1893: We Recreate Cycling’s Most Important Ride You've Never Heard Of

[@gcn]

Which other moments from cycling history would you like to see us recreate?

[@apm9507]

Major Taylor's one mile bike race record from a standing start on a copy of Major Taylor's race bike please!

[@zayhancock]

Major Taylor please.

[@Sxiber]

everything, because this one is a gem and I want more of it

[@duncanhamilton5841]

Oh that's easy - get a couple of Parabikes. Kit up in 1940s paratrooper full battle order. Throw yourself out of a plane with said bike slung beneath you. Try not to break every bone in your body when you land on top of said bicycle.

[@bludog4657]

I would love to see any of cycling early history. Thank you GCN for doing this, it is VERY special.

[@JaccoSW]

For those curious, the bicycle Manon is riding is a Pashley Speed 5. A relaxed path racer-like geometry with lugged and brazed Reynolds 531 steel tubing, Sturmey Archer 5-speed IGH and drum brakes. 'North Road' semi-drop handlebars and slightly larger than common now, 28x1 1/2" wheels (40-635 ETRTO). Great for longer rides and gravel racing.

[@MrTigerlilly68]

Mannon is a badass! Chapeau!

[@2scoops624]

Thanks! I kept thinking "talk about the bike, I don't care about the clothes!"

[@JaydelCorro]

That’s actually a very cool bike.

[@silentj1022]

Thanks man. This actually what i was looking for.

[@michaelhayward7572]

Fabulous.

[@goodenoughworks5029]

Great to see content from GCN that's not just an ad! More like this, please.

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed this sort of content - we certainly want to do more!

[@ericb8985]

Awesome video. It's usually quite hard to understand outdated norms and stereotypes as well as the people that surpassed them. However, your depiction really won my utmost respect for Tessie Reynolds. The physical achievement is unbelievable on its own but she really did so much more for our society than just setting a record. She is a cycling legend and I am glad you showed that with this fabulous homage.

[@oceanfloor258]

Thanks, you said it better than I could have. Well done Manon also, Ditchling Beacon is tough even on a modern bike.

[@DaveCM]

As a father of twin girls, I am so glad that we have came so far. I do like to think that Tessie had some supportive family members that were behind her and encouraged her. She would have needed the support and encouragement.

[@peletonpete]

What a great story and achievement. My great grandmother grew up in Brighton at that time and was the same age as Tessie. She was also a keen cyclist and I have a photo of her with the Bristol Wheelers club after her family moved to Bristol.

[@gcn]

That's amazing Pete. Do email us a copy of it if you can!

[@kingaroykid]

Manon Lloyd proving yet again why she is an absolute legend and an integral part of the GCN team. Well done both Manon and the GCN Team

[@wildsurfer12]

8 hours 38 minutes for a 120 mile ride was pretty impressive for the time, imagine how fast she could have gone with modern kit!

[@ethantasou3951]

i couldn’t do that now with modern kit lmao, huge respect

[@paddlingfan1]

@@ethantasou3951 Based on almost all official history compared to what really happened in just about every other subject there's a pretty good chance it didn't happen the way we are taught. Don't forget the biggest driver of women's emancipation was to get them in the workforce so they could be taxed. Things are not as they seem. The population are sheep to be led by the church or the state which was often the same. SO sad but it's always been this way.

[@titaniumben9923]

@@paddlingfan1 lol, okay dude.

[@anttitapio4145]

@@paddlingfan1 I know what's sad...

[@RazzFazz-Race]

I calculated that this is an average speed of 22,4 kph for 194km. Seems doable…

[@Jayneflakes]

These stories are so important, thank you for telling them. Also, the GCN Plus documentary was very good.

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it! Is there anything you'd like to see a documentary on in future?

[@ianstewart8301]

Fantastic Manon! Thanks for shedding light on the accomplishments of this female athlete in cycling history

[@KaushikNSanji]

Nice video tribute to "Tessie Reynolds" and cyclists in general! Victorian Manon is fabulous!

[@boudewijnNL]

I especially love the combination of the outfit and the modern helmet and glasses. 😎

[@gcn]

@@boudewijnNL Safety first!

[@TK-ov4hn]

Manon just being Manon😊

[@anttitapio4145]

I believe Tessie would be a World Tour level rider, Zwift champion or both if lived today. Remarkable! Great video this one, thank you Manon 👏🏻

[@richardedward123]

This is by far the coolest GCN video I've seen. Congratulations, Manon, film crew, Dr. Jungnickel. Amazing story. 💜💙💚🧡🤎

[@gcn]

Thank you! have you watched the full 'Trailblazers' documentary on GCN +?

[@alinapopescu872]

This is great quality content, GCN. We need more of this.

[@gcn]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! have you watched the full documentary on GCN+?

[@alinapopescu872]

@@gcn Unfortunately, I haven't. I haven't got a subscription.

[@larter_larter]

Little did Tessie know that she one day would make the greatest cycling show on the planet. Finally getting the recognition she deserves! 👏

[@jnrickards]

My Dad was born in 1933 and between 1950ish and 1957, when he married my mum and moved to Canada, Dad and his father would ride a fixie tandem from Brighton to somewhere in the London area on Saturday mornings. Grandad was a referee of cycling races, held at ovals so he had to be there to perform his duties. After the racing was done for the day, Dad and Grandad would ride back, on their fixie tandem, back to Brighton. I've always lived in Canada, visiting Brighton just a few times, so I don't really know what the route would be like, nor where the ovals would be. However, in 1976, when I was 16, I did visit and we did go with Grandad to an oval to watch some racing but we took a car. I remember being enthralled with the racing.

[@logicforfirstgraders]

Very impressive young woman. Thanks for bringing her story into the light.

[@gcn]

Thank you for watching!

[@markbooth6745]

That was a brilliant video Manon. Victorian experience, great bike. 😃👍

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

Tessie Reynolds was a true hero. Cycling was a huge part of the woman's movement at the time, helping allow freedom and independence that women never theretofor imagined. Thank you, Manon, for bringing her inspirational story to the world.

[@gcn]

She played an important part in history!

[@FelisSilvestrisBE]

Really appreciate these historical pieces across beautiful terrain. Thanks :)

[@breakshot7451]

would have loved to see more details about the tec of the original bike of her

[@keithaustin4705]

One of the best GCN videos ever. Informative, educational and inspirational. Good job Manon.

[@gcn]

Thanks for watching! It's an important story to tell!

[@davidtydeman1434]

Kudos to Manon and GCN for offering an interesting alternative to carbon fibre and aero

[@chinaiwei]

Love this segment on classic bikes!!! please do more of these...Thanks GCN! Best cycling channel bar none.

[@petergarner]

Manon, you are the absolute best! What a great video about an inspiring young cyclist.

[@sterling8298]

This was a cool video I learned a lot. I think it would be cool to have an episode of all the women that have paved the way in the bicycle world. I think a lot of people would enjoy watching that.

[@gcn]

Hi Sterling, we did do a full-length documentary about that on GCN+ called Trailblazers 👉 gcn.eu/trailblazers

[@chrisgarwood2237]

Great video in so many ways, thank you GCN / Manon

[@Cyclingismywholelife]

Top notch content! The most beautiful thing about having a passion for an activity is to be able to share it with everyone. A huge shoutout to all the pioneers out there who live their dreams regardless of the obstacles.

[@orbeuniversity]

Amazing! If there is ever a movie about Tessie Reynolds, Manon should play Tessie.

[@Verysimpleyetverydifficult]

Great video - good to see some genuine cycling content rather than infomercials

[@MsGeoffers]

I think it would be brilliant if GCN took a good look at Beryl Burton. Probably one of Britain's greatest ever athletes and she deserves to be shown to a modern audience.

[@rg807]

Without a doubt, the female Eddy Merxck.

[@Bettys_Eldest]

My mum and dad went to school with her, I was beaten, if not overtaken, by her every time we rode the same time trial.

[@mattvanderwalt6220]

@@rg807 There was an Italian Lady who was pretty much - should look her up. Alfonsina Strada

[@Seppster58]

Thanks for a look into the past Manon. Great look. I know you had to wear that current helmet, but it would be curious as to how you look in the period headwear. Keep up the great work Manon and the rest of the GCN crew. Love these types of videos.

[@DancerOfClouds]

Mannon, this was an awesome video and as you said, no real comparison of what Tessie experienced and achieved. Thank you for sharing your ride and bringing Tessie's achievements to light.

[@25inspector]

Love when you recreate historical rides! So awesome.

[@paulmcleod2547]

Brilliant idea. I always enjoy specialists talking about what they’re passionate about thanks doc.

[@deanmc178]

was that mannons first time going up the beacon ?? a great effort on a heavy bike and period costume of the time ,, im doing the same ride next sunday...😎

[@hsppygrandpa]

Manson - absolutely amazing that you climbed Ditchling Beacon on that bike. It is a notorious climb at the end of the London to Brighton ride.

[@chrisshubotham3732]

A great achievement from the young lady, it's never too late to give her the recognition she deserves. Is it not possible to have her name added retrospectively? I read another comment on here suggesting naming a ride in her honour, what a great idea.

[@archy_bold]

This is great and a welcome diversion from men's achievements that have been covered on GCN in the past. As someone who's done that route in modern gear, I can empathise ever so slightly with how tough it must have been for both Tesse and Manon!

[@garybc]

Oh man. This is such a beautiful documentary! Thanks GCN. and such great work by Manon riding on non-aero and water-soaked clothes.

[@JoopLammerts]

Awesome! Just awesome! So when is the full 60 minutes documentary available on GCN+?

[@tonypapas9854]

Great stuff. Love to see the historical videos, and props to Manon for doing this and making it all the way to Brighton. Well done!

[@martinandersson5833]

What an interesting story! Great effort Manon👏😊

[@gcn]

Thank you Martin!

[@jonford6119]

That was brilliant, a blend of cycling and social history, two of my favourite things. A story well worth telling, even after all that time. And Manon, chapeau for being able to ride up Ditchling Beacon dressed like that. I remember doing it thirty years ago on an ancient Carlton Corsair, a 531 framed touring bike, with 12 speed non-indexed gears. It was a grind, but still, I think, less of an impediment than your five speeder, and those bloomers. I overtook lots of people on fancy pants bikes when I went up the steep side, and got a bollocking in Brighton from a cop for having overtaken him on his 1100cc BMW police bike on the way down.

[@jffydavy5509]

My compliments to Tessie and Manon. I am sure Manon can sympathize and respect what Tessie did. I do. Thanks for the demonstration. I read a book about Marshall Taylor's racing in the late 1800's. I am far from my racing days. I do my workouts on a bike modeled after the bikes that Taylor rode. Now, I really appreciate what early competitors used to train and to compete. Thanks for this valuable history lesson!

[@bobredsmoke]

I had been impressed by the Tessie Reynolds story before but you really brought it to life and showed how much of a pioneer she was as well as an impressive athlete. Thanks Manon!

[@woodsdavid2887]

Very interesting program. Thanks Manon, and all those involved.

[@LovetheIPAs]

Thank you for this wonderful film, Manon. Your enthusiasm for the challenge and the story of Tessie's ride are inspiring topics and told well. Through this telling I can imagine how excited the prospect of this ride was for Tessia, and how thrilled Tessie must have been for her accomplishment.

[@traceybillington5528]

Really interesting, love looking back at what's been achieved and giving recognition to those who deserve it

[@donnahicks3672]

What a fantastic video! My club (Balham CC) has our annual Balham-Brighton-Balham ride coming up soon, wonderful to see familiar roads and hear this inspiring story….very thankful for trailblazers normalising womens sport.

[@roseedge5626]

Just out if curiosity, I'm new to cycle, but live near Balham. Do you have website for club? I'd be interested!

[@Aragorn.Strider]

You could also do an interview with Lael Wilcox, the female long distance endurance rider from Alaska. She used her bike to go from Alaska to the west coast of America and then all the way to the east coast, I think she currently did that ride in the quickest and quicker then any male. She is sort of a modern Tessie Reynolds. Als, she claims she has ridden all roads in the state Alaska.

[@nickpatten5263]

I may be wrong but I think there’s a couple of Lael’s videos on GCN+.

[@Aragorn.Strider]

@@nickpatten5263 yes correct

[@All4Grogg]

All road in Alaska, for those unfamiliar would be thousands of miles on only a few roads. Near impossible to take a wrong turn, especially since full days would pass without the option of, turning.

[@Aragorn.Strider]

@@All4Grogg consider also during winter time you would not want to ride there: cold+darkness and its desolate landscape anyways. Lots of one way streets that are like a 1000 miles

[@All4Grogg]

@@Aragorn.Strider lived in Alaska for a few years and have driven the length of the ALCAN twice, some very, very long stretches without anything except the road. Not at all uncommon for people to carry extra fuel in cans because of the distance between stations. Once out of the Anchorage bowl, where 85% of the states population resides and past Palmer the next turn is hours away by car in Tok. Two paved options, North to Fairbanks or East to Yukon. The "road" west towards Nome it's more of a glorified path (Iditarod route).

[@aveedub7403]

Well done Manon, Ditchling Beacon can be a beast on a modern bike! I lived a few miles down the road and used it every now and again for a fitness test! Downhill all the way to the big B by the sea!! Chapeau

[@WhaJMc]

Fantastic story, thanks for sharing. My wife normally rolls her eyes when I watch cycling videos but she was as fascinated in this video as I was.

[@toddh4491]

Way to go, Manon, this was both fun and inspirational. The old bike was hard enough but the clothes added a whole other layer of difficulty.

[@Swampster70]

This was a great video. It's always good to learn more about the hidden achievements in cycling plus I'm not gonna lie, Manon looks great in the vintage gear, super classy.

[@bludog4657]

WAY Cool Manon, I love the change up and getting some history along with it. God Bless you all

[@gcn]

Thanks!

[@hicky62]

Thank you for this video. We tell our granddaughter that she can achieve anything if she wants, and this is another inspiration for her. Chapeau Manon 🤗

[@gcn]

Thanks Ian!

[@manilamartin1001]

This was a great video. I'm watching from the Philippines and enjoy the context as well as the ride. Manon looks amazing.

[@kevin._.farren]

Wow, I though Manon was in Amish country at first glance. Great video, great subject! Love the historical segments, keep up the stellar work!

[@wickrider]

Great content, more like this please! I will watch the Trail Blazers documentary for sure. It's hard for me to imagine and understand the extraordinary achievement this was but your content really helps! Cheers, MC

[@stevek8829]

Great story. Great bike. Great clothing. Bike reminds me of my Raleigh from twelve years old, it was only three speed.

[@TheGerm24]

I love the contrast of the old-style clothing with the modern helmet and sunglasses. Very anachronistic. Thanks for giving us some cycling history.

[@gatorglenn2892]

Awesome Manon! I for one would definitely like to see more of this type content. Thanks

[@robbchastain3036]

The initial era of the safety bicycle is endlessly fascinating to me and the bicycle and its technological developments for personal transportation liberation must have been for them as the personal computer and all that software have been for us. And it still makes my mind expand whenever I think that there were mighty locomotives doing the locomotion through the countryside decades before there were bicycles like the one Tessie rode. The 1800s were modern times with cities and factories and trains and then, near the end, hey everybody, check this out, you can ride it and go far. And thanks, Manon and GCN, for showing us one day in the life of one young woman who was truly a pioneering athlete--and, in today's parlance, a gravel bike pioneer. :)

[@romemancer7905]

Manon is awsome...nothings to hard for this girl to take on...cheers and cold beers, gcn...Aussie retro rider...Manon is way cool ...x

[@alanrobins]

Great video I have ridden Ditchling many times it’s hard but the view at the top is well worth it (when the suns out)

[@rosscads]

Great work, loved that! Can you do a feature on the bike? 🚲

[@dsgermack]

This is fantastic! Thanks for making such an informative and fun video! Really appreciate the suffering! Love to see more of this!

[@Aashiek]

Excellent video Manon. A great piece of work.

[@steffwood4282]

Learning of the abuse and discrimination women faced back in the 1800's makes me really sad. It also makes me wonder why I get so worried about riding my bike on my own nowadays. Thank you Tessie and to all women who paved the way for us women to be able to have the independence and equality that we have today ❤️

[@chrism5433]

Beautiful combination Manon and machine 🍺🍺 fantastic video

[@zdenekkratochvil288]

Fantastic video. I really enjoyed it. Manon looked great in that clothing. She should tak the photo together with the bike and it has to be definitelly "Super nice" in bike vault 😉

[@goldenmath4091]

the take from this is inspiration, all these years later it still inspires, it's a great story Manon a posse ad esse

[@strangnet]

What a phenomenal story. Imagine this was just four generations ago.

[@ALCrew]

Well done Manon, good effort, great story, well done. 💪👍

[@carolpowell69]

Thankyou Manon for highlighting this amazing achievement. ❤️

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Thanks GCN - I really enjoyed this. As others have said - real quality content. Loved the story, the context and the fact that you got as close as you could to the kit Tessie used. There's still a little bit of the modern-day me that would have loved you to sneak a power meter onto that bike to provide a modern frame-of-reference but, being serious though, that was a great video.

[@TexasWahoo_]

Please more videos like this! And Manon knocked it out of the park.

[@gcn]

Are there any particular stories you'd like us to take a look at?

[@TexasWahoo_]

@@gcn Unfortunately, I don't know much about cycling history so that's why I would like more great videos like this from people who know.

[@ChristopherSterwerf]

You're a sport Manon! What an amazing story that I was able to share with my 12 year old daughter!

[@gcn]

It's a very important story to share!

[@sewinginscottish]

Such an interesting wee film Manon and great to hear from Dr Kat 👏🏼

[@jimmyzhao2673]

Awesome video. I learned so much.

[@SPMech1]

Great job Manon.......very interesting story......thank you ! ! ! ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤

[@FatBlokeDoingStuff]

Brilliant video! I'm riding the London to Brighton next weekend, Ditchling Beacon looks worse than I expected!

[@gcn]

Good luck - hope the ride goes well!

[@logicforfirstgraders]

When's the new GCN kit being released?

[@silviogrando1850]

That's the new one! 😉

[@shahilj]

Hope it looks like what Manon is wearing

[@JesmondBeeBee]

We ladies want some GCN branded cycling bloomers. 😁

[@winniechin6327]

A wonderful video - Tessie is an inspiration to us all.

[@권용대-b5v]

First time I wanted to cry watching a GCN video. Thank you for the important history lesson!!

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@__marshie]

Amazing watch. Can’t wait to show my young daughter this.

[@leftylum]

Thank you for making a more inclusive video. My wife thoroughly enjoyed this, and she rarely watches GCN. It's so enlightening to learn about the struggles of minorities in the cycling community

[@ryanparker4996]

how the fuck is a woman a "minority" theyre literally 50% of the population 🤣🤣🤣 do people even think before speaking anymore

[@gcn]

That's awesome to hear. It is a tough challenge to make cycling more inclusive but we are trying!

[@RuddsReels]

3:17 - Regarding women saving their energy, bear in mind that food was more scarce then. This may be a factor why people thought that back then. Now we have limitless food so energy levels can be as high as anyone needs.

[@jenniferw6081]

Loved this Manon. Thank you.

[@alansmith2593]

An amazing tribute to an amazing person by an amazing athlete/presenter cudos

[@markc7556]

I’ll be honest, road cycling is not my cup of tea ( 48 years old and apparently cuddly ! ) and GMBN is my go to for cycling videos but to learn about Tessie trying to break the barriers all that time ago is inspirational. To do that ride on her own with the prejudices of the time in clothing totally unsuitable on a bike usually seen pottering about a sleepy village is a remarkable feat. Congratulations to Manon for even attempting the ride, you are a role model for future female cyclists who may think they can’t do something like that, you can !

[@CarlForde]

great story wonderfully told. Thanks :-)

[@jean-jacqueslavigne3109]

Thank you for that documentary. What a ride that must have been.

[@michaelgravlund9194]

Great video 😄👍. And the Pashley bikes are very comfortable to ride

[@Neilhuny]

Great video, much needed even today. Happily, cycling clothing has improved for both genders. Tessie should be celebrated by everyone

[@wm.stephenneal4110]

Great presentation and a great inspirational women to build the story around.

[@timcropley]

Loving the Victorian Manon!

[@timcropley]

Great documentary, inspirational.

[@lisapet160]

9:58 Just observing it is a meditation, so tranquil and soothing ...

[@Philobiblion]

Fascinating. Excellent, as usual Manon.

[@2scoops624]

Awesome content, shatter that glass ceiling Tessie! Although, I wanted to see some close ups of the bike, what a good looker!