MegaSack DRAW - 6pm Christmas Eve - LIVE on our YouTube Channel
I took Mrs SR and a few of the junior SRs to the velodrome in Newport today to watch Ollie Bridgewood of GCN try to beat Eddy Merckx’s hour record, and am I ever glad I did.
First of all, for the hour that Ollie was riding, he was an absolute hero! It might sound boring, but from a spectator’s point of view, the time flew, and James Williams, who did the announcing, was excellent.
So the experience was brilliant as a whole, but I also have to say that the presenters came across as genuinely great people. James was really good as ‘MC’ of the whole event, and brilliant when interacting with the public. And as for Ollie, he just seems like a fundamentally decent, humble, and funny guy.
I already liked GCN and the presenters, but this just made for a really positive experience. And as for the actual event - that is, Ollie trying to set an hour record? Incredible and inspiring.
What a great resource for cyclists.
Did he brake the record?
Great you tube website, full of useful and quirky info, and excellent filming editing,since it became part of the Discovery Channel.
Agreed . Very good resource but Spoiler alert .... !
I like gcn & gcn tech more than the mtb version .
Another vote for GCN.
Although they treat their topics seriously, they never seem to forget that cycling should be fun.
Did he brake the record?
🤦♂️
I saw Chris Boardman do it in Manchester and it was a crazy mad dash over from work, but the atmosphere was amazing. I no doubt this would have been fab too.
I like gcn & gcn tech more than the mtb version .
I don't even subscribe to GMBN anymore as found it pretty crap. GCN is usually pretty good though other than when they go to a really novice audience for example "how to install a bottle cage"!
I find some of GCN (particularly the workshop stuff with that blonde chap) humourless and dry.
Some of it's great though - I watched a longer spot on the L39ion bike club last night which was very good.
I watched an hour attempt as part of the Manchester Revolution series a few years ago. Some minor scandinavian pro that David Duffield was introducing with excited comments like,
'This will be the first time he's ever ridden the track ON A TRACK BIKE'
The idiot could barely stay below the blue, never mind stick the sprinters line. What a waste of time. Even Duffers ran out of stuff to say after about 30 minutes and most of the spectators drifted off in silence. By contrast to your experience it was the worst sporting spectacle ever, (and I've been to Northwich Vics home games).
The best GCN piece I've seen was 'gravel vs mtb' in Iceland.
GCN, good.
GMBN, shit.
Thought that Scotty guy was good. Don't bother with it much now.
GCN seems to be aiming more and more at the n. American audience. Not so keen on that content.
I find some of GCN (particularly the workshop stuff with that blonde chap) humourless and dry.
Aw give Cannings a break, the material he’s got to work with isn’t that exciting 🙂
Anyway if anyone wants his job there’s a competition for it 🙂
Anyway if anyone wants his job there’s a competition for it
I saw that. I didn't realise that Cannings was leaving/had quit. That's too bad, because for all he was accused of being 'boring' on this thread, I've always liked him. I think he has a boy-ish enthusiasm for bikes that grounds him and communicates real sincerity. Far better that, I think, than some quick-talking salesman-esque presenter who may or may not even love bikes.
GCN seems to be aiming more and more at the n. American audience. Not so keen on that content.
I've thought so too, although it is the Global Cycling Network. Plus that Jeremy guy is quite likeable too. But anyway, cycling is, by its very nature I think, and Euro-centric sport, so I doubt the whole American think will take it too far away from its roots.
I didn’t realise that Cannings was leaving/had quit.
Ahh I was being a smart arse, just seemed odd the way it was announced.
GCN seems to be aiming more and more at the n. American audience. Not so keen on that content.
Gravel haterz 🙂
I’ve thought so too, although it is the Global Cycling Network. Plus that Jeremy guy is quite likeable too
They’ve got GCN en Español an Italia as well.
Have only really watched the crossover pieces as have no interest in road stuff, but have found them quite entertaining for all that. GMBN doesn’t feel as good as it once was but still like Donny and Blake. Can’t stand Henry. Martin is always entertaining but seems to have taken a back seat as does Doddy..
I didn’t realise that Cannings was leaving/had quit.
I don't think he's leaving all together just moving behind the camera, a bit like Tom Last.
GCN is good but it was better when Emma Pooley was there.
I also watched Boardman do his final "athlete's hour" at Manchester, and didn't expect it to be particularly exciting, but it's probably the best bike race I've watched. He started strongly, but his coach, Peter Keen, kept walking further and further away from the line as the event progressed, to show Boardman was falling behind schedule. He dug in towards the end, and the noise was deafening as he went into the last lap with a deficit, and just scraped it by 10m.
I don’t think he’s leaving all together just moving behind the camera, a bit like Tom Last.
Make sense, I suppose there’s only so much jetting off to look a someone’s bike you can do before it becomes a pita.
GCN is good but it was better when Emma Pooley was there.
Much as I like Emma as a person (used to train with her), she wasn't a great presenter.
Their best presenter IMO, was Matt Stephens, who is now working for Sigma Sports; his Cafe ride series has been excellent.
@footflaps, I liked Matt Stephens a lot as well, but I do think that Si is equally as good as a presenter, and that he pairs up well with Ollie.
