 mile ride with the Southend 40+ Cycling Club today where we had 2 riders over 80 years old and 1 rider who was 91 ! several from my age 60 to 70 year olds ...
I started off maybe fifteen years ago with a fairly good MTB. And then things got out of hands. So now I have a roadbike that I have upgraded for probably more money than dare to admit. I’ve lost around 30kg thanks to bike riding. Not that I have been cycling that weight away but cycling made me change my diet and grow my interests around health and training. I’m still not that fit but that was never my goal. I just like bike riding and it’s more fun if it goes faster and it’s easier to go faster when you lighter. I even start to run a little and when I was young I was a swimmer so who knows? I might end up on the dark side… GCN has been a huge inspiration and motivational source. I have a jersey from GCN that I wore on a 300k sportive and I got in contact with a lot a people thanks to that jersey. Keep up the good work. Thx
Life. A beautiful, fulfilling, happy life. That is what cycling has given me. Appreciating the beauty, goodness, and fleeting gift of being alive. Cycling is life.
75 and going strong, endurance sport for 45 years, cycling is only one from canoe marathon, master swimming, xc skiing marathon, point to point MTB racing
Inspirational story - Four years again I weighed over 33 stone ( 210Kg, 462Lbs) By changing my lifestyle to eat healthy I lost weight enabling me to get on my bike again and start cycling. I slowly built up the miles and speed and gained confidence by joining British cycling and joining their Breeze, women's only rides. I was so pleased and grateful for the rides, help and new friendships they gave me that I wanted to give something back. So November 2022 I signed up to be come a Breeze Ride Leader, did my training and now lead or assist on, at least one Breeze ride a week. Cycling has changed my life I am fitter and lighter at 14 stone ( 89Kg, 196Lb), I have more like minded friends and cycle some great rides every week. Life has never been as good. My doctor told me That I didn't make a life changing decision, rather I made a life saving decision by looking more than half my body weight.
Oh yes! I'm 78 and surprisingly I actually get faster each year. I'm like an old cow and ride my mountain bike over the same route most days. That way, I know if I am getting slower or faster. When I do the work, I get better just like anybody else. You mentioned safety issues. I do mountain biking and have had a couple of serious crashes but I feel safer than if I am on the road.
Hi Folks! I have never done anything meritorious enough to warrant receiving a signed, insulated GCN water bottle. But I have a dear friend who does. Her name is Helen and she Zwifted 1,011.61 kilometres in one ride starting on January 28 of this year. The ride took her 33 hours 44 minutes and it was done to raise money for the British charity for mental health, MIND. It would be so cool if you could recognize this amazing lady as it is folks like Helen who remind us of the ability of human nature to overcome great of challenges while seeking to make the life of others better.
I have been cycling for forty years consistently. After retirement I went from 9,000 to 12,000 km annually and now at age 78 still maintain 12,000 km. Mont Ventoux has been ticked of the list. Most people say I look early sixties. Living longer is not my goal but having great health while living is.
Cheers guys, after being away from cycling for over 20 years I came back to it somewhat out of shape and overweight. Since starting back in 2020 I’ve now lost 36 pounds, kept it off and increased my fitness dramatically! I’m now a,member of my local cycling team and have completed my first race and have obtained a personal trainer! I’m continually improving and have already signed up for future races. Oh by the way, I’m 63
For reference, the reduction in facial injuries from helmets really shouldn't be a mystery. When he was seven, our younger son decided he was uncomfortable riding as it got to dusk, so he put his bike in the garage and ran alongside his older brother who was taking one last lap of the neighborhood with his lights on before calling it a night. Our seven year old was thankfully running with his bike helmet still on when he tripped over a speed hump (sleeping policeman), The helmet was one for the bin afterwards, but he only got a slight scrape to the tip of his nose as the forehead of the helmet took most of the force when he tripped. A wasted helmet saved us a trip to the dentist or plastic surgeon, though, so we're fully on team helmet use (even for running, apparently).
First of all, thank you guys for providing such valuable and entertaining content. You guys are an inspiration. I started cycling in December of last year; it's been 4 months, and trust me, this is one of the best times of my life. I cycle approximately 16-19 kilometres per day (5-6 days per week). Cycling changed not only my physical appearance but also my mental health. I've lost about 6 kg so far; I started at 100kg and am now 94kg.
I started riding in 2021 3 months after having Covid and being hospitalized with multiple blood clots. This weekend I’ll be doing my longest race/ride at 90 miles. Been an amazing turn around and I’ve lost 45lbs as a result.
I began cycling in '17. It has been so beneficial on so many grounds. My cardio fitness level has improved; I lost 20-+ pounds; developed physical and mental discipline beyond my dreams. I only wish I began earlier in life.
Helmets and Facial Fractures - as the NP for facial trauma service at a level 1 pediatric trauma center, I have a lot of thoughts on this. There is of course a lot of debate on how helmets work and if they even work to prevent mid-face fractures. There are some meta analyses that show helmets decrease mid face fracture. However, there is also research showing increase in mandible fracture. But, to answer how it protects, the mid face bone structure is like a thin scaffolding. If there is an impact to the much thicker skull bones that energy will be dissipated at the weaker facial bones compared to the thicker skull bones. With a helmet on, that energy is dissipated by the polystyrene foam first.
@captioncompetition - I was the organiser of the National Hillclimb Championships 2022 in which your very own Andrew Feather won. When I visualised this 4 years prior to the competition I was told it couldn't be done. I was also laughed at when I said to sponsors and media reporters that I will make it. Like a scene from the Tour de France. Also to make things super difficult on the day of the event I was flying out to Florida for a family holiday, bad timing yes. I was on course at 4:30am in the morning assisting the fantastic team I had in place for day with my wife having kittens that I wouldn't make the 8:30am mini bus to the airport. Needless to say it was incredible event as I'm sure @olliebridgewood will acknowledge and from the pictures did look like a stage of the tdf.
A Story: I've been fairly active most of my life, an elite level rower at University (London ULBC UK), national level sailor in my younger adult days (Canada), then a runner who loved to run steps as I got older. A bike was always part of my life in the background since the age of 10, including a few multi-day rides down the California coast on charity rides more recently. In 2009 I suffered from heart failure, partly due to a 'flu bug and partly due to financially induced stress. I ended up 40lbs overweight with excess fluid and flat on my back in hospital, expected to leave feet first. I was 62 years old at that point, and I think being previously active saved my butt. Although I could barely walk 100m when I got out of hospital having lost 60lbs in a week with intravenous administered diuretics. I worked back up by walking, then running again... 3 miles on the beach after 12 weeks... then biking to save my joints... got knocked off (doored) a couple of times, but the helmet saved me (sorry Si!). Now at 76 I ride/train mostly indoors, but trail ride outdoors away from the cars for relaxation. I have ridden 700km over the last 4 years, and I race (only Cat D!) on Zwift and have a few podiums (Zwiftpower rated) including a few firsts. My bucket list includes Vancouver-Whistler, which I have done on Rouvy (32nd in the over 60s in '21). Cycling WORKS... plus I still have a full-time job in Silicon Valley (although I work mostly from home!)... I love your videos and the monthly GCN sock delivery as a member, not to mention I've been on GCN+ since the very first day... keep it up lads... you're saving the world video by video!
2 years ago just north of 120kg at 47 years of age, blood pressure high and colesterol wasnt ideal, cleaned up my diet (most of it) and started to choose activity (some, in whatever form) on a more daily basis. Slowly introduced light jogging but after a couple of months hips would complain for a day or two after each run. Que cycling. This mitigated the hip issues and allowed me to stay consistent and gradually increase my training volume. Present day, overall fat loss achieved 40kg and gained around 5kg of lean mass and more fit that I have ever been! Blood pressure well within normal range and colesterol is perfect. My long-term goal may not be to "live longer" but to increase my life quality (being healthier & more active/capable) during those final years :D GCN and other YT-outlets have been a solid staple in my learning curve and source for motivation/adaptations!
I made a similar headset press a couple of years ago when I was building up a new bike. I went to the hardware store and bought a piece of threaded rod, the right sized nuts for it and an assortment of flat washers to help center the rod on the bearings. It works great and also works for press fit bottom brackets. I now keep it as permanent tool in my tool box.
New to cycling, but have recently turned my life around by cycling on weekends, .and now from work, 24 miles twice a week weight has dropped and heart now 54 bpm at rest. Less stressed .And now have organised tour from Worthing, Sussex to France,Nice this summer with my 2 son's. Gcn crew have been a big help making technical topics lighthearted and showing non cyclist the way. ThQ
71 years old and cycled all my life. I also have a home made headset press, amongst other home made tools. And having been a rock climber until my 60s have muscles in my arms! Yippee.
For a year I have been cycling daily if possible. My physical health drastically improved but feeling great mentally is what I am most appreciative of.
I’ve cycled on and off for years but started taking it seriously about 4 years ago at the age of 45. Being a type 1 diabetic I have seen huge benefits to my overall health. Much better glucose control, lost half a stone and generally fitter. I did my first 100 miles last year and planning another in a few weeks. Absolutely loving it. Only downside is my bank manager keeps calling to ask where all my money goes!! C’est last vie
I used to do endurance runs and hit a plateau. I stopped and turned fat. A few years later I tried cycling, gained muscle, lost weight. I've been cycling straight for almost a year now and recently started running again and I can say that the cardio, the endurance, and the fitness I gained from cycling carried over and I was breaking PRs in no time, it was weird.
@@gcn Thanks for responding! Now that you've mentioned it, I guess it worked both ways. Both disciplines benefitted each other, but I think my running mainly improved my stamina and endurance because of the aerobic training from cycling. Normally, humans can only run for so long while a trained cyclist can ride an X amount of hours on a bike. I guess that really helped improved my body's overall stamina in a way. Heck, I even tried playing a new sport and I feel like I have just as much if not, even more stamina than my trained peers (who don't cycle). Also, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank GCN for all that you do! It's amazing how much influence you bring into people's lives! Your content has helped me enormously ever since I started my journey back to fitness about a year ago!
I contracted cancer in Dec 2018. Spent 26 weeks of 2019 in chemotherapy. At the last chemo session, I asked my oncologist, "What now?" He said, " 2 things, 1, don't eat crap processed foods and 2, get back on your bike and go at it as hard as you can until you puke." I was stunned at this advice thinking that I would be told to take it easy, don't overdo anything and rest rest rest. No, not a bit of it. My oncologist went on to explain that hard exercise was the greatest defence against my cancer coming back ( my cancer is incurable and I remain at Stage 4 ). And so off I went and started out on 4 miles per night. It damn near killed me. However, after 4 weeks of 4 miles, the ride became 6 miles a night, and, yes, you've guessed it, with 3 months I was able to do 26 miles a night, every night. I'm 63 years old and a big bloke. I am now at a point in my life where my cancer, which is by definition incurable, is so far back in remission that its almost undetectable. I have just had the stuffing knocked out of me via a bout of Covid and so have started back on the turbo trainer doing 30 mins a night. My tally since Boxing day 2022 is 52 sessions/rides and 437 miles done. I owe my survival to cycling and the fabulous people in the Bridgewater Cancer Centre in the City Hosp' in Belfast. So does cycling help you live longer ? In my case it most certainly does. I have targets planned this summer of hitting the 100 again ( I was able to do 100 regularly pre cancer diagnosis ), it'll take a bit of planning and training up to it but I know I will achieve it. So get on your bike and ride. I tell anyone who will listen, that for every mile you ride, you push away the doors of the A & E at your hospital : keep riding hard and regular and one day those A&E doors will be so far away you'll need binoculars to see them. Good Luck !
Started cycling about 18 months with my husband after his knee replacement (I’d previously cycled the London to Brighton ride, but that was many moons ago), mostly doing 50k a few times a week, this July I will be cycling LEJOG. Cycling has helped me so much with my mental health as well as my physical health and while I won’t be breaking any records while doing LEJOG I’m excited to push myself on a daily basis.
During Covid we got a simple spin bike to start getting in shape. After about a year of steady training I was looking for the next step. While I live in Florida and could ride outside almost everyday I just don’t feel safe on the roads and I just can’t afford to get hurt. I discovered GCN and Zwift in quick succession. Soon after I purchased Stages SB20 and joined Zwift. Two years later and I’m down 70 lbs and love training with Zwift. I’m even racing which I never thought I would be able to do. I’m in great health at 57 and enjoy putting in the miles. I even watch the GCN while I ride so thank you.
Regarding Hack/Bodge budget headset press - Not only does it work, but works on road, gravel, mountain and cruiser frames. The only tricky part is making sure the washers are set so it's pressed in straight. Genius hack!
Awesome! Life time cyclist. 62. I still partake in fast group rides and occasional race. My top end HR has gone down over the years. But my sustained isn't much lower and my power numbers are actually up a little. Cycling for the win!
I started cycling 3 years ago now, in 2019 I had gastric sleeve surgery and lost 55kg in a year (125kg to 70kg) and wanted to not only keep it off but get some exercise. I am 52 now so going back to my old sport of kickboxing was a no go (body cant take it now) but cycling seemed like the best exercise for the lowest joint impact and also gave me back my strong kickboxing legs again. I am hooked now, after spending most of my adult life wearing black to hide the fat rolls, I am now wearing skin tight bright coloured lycra which is mind blowing to anyone that knows me. I even recorded a few rides and stuck them on my UA-cam channel with varied results.
My greatest cycling achievement is winning the GCN Caption Competition 15 times, but second to that: After a terrible back injury resulting in 2 years of chronic pain, requiring multiple surgeries and traveling to England from the USA to get an artificial disc from a kind surgeon, Nick Boeree, in Southampton, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident 6 months later, I found cycling, joined a local cycling club and rehabbed myself from being so deconditioned I would be exhausted from just sitting upright for more than a few hours to completing over a dozen century rides and finished on the podium in 3rd place in a cat 5 race... of 9 guys. Despite being the smallest achievement one can achieve in racing, it was like winning the Olympics to me. Thanks GCN for all the inspiration, and to Nick Boeree for giving me my life back, may you rest in peace.
Oh, and here are the episode numbers of my caption wins if you want to re-live all the terrible puns: Episodes 281, 299, 333, 338, 383, 384, 391, 397, 405, 406, 413, 437, 443, 462 (didn't actually win, but was banned from winning because I had won too many), 467 (unbanned with this win), 474
3:37 I bet it's even longer, even for people who are already very healthy and fit. Factors for longevity often have multiplier effects, even if those real-world effects are hard to capture in a formal study.
I've been using threaded rod, nuts and washer as a bearing press for years! It works great but you need to be a little more careful that everything is aligned really straight. It's only a few dollars worth of hardware from a hardware store.
I had to visit hospital in August and my blood pressure was categorised as high. I then committed to cycling more, using a training plan on Zwift, cycling to and from work more, doing more rides, even cycling from Bristol to Stafford and when I visited hospital again in February my blood pressure they sad was the lower side of normal and asked if I had done any exercise. When I told them about my cycling they said that was the primary contribution to my BP going down
As an avid powerlifter, my focus was always on the gym. Being reasonably lean I never bothered much with cardio until 3 years ago. Bought a bike and ride 4-10hrs a week, some turbo, some outdoor and absolutely love it. Off to Tourmalet this Summer.
I’ve sold our second car now commute 30 miles a day 6 times a week on my e-bike being 54 years young .. I’ve done this all the winter the rest of the year will be a breeze … I totally love the commute home as I cycling local lanes rather than the main roads …
The hack/bodge about the home-made headset press - I have made one of these before. And, yes, I did have this stuff lying around in the garage. A lifetime of motorcycling makes this so.
Started cycling a couple years ago for the first time on a road bike ever . When I got on it couldn't stop smiling at the speed and freedom . I started chasing local legends and koms for fun then last year had a really nasty crash come off at a really high speed bounced off the car in the other direction by this I was already unconscious can't remember any of it still to this day had no idea what caused it as been on this road 1000,s of times . Didn't get back on the bike for about 3 months plus had to rebuild the bike smashed to pieces and the helmet was ruined if I wasn't wearing it I wouldn't be here . Really knocked my confidence a bit more wary while riding now still that little thing in the back of my mind but I wouldn't change it for the world best thing I've ever done cycling is amazing just wish started years ago .
I’m 76. This is my 50th year of regular cycling. 5’ 9” tall 160lbs. No joint problems, excellent overall health. If it were not for cycling, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here.
56 and had ablation procedure to my heart in 2018 after taking bunch of meds several years. Bought a road bike during Covid out of boredom then now have clocked more than 8k km. Never felt better, still doing 60-90km per week. Still taking meds but a lot less. Cycling remake my sick heart!
If you happen to live in a very humid environment, say like Florida, you know that in the spring the number of flying insects becomes so intense and thick, that you cannot ride more than a few feet without getting literally covered with bugs. I hate bugs in my teeth! The windshield/bug shield starts to make a lot of sense.
For me in Central FL, it 's only bad at dawn and dusk, and if you are near water. It hasn't really been an issue otherwise, I did over 20,000 miles (all outdoors) last year.
I was a distance runner for 35 years. Finally stopped in my 50s because of repeated Achilles tendon-related injuries (like all tendons, they tighten up as we get older!) and switched to my second love - cycling. I cycle everywhere now - to work and back, shopping trips, weekend fitness rides. At 64, my BMI is spot on, my blood pressure is normal, and I've never felt fitter. I'm no racer, but I can manage 20 miles in an hour on a good run. Only injury so far has been a barked shin when I bashed it on a pedal! One question, fellahs... my Specialized road bike is 20 years old and has done tens of thousands of miles in that time. I was recently going to upgrade the groupset from Shimano Tiagra to 105 - but have now been told that a 20-year-old aluminium frame (sorry, Spellchecker - scrub that red underlining - aluminium IS the correct spelling!) is probably way past its best, and I'd be better off buying a new bike instead. Thing is, the frame seems in good nick. It's only ever been used on tarmac. Seems a shame to change it, really. Any thoughts, please? 🙂
You two guys are the best...your comradery and hilarious banter makes the GCN Show a complete joy for my wife and I to watch. Having said that, I must defend Dan on a couple of accounts. First, how is it even possible to offer that awesome "elite thermal bottle" without Dan's signature? Seriously? When I do win one, I totally expect his signature to be on there. Second, I was 100% in agreement with Dan when he talked about overcoming a plateau as if it were the top of a climb. That is exactly what I was thinking as well. As someone who enjoys riding, and not so much training, tell me how to best approach a climb so that I have something in the tank when I reach the top. That would be helpful. Training plateaus? Pfffft, not so much. Maybe Dan and I can discuss it over a beer or two when my wife and I head over there next year to do some fun gravel rides?
swimming and cycling in sub anaerobic exercise allows produce more anti oxidants than are used in these activities. some years ago Cycling magazine published that 4 hours of non anaerobic exercise can add a half day to your life. not sure how true this is but it has been a nice motivation to keep on the bike whenever possible. also, I am addicted to modern bikes and being in motion. cross country skiing as well.
On August 11, 2022 I was on a training ride for BWR Cedar City. I had just completed an 11% climb when the chest pain started. A trip to the hospital, two stints later, the doctor said I was lucky to have survived my heart attack. I had 100% blocked left anterior descending artery. The doctor said I survived because my heart was strong from all of my years cycling.
One very important addition to why mandatory helmet use is dysfunctional: mandatory helmets -> less people riding bikes less people riding bikes -> riding becomes significantly more dangerous for the fewer people on bikes the more bikes you have on the street, the more aware other traffic participants become and the safer riding through traffic becomes
Great special with the King on GCN+! Such a humble man with all his achievements. I've had the pleasure of meeting Sean on a number of occasions, most recently at the UCI CX round in Dublin. I was marshalling. What stikes me about sean is how generous he is with the fans. Even the young ones, who were just a twinkle in their daddy’s eyes when sean was racing, they adore him and he gives 100% to his cycling fans. A true legend and a true gentleman
Sean is a legend of cycling 🙌 Super cool to hear that you got to meet him! Talking of cycling legends did you catch Dan hanging out with Philippe Gilbert 👉gcn.eu/Gilbert
@@gcn Phill Gill, another great guy. I missed meeting Phillipe at a Nico Roche ride a few years ago due to illness. Phillips signed a jersey for a friend’s son. The boy had copied Phillipe’s 2017 Flanders win in an Instagram post - that was liked by Phillipe! Great to see him on the motos🙌
Cycling is not just important for the physical but also for the mental health! Being outside in nature, clearing my mind and moving my body is doing wonders! Small side note, you should avoid busy streets and the urge to scream at other trafic participants..... ;)
Following the British Medical Journal study, here is my experience : had some cardiovascular disease 7 years ago at 61 yo. I was lucky to survive. There was not much to do with COVID 3 years ago so I decided to ride my old hybrid bike. Sometimes I was riding with a friend and he told me about his new iWatch and all the features available. I bought one myself and since then, I closed my 3 Fitness rings for the last 1005 days in a row (and counting) riding my new Specialized Diverge bike and now a Specialized Creo for at least one hour a day, much longer during the week-ends. Lost 15 kg and feeling much better. According to the Dutch study, I should add a couple thousand hours to my life .... 🙂 PS : sorry for the English mistakes ... I'm much better in French ... 🙂
Just to let you know, "Rhabarber" really is German for rhubarb so Si got it quite right here instinctively. The moniker "Laber Rhabarber" used by the contributor relates to a phrase being used in German on someone being a chatterbox (for rhyming purposes I guess as I am not so sure rhubarb is especially talkative) 🙂 P.S. Love your channel, it has been a steadfast and invaluable companion when (re-)starting with road biking in 2018 (which has helped a lot in becoming fitter and more agile since) - keep up the great work!!
I have a long history of riding tours and endurance racing, but during the last 10 years of my Nursing career, I worked clinic hours and had a long commute both ways for much of that time, gaining a great deal of weight along the way. During the active years, I also spent a lot of time in the weight room. I was a strong rider! Now retired from Nursing, I've had the time to drop the 85 pounds I gained 😢, returned to cycling regularly and doing a conditioning routine 3x/week. I am eating much differently now as well. Per "InBody" data, which I have done on a monthly basis, I currently have 18.9% body fat and higher than average muscle mass for a woman my age. It has made me wonder if my earlier active years building muscle mass and aerobic endurance has helped preserve the lean mass I now have-that was hiding beneath the weight I'd gained. The comment about the importance of muscle mass was interesting to me!
Cycling plus healthy eating habits definitely helped me get back in shape. When COVID hit I decided to get in shape when scientific studies showed higher mortality rates for overweight/obese individuals. Found a solid 50km route near me which I'd ride ~4 times a week. I'm 200cm and was 112kg. Dropped to 97kg by the end of summer 2020 and have since hovered around 100±3kg.
Diabetes and high triglycerides drove me back to the bike after a nearly 20 year hiatus. I'll be 58 in a few weeks and after just a month of using a new Spinning bike indoors while I wait for our cold Boston winter to end, I've already lost 5# and am feeling great. I'm signed up for a 150 mile charity ride June and can't wait to get on the road. BTW, it's amazing how bikes have changed since the '00's. Did you say 32mm road tires at 55psi? Wait, what?
I'm an old curmudgeon of a road cyclist. Although this is cool, I think putting this many drivers in awkward positions makes the rest of us less secure on the roads around NYC. Can't tell you how many non-cyclists have told me "I hate you guys weaving all over the road". Anyway, stay safe and keep riding!
Twice a year I have a checkup with my endocrinologist, because my body doesn't make a couple of hormones and I get medication for that. Until about 12 years ago he complained about twice a year about my fitness. Then I got more and more into cycling. I lost about 15 kg over the course of 12 years. And these days he tells me twice a year how impressed he is. Last visit I also pointed him to my cycling videos on UA-cam. Which you do when there is little else to discuss during a checkup 😄
Challenges of the plateau: When you get to the top (or so you think) of a hill and are expecting a nice little flat bit - but there is more hill. The pain is real.
9:00 I have one of these in my toolbox! But it's true to say this stuff is pretty hard to find (retail) in the UK. I worked as a place that made bits and bobs in stainless steel and just asked stores "could I get some of this, this and this" and it was about a tenner I think (albeit 20 years ago). Chances of finding that sort of stuff in normal hardware stores are about zero 😞 10:24 I've seen these advertised years ago but would like to see it used in conjunction with a telescopic seatpost just so if (when?) the spring breaks, there is something to retain the saddle in an approximately rideable position, rather than have it disappear down the road leaving your groin/ femoral artery in close proximity to a jagged piece of broken spring steel...😱 11:52 These were also advertised back in the 60s I think - I can only imagine the effect on the steering if mounted direct to the handlebars. I can't think why they didn't take off (or perhaps a few of them did?!?)
I started cycling after heart surgery in Feb 2020 to obviously get fit but then the world fell apart and went into lockdown, I saw a video on GCN about Zwift and decided on getting setup with a Tacx Flux S and Merida road bike which quickly turned into a couple of better bikes including my current Canyon CF7, which again was inspired by GCN... I'm now a Zwift addict which has given me the fitness to do decent outdoor rides and last year completed the Sydney to Wollongong MS Ride which was 90km!
I am currently on a journey to lose weight. About 7 years ago I was around 85 kg, after a weight loss from 116kg. Now I've started again from 110 kg. I hope this time I won't quit on my bike.
What has cycling given you? Let us know your stories, thoughts and caption comments below 💬
Well I am married, so I can gain some free time ...
What has cycling given me? Bad knees, a bad back and an insatiable urge to ride my bike up and over stupid hills! It has also given me life long friendships, experiences of bike packing when I was in my 20s and then of course the minor head injuries sustained when I very suddenly stopped cycling and took up hurling myself over the handlebars and into trees!
Also, this weekend is Star Wars celebration in London... Sadly, Paris-Roubaix will have to wait. I suppose I could watch it, while still in my Stormtrooper helmet! 🤣😂
"HAPPINESS and EXCITEMENT" as always cycling gives me every time I ride my bike 😁🥰🚴♀💨💕
A reason to get out of the house. And if you have a bike, you are no longer alone when you get out of the house.
One of the most difficult but satisfying things I have done in cycling was to ride over a plateau.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, with a predicted life span of 4-6 months, my right lung is entirely compromised. I just celebrated my 10th year with cancer. I am 61 years old, and just did a full cardio exam and was told that fitness wise I am 30 years old, but health wise, I am end of life.. :| I have proven "end of life" is not End of Life. I owe it entirely to my bike, and my refusal to put it down, did my first 211 km ride last summer. I'll hop off the bike to watch the GCN show :)
My friend’s mother has been cycling since her teens - now in her 80s. She was knocked off her bike by an idiot driver in 2020, when she was 4500 miles towards reaching the 5000 mile target she had set herself for that year (she was 80 at the time). Her hip was fractured, obviously requiring a replacement. However, after a speedy recovery, she was back on her bike and is again cycling as before. A truly inspirational woman!
Inspirational story - I had been diagnosed with a cardio issue years ago that required a pacemaker to be implanted. I was an occasional rider but then I was introduced to indoor training and GCN around the same time. I then started regular cycling and became hooked. After a year of intense training, riding indoors and outdoors, my regular pacemaker checkups revealed no pacing activity was detected. Seems the pacemaker has never triggered once in almost 2 years. Needless to say, my expected PM battery range of 7 years has been extended far into the future. Cycling saved me and GCN is my inspiration. Thanks so much for everything you do.
that's so crazy! i've been cycling for a few years now but i've just gotten my own pacemaker implanted and developed a simultaneous obsession with gcn and indoor training! it's inspiring to hear your similar story and would love to hear any pacemaker/cycling tips (if they even exist)/advice if you have any to share
My dad has been riding regularly for about 50 years. He used to spend a month each summer riding in France, and would put in about 17K KM each year. Now, at 92, he mostly rides (pedals) on his trainer, but still puts in 4+ hours a day.
That's amazing! 4+ hours a day is huge!!! 🙌
@@gcn He's German..., he just tells his legs to "shut up". I'm American, after 30 min I just give up. 🤣
@@andrezirkler9062 can confirm. this is how we (germans) function. ;)
Andre. Good for him. At the age of 90, last year, I finally decided that the hills around where I live had become too much of a problem, so I fitted a simple friction drive e-assist kit to my road bike. This works very well and has allowed me to get back to hilly areas I had been avoiding, and extend my rides a bit, enabling me to do 3,000 km last year. Quite an input is still needed on those hills, though. I don't think it is necessarily the cycling itself, but continuous lifetime exercise which is important for longevity. An avid cyclist in my yoof, I ceased cycling at about 25 years old, but have been cycling again since I retired 25 years ago. I maintained my fitness, though, by playing regular squash until the age of 70. Probably the cycling assumes more importance the older one gets as it is an easier exercise to perform than many others. I claim no particular credit for my situation because it is largely a question of luck - many people are disadvantaged through chronic illness and disability, which fortunately I have so far avoided.
4 + hours a day, 92 years old, just wow.
176kg down to 103kg through cycling! Not enough room here to tell the full story! I'm always amazed and motivated when I hear other people's stories of how cycling has changed their life! I've often thought about sharing mine but never got round to it. People are amazing 👍
This is great to hear! Cycling really can be a great force for change. The GCN app has an amazing cycling community, this could be a great place to share your story 👉gcn.eu/app
Legend 👏
Holy cow. That is an insane achievement! Congratulations :)
@@playmoreguitar5393 not me my friend, I'm no legend. There are plenty of folk out there with much more inspirational stories than mine. I feel grateful for a second chance. 👍
: Keep at it!
Cycling gives us a rest from running and swimming! 🥵
taking a nap on the tt bike?
@@fabioverissimosantos We'd be bored after all that swimming too 😉
But I use cycling to go to places of rest where we can relax; then swim and/or run (or bike more) in peace! 😂
@@ZeroSeriesMMX Swap the swim/run out for a picnic and we are all ears 😂
@@gcn joke's on you, a picnic almost always gets included on any or all of the said activities, especially when I do something near 80-100 kilometers! 😂
I have an cancer that can’t be cured I been in remission for 12 years cycled at least 6 days a week. All the other people treated at same time as me have died within 3 years (6 people ). I am also controlling my diabetes through cycling and lost 45 lbs as well. 70 years old and hope to cycle till I die.
I used to be a lazy pile of trash. I started riding again casually around 5 years ago. A year later I started commuting on a fixie about 15km each way, slowly fell in love with the process of cycling, started chasing KoMs on my routes to/from work. Now I'm working towards joining races to start testing myself further and enjoying the sport. Cycling has absolutely changed my life in several ways, not just my health and I love every bit of it..
Inspirational story. A friend of mine, a 95kg diabetic decided to take up cycling. First ride we left him at the side of the road to make his own way back (we didn't abandon him). Three years later, he was an infinitely healthier 75kg cycling maniac who dropped me on the lower section and beat me up Mt. Ventoux from Bedoin by 20 minutes!
61 years old and going on a cycling world trip. 3700km since February, currently in Turkey. Never have been fitter and healthier (that I recall😂😂).
Amazing! Where are you heading next? 🗺
Next a couple more thousand km in Turkey (a beautiful and huge country), then Georgia, and then hopefully Central Asia (pending situation around the Caspian Sea).
@@Ok_Rouleur Sounds Epic! Keep us all posted on the GCN app 👉gcn.eu/app - We would love to be kept in the loop 🙌
Excellent riding, Jean-Michel!
Inspirational 👍
I’ve been cycling most of my life and am never far from my next ride. With over 50 years under my belt I was recently told to visit a thoracic surgeon. I was sent to all manner of tests and then saw the surgeon. He told me that that my ascending aorta was in danger of bursting which would most likely result in a quick demise. 15 days later I underwent open heart surgery and they replaced a section of the aorta with a piece of Dacron tube. I’m currently three and one half months post surgery. I’m happy to report that I’m back on the bike and I’m starting to actually start to feel glimpses of my old self. I’m turning 65 this year and I’m getting a little better each week now. If your trying to lose weight or rehab an injury cycling is one of the best forms of exercise you can do. Just remember that as we age we also need load bearing exercises as well. Cycling and swimming do not offer the benefits of things like walking, or hiking, and weight lifting. Even old fashioned jumping jacks, push up, bar dips and such are load bearing. These exercises promote strong bones so when you fall off your bike at the post box you don’t break a hip. Many older cyclists that have neglected load bearing exercises that I know have fallen at stopped or very slow speed and broken hips. To sum up, never stop riding!
I started cycling just 2 years ago and it was fun. last year this time, I had lots of stress and couldn't even sleep well. But I did cycling more often and ended up doing ~700 to 800km over the summer with my city bike that I bought for 100€ :) That helped me soooo much and I started to feel much stronger and healthier. I could sleep much better too and did not to go to therapy anymore. This year, I bought a nice gravel bike and I am planning to do even more than last year. So, cycling did help me a lot last year and I do recommend it. You can do it with a cheap bike, just pick new routs each time and treat yourself with something nice afterwards.
Big fan of yours (started recently to watch your videos + GCN auf Deutsch) and thanks
Thanks for sharing your story! It's great to hear that you found solace in cycling, we hope it can be the catalyst for you getting back on track🙌 Keep spinning and enjoy that gravel bike, we've got this great video on gravel tips 👉ua-cam.com/video/J6A7e5E_aj4/v-deo.html
: I'm happy for you, pal. Thanks for sharing your story!
68 years young still trying to do at least 100 miles a week around the bath area, hills and all! bath to bristol (and back) and also bath to corsham via box hill (and back) are good for a bit of cardio!
We know those hills well! They are brutal 🥵
Not sure it qualifies for special achievement but in 1974 I wanted a racing bike but my parents couldn’t afford one. So I went to the local dump found a frame, forks and handlebars. Then found two buckled wheels. Cleaned everything and sprayed the frame. Went to my local bike shop and Mr Cox showed me how to fix a buckled wheel. Spent the next several weeks saving money up from my milk round to buy crank, cassette, brakes etc. (now called a group set) and built my first bike. Entered my local junior race and came 19th out of 53. Still riding and still racing be it virtual nowadays and might yet try the over 60’s hour record 😅
My wife and I took up cycling again about twenty five years ago when we were woefully unfit and heavy smokers. We started with day rides, then long weekends taking tents or staying in motels. Then we went touring in New Zealand for two weeks every Christmas for a few years (we are Australian), we have done all the passes. When we retired we started touring in Europe for a few weeks, a different country each year. every year, unsupported taking our bikes. Eventually we moved to Switzerland and still cycle in the mountains most days. I am 77, my wife is 70 and we are both in perfect health, I give cycling credit for that - I am by no means a natural athlete, short and stout and never won a sporting competition in my life.
Cycling helps you live longer. Excellent! After two major crashes over a two year period have left me with 21 fractures, including a fractured skull and three fractured cervical vertebrae, some people seem surprised to hear that I'm still riding. Now I can tell them it's going to help me live longer.
Nasty! Great to hear that you've got back on the bike. Have the crashes changed the way you ride? 👀
@@gcn Both accidents were while mountain biking. So I've certainly dialed that down a notch.
Hey GCN..
Love you show….
I’m a 56y/o avid cyclist…100-150 miles a week
@52 I suffered a cardiac arrest on a 35 mile ride, saved with CPR by the cyclists behind me(hero).
Immediately rushed into ER where I received 2 stints…..quad bypass surgery 6 weeks later…fast forward to today…still riding(and better than I have ever ridden)100-150 miles a week.
Had a cardiologist visit yesterday 4/5/23.. my cardiologist states it’s amazing how well ive recovered and maintained…thank you for your dedication to cycling.. you keep me motivated ❤
I used to be a runner and completely ruined my knees and basically stopped exercising and gained a lot of weight. After 10 years of carrying that weight, I decided to take up cycling and walking, and I lost over 200 lbs in 3 years. I have maintained my much healthier weight for the last 15 years from eating better and riding my bike. It's made a huge difference in my life and at almost 60, I am far more active and have so much more endurance than many people my age. I typically ride 2.5k to 5K miles a yr and doing 70 miles rides is not a big deal for me, which looking back on my first ride, that 3.2 miles was a killer and thought my heart was going to come out of my chest. My stress levels are next to nothing, I have excellent blood pressure, lower HR, and better outlook on life.
It's amazing what cycling can do for your mental and physical health! Those are some great numbers, have you got any big summer riding plans? 👀
This BP thing always annoys me - I have neen on BP meds since I was 60 - I am now 91 - I cycled avidly in my yoof, played squash until I was 70, started serious cycling again 25 years ago, am the same weight now as I was at 21, and I STILL need those bloody BP meds. There ain't no justice.
Blood pressure from 155/95/80 down to 111/65/45 from cycling and fitness training. I am 69 years old. Weight loss over 2.5years is 33kg. Love cycling up and down the Danube around Vienna
Last year I cycled across the Netherlands in 3 days, each of those days were longer than my longest ride had been up to that point.
If that isn’t amazing, I also managed to watch every stage of the Tour de France live AND keep my job 😅
We're not sure what is more impressive! 😂
I was out doing a 58 mile ride with the Southend 40+ Cycling Club today where we had 2 riders over 80 years old and 1 rider who was 91 ! several from my age 60 to 70 year olds ...
My tip for fitting headsets is to put the cups in the freezer. The shrinkage allows them to go into the head tube easier, with just a few light taps.
Wow! Great hack 🙌
I started off maybe fifteen years ago with a fairly good MTB. And then things got out of hands. So now I have a roadbike that I have upgraded for probably more money than dare to admit.
I’ve lost around 30kg thanks to bike riding. Not that I have been cycling that weight away but cycling made me change my diet and grow my interests around health and training. I’m still not that fit but that was never my goal. I just like bike riding and it’s more fun if it goes faster and it’s easier to go faster when you lighter.
I even start to run a little and when I was young I was a swimmer so who knows? I might end up on the dark side…
GCN has been a huge inspiration and motivational source. I have a jersey from GCN that I wore on a 300k sportive and I got in contact with a lot a people thanks to that jersey.
Keep up the good work.
Thx
Life.
A beautiful, fulfilling, happy life.
That is what cycling has given me.
Appreciating the beauty, goodness, and fleeting gift of being alive.
Cycling is life.
75 and going strong, endurance sport for 45 years, cycling is only one from canoe marathon, master swimming, xc skiing marathon, point to point MTB racing
I live in the best of both worlds, wearing a helmet while cycling. Strengthen my heart and protect my brain.
Inspirational story - Four years again I weighed over 33 stone ( 210Kg, 462Lbs) By changing my lifestyle to eat healthy I lost weight enabling me to get on my bike again and start cycling. I slowly built up the miles and speed and gained confidence by joining British cycling and joining their Breeze, women's only rides. I was so pleased and grateful for the rides, help and new friendships they gave me that I wanted to give something back. So November 2022 I signed up to be come a Breeze Ride Leader, did my training and now lead or assist on, at least one Breeze ride a week.
Cycling has changed my life I am fitter and lighter at 14 stone ( 89Kg, 196Lb), I have more like minded friends and cycle some great rides every week.
Life has never been as good. My doctor told me That I didn't make a life changing decision, rather I made a life saving decision by looking more than half my body weight.
Oh yes! I'm 78 and surprisingly I actually get faster each year. I'm like an old cow and ride my mountain bike over the same route most days. That way, I know if I am getting slower or faster. When I do the work, I get better just like anybody else. You mentioned safety issues. I do mountain biking and have had a couple of serious crashes but I feel safer than if I am on the road.
Hi Folks! I have never done anything meritorious enough to warrant receiving a signed, insulated GCN water bottle. But I have a dear friend who does. Her name is Helen and she Zwifted 1,011.61 kilometres in one ride starting on January 28 of this year. The ride took her 33 hours 44 minutes and it was done to raise money for the British charity for mental health, MIND. It would be so cool if you could recognize this amazing lady as it is folks like Helen who remind us of the ability of human nature to overcome great of challenges while seeking to make the life of others better.
Long after I'd finished watching, I was still chuckling about that plateau bit - made my morning!
30mins of Si and Dan trying not to laugh is GCN gold. Thanks team!
Some end of the year bloopers in this one for sure 😂
I have been cycling for forty years consistently. After retirement I went from 9,000 to 12,000 km annually and now at age 78 still maintain 12,000 km. Mont Ventoux has been ticked of the list. Most people say I look early sixties. Living longer is not my goal but having great health while living is.
Cheers guys, after being away from cycling for over 20 years I came back to it somewhat out of shape and overweight. Since starting back in 2020 I’ve now lost 36 pounds, kept it off and increased my fitness dramatically! I’m now a,member of my local cycling team and have completed my first race and have obtained a personal trainer! I’m continually improving and have already signed up for future races. Oh by the way, I’m 63
For reference, the reduction in facial injuries from helmets really shouldn't be a mystery. When he was seven, our younger son decided he was uncomfortable riding as it got to dusk, so he put his bike in the garage and ran alongside his older brother who was taking one last lap of the neighborhood with his lights on before calling it a night. Our seven year old was thankfully running with his bike helmet still on when he tripped over a speed hump (sleeping policeman), The helmet was one for the bin afterwards, but he only got a slight scrape to the tip of his nose as the forehead of the helmet took most of the force when he tripped. A wasted helmet saved us a trip to the dentist or plastic surgeon, though, so we're fully on team helmet use (even for running, apparently).
First of all, thank you guys for providing such valuable and entertaining content. You guys are an inspiration.
I started cycling in December of last year; it's been 4 months, and trust me, this is one of the best times of my life. I cycle approximately 16-19 kilometres per day (5-6 days per week).
Cycling changed not only my physical appearance but also my mental health.
I've lost about 6 kg so far; I started at 100kg and am now 94kg.
This is great to heat Dhaval! Keep up the good work, are there any videos that you've found particualry helpful? 👀
Consummate professionals….making a long and complex script feel like an off the cuff fireside chat between two old cycling mates👏👏👏
We're not sure they stuck to the script 100% 😂
I started riding in 2021 3 months after having Covid and being hospitalized with multiple blood clots. This weekend I’ll be doing my longest race/ride at 90 miles. Been an amazing turn around and I’ve lost 45lbs as a result.
I began cycling in '17. It has been so beneficial on so many grounds. My cardio fitness level has improved; I lost 20-+ pounds; developed physical and mental discipline beyond my dreams. I only wish I began earlier in life.
17 is still very early! Great to hear you enjoying life on two wheels 🙌
Helmets and Facial Fractures - as the NP for facial trauma service at a level 1 pediatric trauma center, I have a lot of thoughts on this. There is of course a lot of debate on how helmets work and if they even work to prevent mid-face fractures. There are some meta analyses that show helmets decrease mid face fracture. However, there is also research showing increase in mandible fracture. But, to answer how it protects, the mid face bone structure is like a thin scaffolding. If there is an impact to the much thicker skull bones that energy will be dissipated at the weaker facial bones compared to the thicker skull bones. With a helmet on, that energy is dissipated by the polystyrene foam first.
@captioncompetition - I was the organiser of the National Hillclimb Championships 2022 in which your very own Andrew Feather won. When I visualised this 4 years prior to the competition I was told it couldn't be done. I was also laughed at when I said to sponsors and media reporters that I will make it. Like a scene from the Tour de France. Also to make things super difficult on the day of the event I was flying out to Florida for a family holiday, bad timing yes. I was on course at 4:30am in the morning assisting the fantastic team I had in place for day with my wife having kittens that I wouldn't make the 8:30am mini bus to the airport. Needless to say it was incredible event as I'm sure @olliebridgewood will acknowledge and from the pictures did look like a stage of the tdf.
A Story: I've been fairly active most of my life, an elite level rower at University (London ULBC UK), national level sailor in my younger adult days (Canada), then a runner who loved to run steps as I got older. A bike was always part of my life in the background since the age of 10, including a few multi-day rides down the California coast on charity rides more recently. In 2009 I suffered from heart failure, partly due to a 'flu bug and partly due to financially induced stress. I ended up 40lbs overweight with excess fluid and flat on my back in hospital, expected to leave feet first. I was 62 years old at that point, and I think being previously active saved my butt. Although I could barely walk 100m when I got out of hospital having lost 60lbs in a week with intravenous administered diuretics. I worked back up by walking, then running again... 3 miles on the beach after 12 weeks... then biking to save my joints... got knocked off (doored) a couple of times, but the helmet saved me (sorry Si!). Now at 76 I ride/train mostly indoors, but trail ride outdoors away from the cars for relaxation. I have ridden 700km over the last 4 years, and I race (only Cat D!) on Zwift and have a few podiums (Zwiftpower rated) including a few firsts. My bucket list includes Vancouver-Whistler, which I have done on Rouvy (32nd in the over 60s in '21). Cycling WORKS... plus I still have a full-time job in Silicon Valley (although I work mostly from home!)... I love your videos and the monthly GCN sock delivery as a member, not to mention I've been on GCN+ since the very first day... keep it up lads... you're saving the world video by video!
2 years ago just north of 120kg at 47 years of age, blood pressure high and colesterol wasnt ideal, cleaned up my diet (most of it) and started to choose activity (some, in whatever form) on a more daily basis. Slowly introduced light jogging but after a couple of months hips would complain for a day or two after each run. Que cycling. This mitigated the hip issues and allowed me to stay consistent and gradually increase my training volume.
Present day, overall fat loss achieved 40kg and gained around 5kg of lean mass and more fit that I have ever been!
Blood pressure well within normal range and colesterol is perfect.
My long-term goal may not be to "live longer" but to increase my life quality (being healthier & more active/capable) during those final years :D
GCN and other YT-outlets have been a solid staple in my learning curve and source for motivation/adaptations!
I made a similar headset press a couple of years ago when I was building up a new bike. I went to the hardware store and bought a piece of threaded rod, the right sized nuts for it and an assortment of flat washers to help center the rod on the bearings. It works great and also works for press fit bottom brackets. I now keep it as permanent tool in my tool box.
New to cycling, but have recently turned my life around by cycling on weekends, .and now from work, 24 miles twice a week weight has dropped and heart now 54 bpm at rest. Less stressed .And now have organised tour from Worthing, Sussex to France,Nice this summer with my 2 son's. Gcn crew have been a big help making technical topics lighthearted and showing non cyclist the way. ThQ
Si & Dan, the brightest and best gcn presenters. Love your work!
71 years old and cycled all my life. I also have a home made headset press, amongst other home made tools. And having been a rock climber until my 60s have muscles in my arms! Yippee.
For a year I have been cycling daily if possible. My physical health drastically improved but feeling great mentally is what I am most appreciative of.
Keep spinning! Those daily rides are going to be doing you some real good 🙌
I’ve cycled on and off for years but started taking it seriously about 4 years ago at the age of 45. Being a type 1 diabetic I have seen huge benefits to my overall health. Much better glucose control, lost half a stone and generally fitter. I did my first 100 miles last year and planning another in a few weeks. Absolutely loving it.
Only downside is my bank manager keeps calling to ask where all my money goes!! C’est last vie
Cycling - As addictive as cocaine, but twice as expensive! Good job, Simon.
Caption: The fastest tour de Flanders this year, was a walk in the park for most.
I used to do endurance runs and hit a plateau. I stopped and turned fat. A few years later I tried cycling, gained muscle, lost weight. I've been cycling straight for almost a year now and recently started running again and I can say that the cardio, the endurance, and the fitness I gained from cycling carried over and I was breaking PRs in no time, it was weird.
Keep it up! Do you think the cycling has helped your running or is the other way around? 👀
@@gcn Thanks for responding! Now that you've mentioned it, I guess it worked both ways. Both disciplines benefitted each other, but I think my running mainly improved my stamina and endurance because of the aerobic training from cycling. Normally, humans can only run for so long while a trained cyclist can ride an X amount of hours on a bike. I guess that really helped improved my body's overall stamina in a way. Heck, I even tried playing a new sport and I feel like I have just as much if not, even more stamina than my trained peers (who don't cycle).
Also, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank GCN for all that you do! It's amazing how much influence you bring into people's lives! Your content has helped me enormously ever since I started my journey back to fitness about a year ago!
I contracted cancer in Dec 2018. Spent 26 weeks of 2019 in chemotherapy. At the last chemo session, I asked my oncologist, "What now?" He said, " 2 things, 1, don't eat crap processed foods and 2, get back on your bike and go at it as hard as you can until you puke." I was stunned at this advice thinking that I would be told to take it easy, don't overdo anything and rest rest rest. No, not a bit of it. My oncologist went on to explain that hard exercise was the greatest defence against my cancer coming back ( my cancer is incurable and I remain at Stage 4 ). And so off I went and started out on 4 miles per night. It damn near killed me. However, after 4 weeks of 4 miles, the ride became 6 miles a night, and, yes, you've guessed it, with 3 months I was able to do 26 miles a night, every night. I'm 63 years old and a big bloke. I am now at a point in my life where my cancer, which is by definition incurable, is so far back in remission that its almost undetectable. I have just had the stuffing knocked out of me via a bout of Covid and so have started back on the turbo trainer doing 30 mins a night. My tally since Boxing day 2022 is 52 sessions/rides and 437 miles done. I owe my survival to cycling and the fabulous people in the Bridgewater Cancer Centre in the City Hosp' in Belfast. So does cycling help you live longer ? In my case it most certainly does. I have targets planned this summer of hitting the 100 again ( I was able to do 100 regularly pre cancer diagnosis ), it'll take a bit of planning and training up to it but I know I will achieve it. So get on your bike and ride. I tell anyone who will listen, that for every mile you ride, you push away the doors of the A & E at your hospital : keep riding hard and regular and one day those A&E doors will be so far away you'll need binoculars to see them. Good Luck !
The most amazing thing I have done in cycling is buy my wife her first bike and start her on her journey of bicycle commuting and cycling for fun.
How is she getting on? 🚴 More people on bikes is always a good thing!!!
@@gcn she's struggling, but still going strong. I have to help her out a bit. Hill climbing is her biggest struggle, even on the smaller hills.
Started cycling about 18 months with my husband after his knee replacement (I’d previously cycled the London to Brighton ride, but that was many moons ago), mostly doing 50k a few times a week, this July I will be cycling LEJOG. Cycling has helped me so much with my mental health as well as my physical health and while I won’t be breaking any records while doing LEJOG I’m excited to push myself on a daily basis.
Keep pushing Maria! LEJOG is a great experience, its worth slowing down and enjoying the ride 🙌
During Covid we got a simple spin bike to start getting in shape. After about a year of steady training I was looking for the next step. While I live in Florida and could ride outside almost everyday I just don’t feel safe on the roads and I just can’t afford to get hurt. I discovered GCN and Zwift in quick succession. Soon after I purchased Stages SB20 and joined Zwift. Two years later and I’m down 70 lbs and love training with Zwift. I’m even racing which I never thought I would be able to do. I’m in great health at 57 and enjoy putting in the miles. I even watch the GCN while I ride so thank you.
Regarding Hack/Bodge budget headset press - Not only does it work, but works on road, gravel, mountain and cruiser frames. The only tricky part is making sure the washers are set so it's pressed in straight. Genius hack!
Caption: Ok everybody, take it easy, we're staying in Zone 2 for this relaxing Tour(ing) of Flanders.
Awesome! Life time cyclist. 62. I still partake in fast group rides and occasional race.
My top end HR has gone down over the years. But my sustained isn't much lower and my power numbers are actually up a little.
Cycling for the win!
Keep pushing Bryan! This is so cool to hear 🙌
The mental health benefits from moderate cycling added to the cardio benefit sums to a healthier person.
Louder for those at the back please 📣
I started cycling 3 years ago now, in 2019 I had gastric sleeve surgery and lost 55kg in a year (125kg to 70kg) and wanted to not only keep it off but get some exercise. I am 52 now so going back to my old sport of kickboxing was a no go (body cant take it now) but cycling seemed like the best exercise for the lowest joint impact and also gave me back my strong kickboxing legs again. I am hooked now, after spending most of my adult life wearing black to hide the fat rolls, I am now wearing skin tight bright coloured lycra which is mind blowing to anyone that knows me. I even recorded a few rides and stuck them on my UA-cam channel with varied results.
Timely topic. I just had my annual physical (68) and my doctor told me my biggest risk of mortality was trauma!!!
My greatest cycling achievement is winning the GCN Caption Competition 15 times, but second to that: After a terrible back injury resulting in 2 years of chronic pain, requiring multiple surgeries and traveling to England from the USA to get an artificial disc from a kind surgeon, Nick Boeree, in Southampton, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident 6 months later, I found cycling, joined a local cycling club and rehabbed myself from being so deconditioned I would be exhausted from just sitting upright for more than a few hours to completing over a dozen century rides and finished on the podium in 3rd place in a cat 5 race... of 9 guys. Despite being the smallest achievement one can achieve in racing, it was like winning the Olympics to me. Thanks GCN for all the inspiration, and to Nick Boeree for giving me my life back, may you rest in peace.
Oh, and here are the episode numbers of my caption wins if you want to re-live all the terrible puns: Episodes 281, 299, 333, 338, 383, 384, 391, 397, 405, 406, 413, 437, 443, 462 (didn't actually win, but was banned from winning because I had won too many), 467 (unbanned with this win), 474
@@tabishop3 Thanks for the inspirational story, Tim, and for all the fantastic captions and comments over the years. Dan
3:37 I bet it's even longer, even for people who are already very healthy and fit. Factors for longevity often have multiplier effects, even if those real-world effects are hard to capture in a formal study.
I've been using threaded rod, nuts and washer as a bearing press for years! It works great but you need to be a little more careful that everything is aligned really straight. It's only a few dollars worth of hardware from a hardware store.
Caption: If you think we’re in trouble now on the climb, just you WAIT till we reach that dreaded plateau!
I had to visit hospital in August and my blood pressure was categorised as high. I then committed to cycling more, using a training plan on Zwift, cycling to and from work more, doing more rides, even cycling from Bristol to Stafford and when I visited hospital again in February my blood pressure they sad was the lower side of normal and asked if I had done any exercise. When I told them about my cycling they said that was the primary contribution to my BP going down
Bingo! That is what we like to hear!! 💥
As an avid powerlifter, my focus was always on the gym. Being reasonably lean I never bothered much with cardio until 3 years ago. Bought a bike and ride 4-10hrs a week, some turbo, some outdoor and absolutely love it. Off to Tourmalet this Summer.
Great stuff! Are you still power lifting? 👀
How healthy is cycling indoors? Is it the same health benefit to outdoor cycling?
I’ve sold our second car now commute 30 miles a day 6 times a week on my e-bike being 54 years young ..
I’ve done this all the winter the rest of the year will be a breeze …
I totally love the commute home as I cycling local lanes rather than the main roads …
The hack/bodge about the home-made headset press - I have made one of these before. And, yes, I did have this stuff lying around in the garage. A lifetime of motorcycling makes this so.
Started cycling a couple years ago for the first time on a road bike ever . When I got on it couldn't stop smiling at the speed and freedom . I started chasing local legends and koms for fun then last year had a really nasty crash come off at a really high speed bounced off the car in the other direction by this I was already unconscious can't remember any of it still to this day had no idea what caused it as been on this road 1000,s of times . Didn't get back on the bike for about 3 months plus had to rebuild the bike smashed to pieces and the helmet was ruined if I wasn't wearing it I wouldn't be here . Really knocked my confidence a bit more wary while riding now still that little thing in the back of my mind but I wouldn't change it for the world best thing I've ever done cycling is amazing just wish started years ago .
My motto has long been that: "Time spent on the bike is not deducted from your allotted lifespan".😀
I’m 76. This is my 50th year of regular cycling. 5’ 9” tall 160lbs. No joint problems, excellent overall health. If it were not for cycling, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here.
56 and had ablation procedure to my heart in 2018 after taking bunch of meds several years. Bought a road bike during Covid out of boredom then now have clocked more than 8k km. Never felt better, still doing 60-90km per week. Still taking meds but a lot less. Cycling remake my sick heart!
If you happen to live in a very humid environment, say like Florida, you know that in the spring the number of flying insects becomes so intense and thick, that you cannot ride more than a few feet without getting literally covered with bugs. I hate bugs in my teeth! The windshield/bug shield starts to make a lot of sense.
Sounds nasty! Do you do lots indoor training? 🥵
For me in Central FL, it 's only bad at dawn and dusk, and if you are near water. It hasn't really been an issue otherwise, I did over 20,000 miles (all outdoors) last year.
I was a distance runner for 35 years. Finally stopped in my 50s because of repeated Achilles tendon-related injuries (like all tendons, they tighten up as we get older!) and switched to my second love - cycling. I cycle everywhere now - to work and back, shopping trips, weekend fitness rides. At 64, my BMI is spot on, my blood pressure is normal, and I've never felt fitter. I'm no racer, but I can manage 20 miles in an hour on a good run. Only injury so far has been a barked shin when I bashed it on a pedal! One question, fellahs... my Specialized road bike is 20 years old and has done tens of thousands of miles in that time. I was recently going to upgrade the groupset from Shimano Tiagra to 105 - but have now been told that a 20-year-old aluminium frame (sorry, Spellchecker - scrub that red underlining - aluminium IS the correct spelling!) is probably way past its best, and I'd be better off buying a new bike instead. Thing is, the frame seems in good nick. It's only ever been used on tarmac. Seems a shame to change it, really. Any thoughts, please? 🙂
Caption: Greg on his way past a load of cyclocrossers to catch Pog- Where's Lars
You two guys are the best...your comradery and hilarious banter makes the GCN Show a complete joy for my wife and I to watch. Having said that, I must defend Dan on a couple of accounts. First, how is it even possible to offer that awesome "elite thermal bottle" without Dan's signature? Seriously? When I do win one, I totally expect his signature to be on there. Second, I was 100% in agreement with Dan when he talked about overcoming a plateau as if it were the top of a climb. That is exactly what I was thinking as well. As someone who enjoys riding, and not so much training, tell me how to best approach a climb so that I have something in the tank when I reach the top. That would be helpful. Training plateaus? Pfffft, not so much. Maybe Dan and I can discuss it over a beer or two when my wife and I head over there next year to do some fun gravel rides?
swimming and cycling in sub anaerobic exercise allows produce more anti oxidants than are used in these activities. some years ago Cycling magazine published that 4 hours of non anaerobic exercise can add a half day to your life. not sure how true this is but it has been a nice motivation to keep on the bike whenever possible. also, I am addicted to modern bikes and being in motion. cross country skiing as well.
On August 11, 2022 I was on a training ride for BWR Cedar City. I had just completed an 11% climb when the chest pain started. A trip to the hospital, two stints later, the doctor said I was lucky to have survived my heart attack. I had 100% blocked left anterior descending artery. The doctor said I survived because my heart was strong from all of my years cycling.
One very important addition to why mandatory helmet use is dysfunctional:
mandatory helmets -> less people riding bikes
less people riding bikes -> riding becomes significantly more dangerous for the fewer people on bikes
the more bikes you have on the street, the more aware other traffic participants become and the safer riding through traffic becomes
Great special with the King on GCN+! Such a humble man with all his achievements. I've had the pleasure of meeting Sean on a number of occasions, most recently at the UCI CX round in Dublin. I was marshalling. What stikes me about sean is how generous he is with the fans. Even the young ones, who were just a twinkle in their daddy’s eyes when sean was racing, they adore him and he gives 100% to his cycling fans. A true legend and a true gentleman
Sean is a legend of cycling 🙌 Super cool to hear that you got to meet him! Talking of cycling legends did you catch Dan hanging out with Philippe Gilbert 👉gcn.eu/Gilbert
@@gcn Phill Gill, another great guy. I missed meeting Phillipe at a Nico Roche ride a few years ago due to illness. Phillips signed a jersey for a friend’s son. The boy had copied Phillipe’s 2017 Flanders win in an Instagram post - that was liked by Phillipe! Great to see him on the motos🙌
@@CorneliusJames We're loving having him on the race coverage! Some great insights... looks like Phill is enjoying watching over racing 👀
Cycling is not just important for the physical but also for the mental health! Being outside in nature, clearing my mind and moving my body is doing wonders!
Small side note, you should avoid busy streets and the urge to scream at other trafic participants..... ;)
Great point Laura! Cycling is a great way to clear your head 🙌
Following the British Medical Journal study, here is my experience : had some cardiovascular disease 7 years ago at 61 yo. I was lucky to survive.
There was not much to do with COVID 3 years ago so I decided to ride my old hybrid bike. Sometimes I was riding with a friend and he told me about his new iWatch and all the features available. I bought one myself and since then, I closed my 3 Fitness rings for the last 1005 days in a row (and counting) riding my new Specialized Diverge bike and now a Specialized Creo for at least one hour a day, much longer during the week-ends. Lost 15 kg and feeling much better. According to the Dutch study, I should add a couple thousand hours to my life .... 🙂
PS : sorry for the English mistakes ... I'm much better in French ... 🙂
Dan's arms quivering at doing 3 tricep presses!😂😂😂😂
We were impressed by 3! 👀
@@gcn me too! The old boy showing his strength 🤣😂🤣😂
Just to let you know, "Rhabarber" really is German for rhubarb so Si got it quite right here instinctively. The moniker "Laber Rhabarber" used by the contributor relates to a phrase being used in German on someone being a chatterbox (for rhyming purposes I guess as I am not so sure rhubarb is especially talkative) 🙂 P.S. Love your channel, it has been a steadfast and invaluable companion when (re-)starting with road biking in 2018 (which has helped a lot in becoming fitter and more agile since) - keep up the great work!!
I have a long history of riding tours and endurance racing, but during the last 10 years of my Nursing career, I worked clinic hours and had a long commute both ways for much of that time, gaining a great deal of weight along the way.
During the active years, I also spent a lot of time in the weight room. I was a strong rider!
Now retired from Nursing, I've had the time to drop the 85 pounds I gained 😢, returned to cycling regularly and doing a conditioning routine 3x/week. I am eating much differently now as well.
Per "InBody" data, which I have done on a monthly basis, I currently have 18.9% body fat and higher than average muscle mass for a woman my age. It has made me wonder if my earlier active years building muscle mass and aerobic endurance has helped preserve the lean mass I now have-that was hiding beneath the weight I'd gained. The comment about the importance of muscle mass was interesting to me!
Caption: Running up hills with bikes gets very crowded. There's just no Froome.
Cycling plus healthy eating habits definitely helped me get back in shape. When COVID hit I decided to get in shape when scientific studies showed higher mortality rates for overweight/obese individuals. Found a solid 50km route near me which I'd ride ~4 times a week. I'm 200cm and was 112kg. Dropped to 97kg by the end of summer 2020 and have since hovered around 100±3kg.
Diabetes and high triglycerides drove me back to the bike after a nearly 20 year hiatus. I'll be 58 in a few weeks and after just a month of using a new Spinning bike indoors while I wait for our cold Boston winter to end, I've already lost 5# and am feeling great. I'm signed up for a 150 mile charity ride June and can't wait to get on the road. BTW, it's amazing how bikes have changed since the '00's. Did you say 32mm road tires at 55psi? Wait, what?
I'm an old curmudgeon of a road cyclist. Although this is cool, I think putting this many drivers in awkward positions makes the rest of us less secure on the roads around NYC. Can't tell you how many non-cyclists have told me "I hate you guys weaving all over the road". Anyway, stay safe and keep riding!
Twice a year I have a checkup with my endocrinologist, because my body doesn't make a couple of hormones and I get medication for that. Until about 12 years ago he complained about twice a year about my fitness. Then I got more and more into cycling. I lost about 15 kg over the course of 12 years. And these days he tells me twice a year how impressed he is. Last visit I also pointed him to my cycling videos on UA-cam. Which you do when there is little else to discuss during a checkup 😄
Challenges of the plateau: When you get to the top (or so you think) of a hill and are expecting a nice little flat bit - but there is more hill. The pain is real.
9:00 I have one of these in my toolbox! But it's true to say this stuff is pretty hard to find (retail) in the UK. I worked as a place that made bits and bobs in stainless steel and just asked stores "could I get some of this, this and this" and it was about a tenner I think (albeit 20 years ago). Chances of finding that sort of stuff in normal hardware stores are about zero 😞
10:24 I've seen these advertised years ago but would like to see it used in conjunction with a telescopic seatpost just so if (when?) the spring breaks, there is something to retain the saddle in an approximately rideable position, rather than have it disappear down the road leaving your groin/ femoral artery in close proximity to a jagged piece of broken spring steel...😱
11:52 These were also advertised back in the 60s I think - I can only imagine the effect on the steering if mounted direct to the handlebars. I can't think why they didn't take off (or perhaps a few of them did?!?)
I started cycling after heart surgery in Feb 2020 to obviously get fit but then the world fell apart and went into lockdown, I saw a video on GCN about Zwift and decided on getting setup with a Tacx Flux S and Merida road bike which quickly turned into a couple of better bikes including my current Canyon CF7, which again was inspired by GCN... I'm now a Zwift addict which has given me the fitness to do decent outdoor rides and last year completed the Sydney to Wollongong MS Ride which was 90km!
#CaptionCompetition #Caption "Because of the mandatory helmets, several pro cyclists have decided to stop and start walking instead"
I believe that simple seat suspension is actually a commercially available product, neither a hack nor bodge.
Dan literally IS GCN! How is his signature not on that bottle???
Herewith I submit that weird Specialized frame for Hack/Bodge. And I vote total BODGE😂
I am currently on a journey to lose weight. About 7 years ago I was around 85 kg, after a weight loss from 116kg. Now I've started again from 110 kg. I hope this time I won't quit on my bike.