When I first started watching you on UA-cam I couldn’t ride 5 miles. I rode over 3,000 last year. Lost over 60 lbs along the way. It all started with your video about running vs cycling for weight loss. Keep it going brother.
I've been racing and riding in Canada since the late 70s. As an engineer, I can't buy into the whole disc brake BS, or electronic shifting, or 28+ mm tubeless tires that blow right off and grind the rims to rubbish when they burp, or the non-engineers at GCN who claim that weight doesn't matter anymore. I still cherish the day I got my first real racing bike back in 1986. It was a Pinarello Treviso in Columbus steel with Campy record that weighed 21 lb. It came with some beautiful Clement tubulars and very light Mavic rims on large flange Campy record hubs. The cost was around $2000 CAD. My main concern these days is that I might have to stockpile Veloflex tubs, although I see that Zipp does still make tubular wheel sets, but for how long? Unfortunately, I think it may take too many more serious crashes in the peloton before the cost of insurance compels the pro teams to start gluing their tires on again! Keep speaking your mind Durian; there is a lot of us who hold the very same sentiments.
I owned a similar bike back in the mid 80s an eddy merckx with all the same components you have mentioned I paid 1800$ the rolls Royce of bike's even had a titanium cluster on the Mavic wheel's
as a bike mechanic i agree 100% on this lol even clients fet flabbergasted and annoyed at how much we need to charge them for simple stuff and also how often they come to the shop for repairs lol
Spot on this Harley. It’s refreshing to have someone creating content who epitomises how I feel about cycling. I ride rim brakes in the UK and it rains a lot here any my bike is a 2013 Bianchi. I don’t feel I need disc brakes unless I was riding a mountain bike through mud all the time. I feel that it’s become too complicated and too technical and too dangerous and the fact that bikes are going for more aero means they all look the same. I’ve shared your video with a few friends!
"People are falling out of love with cycling" Bingo! It's become narcissistic obsession, not escape and dancing with God. This is for the generation that doesn't know how to dance, except with themselves.
Us old school cyclists have been well and truly sold out. Every farken frame looks the same as every other.Theres nothing unique looking about different manufactures anymore. Well said Harley 👍
total respect Durianrider....it saddens me to see my friends not getting into cycling because bike costs so prohibitively ridiculous or they made their purchase on the "entry" model (costing a lot more than my race bike) and not sticking to it after a few rides because their bikes are just so sh*t they don't find it fun...
i started riding at the age of 62 back in 2017. Harley has been my biggest source of advice along with Ozcycle with his advice on cheap DIY waxing and very cheap DIY tools. Keep up the videos - they really help. I could have easily been talked into a $5K+ bike, but instead I am riding a Chinese rim brake frame I built up myself. Even with the power meter, it cost less then $2k. Feels like a superbike to me when I ride it and I can easily fix any mechanical problem.
canyon aeroads are nice but i think you did just fine. i own a couple scotts and a look and a couple chinese bikes. guess which bike i consider the best... my chinarello. 100 percent agree. Many bike companies arent even bike companies any more. They are marketing companies.
Ride what you ride and love cycling. Rim or disc, 9/10/11/12 speed... Whatever. I have never seen a cyclist frowning after a good ride. Two wheels under you sun in the sky best feeling ever.
You have to love the new bikes, because you spend way more time with them. One day fixing the slipping seatpost, one day adjusting the disks, one day with the tubeless/hookless, one day with the bb creak. Then repeat.
Made me smile. I spent a decent chunk of cheese on a new Canyon Aeroad. First week, slightly warped disc rotor so a trip to the LBS. About a month later, another trip to the LBS because the headset seized after a long ride. I haven't had an issue w/ the seatpost, BB etc... yet. Still love the bike and have had no other issues for c. 2 months [so far]. Give it time tho
I’m glad someone else feels the same as me, I hate the way cycling is going now. When all these weekend warriors pack up and stop buying this expensive tech the sport will die. The racing scene is dead in Britain now and the kids who do want to race just can’t afford it. I will never ride a disc brake road bike, they look bloody ugly and are just heavy and over complicated. GCN will kill cycling.
I agree on the canary front, but not for we old school cyclists! As the fickle facade cycling shops crash into the ditch, the classic shops continue. In fact it's become quite the niche now. Real framebuilders repairing real frames to keep the classics going for the next half a century.
how did all these legends survive down the alps and roubaix without discbrakes back in the days 🤔🤔🤔🤔 Lived in Nice 2002-2005 and did some training in the area, my pb downhill was 103 km/h. Bit off a rush 😂, but still i was passed by none other than Axel Merxx that day. Tried to catch up with several proriders many Times, and it was likes some bushwacker nicked my wheels whilst i was on the bike. They glared over the shoulder, smiled and kaboom! Gonski
I agree GCN are part of the problem artificially inflating the cost of cycling. I remember buying my first proper bike back in 2003 - Trek 1500 it worked better than my current BMC. Road Machine with SHAM Force. Well done Harley, here’s something we can agree on!
Watched you right to the end and was pleased to see you called out the cycling obsession with black clothing (19:10) - it's so incredibly dangerous and yet here, in the UK, it's difficult to buy any colour other than black when it comes to cycling shorts.
What made gcn good was the chemistry between the original team Matt lllody and Simon the newer presenters just don’t have the chemistry and for me that’s where it’s gone downhill
I'm still on a Columbus SLX frame. Ive never ridden carbon anything. If I need to bleed brakes, I may as well buy a Honda Civic. The beauty of cycling is the simplicity of the sport. I was walking down a sizzling road: the sun popped like a field of blazing maize, the earth was hot, an infinite circle with an empty blue sky overhead. A few bicycles passed me by, the only insects in that dry moment of summer, silent, swift, translucent; they barely stirred the air. Workers and girls were riding to their factories, giving their eyes to summer, their heads to the sky, sitting on the hard beetle backs of the whirling bicycles that whirred as they rode by bridges, rosebushes, brambles and midday.I thought about evening when the boys wash up, sing, eat, raise a cup of wine in honor of love and life, and waiting at the door, the bicycle, stilled, because only moving does it have a soul, and fallen there it isn’t a translucent insect humming through summer but a cold skeleton that will return to life only when it’s needed, when it’s light, that is, with the resurrection of each day.-Pablo Neruda
Excellent! I'm a 531 kinda guy, same ride as SLX, same pinnacle of comfort and *attunement* to flying free. It's not serendipity that Reynolds (and competitors) tubing was developed for the aircraft industry, and repurposed for cycling.
Amen Bless Preach I've got 2 2010 Tarmac Pros with Sram Force/Red, a 2012 Giant TCX 0 Ultegra, 2013 Crux Pro Ultegra, a 2007 Tricross Frankenbike, and building up a 2015/16? Boo SL-R. People ask me why I'm hoarding old bikes. Why? Because the bikes of 10-20 years ago are the bikes of the future. I won't have to have a monthly subscription to change gears or to use my front and rear brakes.
Yo Harley thanks for the truth. Got suckered into buying an aethos as a noob. Found you, ditched it 3 months later for a mint tcr pro rim brake and last week scored a like new 2015 supersix hi mod from your advice. Ready to mount those hyper 33's next week🍻
@Happybanana swapping the crankset to a 50/34 so haven't ridden it yet. But based off what I see, should be about as stiff and a quality ride. Head tube is a fair bit shorter on the himod so I'd say in general allows for more aggressive setup. I'm no expert haha so take it with a grain of salt
@E3 Dave 2400. More than I wanted to pay but I was having a hard time finding a 52cm since I'm a short dude. There were better deals, but this bike has no more than a handful of rides on it. Couldn't pass it up.
@@joshuadebelis8478 Thanks for letting me know, Im after a 54 , I’m using my Caad 12 until I come across a good deal . Enjoy it you can do a super light build,
Harley, I've got a question for you. I've just started riding again 4 months ago, I ride a 2010 Merida Scultura Evo 909 with full Dura Ace and Renolds Attack carbon wheels, they're 40 mms deep. I live in Broome and it's pretty flat here. I was thinking of buying a newer "aero" type bike but after watching this I'm not so sure! I'm considering now just getting some 60mm wheels for it, tidy up the cables, and maybe fit a single ring as I never use the little ring in Broome. What do you think?
Hi Harley Rider, thanks for the video. I'm looking to buy a comfortable endurance road bike. I like giant defys. What year and model of defy would you suggest I look for? Thanks
Durian Rider thank you for ranting like you do. I appreciate your efforts. The other day I saw the terrible news about 18k dairy cows killed in a massive fire in Dimmit Texas USA. Not only were the cows already confined, but they were burned alive. All of that for the cheapest possible milk for profit, cheese, ice cream, and what have you because it tastes so good. Sickening. I love that you are vegan and the slogan "carb the f' up". My wife and I used to ride a rim brake tandem over long distances and high passes in all sorts of weather and we were fine. Rim brakes are fine. We're mostly mountain bikers now The same thing is happening on trails with ultra expensive new bikes that have proprietary parts and standards. The tooling required to work on bikes is getting ridiculous. I suppose they'll be 3D printed as needed one day. But it's all really good still because you can get the good old stuff if you know what you are looking for, probably. Also, most of the time I ride a single speed because under biking is incredibly relevant. On top of that, upcycling old parts is a fair practice. Just the other week someone I know has a bottom bracket crack in a classic Hambini way and just like that, another disposable frame, even though it's warrantied, that doesn't solve the waste issue. Still, can't help be awe struck by the new tech. Just know that what I ride is easy to maintain, a joy to ride, and doesn't end up in land fill.
Check out the hell of the north video they put up yesterday with Mitch Docker, where he rode an old Mappei Colnago from back in the day and said it felt “great” even though it was nearly thirty years old, just goes to show that todays bikes aren’t as good.
I'm still riding my Cinelli Supercorsa SLX. I did start riding a larger 26c Panaracer Gravel King tire. They are a similar profile to the old school Victoria CX tubular.
Great video. I was out of cycling for 10 years because of a back issue. Decided to go out and buy a bike found a 2003 Ultegra Lemond Zurich sitting in some guy's garage for 20 years. Bought it for $500. Best bike I ever bought. Was a former professional here in the States so I had the opportunity to ride a lot of bikes. Easy to work on. Easy to ride and for 500 bucks couldn't beat it.
I have a ti frame, Ultegra 6800 group (Dura Ace 9000 crank), DT Swiss 460 rims, and I'm good to go. They're buttery smooth, and you don't have to "bleed" the brakes. Good video!
Peter changed my 105 for 6800 and as you have said they're buttery smooth. I don't think however we should write too much about it though as I am hoping that everyone goes over to disc bikes and so the price of rim brakes will plummet and I will pick up a bargain.
Dead on, I saw the same in motorcycles. Many years ago, when I was racing. Remember reading the reviews about products, from people that couldn't race their way out of a paper back
My US$900 CAAD12 aluminum frameset (rim brakes, thank God!) is still a better ride and lighter than a couple of overpriced, disc-brake-equipped carbon framesets that I've had from Canyon and Cervelo.
100% agrée, the industry is taking the piss! The cost is ridiculous ! Been in the game since the mid 80s. I still rude rim breaks and an older Cannondale
Earlier this year I quietly upgraded my 2016 old rim brake TCR and no longer ride the 2019 Propel as much as the feeling in just not there....light-weight beats aero every time for "riding enjoyment"
Also. As far as drugs go in cycling. I dont give a fuck if a rider does drugs on a 21 day race thats designed to break a man. As far as one day two day even 3 day tours, i know i feel cooked at the end of weekend and im 5'9 155lbs
I miss my '89 Raleigh Team 753, which I gave to my grandson 6 years ago since I thought I was getting too old for it. The bike had a Reynolds 753 frame, fitted out with DuraAce groupset with downtube shifters, and sold for about $2000 in 1989. I loved that bike, and was 37 years old when I bought it. My grandson replaced the clipless pedals with flats (good for him), and also loves it NOW. It's a 34 year old bike. The oldest bike I have now, and still ride occasionally, is my Klein Palomino full squish mtb purchased in 2003. It's still a fun, nimble ride - about the same age as the kids in the bike shop who work on it occasionally.
I wear my dark jersey sometimes but next jerseys, vest and jackets will be white or neon colors! Those who wear black, grey or other camo don't understand how invisible they are in traffic for other undercarbed ppl in motor vehicles.
@@corvus400 exactly. As someone who has actually driven a car, daily, I am sure to ride my bike with a light on the rear and wear clothes that are visible. No need for high viz but I recently bought a red cycling jersey that was on clearance for example, that you never see the black stuff on clearance is seriously worrying.
I feel your pain. I'm glad to say the bikes I ride are made of steel or aluminum in the 80's or 90's, and don't have any carbon fiber, tubeless tires, or electronic shifters on them.
Seriously on a side note i’d encourage people to just enjoy cycling and whatever they choose to ride….but it’s important that they are seen! so many cyclists in dark kit on nice bikes and zero rear lights or just poor ones…. not all lights are daytime running lights…. Niteflux are lights i’d recommend …i also use others from Hope to some custom made with will get me seen …combined with Hi Viz helmets and clothing …. But for so many that’s not looking cool and pro is it 😏🤷🏼♂️
This is all true and... when was the last time you saw an article in a mag about someone riding a 9 year old bike?... never, because the media are all hand in glove with the brands and it's all got a bit boring.
The CAAD9 was a brilliant bike, but a lot has changed since then. There are some truly amazing bikes on the market today, but it is too hard to cut through the GCN bill to find them. Or… more to the point. Too hard to find a bike mechanic that really knows how to set up modern top tier bikes.
love it! your opinion is precious. i love all things bike and would like to believe i have the smarts to decide what is value and whats over the top. however sometimes i get suckered. i do love disc brakes but i do all of my own maintenance . i agree that it as become absolutely ridiculous with price and complexity. the old rim brake bikes were and still are a great value not to mention awesome to ride!
On another note, I recently stopped riding my 2002 Rockhopper (full squish, hydraulic disc) and bought a 2016 Trek Fuel 27.5. My verdict. Is it better? Well, yes, but not wildly so. It tracks better and goes over obstacles a little better, but that's pretty much it. And that's after 20 years! Plus, it comes with a dropper post that I literally never use. But I did get a super good deal on it, so I finally pulled the trigger.
My CAAD 10 and Ritchey Swiss Cross will out live me by decades. They just fucking work!! No fuss, No integration, No bullshit. Checking in from Portland, Oregon 🤙
Picked up a beautiful 1984 Bianchi Campione D'Italia Specialissima. Steel frame and original Campagnolo Nuovo Record groupset shifts great. Hot waxed chain, smooth and quiet shifting. Very comfortable ride compared to my carbon bikes
I adore my 2009 Giant Defy Advanced. I've commuted probably 10,000km on it and used it in three triathlons. I paid $2,000 or so for it new (discount for previous years model). I can't imagine paying the bull$#!t prices they are asking today.
Just when I thought I couldn’t agree with you more, you say you’re unvaccinated - love it! It’s amazing how rare contrarian critical Thinking is these days. Great channel!
You are right. On the other hand while the world bike corpos are elevating prices there is a room for local or smaller manufacturers to enter the market. It happened to wheels already. Most of my fellows are buying carbon rims from local "crafters" like evanlite or no-limited. They do safe wheels (no hookless shit etc) and they are cheaper.
So are you saying that if I want to buy my first road bike in the $1,000 - $3,000 range, with rim brakes, that I shouldn't bother looking at current models & should just buy secondhand instead?
Thanks Harley is because of ur videos I chose a time bike in rim brakes instead of disc! With all the brands going to disc only is hard to find a brand today with rim brake and makes good quality bikes
As a heavy rider 130kg I do agree with you. I have never thought I need disc brakes to slow me down better. Going down my local hill at just under 100ks in the wet I still stop.
I still ride in the wet. I'm an all weather rider. I will not argue that disc brakes brake better. They do. I have disc brake bikes. All I am saying is if you are a big guy and are worried about the braking performance of rim brakes, don't.
I bought a used bike to build on for this very reason. I refuse to pay $2,000 for a model bike that's the equivalent of mine that's less maintainable! They want you to bring it to them for constant maintenance I'm sure.
In my opinion, the biggest reason Van Aert was not able to contest for the sprint in the Paris-Roubaix 2023 has to do with the through axle technically. My goodness it takes decades to do a tire change. What is wrong with the quick release system? Quick release, quick to swap rims etc....
Agree, still running campy record full mech from 2012 bike. Disc breaks from 2005 on mtb was a total PITA with constant issues and downtime mid ride. why bring that garbage to road bikes, had no issues descending in the wet on rim breaks
You're absolutely right man. I bought a Basso Diamante disc for 6500 GBP at 2020. This was before I discovered your channel. Since then I bought a much lighter rim brake bike for 1000GBP with no proprietary parts and no integrated cables within the bars. It has made my life a lot better and my cycling experience is much better as a result of your advice (ofc I climb quite faster now). As for my Basso, I can't sell it. Currently trying to sell for 2500 GBP and noone is buying it. We're talking over 60% of the bike's value and it has done only 7000kms. Thanks for the great content and for keeping it real!
Never seen you before , wow great sense of humour and so right when it comes to these people trying to brainwash others in regards to the modern is better. Never stop being you.
Did you know that if you shaved your armpits, you'd go three thousand kmh faster? GCN told me so. Like real scientifically like....phhhh.... It's past embarrassing...
When did a 7800 shifter die? Good question, mine still work great after 15 years and probably 50-60000 km. Same for the rest of the groupset apart from the bottom bracket.
They get paid too much, when they get greedy and received it for free from the sponsors. It's more sad that a lot of people get sucked in and watch their videos
Mr Durianrider I like when you speak your mind with this kind of wisdom. I love new bikes But you are right I miss the freedom that a full mechanic , and even a cromoly bike And Alwas I ask my self Why they haven’t broke Pantani’s record or some of awesome performances From 90s and 2000s Hasn’t been broke yet???
Totally agree. Including the standard engineering terminology. I've f###!
What the fuck do you know about anything! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Two legends keeping things real.
Keep rockin' it out, Hambini
It is NOT a fkin joke. I just revived a pair of Ultegra 6600 shifters from the dead, with WD40. I repeat it NOT a fkin joke!
When I first started watching you on UA-cam I couldn’t ride 5 miles. I rode over 3,000 last year. Lost over 60 lbs along the way. It all started with your video about running vs cycling for weight loss. Keep it going brother.
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻❤️❤️❤️
I've been racing and riding in Canada since the late 70s. As an engineer, I can't buy into the whole disc brake BS, or electronic shifting, or 28+ mm tubeless tires that blow right off and grind the rims to rubbish when they burp, or the non-engineers at GCN who claim that weight doesn't matter anymore. I still cherish the day I got my first real racing bike back in 1986. It was a Pinarello Treviso in Columbus steel with Campy record that weighed 21 lb. It came with some beautiful Clement tubulars and very light Mavic rims on large flange Campy record hubs. The cost was around $2000 CAD. My main concern these days is that I might have to stockpile Veloflex tubs, although I see that Zipp does still make tubular wheel sets, but for how long? Unfortunately, I think it may take too many more serious crashes in the peloton before the cost of insurance compels the pro teams to start gluing their tires on again! Keep speaking your mind Durian; there is a lot of us who hold the very same sentiments.
I owned a similar bike back in the mid 80s an eddy merckx with all the same components you have mentioned I paid 1800$ the rolls Royce of bike's even had a titanium cluster on the Mavic wheel's
as a bike mechanic i agree 100% on this lol even clients fet flabbergasted and annoyed at how much we need to charge them for simple stuff and also how often they come to the shop for repairs lol
Spot on this Harley. It’s refreshing to have someone creating content who epitomises how I feel about cycling. I ride rim brakes in the UK and it rains a lot here any my bike is a 2013 Bianchi. I don’t feel I need disc brakes unless I was riding a mountain bike through mud all the time. I feel that it’s become too complicated and too technical and too dangerous and the fact that bikes are going for more aero means they all look the same. I’ve shared your video with a few friends!
"People are falling out of love with cycling" Bingo! It's become narcissistic obsession, not escape and dancing with God. This is for the generation that doesn't know how to dance, except with themselves.
Us old school cyclists have been well and truly sold out.
Every farken frame looks the same as every other.Theres nothing unique looking about different manufactures anymore.
Well said Harley 👍
total respect Durianrider....it saddens me to see my friends not getting into cycling because bike costs so prohibitively ridiculous or they made their purchase on the "entry" model (costing a lot more than my race bike) and not sticking to it after a few rides because their bikes are just so sh*t they don't find it fun...
i started riding at the age of 62 back in 2017. Harley has been my biggest source of advice along with Ozcycle with his advice on cheap DIY waxing and very cheap DIY tools. Keep up the videos - they really help. I could have easily been talked into a $5K+ bike, but instead I am riding a Chinese rim brake frame I built up myself. Even with the power meter, it cost less then $2k. Feels like a superbike to me when I ride it and I can easily fix any mechanical problem.
That is awesome! Ozcycle also have great knowledge with bicycle and many valuable videos!
Dude, you would have been much better off with a Canyon aeroroad
canyon aeroads are nice but i think you did just fine. i own a couple scotts and a look and a couple chinese bikes. guess which bike i consider the best... my chinarello. 100 percent agree. Many bike companies arent even bike companies any more. They are marketing companies.
Spending $$$ on Chinese crap is like paying for bullets the commies will use to fight democracy. Thanks
@@okayest_amateur Chinarello Perfect. Love it.
Ride what you ride and love cycling. Rim or disc, 9/10/11/12 speed... Whatever. I have never seen a cyclist frowning after a good ride. Two wheels under you sun in the sky best feeling ever.
Finally a UA-camr with balls to say it how it is✊🏼✊🏼
You have to love the new bikes, because you spend way more time with them. One day fixing the slipping seatpost, one day adjusting the disks, one day with the tubeless/hookless, one day with the bb creak. Then repeat.
Made me smile. I spent a decent chunk of cheese on a new Canyon Aeroad. First week, slightly warped disc rotor so a trip to the LBS. About a month later, another trip to the LBS because the headset seized after a long ride. I haven't had an issue w/ the seatpost, BB etc... yet. Still love the bike and have had no other issues for c. 2 months [so far]. Give it time tho
🤣 “Your Channel is for the poor people!” 🤣 god I love it! 😂
You are 100% right on all points bro!!!
I’m glad someone else feels the same as me, I hate the way cycling is going now.
When all these weekend warriors pack up and stop buying this expensive tech the sport will die.
The racing scene is dead in Britain now and the kids who do want to race just can’t afford it.
I will never ride a disc brake road bike, they look bloody ugly and are just heavy and over complicated.
GCN will kill cycling.
I agree on the canary front, but not for we old school cyclists! As the fickle facade cycling shops crash into the ditch, the classic shops continue. In fact it's become quite the niche now. Real framebuilders repairing real frames to keep the classics going for the next half a century.
how did all these legends survive down the alps and roubaix without discbrakes back in the days 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Lived in Nice 2002-2005 and did some training in the area, my pb downhill was 103 km/h. Bit off a rush 😂, but still i was passed by none other than Axel Merxx that day. Tried to catch up with several proriders many Times, and it was likes some bushwacker nicked my wheels whilst i was on the bike. They glared over the shoulder, smiled and kaboom! Gonski
20 grand for a bike!! 😵💫
My first brand new car was a Toyota Celica that cost $6,700. 😂
I bought a brand new motorcycle in 2020 for $4000
It's not like you can't get a really good bike at 2000-4000$.
LOVE it! I always defend Rim Brakes on GCN comments. Just the other day they had a debate on outrageous useless expensive tech.
I agree GCN are part of the problem artificially inflating the cost of cycling. I remember buying my first proper bike back in 2003 - Trek 1500 it worked better than my current BMC. Road Machine with SHAM Force. Well done Harley, here’s something we can agree on!
Great video keeping it real as always 👊 I have more respect for you than any channel that's just 'paid promotion crap'
Watched you right to the end and was pleased to see you called out the cycling obsession with black clothing (19:10) - it's so incredibly dangerous and yet here, in the UK, it's difficult to buy any colour other than black when it comes to cycling shorts.
from the time of the first cycling-specific shorts, they've been almost exclusively black.
Why can a pair of shorts with some colour ( Siroko, Cuore, MAAP) cost 20 times more than black shorts?
What made gcn good was the chemistry between the original team Matt lllody and Simon the newer presenters just don’t have the chemistry and for me that’s where it’s gone downhill
I'm still on a Columbus SLX frame. Ive never ridden carbon anything. If I need to bleed brakes, I may as well buy a Honda Civic. The beauty of cycling is the simplicity of the sport. I was walking down a sizzling road: the sun popped like a field of blazing maize, the earth was hot, an infinite circle with an empty blue sky overhead. A few bicycles passed me by, the only insects in that dry moment of summer, silent, swift, translucent; they barely stirred the air. Workers and girls were riding to their factories, giving their eyes to summer, their heads to the sky, sitting on the hard beetle backs of the whirling bicycles that whirred as they rode by bridges, rosebushes, brambles and midday.I thought about evening when the boys wash up, sing, eat, raise a cup of wine in honor of love and life, and waiting at the door, the bicycle, stilled, because only moving does it have a soul, and fallen there it isn’t a translucent insect humming through summer but a cold skeleton that will return to life only when it’s needed, when it’s light, that is, with the resurrection of each day.-Pablo Neruda
Excellent! I'm a 531 kinda guy, same ride as SLX, same pinnacle of comfort and *attunement* to flying free. It's not serendipity that Reynolds (and competitors) tubing was developed for the aircraft industry, and repurposed for cycling.
Amen Bless Preach
I've got 2 2010 Tarmac Pros with Sram Force/Red, a 2012 Giant TCX 0 Ultegra, 2013 Crux Pro Ultegra, a 2007 Tricross Frankenbike, and building up a 2015/16? Boo SL-R.
People ask me why I'm hoarding old bikes.
Why?
Because the bikes of 10-20 years ago are the bikes of the future. I won't have to have a monthly subscription to change gears or to use my front and rear brakes.
Yo Harley thanks for the truth. Got suckered into buying an aethos as a noob. Found you, ditched it 3 months later for a mint tcr pro rim brake and last week scored a like new 2015 supersix hi mod from your advice. Ready to mount those hyper 33's next week🍻
How is TCR compared to supersix? Congrats on new wheels
Nice, how much did you get you get your supersix for if you don’t mind me asking .
@Happybanana swapping the crankset to a 50/34 so haven't ridden it yet. But based off what I see, should be about as stiff and a quality ride. Head tube is a fair bit shorter on the himod so I'd say in general allows for more aggressive setup. I'm no expert haha so take it with a grain of salt
@E3 Dave 2400. More than I wanted to pay but I was having a hard time finding a 52cm since I'm a short dude. There were better deals, but this bike has no more than a handful of rides on it. Couldn't pass it up.
@@joshuadebelis8478 Thanks for letting me know, Im after a 54 , I’m using my Caad 12 until I come across a good deal . Enjoy it you can do a super light build,
The prices now are RIDICULOUS compared to years ago... and its not because of inflation!
Great video man! You have such a good way of communicating the truth haha always appreciated. I am still rocking the R1000 Cannondale
Harley, I've got a question for you. I've just started riding again 4 months ago, I ride a 2010 Merida Scultura Evo 909 with full Dura Ace and Renolds Attack carbon wheels, they're 40 mms deep. I live in Broome and it's pretty flat here. I was thinking of buying a newer "aero" type bike but after watching this I'm not so sure! I'm considering now just getting some 60mm wheels for it, tidy up the cables, and maybe fit a single ring as I never use the little ring in Broome. What do you think?
i love these truth lectures, harley. keep em coming. would love your analysis about the state of the world.
-viewer circa. 2010
I’m a happy owner of a 2013 Madone. Thanks for your authenticity!
I enjoy GCN, but im never gonna buy any such bike.
I'll never ride anything other than steel.
Hi Harley Rider, thanks for the video. I'm looking to buy a comfortable endurance road bike. I like giant defys. What year and model of defy would you suggest I look for? Thanks
Durian Rider thank you for ranting like you do. I appreciate your efforts. The other day I saw the terrible news about 18k dairy cows killed in a massive fire in Dimmit Texas USA. Not only were the cows already confined, but they were burned alive. All of that for the cheapest possible milk for profit, cheese, ice cream, and what have you because it tastes so good. Sickening. I love that you are vegan and the slogan "carb the f' up". My wife and I used to ride a rim brake tandem over long distances and high passes in all sorts of weather and we were fine. Rim brakes are fine. We're mostly mountain bikers now
The same thing is happening on trails with ultra expensive new bikes that have proprietary parts and standards. The tooling required to work on bikes is getting ridiculous. I suppose they'll be 3D printed as needed one day. But it's all really good still because you can get the good old stuff if you know what you are looking for, probably. Also, most of the time I ride a single speed because under biking is incredibly relevant. On top of that, upcycling old parts is a fair practice. Just the other week someone I know has a bottom bracket crack in a classic Hambini way and just like that, another disposable frame, even though it's warrantied, that doesn't solve the waste issue. Still, can't help be awe struck by the new tech. Just know that what I ride is easy to maintain, a joy to ride, and doesn't end up in land fill.
For me it’s a fixed gear, steel frame, rim brake on the front. Extra strong chain. No more BS. I love this video
Check out the hell of the north video they put up yesterday with Mitch Docker, where he rode an old Mappei Colnago from back in the day and said it felt “great” even though it was nearly thirty years old, just goes to show that todays bikes aren’t as good.
I'm still riding my Cinelli Supercorsa SLX. I did start riding a larger 26c Panaracer Gravel King tire. They are a similar profile to the old school Victoria CX tubular.
good to know. I'm riding the same tire in 38C. They're quite good. lightweight. I bet the 26C really flies!
Great video. I was out of cycling for 10 years because of a back issue. Decided to go out and buy a bike found a 2003 Ultegra Lemond Zurich sitting in some guy's garage for 20 years. Bought it for $500. Best bike I ever bought. Was a former professional here in the States so I had the opportunity to ride a lot of bikes. Easy to work on. Easy to ride and for 500 bucks couldn't beat it.
Lemonds are amazing.
I have a ti frame, Ultegra 6800 group (Dura Ace 9000 crank), DT Swiss 460 rims, and I'm good to go. They're buttery smooth, and you don't have to "bleed" the brakes. Good video!
Peter changed my 105 for 6800 and as you have said they're buttery smooth. I don't think however we should write too much about it though as I am hoping that everyone goes over to disc bikes and so the price of rim brakes will plummet and I will pick up a bargain.
Dead on, I saw the same in motorcycles. Many years ago, when I was racing. Remember reading the reviews about products, from people that couldn't race their way out of a paper back
real talk i like ur insights ur opinions to cycling related things
My US$900 CAAD12 aluminum frameset (rim brakes, thank God!) is still a better ride and lighter than a couple of overpriced, disc-brake-equipped carbon framesets that I've had from Canyon and Cervelo.
100% agrée, the industry is taking the piss! The cost is ridiculous ! Been in the game since the mid 80s. I still rude rim breaks and an older Cannondale
Harley, what's that black pannier rack on that bike in the background? I'd like to get one to use for bikepacking. Great vid :)
Tailfin ✌️
@@durianriders thank you very much :)
Earlier this year I quietly upgraded my 2016 old rim brake TCR and no longer ride the 2019 Propel as much as the feeling in just not there....light-weight beats aero every time for "riding enjoyment"
whooooooo, ive just discovered the aus version of hambini, good on you fella
The GCN BS is working , the high end stuff is in demand while ordinary brands are struggling in the UK,no kid can afford to get into road riding.
What brand is a KERT? Never heard of it. Is it any good?
I concur Mate! I got a 10spd 2005 6.9 Madone w/ Ultegra.. and A 2006 BMC with Dura Ace 9000. Both are f$&@ning Rockets! And super light
Durian is the salt of the earth.
amen.
Sugar of the earth
love the passion
Also. As far as drugs go in cycling. I dont give a fuck if a rider does drugs on a 21 day race thats designed to break a man. As far as one day two day even 3 day tours, i know i feel cooked at the end of weekend and im 5'9 155lbs
I miss my '89 Raleigh Team 753, which I gave to my grandson 6 years ago since I thought I was getting too old for it. The bike had a Reynolds 753 frame, fitted out with DuraAce groupset with downtube shifters, and sold for about $2000 in 1989. I loved that bike, and was 37 years old when I bought it. My grandson replaced the clipless pedals with flats (good for him), and also loves it NOW. It's a 34 year old bike. The oldest bike I have now, and still ride occasionally, is my Klein Palomino full squish mtb purchased in 2003. It's still a fun, nimble ride - about the same age as the kids in the bike shop who work on it occasionally.
Keeping it real! I don’t spew that bike industry marketing bullshit on my channel either
As a bike mechanic and shop owner, I can't agree more with what he is saying...
The best comment in the video was definitely the black cycling kit… I never buy a black cycling jersey, you gotta be seen!
I wear my dark jersey sometimes but next jerseys, vest and jackets will be white or neon colors! Those who wear black, grey or other camo don't understand how invisible they are in traffic for other undercarbed ppl in motor vehicles.
@@corvus400 exactly. As someone who has actually driven a car, daily, I am sure to ride my bike with a light on the rear and wear clothes that are visible. No need for high viz but I recently bought a red cycling jersey that was on clearance for example, that you never see the black stuff on clearance is seriously worrying.
I hear you. I have a old campy front derailier 30yrs old and it's till smooth as shit.
What brands do you recommend that make or have made horizontal top tube bikes? I love that classic geometry
Great video. You are right. Love the videos of this style.
I feel your pain. I'm glad to say the bikes I ride are made of steel or aluminum in the 80's or 90's, and don't have any carbon fiber, tubeless tires, or electronic shifters on them.
The weather isn’t an issue because the ones buying them aren’t riding in bad weather.
Seriously on a side note i’d encourage people to just enjoy cycling and whatever they choose to ride….but it’s important that they are seen! so many cyclists in dark kit on nice bikes and zero rear lights or just poor ones…. not all lights are daytime running lights….
Niteflux are lights i’d recommend …i also use others from Hope to some custom made with will get me seen …combined with Hi Viz helmets and clothing ….
But for so many that’s not looking cool and pro is it 😏🤷🏼♂️
I will never EVER get the eshifters. That’s like having a camera and a screen for a rear view mirror.
This is all true and... when was the last time you saw an article in a mag about someone riding a 9 year old bike?... never, because the media are all hand in glove with the brands and it's all got a bit boring.
The CAAD9 was a brilliant bike, but a lot has changed since then. There are some truly amazing bikes on the market today, but it is too hard to cut through the GCN bill to find them. Or… more to the point. Too hard to find a bike mechanic that really knows how to set up modern top tier bikes.
Someone needs to talk about this.
I love a good Harley rant. Spot on mate!
love it! your opinion is precious. i love all things bike and would like to believe i have the smarts to decide what is value and whats over the top. however sometimes i get suckered. i do love disc brakes but i do all of my own maintenance . i agree that it as become absolutely ridiculous with price and complexity. the old rim brake bikes were and still are a great value not to mention awesome to ride!
On another note, I recently stopped riding my 2002 Rockhopper (full squish, hydraulic disc) and bought a 2016 Trek Fuel 27.5. My verdict. Is it better? Well, yes, but not wildly so. It tracks better and goes over obstacles a little better, but that's pretty much it. And that's after 20 years! Plus, it comes with a dropper post that I literally never use. But I did get a super good deal on it, so I finally pulled the trigger.
My CAAD 10 and Ritchey Swiss Cross will out live me by decades. They just fucking work!! No fuss, No integration, No bullshit.
Checking in from Portland, Oregon 🤙
Picked up a beautiful 1984 Bianchi Campione D'Italia Specialissima. Steel frame and original Campagnolo Nuovo Record groupset shifts great. Hot waxed chain, smooth and quiet shifting. Very comfortable ride compared to my carbon bikes
I adore my 2009 Giant Defy Advanced. I've commuted probably 10,000km on it and used it in three triathlons. I paid $2,000 or so for it new (discount for previous years model). I can't imagine paying the bull$#!t prices they are asking today.
Just when I thought I couldn’t agree with you more, you say you’re unvaccinated - love it! It’s amazing how rare contrarian critical
Thinking is these days. Great channel!
I'm looking at a 2013 super six Evo with sram red, what are your thoughts?
Great bikes. Few things to check first though.
I'd just like to go on a group ride without hearing honking all the way round god damn disc's.
You are right. On the other hand while the world bike corpos are elevating prices there is a room for local or smaller manufacturers to enter the market. It happened to wheels already. Most of my fellows are buying carbon rims from local "crafters" like evanlite or no-limited. They do safe wheels (no hookless shit etc) and they are cheaper.
So are you saying that if I want to buy my first road bike in the $1,000 - $3,000 range, with rim brakes, that I shouldn't bother looking at current models & should just buy secondhand instead?
Get one from my coaching group. www.durianrider.com
Preach!! Love my rim brake caad12. Where can I get me an orange Strava tee??
Thanks Harley is because of ur videos I chose a time bike in rim brakes instead of disc! With all the brands going to disc only is hard to find a brand today with rim brake and makes good quality bikes
As a heavy rider 130kg I do agree with you. I have never thought I need disc brakes to slow me down better. Going down my local hill at just under 100ks in the wet I still stop.
They're great for heavy riders in mountainous terrain.
@@Jeromewhite123 I ride ALL conditions and disc brakes fail almost completely in heavy rain, rim brakes do not .
I am not a fan of disc brakes but 100% they are an improvement over rim in the wet just not a big enough improvement to use them overall
I still ride in the wet. I'm an all weather rider. I will not argue that disc brakes brake better. They do. I have disc brake bikes. All I am saying is if you are a big guy and are worried about the braking performance of rim brakes, don't.
i have zero issues with rim brakes in the wet ……
i know how to brake ☺️🥰🤗
The best part of the vid is the accurate assessment of the experimental vax
Spot on
F-ing owning it. D-rider is back and he's right.
I bought a used bike to build on for this very reason. I refuse to pay $2,000 for a model bike that's the equivalent of mine that's less maintainable! They want you to bring it to them for constant maintenance I'm sure.
yeah man fck that. Even if i have money enough.
Finally, somebody takes sense
Your so right mate. That manufacturer's are killing the sport. They can't see it or they don't care.😃👍
it's always refreshing to hear the truth about bicycle industry and that overpriced BS they try to sell to us, especially few last years!
great points well made. I ride a Cannodale Caad 12 and i don't think there's a more perfect bike out there :)
CAAD12 rim is great
In my opinion, the biggest reason Van Aert was not able to contest for the sprint in the Paris-Roubaix 2023 has to do with the through axle technically. My goodness it takes decades to do a tire change. What is wrong with the quick release system? Quick release, quick to swap rims etc....
Agree, still running campy record full mech from 2012 bike. Disc breaks from 2005 on mtb was a total PITA with constant issues and downtime mid ride. why bring that garbage to road bikes, had no issues descending in the wet on rim breaks
You're absolutely right man. I bought a Basso Diamante disc for 6500 GBP at 2020. This was before I discovered your channel. Since then I bought a much lighter rim brake bike for 1000GBP with no proprietary parts and no integrated cables within the bars. It has made my life a lot better and my cycling experience is much better as a result of your advice (ofc I climb quite faster now). As for my Basso, I can't sell it. Currently trying to sell for 2500 GBP and noone is buying it. We're talking over 60% of the bike's value and it has done only 7000kms. Thanks for the great content and for keeping it real!
Everybody or most people are not aware of todays bikes being total overpriced crap, I feel your pain tho on not being able to sell your newer bike..
Never seen you before , wow great sense of humour and so right when it comes to these people trying to brainwash others in regards to the modern is better. Never stop being you.
Finally the spoken truth … awesome
My Wilier was 1700 in 2009..full carbon frame and carbon seatpost..i upgraded the brakes and saddle but the bike is still going strong..
Been pedaling with your arms? Looking great 👍
Did you know that if you shaved your armpits, you'd go three thousand kmh faster? GCN told me so. Like real scientifically like....phhhh....
It's past embarrassing...
When did a 7800 shifter die? Good question, mine still work great after 15 years and probably 50-60000 km. Same for the rest of the groupset apart from the bottom bracket.
💯💯💯💯
Squirt of WD40 etc gets them alive if not shifting crisp.
I'm looking at the argon nitrogen pro is it a really aggressive frame ?
I watched D man 10 years ago and I am still on the Giant TCR using mtb peddles and now my kids have mini TCR's and smashing a few bananas.
They get paid too much, when they get greedy and received it for free from the sponsors. It's more sad that a lot of people get sucked in and watch their videos
Mr Durianrider
I like when you speak your mind with this kind of wisdom. I love new bikes
But you are right I miss the freedom that a full mechanic , and even a cromoly bike
And Alwas I ask my self
Why they haven’t broke
Pantani’s record or some of awesome performances
From 90s and 2000s
Hasn’t been broke yet???