When bikes came in 1 or 2 cm increments from 50-60cm it was pretty complex too. But, back then the amount of pre-assembled bikes was nowhere near as it is now. Bike manufacturers want to sell bikes not frames, I guess?!
Yes, so how can we create demand for a bike that does everything? Innovation in bikes that suit most riders instead of TDF winners is elusive. For example, most people would get everyday performance gains from integrated lights, food and water storage, tool storage etc. Triathlon bikes have started to appreciate this need but it’s still only really for elites.
21:22 It’s not only articles, presenting and training for Flanders that I’ve been doing. I’ve also been spending plenty of time swanning around as a t-shirt model in the GCN shop 👍🏼
@@chrisboyd6927 The app wasn't always, but had very much become, an extension of GCN+ and it was collateral damage in the GCN+ decision. I know there was much more to the app than that and we would have loved to keep it and improve on it, but, alas, people way above my head (and outside of GCN I should stress) decided it wasn't to be.
Gravel bikes are the perfect all rounder style of bike. Lower the prices on the ridiculously expensive bikes and simplify. A winning strategy. Those that need the expensive and technical bikes will still buy them because they NEED them. For the rest of us? Reasonably priced multipurpose bikes!
It's expensive because it's complicated. If bike companies stopped R&Ding proprietary specs that give only marginal gains to the average cyclist, we'd all be far better off.
Cheap bikes are better than ever. Dont be fooled by people who need the best gear. Bike weight is pretty much meaningless unless you race or carry your bike often.
O woohoo, thanks for the bottle, Dan and Si! And yes, as a boy, I recall looking inside a beauty salon with wonder at all the ladies sitting side-by-side as their heads were covered by those giant hair dryers. But I never imagined that one day bicycle racers would wear helmets like that. 😀
Not necessarily complicated, just overwhelming... There are far too many choices and "must-haves" for newer riders. The bike industry and its media arm (you guys) have done a good job convincing riders they need things they do not need (i.e. electric mini pumps) combined with seemingly limitless options (i.e. saddles), which just puts off a lot of people.
As a long time bike fitter, I wish I had access to all the modern saddles when I started. Not for me, but for actual customers. *I'll never buy one of those pumps, but I'm happy they exist. They're of great use for people with arthritis, and various disabilities.
The Canyon Aeroad in mvdp red or the Trek Madone. You spend 5k but can't get a really good color. Really frustrating seeing the top end models, which just look better, when spending that amount of money
This. But with all bikes, not just expensive ones. My no1 need in a new bike is looks I am in love with. For that I need better paint options across the board.
All my bikes I spray paint.. just bought a mtb and going to give it a fresh lick of paint . Road bike is 15yrs old and has had two paint jobs which I've done just to keep it looking modern . Plus it's also how I learned how to paint . Nw I'm painting bike, race auto helmets, motorbike fairings etc.. it's a great when you get the results.. and its like falling into thw world of cycling again . I find bike brand paint jobs are boring for sure hense why I buy to keep and never to sell again . 😅
Yes, as someone shopping for a new bike at the moment, the number of models and variations is sometimes overwhelming. The Trek Domane is a prime example.
@@gcn Trek Domane is one, though probably just the aluminum version. Canyon Endurace. But also looking at light gravel bikes like the Trek Checkpoint or Giant Diverge.
@@ryancraig2795If you’re in the US and want a new bike Trek is selling their Domane AL for $999 in the Sale section of their site. Of course there are scores of older carbon bikes with higher end group sets on Facebook Marketplace for a good deal.
I built my own Domane as the big ones come with long cranks, wide handlebars etc, and that wouldn't have fitted me. Found a used / display frameset (to all intents and purposes brand new), then built it up buying bargain components / last season's models (SRAM Rival AXS in a sale, Scribe wheels in the sale etc etc). It is great, but I would have bought off the peg if they let you pick the things you want. Any 'custom' bikes are a massive premium, but it should be the norm.@@ryancraig2795
@ryancraig2795 bought my Domane last year for $5k. Love it more than my old stable of bikes... some over $12k that would be a good $15k now accounting for inflation.
It's not that hard to simplify cycling. Instead of thinking about the next best thing out there and thinking I can be more efficient with this piece of equipment. We can talk about, I did this ride from here to there and it was amazing. We can just enjoy that we got the exercise on the bike and had a blast. If it's about that, perfect. But if we always think about what could be better, are we really enjoying the moment?
It's a really good point you have made. Some people really enjoy the upgrading and thinking about what could be better, in turn it helps keep the industry afloat. At the end of the day, we just want more and more people riding bikes 🫶
I want the cycling brands to offer you the option to build your own bike - then they don't need to hold so many SKUs, but instead sort out their production / delivery process so it is efficient to put it together. Eg pick the type of frame (endurance, race etc), then frame size, then which components (Shimano, SRAM, which spec) you want (incl sizes!! so annoying that larger frames all have long cranks, wide handlebars, no options). Which saddle, which wheels etc etc. Offer a range of options - hardly anyone does this, they try to standardise everything but we aren't standard sizes. Reducing the number of SKUs without offering optionality around components and sizes doesn't seem clever. I ended up building my own bike as no-one did what I wanted.
There are brands out there that offer this but it can be very pricey for the brand to hold all those stock options. Perhaps buying from local shops allow for more customisation?
I feel the same with cycling multitools. I want to always have a tool WITH each bike, but not all bikes need the same tools. For example, i don't have disc brakes so I do not need the torx bit.
When I was a kid about 16 or 17 it was simple. There were three choices, 1 speed, 3 speed or 10 speed and it was Schwinn, Huffy or an exotic Fugi. No one worried about rims or tires. And I did 50 to 75 mile road trips on a Schwinn 3 speed. Today we worry if our valve caps are aero enough. Last July after 40+ years of not riding I got a Schwinn GTX Elite for a really good price. It claimed lightweight. Wow was I fooled, as the dang thing is 37.5 lbs. So now I had to realize that if I wanted to do 50 to 75 mile rides again I'm going to need a different bike. One guy on UA-cam says 2 x 10 Tiagra is all anyone needs and has a more useful distribution of gears than 2 x 11 or even 2 x 12. Others say differently. And a million more different things to consider that people can't agree on. How am I going to know what to buy? At todays prices I can't afford to make a wrong decision. It is too complicated! I finally did buy a Trek Domane al 5 4th gen with 2 x 12 105 mechanical as well as Elitewheels 45D Drive rims. I got Conti GP 5000 tires to put on them. I can't believe that I spent over $3000 dollars for a bike. I must be crazy. Someone will tell me that I spent way too much and that there were just as good bikes for less than a $1000. Others will tell me that I should have spent more because the Trek al is still just too heavy.
Loved reading your story. Complexity makes me want to keep riding my 91 Bianchi cx with friction shifters. I might decide to refresh the paint but maybe a good wash would do the trick.
It was a balmy 41f (5c) here today and it was sunny. And I got to ride my new Trek Domane al 5 gen 4 today for its first serious outing. It was less than 5 miles but probably more than 3 miles. I didn't think to charge my bike computer. My lungs were really hurting from the cold so I had to quit when I did. However, compared to my 37.5 lb Schwinn it is blazingly fast. Even with the stock wheels and tires still on the bike. It just wanted to go faster. And every time I shifted to a higher gear even when climbing it wanted to go faster and got easier to pedal as my cadence increased. I have never experienced a bike like that before. I couldn't put all the power into it like I wanted to because of the cold air. Now I can't wait for warmer weather. The shifting was the smoothest that I have ever experienced. I guess this is the first "really good" bike that I have ever owned.
stop talking to the people that told you it's too heavy. After a 40 year hiatus the last thing you should care about (IMHO) is weight. No scratch that. That's the last thing you should care about period... Only excuse if you're racing hill climbs
To Trek: The customer needs the variety in sizes, but we don't need the variety in colors, so there's your easy option for cutting back on SKUs. Also, there is no need to establish a separate SKU for every combination of frame/wheels/groupset. Have separate SKUs for each frame, another set of SKUs for the wheels, and a third set for the group sets, and then sell the combination as package deals, tracking each SKU separately.
Thinking that actually the colour options, well not all of them, are actually SKU's. Since they would be made to order so no stock being held in all colours per se. Perhaps just the main most popular colours are stocked in a warehouse as ceretain to sell.
On drill-drivers. Having gutted and rebuilt our house and those of relatives over the last ten years, I do have something to say. Batteries are the biggest part of the cost. For drilling, usually, a couple of smaller batteries is better than one big one for the occasional user. If you have other battery tools, there is a case for staying with the platform. Common platforms are coming but they don't include all brands. Usually, people start with a pack of drill-driver and impact driver plus 2 batteries - that brand choice then dictates what other cordless tools they get. 1) if drilling into a lot of bricks and concrete, go Milwaukee or Makita. My experience of DeWalt and Bosch is a few years old now but both failed and the Bosch was all over the internet, so not just me. For that, start with cheap bits and start small, eg 4mm and build up to the size of hole you need - it puts less strain on the drill and has less heat build-up. I have been astonished at the precision of the hammer on my current Milwaukees compared with DeWalt, Bosch, and cheaper brands. 2) will you drill in confined spaces, eg between floor or ceiling joists? If so, go shortest length you can find (that's why I got my Bosch as the shortest available back then). 2a) Will you do a lot of overhead work? Weight can matter - hence having a small battery can be helpful. 3) will yo do a lot of drilling away from mains for charging? If so, you need bigger batteries or several batteries. kCheck what you get in the deal. 4) cheaper options are good! If you don't need heavy-duty and you don't need small as possible then Einhell, Erbauer (Screwfix in-house brand), are fine. I have used a couple of Ryobi drills for decades - they were a clearance bargain, came with NMH batteries but take the Lithium ion battery I got when the NMH died. the drill is big and clumsy but is great to have as a second if I need several drills with different bits at the same time. The second is a right-angle drill for getting into tight spaces. But the non-big-name options I've used do feel clumsy, unbalanced, lacking power and I'm always glad to get back to my own gear. 5) If you need to get into tight spaces, there are attachments you can get to drill or drive at right angles to the body of the drill. 6) Will you be drilling into steel, aluminium, wood? For steel and aluminium, you need good speed control. 7) Will you do much driving of screws? You want an easy to read and use torque control. 8) Brushless is much better than old style brushed motor so be willing to pay for it unless you really will use only occasionally. 9) How does it feel in your hand? How easy is it to change speed and torque and bits? Here, it's up to you to try a few in your hand, in the shop. 10) The big chains, Screwfix, Toolstation, B&Q, are OK but local specialist tool shops are often helpful and have better prices with a chance to hold a range of alternatives. 11) The BIG ONE: Do you need 18V? Battery voltage has changed a lot with 18V standard but you can get 40V and 12V is making a big comeback. Modern 12V from Bosch, Milwaukee are as powerful or more powerful that bigger voltage of a few years ago. Bosch, Milwaukee, and Makita make adaptable kits to drill, drive, socket wrench, angle drill, offset drill in awkward spaces. It's just like the current bike scene and, for the DiYer, can lead to decision paralysis. For me, it's corded Makita (DeWalt corded is now trash); 18V cordless Milwaukee drill, driver, multicutter; 12V cordless Bosch. Still have some DeWalt corded tools but don't like them
People are catching on that name brand manufacturers are just making their bikes in Asia for £300, then selling them to consumers for $6k. That and gross mismanagement is why they're soon to be out of business. Sidenote: Who in their right mind would pay over £400 for a Trek?!?! That's like buying a Vauxhall sports car at Ferrari prices.
The bike shops Trek has purchased, were already up for sale. Nobody forced those shop owners to sell. Some were for sale because the owners were ready to retire, some were for sale because they were failing. They got lucky that Trek was willing to purchase their businesses for top dollar.
I am actually impressed by the Lidl Parkside Performance line. Not so much by the standard green ones but the black performance models are to be taken serious. However according to their mid fade haircut Dan and Si are entering their midlife crisis 😉 In that case you might have a look at some Milwaukee tools with more power than any non pro needs. Just like Super Record basically.
As a non-professional who loves cycling but also plays other sports in the spring/summer type rider, I don't even know where to begin with purchasing a new Gravel or Road bike this spring. Looking at Orbea, their "mid range" aluminum frame bikes are somehow like $2900-4000 CAD and there are so many models to choose from. I feel like AT MOST there should be low, mid, and high (1,2,3) for each model and maybe 2 colour choices and that'll keep consumers like me from getting overwhelmed. Kinda like car models. At this rate, I'm just going to keep my $800 Trek Hybrid another season and deal with going slower than some friends cause I'm not really willing to drop $3000 on what appears to be not even remotely a high end model. And that is all before "Gear Tube" and every other bell and whistle must haves that are the norm now. People look at you crazy if you have clipless but not a full jersey kit. Like I wanna spend $1000 on full Maap outfit. Bike riding in my hometown was something everybody did(MTB, road, BMX), not just rich people. The culture seems to have changed a lot from what I remember.
Regarding the upcoming video on tire size, I can confirm that a large tire will defintely slow you down. A few years ago I replaced the 23-mm tires on my 2012 Scott CR-1 with 25 mm tires on Mavic Aksium wheels. I checked them earlier this week to find out that the wheel had been flexing enough that the tire had been rubbing on the inside of the chainstay to the point where it finally wore through the carbon fibre. So no, larger tires are not necesarily better.
There are too many options. 60% of bike shops are now filled with e-bikes (nothing against them) but the shops are still the same size and it is a lottery to find a specific type of bike in the right size to try out.
@@gcn I don‘t think so. In the past, shops often only got what they had on preorder. If your size was not amongst this, you had bad luck. Pretty customer unfriendly. I hope it‘s easier this year with the bike industry in oh-so-bad shape.
the bike industry has prompted me to simplify as there is just too much going on and changing within it too rapidly. I got tired of trying to keep up and all the choices to make, that I finally settled on the bikes I wanted and got rid of a lot that were unnecessary. It goes along with all my kit too. I keep it simple, ride what I want, and how fast or far I want. I've kind of done away with any more influence of pro cycling as it's just become ridiculous.
@@gcnIt's quite easy because it's all the same every time. This one is lighter, stiffer, faster, more aero. Okay, I'm kind of desensitized to those claims now. I like to see the latest, but I no longer feel I need it.
Some napkin math here.. Road models you’ll have TT, Aero, Race, Endurance, Gravel, and one more bonus wildcard for a “more aggressive” gravel bike, or fitness bike. You’ll have 7+ groupset/build options. (SRAM Red, Force, Rival, Apex. Shimano DA, Ultegra, 105 DI2, and 105 Mechanical or Tiagra.) Let’s assume 2 colors per model, and 6 sizes (48 to 60, or XS to XXL) So that’s a total of 504 SKU’s. MTB has Hardtail, Full Suspension Cross Country, Downcountry, Trail, Enduro, Downhill, Light Trail eBike, Trail eBike, Light Enduro eBike, Enduro eBike. Then you’ll have a minimum of 5 sizes each, and a minimum of 4 (typically 5) build kits each (NX/SX, GX, X01, XX. Plus whatever deviations for Shimano, and they have a smattering of Rockshox/Fox stuff for good measure. Assume 2 different colors, sometimes more, and you’re at 550 SKU’s. So just in “enthusiast” MTB/Road bikes, you’re over 1,000 SKUs. Nightmarish.
@@gcn Like anything else, when the economy/industry is good, this level of complication is perhaps sustainable. However when the tide turns, it obviously isn’t wise to be sitting on so much inventory. The same goes for how many people they employ, not long ago when things were going well, Trek was constantly posting job listings, now they’re having layoffs. It’s a shame, but I doubt it will be an existential threat to any of the big players, but we’ll probably have a blood letting of the smaller brands.
Availability is still weird too. Some stuff is around in abundance and on sale, some models (especially in "average" sizes) seem to be almost permanently out of stock.
@@evantozer If you splurge, might as well go with Makita but I think Ryobi is ideal for Si, because it's most likely going to sit unused 99%+ and will probably be used for small work. Tests show that Makita has the best battery protection and statistically break the least from all manufacturers. They also usually have anti-vibration tech which is something you start appreciating only when you get to use their tools, not visible on "stats".
@@aliancemd I was not aware of this anti vibration magic, will have to check it out when I have a chance. I agree, if it’s mostly sitting around makes sense to go with the more budget friendly option.
I visited Oulu in 1980 as a 15 year old for a hockey tournament (yup I’m Canadian and can compare and contrast the winters). Oulu is above the artic circle and I still distinctly remember the many many people riding bikes in Oulu then. We even took a drive to the soviet (now Russian) border on the Helsinki to (then named) Leningrad road. Upon arriving … in addition to the thirty Russians who emerged from the woods with automatic weapons to greet us, we were also greeted by a guard on a bicycle! I could even send you the photo (if you like).
No, I don't think it's too complex. I spent years on an endurance/all around bike and only last year picked up a fast, aggressive race bike... I've never been happier in my life than bent into an aero tuck pushing myself to the limit
Having had a bike fit 12 months earlier, I used that fit data as a starting point for my new Cervelo Aspero5. Then the shop fine tuned it to perfection.
Not all bikes but many are more complicated than they need to be. Things I don't like about modern bikes are: internal cable routing, bb30 bottom brackets, hookless wheels, and tubeless wheel/tire combinations that require sealant.
Yes, I’m still rocking somewhat of a retro bike, which is a 2013 Salsa Collosal Ti with mechanical disc brakes (Growtac Equal) and external cable routing. Growtac mechanical disc brakes (made in Japan) work very well for road bikes where you don’t need as much braking power as a mountain bike.
Too many options? Answer these questions: What handlebar do you want: relaxed, flat, drops, aero? Where do you want to ride: road, gravel, mountain? How many gears do you want: fixed, 1, 2 or 3 chain rings? How far do you want to ride: around town, 100kms or so, or 100's of kms? These are the questions I asked myself when I recently considered the purchase of a new bike - I chose a gravel bike because its very versatile.
They will have more liquid cash by reducing the amount of SKU’s therefore they should offer project ONE option for free. It will attract customers with the ability of choosing your own color instead of lots of different SKU’s that are pre painted already. Customer puts a down payment (or full price) on the bike and TREK knows that this bike will be sold right away.
Drill advise for Si from The Great White North (Canada), get your hands on a Makita or Milwaukee 18 volt cordless hammer drill/driver with 450lb of torque and a brushless motor with more than one battery. You'll be set for a long long time. cheers, love the show👍👍
Was watching this on the living room TV, my wife looked up at 26:00 and sincerely asked me what Valtteri Bottas was doing on GCN this time. I had no answer.
It's a shame Trek is trimming SKUs, they'll probably end up like Specialized where you only have the choice between 2-3 equally boring color options. You can have any color Domane you want, as long as it's black or red.
Speaking of reliable drivers, Si, you pretty much can't go wrong with Ryobi. Budget friendly, high powered, great batteries. Not the best in regards to cold weather use, but for that there is an 18v main power adapter so if you need to drill something in cold weather you can just plug in to the wall as opposed to juggling big batteries.
Perhaps it’s less about the industry and more about the culture? Could it be that N+1 is flawed? Hence the rise of gravel bike popularity… Swiss Army knives instead of an entire kitchen of blades?
I was going through some stuff and found that I already have a GCN branded Camelbak Podium water bottle, as well as a GCN essentials case / wallet, which I bought years ago on their online store. With Jon resurfacing recently, maybe Matt will do a guest appearance too!
I bought a new bike this year, after a decade with my old one. Platforms like GCN Tech absolutely helped me come to terms with understanding the plethora of options out there. In my 60th year, a hybrid bike, equipped with the group-set of the people, turned out to be my choice. Check back when I am 70 to determine if a slimmed down bike industry is easier to navigate.
The first question that should always be asked is "What do you want to use your bike for?" May need to explain the options like road, commute, gravel, off road(MTB). Once you know what it is to be used for, you have instantly reduced the number of options, or sub options (road/gravel) that you need to look at.
The bikes themselves are too complicated, finicky, and are moving further and further away from being something the average cyclist can work on themselves. For starters, the industry needs to sort out this wheel-tyre compatibility chaos that they've created so consumers know what size their tyre will be on the rim and if it'll be safe. They also need to spend a tiny extra bit of time and money to properly QC bikes during assembly so that BBs sit properly and brake callipers are square with the rotors so that their bikes work properly and don't annoy their riders. It also feels at this point that the only reason more gears are being added is to coerce people into "upgrading." This 12- or 13-speed set ups have to be so precisely set up to work well, and they cost a fortune. I'm currently riding a 12-year-old Focus with Sram Force 10-speed, and I love it. The only reason I'm planning to upgrade is because I'd be more comfortable with a custom fit. I'm getting a steel frame with externally routed cables and equipping it with Force 22 mechanical with rim brakes. It will probably be the last road bike I ever buy, and I will love it. I've ridden bikes with disc brakes and Di2, and they're great when they work, but they're expensive, complicated, hard to work on, heavier, and they didn't actually increase my enjoyment of riding.
Agree the bike was a simple bit of kit that anyone could service and work on, now even a basic race bike has to be serviced by a bike shop, because they are more complicated more labour costs are involved, in some cases not far off the motor industry, racing bike were never a cheap hobby but now gone stupid money. Not so many years ago a Pro race bike could be worked on by a home mechanic, part of the fun of cycling was to be able to look after your own bike and just enjoy riding it.
Bike manufacturers should improve their supply chain to improve just in time creation, so that consumers could customize their bike like the car industry. Probably we are patient enough to wait a few weeks if that means less waste and better environmental impact.
An 18v 2 speed hammer drill will cover your general needs. Should be around $120-$150 USD. The kit usually comes drill/charger/ battery/handle. You’ll have to buy the bits separately.
I think for most of us, who don’t enjoy daily treatment by a chiropractor, a personal yoga instructor and so on, bikes like the Trek Domane that have a longer headtube make much more sense.
@@daschreiner i'll go even further. Most people don't want drop bars. If they made more gravel bikes, even road bikes, with flat bars, they would definitely sell a lot more.
@@gcn A more comfortable position is better than a lighter bike. If they really wanted to make lighter bikes for us they would have continued to offer the brake rim option.
Si, there are many ways to make a hole in something other than an electric drill. Depending on that material and how accurate the hole needs to be you can use, a hand drill, bow and arrow, huge variety of guns - each caliber yielding a different size hole, a sharp knife, cutting torch, just use you imagination.
As a Canadian that does cycle in the winter, I can assure you that the very worst weather is freezing rain, or any precipitation between 2/-2 degrees Celsius. So whatever city is receiving the most can claim worst weather and I'll happily continue to cycle in -10 or lower temperature.
ANY sport is complicated. If your mid level to pro and appreciate a sport, you learn everything there is about it. Your choices of bike, equipment, adjustments, training. Blah blah…. If you are intro to beginning, it could be complicated, you’re not going for the complexity… you just need to get comfortable riding…. All the other stuff comes later!
Si is correct about light colors on bikes, at least in Canada. A clear light implies the rider is facing you, therefore coming towards you. A red light indicates the rider is headed away. Same as a car.
Last time I did math, 8 sizes times 6 color options would be 48 SKU's. :) LOL!!! As always, love the show and especially the call out for the UCI to develop an app for people to watch live cycling, well played Mr. Lloyd!!!! Discovery definitely made a bone-headed decision, no doubt.
We all know brands collectively hatched a plan to sell more bikes by making disc only. We have seen the aero is everything, the bike to do it all and now weigh matters since this push 15 years ago.
The best solution to this is a good sales person. Having often observed sales people at Mack Cycle in Miami I’m sure that they do a great job of guiding their customers through the process. That shop is so crammed with options that the initial visual environment would be overwhelming to a newby. The sales conversation can put the customer at ease and help them navigate the options to end up with a bike and other kit to match their intended riding. I do generally recommend a gravel bike as the most adaptable solution.
A personal perspective on too many options: I'm put off buying bikes to enter different spheres of cycling by the apparent wide range of options. I understand what I need from my road bike and where I fit in the sport. However it is off putting the idea of making the wrong choices in another discipline and then having not chosen the right bike for my niche therein. Especially when bikes cost so much now. For example there are sort of more racey gravel bikes and sort of more rugged ones, sometimes both offered by the same brand! Not being a gravel biker yet I don't know my place in the sport, so I wouldn't know which to go with. Or 1x vs 2x. My roadbike is 2x , my hardtail is 1x. I understand the advantages of both but not yet knowing my gravel bike style, it's hard to know which I want. Both are available. Having to make these choices actually puts me off getting my first gravel bike, rather than making me think how wonderful all this choice is.
It looks like Trek has about 76 "road" models (broken into performance (65), endurance (28), gravel(59), lightweight(23), aero (14), electric (8), triathlon (8), and cyclocross (5)) with a price range of $1,200 to $14,000 (excluding sale prices), while Specialized has 101 (broken into performance (75), gravel (35), cyclocross (9), and electric (13)) with a price range of $1,000 to $14,000. Most of the categories add up to more than the total since some are listed in multiple categories, and none of these counts get into things like frame size, color, or wheel size options.
As a full time, carpenter, I think you have three levels of tools you can choose from. You think bikes are too complicated, welcome to power tools. You have entry level, daily money makers, and tool collector level. Winners in each in the USA are, "Ridgid" for Entry level, "Makita" in the daily money makers, and 'Hilti" for tool collectors. All of these will last and make you money, but the ergonomics are vastly different, size and fit get smaller as the price goes up. I run Metabo HTP/Hitachi because the ergonomics for a med to small person are great and batteries are half the price of the other companies. Batteries are king, bare tools are cheap in relation to them. I gave you Ridged because they have a great air compressor and their stuff is basic and rugged, Makita is leaner, has a super wide product range and easy to buy, and Hilti because the stuff is ergonomic and made like a swiss watch.
Half of cycling products and they’re desire is the cool factor. Cycling has many riders who care about status and what people think of their bike. A simple reminder to just enjoy what you ride. Someone told me if you don’t know what to upgrade on your bike, then you don’t need an upgrade
Since Dan has so much power, can he please get the bicycle emoji 🚲, moved from the home category into the sports category? Darts 🎯, bowling 🎳, and even video gaming 🎮 are in the sports group, but not the bicycle! It's an outrage!!! Thanks, Dan. You da man!
This why buying a frame only, then building it up, is a much better option to eliminate the SKU issue, but I have been in that same issue on too many options when I was looking for Miter Saw. I ended up just sticking with my ancient old heavy miter saw, but I would love having some of the new capabilities built it on some of the new ones.
I do like choice. Pain kept me from cycling for years and years. Having different options has allowed me to find a bike that I don’t end up with a massive headache
There’s also the aspect of companies downgrading other brands to convince you of purchasing their horrible products. I own a savadeck phantom 2.0 with 80mm deep dish wheels and shimano ultegra group set. I find myself constantly dropping people with other “high quality” brands like specialized etc..people are constantly trying to stop me to ask questions about the bike cause it is very eye catching. If I would have listened to all the “paid” negative reviews of Chinese carbon fiber bikes I would have never pulled the trigger. Both me and my Gf own savadeck and have had no issues with them.
That’s funny. You probably feel pretty great dropping people who aren’t even trying to race you. Maybe you should get your racing license and start doing actual races (crits and road races not sportives), then you can get a better measure of how well you and your bike compare to others.
@@prestachuck2867 there you go making an assumption without even knowing who I am. Before I went into the medical field I actually use to race and had a membership license from USA cycling. So yea I know exactly what the bike I have is capable of and it’s not the only bike I own either. I made a comment and you took it and ran elsewhere with it.
There is talk of the difficulty of buying the right bike because of the variety of options. Now I'm questioning the work ethic. Yesterday I saw a video published showing how the Giant factory in Taiwan works. I was saddened by the image I got of the way the employees were working, practically women being supervised by men, I can imagine the salary and looks like a dictatorship I hope im wrong. I don't buy Giant anymore! Do you buy GCN?
For cordless drills, in USA I’d go with either Milwaukee or dewalt, definitely brushless, and the deciding factor is buying into one battery form factor. The other accessories, hedge trimmer, weed whacker, leaf blower, circular saw, impact driver, sawzall, oscillating multi tool, vacuum etc. that will be most useful to you down the road, since you can purchase tool only without the battery at a significant discount
Bicycle manufacturers followed the path of athletic shoe companies and tried to create a different type of bike for all cycling venues. While this may be necessary fat the pro levels, most consumers don’t need or can they a afford all these different bike. Garages won’t handle it when you require a separate garage bay to house you $8,000 racing bike, $5,000 gravel bike, $2,000 outfitted touring bike, and $$2,000 electric bike, and more.
Even in the 90s I remember going to the specialized dealer and there was a Stumpjumper, Rockhopper and Hardrock, which were all steel cross country hardtails... Although I think the Hardrock had a rigid front fork.
Buying a bike should be like ordering a new iMac. There I can pick the components i want them to install before sending me the computer. I recently just ordered a new Roubaix after having a bike fit and promptly had to replace the handlebars, stem, saddle, and cranks to make if fit me AFTER it arrived! Significant extra expense as well as contributing to my growing collection of extra bike parts.
Do you think cycling is too complex? 😵💫
Yes
When bikes came in 1 or 2 cm increments from 50-60cm it was pretty complex too.
But, back then the amount of pre-assembled bikes was nowhere near as it is now.
Bike manufacturers want to sell bikes not frames, I guess?!
NO - two old pricks trying to make shit- storm over nothing really important...
Yes, so how can we create demand for a bike that does everything? Innovation in bikes that suit most riders instead of TDF winners is elusive. For example, most people would get everyday performance gains from integrated lights, food and water storage, tool storage etc. Triathlon bikes have started to appreciate this need but it’s still only really for elites.
well i think there are too many axle sizes and seat tube sizes and stuff like that. other than that i think it's okay.
21:22 It’s not only articles, presenting and training for Flanders that I’ve been doing. I’ve also been spending plenty of time swanning around as a t-shirt model in the GCN shop 👍🏼
yes! where products can be bought to help support the channel at gcn.eu/shop 🫶
Serious question--I can maybe see why Discovery killed GCN+, but why did they have to kill off the app? It was a great community to interact with.
@@chrisboyd6927 The app wasn't always, but had very much become, an extension of GCN+ and it was collateral damage in the GCN+ decision. I know there was much more to the app than that and we would have loved to keep it and improve on it, but, alas, people way above my head (and outside of GCN I should stress) decided it wasn't to be.
@@cilliankelly1 Thanks for the fast answer, and I'll let you get back to wrangling technology.
Well played Mr. Kelly! :)
“What kinda haircut are you going for lads??”
Si/Dan “have you seen Jarheads??!”
Beavis and Butthead.
Jedward
Maybe they’ve been wearing Jumbo Aero helmets on the quiet without telling us.
@@nickpatten5263😂
GCN, the Global Clipper Network coming soon 💇
Gravel bikes are the perfect all rounder style of bike. Lower the prices on the ridiculously expensive bikes and simplify. A winning strategy. Those that need the expensive and technical bikes will still buy them because they NEED them. For the rest of us? Reasonably priced multipurpose bikes!
Reasonable priced multipurpose bikes.. we're here for that! Gravel bikes really are a great one stop option 🙌
Not complicated just ridiculously expensive
Both
It's expensive because it's complicated. If bike companies stopped R&Ding proprietary specs that give only marginal gains to the average cyclist, we'd all be far better off.
Cheap bikes are better than ever. Dont be fooled by people who need the best gear. Bike weight is pretty much meaningless unless you race or carry your bike often.
@@jepulis6674 If you have to carry something, you do it wrong.
I think both complicated AND stupidly expensive.
O woohoo, thanks for the bottle, Dan and Si! And yes, as a boy, I recall looking inside a beauty salon with wonder at all the ladies sitting side-by-side as their heads were covered by those giant hair dryers. But I never imagined that one day bicycle racers would wear helmets like that. 😀
Dreams do come true 😉
Okay...I'm really jealous of Oolu with their bike path maintenance and having actual cyclists giving feedback which gets listened to.
Sounds like the dream! Don't forget you can make a difference in your local area through local advocacy 👉ua-cam.com/video/sssuPFrt9-M/v-deo.html
"Aulu" mainittu. Torilla tavataan😂
Not necessarily complicated, just overwhelming... There are far too many choices and "must-haves" for newer riders. The bike industry and its media arm (you guys) have done a good job convincing riders they need things they do not need (i.e. electric mini pumps) combined with seemingly limitless options (i.e. saddles), which just puts off a lot of people.
Overwhelming is bang on 👌So many options it's easy to get bogged down! What core bits of tech do you think you need?
Or maybe they make us aware of our options and we buy stuff we want but don’t need. No one is making us spend buy us.
As a long time bike fitter, I wish I had access to all the modern saddles when I started. Not for me, but for actual customers.
*I'll never buy one of those pumps, but I'm happy they exist. They're of great use for people with arthritis, and various disabilities.
@@gcnhe’s saying ur at fault and he’s right
It's overwhelming because it's so complicated..
What is putting me of buying a new bike is the fact, that manufacturers keep the good colors for the totally overpriced premium models
Hey, thanks for the comment!
What's your dream bike and colour? We're curious to know now!
The Canyon Aeroad in mvdp red or the Trek Madone. You spend 5k but can't get a really good color. Really frustrating seeing the top end models, which just look better, when spending that amount of money
This. But with all bikes, not just expensive ones. My no1 need in a new bike is looks I am in love with. For that I need better paint options across the board.
Just spend 300€ more for a sick new paint job on of the lower spec models.
All my bikes I spray paint.. just bought a mtb and going to give it a fresh lick of paint . Road bike is 15yrs old and has had two paint jobs which I've done just to keep it looking modern . Plus it's also how I learned how to paint . Nw I'm painting bike, race auto helmets, motorbike fairings etc.. it's a great when you get the results.. and its like falling into thw world of cycling again . I find bike brand paint jobs are boring for sure hense why I buy to keep and never to sell again . 😅
Yes, as someone shopping for a new bike at the moment, the number of models and variations is sometimes overwhelming. The Trek Domane is a prime example.
What bike have you got your eye on? 👀
@@gcn Trek Domane is one, though probably just the aluminum version. Canyon Endurace. But also looking at light gravel bikes like the Trek Checkpoint or Giant Diverge.
@@ryancraig2795If you’re in the US and want a new bike Trek is selling their Domane AL for $999 in the Sale section of their site. Of course there are scores of older carbon bikes with higher end group sets on Facebook Marketplace for a good deal.
I built my own Domane as the big ones come with long cranks, wide handlebars etc, and that wouldn't have fitted me. Found a used / display frameset (to all intents and purposes brand new), then built it up buying bargain components / last season's models (SRAM Rival AXS in a sale, Scribe wheels in the sale etc etc). It is great, but I would have bought off the peg if they let you pick the things you want. Any 'custom' bikes are a massive premium, but it should be the norm.@@ryancraig2795
@ryancraig2795 bought my Domane last year for $5k. Love it more than my old stable of bikes... some over $12k that would be a good $15k now accounting for inflation.
It's not that hard to simplify cycling. Instead of thinking about the next best thing out there and thinking I can be more efficient with this piece of equipment. We can talk about, I did this ride from here to there and it was amazing. We can just enjoy that we got the exercise on the bike and had a blast. If it's about that, perfect. But if we always think about what could be better, are we really enjoying the moment?
It's a really good point you have made. Some people really enjoy the upgrading and thinking about what could be better, in turn it helps keep the industry afloat.
At the end of the day, we just want more and more people riding bikes 🫶
I want the cycling brands to offer you the option to build your own bike - then they don't need to hold so many SKUs, but instead sort out their production / delivery process so it is efficient to put it together. Eg pick the type of frame (endurance, race etc), then frame size, then which components (Shimano, SRAM, which spec) you want (incl sizes!! so annoying that larger frames all have long cranks, wide handlebars, no options). Which saddle, which wheels etc etc. Offer a range of options - hardly anyone does this, they try to standardise everything but we aren't standard sizes. Reducing the number of SKUs without offering optionality around components and sizes doesn't seem clever. I ended up building my own bike as no-one did what I wanted.
There are brands out there that offer this but it can be very pricey for the brand to hold all those stock options. Perhaps buying from local shops allow for more customisation?
Doesn’t Aston Martin do that? 😉
I feel the same with cycling multitools. I want to always have a tool WITH each bike, but not all bikes need the same tools. For example, i don't have disc brakes so I do not need the torx bit.
When I was a kid about 16 or 17 it was simple. There were three choices, 1 speed, 3 speed or 10 speed and it was Schwinn, Huffy or an exotic Fugi. No one worried about rims or tires. And I did 50 to 75 mile road trips on a Schwinn 3 speed. Today we worry if our valve caps are aero enough. Last July after 40+ years of not riding I got a Schwinn GTX Elite for a really good price. It claimed lightweight. Wow was I fooled, as the dang thing is 37.5 lbs. So now I had to realize that if I wanted to do 50 to 75 mile rides again I'm going to need a different bike. One guy on UA-cam says 2 x 10 Tiagra is all anyone needs and has a more useful distribution of gears than 2 x 11 or even 2 x 12. Others say differently. And a million more different things to consider that people can't agree on. How am I going to know what to buy? At todays prices I can't afford to make a wrong decision. It is too complicated! I finally did buy a Trek Domane al 5 4th gen with 2 x 12 105 mechanical as well as Elitewheels 45D Drive rims. I got Conti GP 5000 tires to put on them. I can't believe that I spent over $3000 dollars for a bike. I must be crazy. Someone will tell me that I spent way too much and that there were just as good bikes for less than a $1000. Others will tell me that I should have spent more because the Trek al is still just too heavy.
Loved reading your story. Complexity makes me want to keep riding my 91 Bianchi cx with friction shifters. I might decide to refresh the paint but maybe a good wash would do the trick.
It was a balmy 41f (5c) here today and it was sunny. And I got to ride my new Trek Domane al 5 gen 4 today for its first serious outing. It was less than 5 miles but probably more than 3 miles. I didn't think to charge my bike computer. My lungs were really hurting from the cold so I had to quit when I did. However, compared to my 37.5 lb Schwinn it is blazingly fast. Even with the stock wheels and tires still on the bike. It just wanted to go faster. And every time I shifted to a higher gear even when climbing it wanted to go faster and got easier to pedal as my cadence increased. I have never experienced a bike like that before. I couldn't put all the power into it like I wanted to because of the cold air. Now I can't wait for warmer weather. The shifting was the smoothest that I have ever experienced. I guess this is the first "really good" bike that I have ever owned.
stop talking to the people that told you it's too heavy. After a 40 year hiatus the last thing you should care about (IMHO) is weight. No scratch that. That's the last thing you should care about period... Only excuse if you're racing hill climbs
@@Ashok_Regiment I live in the mountains. It's either down mountain or up mountain here (except in town) there are no flats outside of town.
To Trek: The customer needs the variety in sizes, but we don't need the variety in colors, so there's your easy option for cutting back on SKUs. Also, there is no need to establish a separate SKU for every combination of frame/wheels/groupset. Have separate SKUs for each frame, another set of SKUs for the wheels, and a third set for the group sets, and then sell the combination as package deals, tracking each SKU separately.
Thinking that actually the colour options, well not all of them, are actually SKU's. Since they would be made to order so no stock being held in all colours per se. Perhaps just the main most popular colours are stocked in a warehouse as ceretain to sell.
Maybe point out to Trek that 6x8 is 48, not 56? Reducing SKUs the easy way!
On drill-drivers. Having gutted and rebuilt our house and those of relatives over the last ten years, I do have something to say.
Batteries are the biggest part of the cost. For drilling, usually, a couple of smaller batteries is better than one big one for the occasional user. If you have other battery tools, there is a case for staying with the platform. Common platforms are coming but they don't include all brands. Usually, people start with a pack of drill-driver and impact driver plus 2 batteries - that brand choice then dictates what other cordless tools they get.
1) if drilling into a lot of bricks and concrete, go Milwaukee or Makita. My experience of DeWalt and Bosch is a few years old now but both failed and the Bosch was all over the internet, so not just me. For that, start with cheap bits and start small, eg 4mm and build up to the size of hole you need - it puts less strain on the drill and has less heat build-up. I have been astonished at the precision of the hammer on my current Milwaukees compared with DeWalt, Bosch, and cheaper brands.
2) will you drill in confined spaces, eg between floor or ceiling joists? If so, go shortest length you can find (that's why I got my Bosch as the shortest available back then).
2a) Will you do a lot of overhead work? Weight can matter - hence having a small battery can be helpful.
3) will yo do a lot of drilling away from mains for charging? If so, you need bigger batteries or several batteries. kCheck what you get in the deal.
4) cheaper options are good! If you don't need heavy-duty and you don't need small as possible then Einhell, Erbauer (Screwfix in-house brand), are fine. I have used a couple of Ryobi drills for decades - they were a clearance bargain, came with NMH batteries but take the Lithium ion battery I got when the NMH died. the drill is big and clumsy but is great to have as a second if I need several drills with different bits at the same time. The second is a right-angle drill for getting into tight spaces. But the non-big-name options I've used do feel clumsy, unbalanced, lacking power and I'm always glad to get back to my own gear.
5) If you need to get into tight spaces, there are attachments you can get to drill or drive at right angles to the body of the drill.
6) Will you be drilling into steel, aluminium, wood? For steel and aluminium, you need good speed control.
7) Will you do much driving of screws? You want an easy to read and use torque control.
8) Brushless is much better than old style brushed motor so be willing to pay for it unless you really will use only occasionally.
9) How does it feel in your hand? How easy is it to change speed and torque and bits? Here, it's up to you to try a few in your hand, in the shop.
10) The big chains, Screwfix, Toolstation, B&Q, are OK but local specialist tool shops are often helpful and have better prices with a chance to hold a range of alternatives.
11) The BIG ONE: Do you need 18V? Battery voltage has changed a lot with 18V standard but you can get 40V and 12V is making a big comeback. Modern 12V from Bosch, Milwaukee are as powerful or more powerful that bigger voltage of a few years ago. Bosch, Milwaukee, and Makita make adaptable kits to drill, drive, socket wrench, angle drill, offset drill in awkward spaces.
It's just like the current bike scene and, for the DiYer, can lead to decision paralysis.
For me, it's corded Makita (DeWalt corded is now trash); 18V cordless Milwaukee drill, driver, multicutter; 12V cordless Bosch. Still have some DeWalt corded tools but don't like them
People are catching on that name brand manufacturers are just making their bikes in Asia for £300, then selling them to consumers for $6k.
That and gross mismanagement is why they're soon to be out of business.
Sidenote: Who in their right mind would pay over £400 for a Trek?!?!
That's like buying a Vauxhall sports car at Ferrari prices.
I like my Dewalt drill and driver set. So far I've done everything from fine adjustments on cabinet hinges to drilling holes in concrete.
Maybe trek shouldn't have bought up.Nearly every local bike shop in the area putting small businesses out of business and spending boat loads of money
The bike shops Trek has purchased, were already up for sale. Nobody forced those shop owners to sell. Some were for sale because the owners were ready to retire, some were for sale because they were failing. They got lucky that Trek was willing to purchase their businesses for top dollar.
Loving how Si is following Dan’s footsteps by going to the same barber. Nice fresh cuts, guys!
The apprentice has become the master 👌
I am actually impressed by the Lidl Parkside Performance line. Not so much by the standard green ones but the black performance models are to be taken serious. However according to their mid fade haircut Dan and Si are entering their midlife crisis 😉 In that case you might have a look at some Milwaukee tools with more power than any non pro needs. Just like Super Record basically.
Or the Pinarello of tools, Festool ;-)
As a non-professional who loves cycling but also plays other sports in the spring/summer type rider, I don't even know where to begin with purchasing a new Gravel or Road bike this spring. Looking at Orbea, their "mid range" aluminum frame bikes are somehow like $2900-4000 CAD and there are so many models to choose from. I feel like AT MOST there should be low, mid, and high (1,2,3) for each model and maybe 2 colour choices and that'll keep consumers like me from getting overwhelmed. Kinda like car models. At this rate, I'm just going to keep my $800 Trek Hybrid another season and deal with going slower than some friends cause I'm not really willing to drop $3000 on what appears to be not even remotely a high end model.
And that is all before "Gear Tube" and every other bell and whistle must haves that are the norm now. People look at you crazy if you have clipless but not a full jersey kit. Like I wanna spend $1000 on full Maap outfit. Bike riding in my hometown was something everybody did(MTB, road, BMX), not just rich people. The culture seems to have changed a lot from what I remember.
We were just commenting last night how much we miss the stories told in the GCN+ films
We do too 😢
ebike classification is fairly simple here based on :
can propel you forward without peddling or not
assist up to 25 or 45km/h
No. A frame, chain, gears, tires, and some cable or mineral oil now and again. What could be simpler ?
Regarding the upcoming video on tire size, I can confirm that a large tire will defintely slow you down. A few years ago I replaced the 23-mm tires on my 2012 Scott CR-1 with 25 mm tires on Mavic Aksium wheels. I checked them earlier this week to find out that the wheel had been flexing enough that the tire had been rubbing on the inside of the chainstay to the point where it finally wore through the carbon fibre. So no, larger tires are not necesarily better.
There are too many options. 60% of bike shops are now filled with e-bikes (nothing against them) but the shops are still the same size and it is a lottery to find a specific type of bike in the right size to try out.
It can be tricky to find the right size, have you ever had a shop order your size in?
@@gcn I don‘t think so. In the past, shops often only got what they had on preorder. If your size was not amongst this, you had bad luck. Pretty customer unfriendly. I hope it‘s easier this year with the bike industry in oh-so-bad shape.
Nice to see Si and Dan going aero with their synchronised haircuts
the bike industry has prompted me to simplify as there is just too much going on and changing within it too rapidly. I got tired of trying to keep up and all the choices to make, that I finally settled on the bikes I wanted and got rid of a lot that were unnecessary. It goes along with all my kit too. I keep it simple, ride what I want, and how fast or far I want. I've kind of done away with any more influence of pro cycling as it's just become ridiculous.
That's awesome to hear! How do block out all the ibke marketing though?
@@gcnIt's quite easy because it's all the same every time. This one is lighter, stiffer, faster, more aero. Okay, I'm kind of desensitized to those claims now. I like to see the latest, but I no longer feel I need it.
Some napkin math here..
Road models you’ll have TT, Aero, Race, Endurance, Gravel, and one more bonus wildcard for a “more aggressive” gravel bike, or fitness bike. You’ll have 7+ groupset/build options. (SRAM Red, Force, Rival, Apex. Shimano DA, Ultegra, 105 DI2, and 105 Mechanical or Tiagra.) Let’s assume 2 colors per model, and 6 sizes (48 to 60, or XS to XXL) So that’s a total of 504 SKU’s.
MTB has Hardtail, Full Suspension Cross Country, Downcountry, Trail, Enduro, Downhill, Light Trail eBike, Trail eBike, Light Enduro eBike, Enduro eBike.
Then you’ll have a minimum of 5 sizes each, and a minimum of 4 (typically 5) build kits each (NX/SX, GX, X01, XX. Plus whatever deviations for Shimano, and they have a smattering of Rockshox/Fox stuff for good measure. Assume 2 different colors, sometimes more, and you’re at 550 SKU’s.
So just in “enthusiast” MTB/Road bikes, you’re over 1,000 SKUs.
Nightmarish.
That's some good maths! There certainly are loads of options out there, do you think it's damaging the industry?
@@gcn Like anything else, when the economy/industry is good, this level of complication is perhaps sustainable. However when the tide turns, it obviously isn’t wise to be sitting on so much inventory. The same goes for how many people they employ, not long ago when things were going well, Trek was constantly posting job listings, now they’re having layoffs. It’s a shame, but I doubt it will be an existential threat to any of the big players, but we’ll probably have a blood letting of the smaller brands.
Consumer paralysis is not an issue with bikes; as 90% is too expensive, it only leaves 10% to choose from.
Do you think there should be more options at the cheaper price point?
Availability is still weird too. Some stuff is around in abundance and on sale, some models (especially in "average" sizes) seem to be almost permanently out of stock.
Si get the Ryobi one drill and impact driver set this will cope with all your drilling and screwing needs
Wanted to suggest better tools but unless you are a professional or a perfectionist, Ryobi is probably one of the best choices for him
I would splurge a bit and go for ridgid. My ryobi batteries all seemed to die so quickly and Ridgid’s lifetime warranty is great.
@@evantozer If you splurge, might as well go with Makita but I think Ryobi is ideal for Si, because it's most likely going to sit unused 99%+ and will probably be used for small work.
Tests show that Makita has the best battery protection and statistically break the least from all manufacturers. They also usually have anti-vibration tech which is something you start appreciating only when you get to use their tools, not visible on "stats".
@@aliancemd I was not aware of this anti vibration magic, will have to check it out when I have a chance. I agree, if it’s mostly sitting around makes sense to go with the more budget friendly option.
I visited Oulu in 1980 as a 15 year old for a hockey tournament (yup I’m Canadian and can compare and contrast the winters). Oulu is above the artic circle and I still distinctly remember the many many people riding bikes in Oulu then. We even took a drive to the soviet (now Russian) border on the Helsinki to (then named) Leningrad road. Upon arriving … in addition to the thirty Russians who emerged from the woods with automatic weapons to greet us, we were also greeted by a guard on a bicycle! I could even send you the photo (if you like).
Do you remember why you drove so far east? Did you visit Lappeenranta?
No, I don't think it's too complex. I spent years on an endurance/all around bike and only last year picked up a fast, aggressive race bike... I've never been happier in my life than bent into an aero tuck pushing myself to the limit
Having had a bike fit 12 months earlier, I used that fit data as a starting point for my new Cervelo Aspero5. Then the shop fine tuned it to perfection.
It can be a game changer if you are buying the dream machine, how does the bike feel now?
Not all bikes but many are more complicated than they need to be. Things I don't like about modern bikes are: internal cable routing, bb30 bottom brackets, hookless wheels, and tubeless wheel/tire combinations that require sealant.
In this case, are you still rocking the retro bikes?
Yes, I’m still rocking somewhat of a retro bike, which is a 2013 Salsa Collosal Ti with mechanical disc brakes (Growtac Equal) and external cable routing. Growtac mechanical disc brakes (made in Japan) work very well for road bikes where you don’t need as much braking power as a mountain bike.
Too soon, I haven't watched a race this year because I wasn't up for paying $200 for the max app.
Caption Competition: Juan Ayuso: Finish? Jonas Vingegaard: No, I'm Danish.
Ba Dum Shhh 🥁
Too many options? Answer these questions:
What handlebar do you want: relaxed, flat, drops, aero?
Where do you want to ride: road, gravel, mountain?
How many gears do you want: fixed, 1, 2 or 3 chain rings?
How far do you want to ride: around town, 100kms or so, or 100's of kms?
These are the questions I asked myself when I recently considered the purchase of a new bike - I chose a gravel bike because its very versatile.
They will have more liquid cash by reducing the amount of SKU’s therefore they should offer project ONE option for free. It will attract customers with the ability of choosing your own color instead of lots of different SKU’s that are pre painted already. Customer puts a down payment (or full price) on the bike and TREK knows that this bike will be sold right away.
Drill advise for Si from The Great White North (Canada), get your hands on a Makita or Milwaukee 18 volt cordless hammer drill/driver with 450lb of torque and a brushless motor with more than one battery. You'll be set for a long long time. cheers, love the show👍👍
Was watching this on the living room TV, my wife looked up at 26:00 and sincerely asked me what Valtteri Bottas was doing on GCN this time. I had no answer.
I don’t hate the comparison brother. Tell your wife the imposter Valteri says cheers 🍺
@@burgess_and_his_bike Was this you? 👉ua-cam.com/video/NeJxQ0ySNKI/v-deo.html
@@gcn I wouldn’t do GCN like that, but this might have been ua-cam.com/video/z0tW3wY758Q/v-deo.htmlsi=jupvHgwMumvied7F 🤫
This whole conversation about the garden glove is a HUGE BODGE!!
Dan is low key wild. First tinder and then plugging 😂.
👀
It's a shame Trek is trimming SKUs, they'll probably end up like Specialized where you only have the choice between 2-3 equally boring color options. You can have any color Domane you want, as long as it's black or red.
Do you think that people will be willing to possibly have cheaper bikes if it means less options?
@@gcn Most people just buy black bikes anyway, so I'd bet they'd be willing. But it's not a given that fewer options will result in lower pricing.
Speaking of reliable drivers, Si, you pretty much can't go wrong with Ryobi. Budget friendly, high powered, great batteries. Not the best in regards to cold weather use, but for that there is an 18v main power adapter so if you need to drill something in cold weather you can just plug in to the wall as opposed to juggling big batteries.
We'll let him know 🫡
Caption : Sorry guys no more for me, I've already had Juan
Dan’s hair mimics the new aero helmet!!!
Or does the aero helmet mimic Dan's hair? 👱
Perhaps it’s less about the industry and more about the culture? Could it be that N+1 is flawed? Hence the rise of gravel bike popularity… Swiss Army knives instead of an entire kitchen of blades?
I was going through some stuff and found that I already have a GCN branded Camelbak Podium water bottle, as well as a GCN essentials case / wallet, which I bought years ago on their online store. With Jon resurfacing recently, maybe Matt will do a guest appearance too!
I bought a new bike this year, after a decade with my old one. Platforms like GCN Tech absolutely helped me come to terms with understanding the plethora of options out there. In my 60th year, a hybrid bike, equipped with the group-set of the people, turned out to be my choice. Check back when I am 70 to determine if a slimmed down bike industry is easier to navigate.
Dan's 'Tinder' comment was superb - took us all by surprise!!
Off script there for sure 👀
Had to pause GCN video to check out song by Pierre Danae. Great song and beautifully filmed at velodrome.
As long as you came back and watched the rest 😉
@@gcn Sure did!
Really appreciate it, glad you liked it ! 🕺🚴♂️
The first question that should always be asked is "What do you want to use your bike for?"
May need to explain the options like road, commute, gravel, off road(MTB).
Once you know what it is to be used for, you have instantly reduced the number of options, or sub options (road/gravel) that you need to look at.
The bikes themselves are too complicated, finicky, and are moving further and further away from being something the average cyclist can work on themselves. For starters, the industry needs to sort out this wheel-tyre compatibility chaos that they've created so consumers know what size their tyre will be on the rim and if it'll be safe. They also need to spend a tiny extra bit of time and money to properly QC bikes during assembly so that BBs sit properly and brake callipers are square with the rotors so that their bikes work properly and don't annoy their riders. It also feels at this point that the only reason more gears are being added is to coerce people into "upgrading." This 12- or 13-speed set ups have to be so precisely set up to work well, and they cost a fortune. I'm currently riding a 12-year-old Focus with Sram Force 10-speed, and I love it. The only reason I'm planning to upgrade is because I'd be more comfortable with a custom fit. I'm getting a steel frame with externally routed cables and equipping it with Force 22 mechanical with rim brakes. It will probably be the last road bike I ever buy, and I will love it. I've ridden bikes with disc brakes and Di2, and they're great when they work, but they're expensive, complicated, hard to work on, heavier, and they didn't actually increase my enjoyment of riding.
Agree the bike was a simple bit of kit that anyone could service and work on, now even a basic race bike has to be serviced by a bike shop, because they are more complicated more labour costs are involved, in some cases not far off the motor industry, racing bike were never a cheap hobby but now gone stupid money. Not so many years ago a Pro race bike could be worked on by a home mechanic, part of the fun of cycling was to be able to look after your own bike and just enjoy riding it.
Caption: "You guys go ahead . . Juan drinks on Juan's own"
Bosch brand impact driver is literally the best drill ever!! 21V battery 🔥
Never had a bike fit! Did inside leg measure minus 10 or whatever.. ended up with 22.5”. That was in 1986 and I’m still riding that bike.
Awesome! We love hearing about bikes that stay with people, the bond must be great!
@@gcn I’ve got a few more years left in me yet and the bike will outlive me I think 😉
Bike manufacturers should improve their supply chain to improve just in time creation, so that consumers could customize their bike like the car industry. Probably we are patient enough to wait a few weeks if that means less waste and better environmental impact.
The most scariest guy yet the most honest
An 18v 2 speed hammer drill will cover your general needs. Should be around $120-$150 USD. The kit usually comes drill/charger/ battery/handle. You’ll have to buy the bits separately.
Overpriced and not giving us what most people want. The more aero they make the bikes the less number of people who will enjoy riding them.
Do you think light weight bikes are more fun to ride then?
yes@@gcn
I think for most of us, who don’t enjoy daily treatment by a chiropractor, a personal yoga instructor and so on, bikes like the Trek Domane that have a longer headtube make much more sense.
@@daschreiner i'll go even further. Most people don't want drop bars. If they made more gravel bikes, even road bikes, with flat bars, they would definitely sell a lot more.
@@gcn A more comfortable position is better than a lighter bike. If they really wanted to make lighter bikes for us they would have continued to offer the brake rim option.
Si, there are many ways to make a hole in something other than an electric drill. Depending on that material and how accurate the hole needs to be you can use, a hand drill, bow and arrow, huge variety of guns - each caliber yielding a different size hole, a sharp knife, cutting torch, just use you imagination.
This is a bodge for sure! 👀
Haha you heard of the aero tuck but that helmet is the aero hug 😂
Bridgewood also gives out aero hugs
As a Canadian that does cycle in the winter, I can assure you that the very worst weather is freezing rain, or any precipitation between 2/-2 degrees Celsius. So whatever city is receiving the most can claim worst weather and I'll happily continue to cycle in -10 or lower temperature.
ANY sport is complicated. If your mid level to pro and appreciate a sport, you learn everything there is about it. Your choices of bike, equipment, adjustments, training. Blah blah…. If you are intro to beginning, it could be complicated, you’re not going for the complexity… you just need to get comfortable riding…. All the other stuff comes later!
Great point, do you think there is too much focus beginners to have and greatest kit? Riding and enjoyment should be number one🙌
Si is correct about light colors on bikes, at least in Canada. A clear light implies the rider is facing you, therefore coming towards you. A red light indicates the rider is headed away. Same as a car.
Last time I did math, 8 sizes times 6 color options would be 48 SKU's. :) LOL!!! As always, love the show and especially the call out for the UCI to develop an app for people to watch live cycling, well played Mr. Lloyd!!!! Discovery definitely made a bone-headed decision, no doubt.
We all know brands collectively hatched a plan to sell more bikes by making disc only. We have seen the aero is everything, the bike to do it all and now weigh matters since this push 15 years ago.
Haha no
My first thoughts were "wow, Si and Dan use the same barber". Short back and sides anyone? 😂
💈
You would have to assume that a Mobile Barber came to megabase and gave them a bulk discount! 🙃
One of the greatest advances in bikes was the AHead stem with exchangeable extension.
The best solution to this is a good sales person. Having often observed sales people at Mack Cycle in Miami I’m sure that they do a great job of guiding their customers through the process.
That shop is so crammed with options that the initial visual environment would be overwhelming to a newby. The sales conversation can put the customer at ease and help them navigate the options to end up with a bike and other kit to match their intended riding. I do generally recommend a gravel bike as the most adaptable solution.
Si you nailed the Oulu pronunciation @ 18:44:00 - nice!
These too few choices these days for people who want an old school 90s bike that is cheap and functional and brand new
Si, I would go for a Bosch GSB cordless drill
If it's got the Cannings seal of approval it must be a good one! 👌
18V or 12V ;)
@@Gordon_Shumwai 18v
Makita 18v! Go pro…! With the hammer drill option for those gravel outdoor options!
@@JonCanningsnow it's getting tricky 21, 28, 45, 55, 90, 110 or the 150
A personal perspective on too many options: I'm put off buying bikes to enter different spheres of cycling by the apparent wide range of options.
I understand what I need from my road bike and where I fit in the sport. However it is off putting the idea of making the wrong choices in another discipline and then having not chosen the right bike for my niche therein. Especially when bikes cost so much now.
For example there are sort of more racey gravel bikes and sort of more rugged ones, sometimes both offered by the same brand! Not being a gravel biker yet I don't know my place in the sport, so I wouldn't know which to go with.
Or 1x vs 2x. My roadbike is 2x , my hardtail is 1x. I understand the advantages of both but not yet knowing my gravel bike style, it's hard to know which I want. Both are available.
Having to make these choices actually puts me off getting my first gravel bike, rather than making me think how wonderful all this choice is.
Caption competition: *Sad face* "This Juan's finished already (so why am I second?)"
It looks like Trek has about 76 "road" models (broken into performance (65), endurance (28), gravel(59), lightweight(23), aero (14), electric (8), triathlon (8), and cyclocross (5)) with a price range of $1,200 to $14,000 (excluding sale prices), while Specialized has 101 (broken into performance (75), gravel (35), cyclocross (9), and electric (13)) with a price range of $1,000 to $14,000. Most of the categories add up to more than the total since some are listed in multiple categories, and none of these counts get into things like frame size, color, or wheel size options.
Am I missing something obvious ?
8x6 = 48
Either this Si or GCN Si shouldn’t do stocktaking of SKUs…😊
🧮 for Si it seems!
As a full time, carpenter, I think you have three levels of tools you can choose from. You think bikes are too complicated, welcome to power tools. You have entry level, daily money makers, and tool collector level. Winners in each in the USA are, "Ridgid" for Entry level, "Makita" in the daily money makers, and 'Hilti" for tool collectors. All of these will last and make you money, but the ergonomics are vastly different, size and fit get smaller as the price goes up. I run Metabo HTP/Hitachi because the ergonomics for a med to small person are great and batteries are half the price of the other companies. Batteries are king, bare tools are cheap in relation to them. I gave you Ridged because they have a great air compressor and their stuff is basic and rugged, Makita is leaner, has a super wide product range and easy to buy, and Hilti because the stuff is ergonomic and made like a swiss watch.
the world of powertools soon becomes a confusing place!
As an IT professional, I appreciate Cillian’s efforts!
Half of cycling products and they’re desire is the cool factor. Cycling has many riders who care about status and what people think of their bike. A simple reminder to just enjoy what you ride. Someone told me if you don’t know what to upgrade on your bike, then you don’t need an upgrade
10:23 You can do other things than drilling too. You could nail, staple, or glue for example. Just ask your local drill shop to help you out, Si.
Since Dan has so much power, can he please get the bicycle emoji 🚲, moved from the home category into the sports category? Darts 🎯, bowling 🎳, and even video gaming 🎮 are in the sports group, but not the bicycle! It's an outrage!!! Thanks, Dan. You da man!
Where is the SUPER LIKE BUTTON!!! love Dan’s idea of an app where you can watch live cycling coverage!!!
UCI+
Caption Competition:
"Okay... start drinking in 3! 2! 1!"
Juan: "Yes?"
This why buying a frame only, then building it up, is a much better option to eliminate the SKU issue, but I have been in that same issue on too many options when I was looking for Miter Saw. I ended up just sticking with my ancient old heavy miter saw, but I would love having some of the new capabilities built it on some of the new ones.
I do like choice. Pain kept me from cycling for years and years. Having different options has allowed me to find a bike that I don’t end up with a massive headache
10:10 SI; "to simplify the buying purchase" He has a big fiture in marketing; more words without adding meaning.😊
There’s also the aspect of companies downgrading other brands to convince you of purchasing their horrible products. I own a savadeck phantom 2.0 with 80mm deep dish wheels and shimano ultegra group set. I find myself constantly dropping people with other “high quality” brands like specialized etc..people are constantly trying to stop me to ask questions about the bike cause it is very eye catching. If I would have listened to all the “paid” negative reviews of Chinese carbon fiber bikes I would have never pulled the trigger. Both me and my Gf own savadeck and have had no issues with them.
That’s funny. You probably feel pretty great dropping people who aren’t even trying to race you. Maybe you should get your racing license and start doing actual races (crits and road races not sportives), then you can get a better measure of how well you and your bike compare to others.
And of course people try to stop you... 😂😂😂 they probably want an autograph of the winner of the local coffee ride
Great to hear you've had a positive experience with your Chinese frame. Would you recommend it to people that are looking to buy from the big names?
It didn’t fare very well as far as quality control is concerned. ua-cam.com/video/cnH1KhS6ypg/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
@@prestachuck2867 there you go making an assumption without even knowing who I am. Before I went into the medical field I actually use to race and had a membership license from USA cycling. So yea I know exactly what the bike I have is capable of and it’s not the only bike I own either. I made a comment and you took it and ran elsewhere with it.
I think the AeroHead looks cool!!
Pretty sure that weather quip from Si will make some Canadians say hold my coffee at Tim Horton's. 😀
oh of course! 😂
There is talk of the difficulty of buying the right bike because of the variety of options. Now I'm questioning the work ethic. Yesterday I saw a video published showing how the Giant factory in Taiwan works. I was saddened by the image I got of the way the employees were working, practically women being supervised by men, I can imagine the salary and looks like a dictatorship I hope im wrong. I don't buy Giant anymore! Do you buy GCN?
You're kidding yourself by boycotting Giant. Virtually all premium bikes are made in Taiwan under those same conditions no matter which brand.
I think you might have to take a look what a hammerhead looks like 😂
All we're hearing here is work trip to the aquarium 🐟
For cordless drills, in USA I’d go with either Milwaukee or dewalt, definitely brushless, and the deciding factor is buying into one battery form factor. The other accessories, hedge trimmer, weed whacker, leaf blower, circular saw, impact driver, sawzall, oscillating multi tool, vacuum etc. that will be most useful to you down the road, since you can purchase tool only without the battery at a significant discount
I’d imagine in UK makita and some nice European brands may have more competitive prices due to tariff differences
Bicycle manufacturers followed the path of athletic shoe companies and tried to create a different type of bike for all cycling venues. While this may be necessary fat the pro levels, most consumers don’t need or can they a afford all these different bike. Garages won’t handle it when you require a separate garage bay to house you $8,000 racing bike, $5,000 gravel bike, $2,000 outfitted touring bike, and $$2,000 electric bike, and more.
Even in the 90s I remember going to the specialized dealer and there was a Stumpjumper, Rockhopper and Hardrock, which were all steel cross country hardtails... Although I think the Hardrock had a rigid front fork.
Buying a bike should be like ordering a new iMac. There I can pick the components i want them to install before sending me the computer. I recently just ordered a new Roubaix after having a bike fit and promptly had to replace the handlebars, stem, saddle, and cranks to make if fit me AFTER it arrived! Significant extra expense as well as contributing to my growing collection of extra bike parts.
Caption competition. Juan Ayuso “Why is it always Prosecco as a prize on the podium? I’d rather have a gravel drill”.
#captioncompetition: Ayuso thinking, “if we drink every time we finish behind Jumbo.., we’re going to need intervention.”
Jumbo is no longer a team. It is Visma-Lease a Bike now.
Ugh, of course…, well I guess it’s another week of not winning the caption competition.@@prestachuck2867