200km Across Iceland's Lava Fields | Rift Gravel Race

[@DrewsOnFirst]

GCN sending presenters to enter unusual events like this is my absolute favorite part of GCN.

[@gcn]

thanks Danger, we love it!

[@davidallan4929]

Agreed.

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

Agree.

[@lyanbv]

@@gcn one thing better is to bring a lucky viewer along!

[@mrsmd4616]

Can you send 1 gcn and 1 gmbn presenter to do the silk road mountain race please. 👍 much appreciated. 2 part Hour long special lol or do the trans am with the whole gcn team. C'mon I should be your producer lol

[@gardars9811]

The “white stuff” lava is vikur or pumice. Commonly used by elves to make light and strong bicycles that float while traveling over rivers.

[@AlessandroCardano]

Like Elfis?

[@lenahygiena]

When are we going to see an elvish national team xD

[@jbruner182]

@@lenahygiena awesome comment haha!!:)

[@DieSchnitzel007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmrInHlor5utpMU

[@KandiKlover]

I use the pumice to keep my buttcrack clean after a long ride.

[@jeffreywilliams3646]

I love that line: One does not simply walk into Mordor, one rides a bike

[@lenahygiena]

…apparently

[@milanb.6022]

One does not simply bike into Mordor... there is a bit of pushing involved

[@janb4406]

Agree! Let's just put in a time tag shell we... 8:56

[@KandiKlover]

Milan B. Gotta get a mountain bike.

[@tinwhiskerSC]

I am always a little hesitant when GCN brings on new presenters but Ollie has really grown on me and I look forward to everything he's a part of.

[@gcn]

Thanks buddy!

[@jbratt]

One of these days we need a behind the scenes featuring the film crew😀👍

[@brauljo]

And a GCN HQ tour

[@evanr1940]

and make the presenters carry/transport film crew equipment (up hill, in the snow etc)

[@greatvedas]

Me too, really keen on how they shot the entire ride and the logistics around.

[@zyghom]

Venkat Gurram drones ;-)

[@logantyson9518]

Because he didn’t say and I know plenty of you are curious about it.Oliver took 43rd out of almost 200 hundred and had a time of 9:02:30 and the winner Colin Strickland had a time of 6:38:47.

[@seahog32]

Unfortunately, at least some of it was drafting behind a motor vehicle which makes me wonder how self-supported was his ride too. And this is why everybody, including myself, hates me.

[@stephenturkLA]

@@seahog32 I'm sure the Lauf Jeep at 9:05 wasn't there to provide any kind of support😉

[@futsalkeegan]

@@seahog32 He was talking for maybe 10 minutes that video. There's no way he was behind the jeep the whole time because he wouldn't have wanted to be. If it were me in that position I would want to enjoy the race and the scenery, which it sounds like Ollie certainly did.

[@mfennell70]

@@seahog32 That's an admirable amount of self-awareness. :)

[@TheJoePavlik]

@@seahog32 this video is an ad for the race and the bike. I don't think he had any intention of winning or anything of the sort.

[@bosanderspublictheology]

Ollie videos are the best GNC videos. Thank you for this.

[@simonguard5087]

Any video which contains a threaded English bottom bracket is just perfect, it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a bottom bracket - The standard!

[@glansberry]

Iceland has been on my bucket list for many years now, but all of a sudden I want to bring along my bike and ride into Mordor! Amazing work GCN! Ollie's infectious personality (and that laugh) make the video even more enjoying to watch while I drink my morning coffee.

[@baldurk.1667]

Just started gravel biking. This one right presented an absolut dream of a gravel race. Rough, cold, wet, epic landscape. Thank you - will book in 2021! Thank you Ollie and GCN.

[@gcn]

Enjoy it Baldur

[@isaiahpineda3632]

"This is my first gravel race" *lines up next to colin strickland*

[@OllieBridgewood]

Isaiah Pineda I know right! Hahahaha

[@tgoods5049]

I was wondering if that was him on the Allied bike! 👍🏻

[@murphyebass7837]

You’re so lucky to have had the opportunity to experience that. Really appreciate the video. Absolutely brilliant. Thank you 🙏

[@TobiB89]

White trainers. The expert choice of foot wear for the Icelandic country side.

[@DeanJohnson67]

I really love how much more coverage GCN is giving to Gravel events especially when the GCN hosts ride in the events for a first person look! And the coverage itself is top notch !!

[@TheMurmuringGolem]

Dr Oliver Bridgewood: THE KING IN THE NORTH!

[@ugastronomie1237]

I KNOW NO KING BUT THE KING IN THE NORTH 🗡️

[@williamschultz8198]

Dentist

[@trenabstedt156]

Oliver is a surprisingly good television host and I for one am pleased he is wasting his talents on cycling material. Also I even understood the obvious British humor which I don't always since I'm a yankee. And that landscape!

[@scottreckless3151]

2:02 could be the best production moment of the year. Well done. Will be Keen eyed for Easter eggs going forward

[@OllieBridgewood]

scott reckless Edgar Wright inspired transition sequence 🤓😉

[@billincolumbia]

What was it?

[@wobyone]

Thanks Ollie and gcn. I am so blown away by your video of the race and Iceland, I've put it on my bucket list... I didnt have a bucket list till now... and I'm following ollie on strava... never followed a "great personality mate" before either.. I so want to go to Iceland... my mums been there.. and I really need to put a bottle opener on my bike. Thanks.

[@GCNuser123]

glad you enjoyed it pal!

[@official_Grant]

Love Ollie's reports. Just a thoroughly decent guy, hugely enthusiastic and on top of his game with regards to video journalism.

[@CanyonWanderer]

Lol, that bottle opener is definitely a unique selling point! wonderful race and scenery! Awesome bike as well!

[@nigelstanley3674]

Awesome. Well Done. Not sure it can say it looked fun but sure it was memory filled.

[@kathyerickson9402]

Iceland is spectacular...by bike, car, bus or other. Thanks for getting out of your comfort zone and taking us along for the ride (while you do all the hard work)!

[@elisgomer7164]

Another stunning, stunning video. Iceland is a jaw-dropping backdrop - I loved it when I went there a couple of years ago - but it's the camera work and Ollie's infectious sense of wonder about it all that makes this video. You're on a roll at the moment.

[@SpeshaIK]

Sick Ollie and GCN team! I was watching Si's Icelandic adventures for the umpteenth time yesterday trying to decide if I should ditch my road bike for a True Grit...eerie. About to head out on my own gravel excursion on my Lauf equipped, drop - bar mountain bike. Keep up the great work!

[@GordonHadler]

So much fun watching this! The line "One does not simply walk into Mordor, one rides a bike!" has become my mantra for bad weather, steep gravel uphills etc.

[@johnpotter4555]

Ollie is a very relatable presenter for the everyday cyclist, except for the PhD and the great hair.

[@robcollinson9508]

John Potter don’t be fooled, he’s a very strong rider

[@johnpotter4555]

@@robcollinson9508 I agree.

[@solidairs]

John Potter Phillips, Hymass, Diamond?

[@zerocooljpn]

he has a PhD?

[@johnpotter4555]

@@zerocooljpn yes in Chemistry I believe

[@timwilliams3919]

Awesome job Ollie...having fun and laughing all the way! Even the film crew or Lauf people got a laugh in on one scene.

[@rahulkota1]

That was absolute buzzing of an effort!!! Ollie you did brilliant on that course...what a scenery...you gotta come to India and do the event in Himalayas...you would love it!!!

[@neuby56]

SI's Iceland vid & this vid are two of my favorites. Totally envious of these trips

[@spaynneuter]

Oliver, this video was so entertaining. I loved it! I’m an old lady and I don’t ride bikes but I love GCN videos, especially this one.

[@dennisuerling899]

First, Great job Ollie for competing and completing the ride! To be honest, just bringing the 40mm tires was great after the recent JP video on choosing tires for a gravel ride! To actually go full meta with a clip of a JP video inside this video was incredible! Serious props to whomever came up with that and to whomever organized the videos in this order! As for a bike with a bottle opener, it isn't "Do I want one?" It is, "I do want one." Perhaps there is a bodge is in my near future. :)

[@razcohen5590]

The place looks stunning. Literally Mordor! 😂😂 you made my day with that comment!

[@nickisauer9626]

Things I like about this video. The filming. the editing. the bike. the host etc. thumbs up GCN :-)

[@gcn]

Cheers Nicki!

[@johnpayne2465]

The scenery is just stunning, bike and rider also appreciated. Cheers all.

[@LUCYDIAMONDBOXER1]

You're really selling this Ollie😅.. It's the bleak landscape with stop start wet pot hole river crossing that sold it to me. 😏😉

[@jeffreyjohnson9124]

The Bold Ollie is starting to grow on me. In a good way, not like a wort. Good job son!

[@petinka721]

It seem as GCN:s crew like see Ollie suffer! I confess I always have enjoy see Ollie suffer in "Mordor" and feel my so relaxed with my wiskey with ice :). Great video! And for Ollie Dirty Kansas next?

[@gcn]

No... what makes you think that?!

[@earlvasquez8352]

Sigur Ros! my favorite music to listen to while riding long distance in my bike

[@Hangingofgiants]

Sigur Ros is one of the most beautiful bands I've ever seen. Now i see why. Great video.

[@Nick-Wehmeier]

Kirk Hodgson If you like Sigur Ros and epic Icelandic landscapes the definitely checkout their documentary film Heima. Awesome! (Almost as good as a GCN video ;)

[@Adventures_with_Sog]

I totally agree.

[@jaimeisreal]

Ride on Ollie. Great video. At 16:22, cheers mate. And well deserved! 🍻

[@jrae5085]

Baller! Nice ride Ollie. Not only do I want to go to Iceland now (well, that's been a wish for a while) but I want one of those Lauf bikes as well. Should be a package deal on IcelandAir where on arrival they greet you at the plane with a Lauf.

[@K777John]

Got to love Iceland, went there in 2004, arrived at the airport, picked up hire Suzuki Jimney, threw tent and sleeping bags in the back, and disappeared into the Southlands for a week-brilliant place.

[@kivriel2660]

Great film again! More like this please.

[@noelfezza]

INCREDIBLE PRODUCTION! THIS IS EXACTKY WHAT WE WANT. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. BRAVO OLLIE AS ALWAYS

[@MrHockaluger]

Had to watch this 3x to make my 1hr recovery ride on the trainer this morning pass by quickly. Great vid, Ollie. That Mordor comment made me chuckle and almost choke as I was sipping on water. 👍

[@Lucash090688]

Advertising at its best, good work GCN. Ollie....you’re awesome.

[@antonioCsilveira]

I have a Lauf TrueGrit and I absolutely love it. Dream bike

[@TheEquineImage]

This is a great video of a great race (yeah, I'm biased) and I really appreciate Ollie's heartfelt reaction to Iceland's nature.

[@jaromirborowski4595]

Shimano's SPDs also works great as bottle opener ;-)

[@gcn]

HACK

[@Michele-Baldini]

Mythical Ollie, great! After this video I think I'll remove my front derailleur ... you gave me a great reason for the next picnic :-)))

[@scottnu5605]

Ollie - it was fun riding with you in Oman. I thought that was a brutal ride but this one made the Haute Route look easy! You are one bad ass cyclist. Maybe you need more beer drinking practice...

[@OllieBridgewood]

scottNU thanks mate! Was fun riding with you too! And Oman was hard!

[@shydncrumph8119]

bottle opener ftw. what a classy feature!

[@trygkouhlmann6643]

Well done Dr Bridgewood well done !

[@jazzechos1372]

I for one envy you Olie, thanks for bringing us along.

[@jsim9042]

Great video, Oli is so engaging. Brilliant advert for the Lauf and Iceland (it is a special place) but by far the best bit Doncaster and Iceland are the same 😂

[@orcus09]

Talking about gravel racing and muddy river crossing while wearing all white shoes. Give this badass man some respect!

[@monty2078]

Hey Ollie, you are a great presenter. Love to see a pro walking the hills😀

[@joetaylor486]

Legendary effort, Chieftain! That bike is seriously tidy, but the gear and crank position needs sorting, as do the valve angles. That bottle opener is ringing the cowbell for me though!

[@guysmith3326]

Great advertising for Doncaster: just like Iceland without the volcanos. Must have changed a bit since I was a boy.

[@kentwang0037]

what an incredible scenery，gotta visit Iceland someday.

[@Pletharoe]

Generally Ollie, in a bike race having the place to yourself and not seeing ANYBODY is not really a good thing! ;) love it!

[@billincolumbia]

Nice ride, Ollie! Beautiful video.

[@Pratalax]

Ollie? Iceland? Lauf? Race? I'm in like Innsbruck! Hell to the yes.

[@zyghom]

What an incredible event and part of our planet! Great video as usual. Thx

[@avoycendeether8869]

85% gravel. 15% paved. 20% motorpaced. ;-) That was awesome. Is there any other gravel ride in the world like Iceland? I don't think so...Also, way to keep up a positive attitude at the water crossings. Promoters and photogs love water crossings. Riders, no so much. I"ve never heard a rider say they hoped for more water crossings this year.

[@d.rabbitwhite]

So after viewing: That was gorgeous; the landscape and the bike.

[@jen3800]

that Lauf bike looks great and seems to be smooth as silk. wish i had the funds!

[@TheCharnwoodCyclist]

Been lucky enough to visit this wonderful country in 2017 and 2018, plan to go back next time with a bike! Off road would be the way to see the highlands, during the summer when the sun never really sets. If you haven’t been and are considering it, do it!

[@rhbusby]

Great ride Oliver 9 hrs is quite good as I see it!. Fantastic scenery. I'm inspired to go gravel riding!! Lots of good gravel here in Oregon USA.

[@barkermjb]

This was a great video. The camera work was very good. The audio work was good as well with an excellent choice of background music that captured the essence of the ride and the surrounding scenery very well. The dialog was top notch; a mix of humor and information that kept me into the video throughout. This looks like it was a very fun, challenging ride. Thanks.

[@gcn]

Thanks buddy, means a lot!

[@bigdazz8636]

See.....now look at what you've done! Now I really want to take my gravel bike to Iceland!! Cracking video 🤩🚴🤩🚴

[@stevesnailfish]

Me too dude.....Seems legit to me.

[@C.Medina]

Said it in cycling weekly and say it here. ..Ollie, you are great human. 👍

[@woollybut]

You guys do a great job with filming and editing! Nicely done to your production team!

[@DanJohnson110]

Traveling to Iceland for the first time next month, and I'm looking forward to it more now after watching this video. Loved the views !

[@douglaspate9314]

How awesomely, awesome is the awesomeness of these awesome GCN reports!

[@danmathis4046]

The 'Epic Rides' just keep getting Epic-er! Excellent video. We now know Ollie's "What am I doing?!" face. Thanks Ollie, GCN for another amazing Epic!!!

[@alexobrien4466]

From start to finish, amazing.

[@Chairboys]

Awesome video and production. Could this be a GCN regular feature (similar to Top Gear) where the GCN team tackle an insane/interesting/obscure cycle events around the globe? Keep up the good work. Cracking sound track too

[@bikemike1118]

Hopefully they won’t get as clownish as Top Gear !!

[@benstanden8784]

Another absolutely fantastic video! Just makes me want to ride in Iceland even more.

[@alastairs3727]

Brilliant vid Ollie! And that Quote from a LOTR was absolute hilarious :)))

[@gregkane8635]

Class ollie looks awesome fair play to you

[@NullUnit2]

Well done Ollie. The government of Iceland should have subsidized this in some way, pay for your beer at least? This has definitely convinced me to go 👍

[@gcn]

Haha, it truly is a spectacular place, there's no hiding that!

[@JollyGiant0]

Great vid and love the way it was shot in 16:9 for the true landscape view. Ollie I know you are really experienced rider but you looked so far out of your depth it was scary, but a big well done for getting on with it. Those river crossing looked cold, as did the celebratory beer as it came out of your nose! Big Kudos.

[@JGstunts22]

"What's a plug" lol Who knew watching a guy ride a bike would be entertaining but I keep watching, you guys make the best videos bike related by far

[@dennish9519]

That is one cool looking ride, I loved the stream and river crossing. For future loooong gravel rides be sure to put a little bottle, say an empty eye dropper bottle, filled with chain lube in your seat pack. Towards the end of the video the squeaking was getting bad!

[@sebastiangrimm5671]

Stunning scenery.... whoa... I'd like to go there, too.... great Video - thanks!

[@myminx]

Super big thumbs up ! Nice one Ollie keep it up

[@roye2479]

Ollie, youre my fave GCN presenter! you ROCK! EXCEPT I'll need to give you some beer sipping lesson

[@jayshockey5461]

This was awesome! Great job Ollie! You beast🤪👊🏻💪🏻👍🏻👏🏻

[@stuartmcgill5065]

Nice one, Ollie. Thanks for sharing.

[@antoinetteburgessab]

I first rode in Iceland in 2002 and spent a fabulous month traveling around and across this most remarkable of countries, it remains one of my favorite places on Earth.

[@gcn]

It's a place like no other!

[@TheCrookedWheel]

The Discovery Channel acquisition is definitely showing off here.. excellent filmwork.

[@sitonka303]

Thanks GCN, another thing for the bucket list!

[@cliffsangelsphotography]

Yes! Great vid, great job Ollie! Give yourself to the Dirtside!

[@dunedin3976]

Thank you for this, I really enjoyed it. Awesome job Ollie, well done! Great production values with the video and a particular mention for the audio and music. Thanks again.

[@OllieBridgewood]

Dunedin397 glad you enjoyed it mate 👍🏼

[@peterward4005]

Good to see a donny lad succeed keep up the good work ollie!

[@benjaminblabla]

Great video as always. You make cycling so much more modern than it used to be!

[@buildingreno]

Awesome video. So jealous of trips like this!! Good on you Dr. O.

[@wilbuzllf5057]

It's amazing how entertaining and informative GCN videos are. Love these events but you all manage to make even pure informative videos interesting to listen to. Well done too all involved.

[@Delboy001647363]

Don't even own a bike and have found myself addicted to these episodes! I'm now sniffing about hybrids but cos of coronavirus there is zero stock anywhere, so now seriously tempted to just buy the components and build my own.