5 Reasons Why Long Rides Are Sh*t…But Are They? | GCN Show Ep. 571

[@gcn]

Are you a fan of endurance cycling? 🚴

[@petet8594]

Definitely

[@rangersmith4652]

At 62 (now I'm 63) I got back to road cycling after a dozen years of almost never riding. I didn't do it to go fast; I did it go go far. I find that if I do ten miles two or three days a week, my fitness level stays high enough to easily do a 30-40 mile ride without being overly sore. I'm faster than I was 18 months ago, no doubt, but building speed was never the goal. A long ride means I can leave my house on my bike and explore some area I've not yet experienced. A short ride means I must either ride where I've already been or load up the bike on the pickup and drive to a new place. I'll do that for a long ride, but loading the bike onto the truck and driving to a place from which I'll commence a short ride? That seems kind of pointless.

[@justittude1524]

Yes, especially endurance rides with minimum stops are the best.

[@bluepanda8992]

I am but dont have money for good bike cant afford it

[@rangersmith4652]

@@justittude1524 Sometimes, yes. For me, the right amount of stops is often driven by age-related biology. On group rides, though, agreed stops are almost always more frequent than I'd like.

[@davidwaycie3247]

The high point of my cycling year was a 78 mile ride to celebrate my 78th birthday. Joined by my wife and a friend, we kept a "friendly" pace and had a truly enjoyable day. 78 miles may be long for some and short for others, but,as I said, it was the best of the year for me.

[@shred3005]

Club friend of mine did a 777km week on his bike for his 77th birthday. Said he’s loved riding since 17 yo

[@jasondunn5410]

Nice work.. I really hope I can still ride like that when I'm 78. Good on you, keep pedaling.

[@gcn]

That is incredible! It is all about enjoying the ride no matter what the distance! 🤩

[@gcn]

Such a cool idea 🙌 going for the 79 miles next year?

[@waynemccuen8213]

Great job sir. I too will aim to be doing that as the years roll on at well.

[@seattlegrrlie]

Oh I love a long ride. The sense of pure exhaustion, pushing through it. Can't eat enough food, dead on the couch. It's a great feeling

[@gcn]

There is something very rewarding about pushing out the miles! Getting to eat all the food is a bit of a bonus too 😂

[@danielofthemoon541]

I showed up to watch this to stay connected to GCN after the corporate murder of our beloved GCN+. It helped.

[@davidwashbrook9885]

Let's hope all those documentaries find their way onto the channel. It'd be a tragedy to see them marooned in a server somewhere.

[@ragzard]

Completely agree with Si. A long ride makes me forget about my cellphone, my work stress, chores, and all mental instabilities. Those 3 hours rides are mentally healing for me.

[@gcn]

Its so much more than just physical exercise! It's great to go out and clear your head 🙌

[@emjaytripleo]

true, I was feeling down and worrying about things which have not even happened, but then a 6-hour 150k ride was all it took to get out of it. I was aching physically but recovering mentally

[@ericlundquisthere]

I love both long and short rides, but I'm particularly fond of the long ones (at least 2.5 hours). They really let me empty my troubles and decompress, and I always come back feeling mentally refreshed, even when I'm physically exhausted. I recently completed a bucket list 70-mile ride from my current apartment to my parents' house, and now whenever I drive the 1 hour 15 minutes to visit, I think about that ride and get a happy feeling of accomplishment, since I've moved that distance under my own power. It's hard to imagine a short ride (or collection of them) that could possibly have that sort of impact to me.

[@ajfiest]

Long rides are awesome! For me the idea of a journey, of accomplishment, of a challenge overcome is very satisfying. I love looking at my bike computer after a long ride. I am proud of the numbers! A day on the bike is the best., especially when it’s somewhere I have never been.

[@ericcoxtcu8037]

I am with Si - while I enjoy short rides, there is something I love about long rides. Long group rides are fun, and long solo rides allow me to escape. Sometimes I work through deep questions, other times I couldn't tell you what I thought about. Long rides help me stay centered.

[@francon9586]

Long rides are the best. Especially when you’re riding a new trail. Exploring different places is what makes them enjoyable.

[@bostjankozuh]

Really sorry to see GCN+ gone. @gcn, what will happen to all documentaries? Will they still be available somewhere or are they gone too?

[@gcn]

We're working on a solution and new home for our existing films. We'll let the GCN community know as soon as we can 🙌

[@scottlawson9899]

Well, received my refund from GCN+ today. A sad day. It was a great app, and amazing content. A shame WB greed shut it down. Now they will want us to subscribe to some platform containing nothing I want to see (otherwise I would already be signed up) except the cycling content, at a higher cost. WB has in deed lost money on me, because I will not be signing up to whatever they attach the content to. No idea where they will put it in Canada, but not for me. RIP GCN+, you will be missed. Be proud of the great content.

[@urouroniwa]

I practiced karate as an adult for about 10 years. We would do these long training sessions where you would spend 10 hour or so just training. Everybody I trained with loved them. I hated them. I was never looking forward to them. I was always anxious. I started riding regularly fairly late in life and I remember thinking how different it was. I'm *always* looking forward to that long ride. I *never* want to go home. I remember riding with someone and they said, "I'm starting to get tired. We should probably head back." And I thought, "*Starting* to get tired? Why on earth would you head back before you are *completely* tired?" I think it's a good indication of how much you are actually enjoying the activity. There is nothing wrong with enjoying it less or enjoying it more. However, I think it's important to realise if you are enjoying it and to fit it into your life accordingly. I don't do karate any more because while I enjoyed it a little, I enjoy cycling a *lot*.

[@jedisdad2265]

They don’t suck as bad as Warner / Discovery. The closing of the app was absolutely stupid. I would have zero issue firing anyone who worked for me and made such a decision. And to add insult injury…. No refund sent for my GCN+ subscription. Apple still show it as due to renew in February

[@rangersmith4652]

I got my GCN+ refund today, but I'd rather have the channel.

[@tinwhiskerSC]

Ain't that the truth.

[@a_diverge]

Entire .17 cents. 😅 Racing next year would have been preferred for sure.

[@stephenauckly]

Mine went to a credit card I no longer have. 🤷‍♂️

[@neoneherefrom5836]

It went down like CNN+?

[@NancyBiker]

Me too 😢

[@Pabbilabbi]

Dan must be suffering from Affogato deficiency? A 4-6 hour weekend ride with good company plus an espresso with ice cream is the best, no matter how trashed you feel afterwards ❤

[@johnmccarthy115]

Great to have the show on KZbin 👍👍

[@mommamooney]

Thanks to GCN, my husband now has a wife that is a cyclist now 😊

[@Bender207]

long rides in summer are fantastic and memorable, you work towards that goal and the feeling upon achieving it is amazing!

[@gcn]

This is so true! When you put in all the training it's super great when it all clicks into place!

[@aarongabriel6837]

I like a variety of rides, but I do agree with Si about switching off. I find a 3 hour ride is long enough to still ride a good tempo but feel like I've been out long enough to decompress and enjoy the scenery.

[@Toastybear1]

Just working my way back through the last 5 years of gcn shows…. I had a break, but you guys have got me back into cycling again after riding seriously in my teens. It was such a shock to hear my name in comment of the week, but I thought you might enjoy hearing that I’ve just completed 50k up my local scary big hill for the first time in 6/7 years. The comment mentioned in this show, that was the first thing I watched that reignited the fire. So it really DID make me feel 10 years younger. It made me fall in love with cycling again. I know I’m going on at this stage but truly, from the bottom of my heart thank you for myself, and all the other people you have given this gift to. You inspired me back then, and have inspired me now.

[@ragzard]

Overlords: that app and site thing you like must be shut down Presenters: that decision is crap!

[@craighoover1495]

"...never waxed a chain, too busy recovering from long rides.." Brilliant!

[@dannystaten5701]

The sense of accomplishment from a long, epic stays with me for days or even weeks, and nothing else matches that imo.

[@gcn]

It really helps keep you motivated for a while! What is your longest ride?

[@gcn]

What's the proudest you've been of a ride?

[@dannystaten5701]

Everest ride. 199 miles and 31,000' of climbing. That was in 2020, butt it still feels awesome to think about.

[@238949]

My best day this year was a Sunday in July, I did my longest ride ever, 67 miles, not a marathon to some but was out all day with 2 really good friends, we had 3 cafe stops and when I got home I was so proud of myself, felt I'd really achieved something 🥰🥰

[@woolfel]

this summer, I headed out on summer soltice at 5:30AM. It was a great time and one of the best rides I've had in years. I managed to log 158 miles solo around Massachusetts. didn't have to chase anyone or worry about anything. I just enjoyed riding. It was a meditation ride and being in the moment. Sounds like Dan needs to go out and just enjoy being on a bike and experience the moment.

[@kostiatries]

Got a podium in the "biggest bodge of all time". 🤔 Alright, I'll take that 😄

[@gcn]

Great work😂

[@CharlesRiley-d4t]

Sad day goes without saying, but I just did. Also I would like to say, thanks for the help on my workout sprints. For that extra effort: I pretend I am Si running from a herd of cows bearing down on me! Thanks again for this and all other inspirations I have received since crossing paths with the GCN crew. Best of life to all. I will look forward to seeing any and all around the curve someday...

[@andrewmcalister3462]

I feel another Hank and Mark Beaumont epic video coming on - “Cycling to Scotland’s (re)Wildest place”

[@paulb8587]

#captioncomp: The moment Tom realised that he had just swallowed the goldfish.

[@stephendarcy-evans1827]

Thoroughly enjoyed the last ever GCN+ Alpe d'Huez film with Connor and Frank. Kudos for the rollcall of GCN+ staff at the end- hope they all still have a role within the GxN channels. Happy Holidays everyone!

[@SymonSaysTV]

Since the GCN app as closed I keep on going back to it, hopping it was a joke and it would come back.

[@danielstorey2027]

Me too! 😢

[@russellseaton2014]

I've ridden from 1 to 1200 kilometer rides. Short rides, 30 to 100 kilometers are the right length. When it gets above 100 km, the ride becomes more about how much suffering you can endure as opposed to how much joy you are having. Much better to spend a half day having joy than a whole day and night being uncomfortable.

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

Variety is the spice of life........ Long rides/Short rides etc

[@gcn]

Exactly, It is always nice to change up your rides so you don't get bored of the same rides. Which do you prefer?🤔

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

I honestly don't have a favourite......... always a joy on the bike ​@@gcn

[@nerigarcia7116]

I'm with Dan. I've shortened my rides and enjoy them a lot more. I was tired of killing myself to finish a long ride, feeling sore and tired after, and having no time left in the day. With a shorter ride I feel fresh, as a result I'm riding faster throughout the ride, and I still have energy to do stuff that I still have time to do. It's rather more enjoyable.

[@CelticThomas]

I love long rides. Frees my mind of all stress.

[@minushphoto]

I do short rides for exercise and long ones for the joy of exploring and seeing the countryside

[@liamoconnor279]

Dan, I'm glad somebody has said this! Seems to be a mindset in cycling, and I've been trying to race for 45+ years, that unless you do long rides week in, week out, year after year. you're not a real cyclist!!! But you're right, it's tedious, time consuming and exhausting. What's the point unless you're specifically training for a long event. Just riding aimlessly for hours....no thanks!!

[@magicknight8412]

caption competition "The look on Tom's face when he spotted Dan Lloyd (everyone's favourite GCN presenter) homing in on his huge beer"

[@cb6866]

Thanks Si,, Dan and crew....love longer rides . I used to run marathons , and loved to train . Cycling is the nearest thing , to me .

[@alinapopescu872]

I miss the GCN App, and it only closed yesterday. But those psychopaths who run your show don't care about that.

[@billmccaffrey1977]

Don't cry Dan, we know that you are well past your prime and walking to the bath for a wee can be a challenge. I'm 67 and still enjoy long rides as a start to the day and hope that I'm many years from your low. (Just poking a bit of fun).

[@danielstorey2027]

Love this 😂😂🙌🏼👏

[@mathewcao3]

#captioncompetition Tom is disappointed to find out it is beer not wine in the glass. Another missed opportunity for the caption "Pidcock au vin"

[@davidthomas9079]

I love both short and long rides. Last Monday we had our annual Xmas dinner ride through the Trough of Bowland, 60 miles and it rained most of the way, totally miserable! 20mph headwind, driving rain, soaked to the skin, boots full of water and almost bonked. Then to top it off the Xmas dinner in the pub was rubbish. Just one of those days that wil stick in the memory for years to come. Merry Christmas everyone.

[@karlburningham3604]

100 miles on a sunny summer's Day are my faves.

[@danielstorey2027]

Hear hear! ❤

[@lianejackson7170]

I love long rides, especially somewhere new to make it an adventure and an experience. Longest solo ride in a day so far is 230km. Listened to audio books, music, cleared my head. Fuelled well throughout and after so recovery was fine. Worst part was cleaning the bike afterwards! 😂

[@aliandcathyhunt3950]

Caption: "Anyone seen Dan Lloyd?"

[@velodjk2975]

Dan is advocating the shorter rides, while sitting next to a photo of himself on a longer race ride.

[@howieshaw8422]

I do what Dan mentioned. Lots of short rides under 2 hours with a few long rides slotted in over the year.

[@chrisjohnson9758]

For me, a long ride is the epitome of cycling. My life surrounding the cycling is busy and stressful. So when I get the chance to spin the pedals I set asside as much time as possible. It's a therapy for me, It allows me to switch off from my day to day and activate other senses. Sometimes I'll plot a route, others I'll ride for 1 1/2 - 2hrs one direction and then use the garmin to bring me home. The 7 days I spent doing LEJOG were possibly the best and most settling days of my life so far.

[@michaelvelasquez6910]

I believe a long rides are only as good as the the road and the scenery.

[@mathewrose2951]

Good thing that the UCI has no jurisdiction over my rides! I’m on 42 cm bars and I was planning on turning each lever in by a cm when doing the bar tape to help decide whether or not to go onto 40 or even 38 cm bars instead

[@Neil.C57510]

Blimey, my gravel bike has 74cm risers with shortest 35mm stem. How do you control your bike 😬

[@kennedystuart5685]

I’m a bit of both. As a weekend warrior, it’s usually a 2 hour ride during the week due to work commitments etc, then on a Saturday or Sunday I do enjoy a nice long ride.

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

Bag Balm is very popular with the Ultra Cycling community. It's available at any drug store across the country when doing Race Across America (RAAM) ... I should know I used plenty of it when I did RAAM in 2007 😉😉

[@stephenmacklin4556]

Any ride is a good ride.

[@gcn]

Words to live by 🫡

[@marvmininger1835]

Lucinda Brand nearly matched Puck's beer chugging, though.

[@lesliereissner4711]

So Christmas Week begins with the death of GCN+ and coal in all our stockings. Binge-watched the last of the wonderful documentaries yesterday but maybe there is hope yet as the Alpe d'Huez comes up on GCN next week!

[@MarcusBrito]

That feeling at the end of a long ride - the sheer exhaustion, knowing that you gave everything you had - is exactly why I like them.

[@davidhenry5925]

A 50km ride is about perfect for me. It's long enough to be a good workout, but short enough that it doesn't blow a day or two for recovery. Case in point, I did a cycling trip to the Big Island of Hawaii last year (where the hold the Iron Man Triathlon). It was a 10 day trip and I rode about 300 miles in total. One of the days I rode the Iron Man route 1 way, so 66 miles. I had to take off the next day to recover. I can do 10 days straight at 30 miles a day, but throw a 70 mile day in there and I need a day to recover. In my opinion, shorter more frequent rides are better for maintaining fitness. That being said, I do like the occasional long ride (100km or more), just because...

[@CONFUCIUS-f2x]

Recovery???? That's why i have an electric bike in the arsenal. Multiple riding days.

[@xxxmtb]

Back to dark ages of bootleg KZbin videos of the races

[@MarcoP70]

I love long rides. I love GCN +.

[@soumafan]

I'm 100% with Si: Long rides are a great form of meditation!

[@stevedouglas3975]

Definitely with Dan. A 2 hour ride is ample for whatever you are doing. For fitness you don't need even that much. And long rides ARE boring. Cycling 3 x 2 hour rides per week is more than enough.

[@drews4466]

RIP GCN+. Let me know when the powers that be let you offer hard copy media versions of heartlands and slow cycling and I'll be right there.

[@d4n1g63]

absolutely in love with long rides, whenever I can I do it, always trying/training to get further! Sometimes it means also short rides, but they are fun too, but the feelings, the memories, the accomplishment you get, the variety of places you see.. absolutely worth the effort. maybe someday I'll be able to do the northkapp event, step by step we will see!

[@felixamrhein-jf4im]

#captioncompetition: Tom Pidcock wins first place by recreating the route profile with his lip angles.

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

you need to do the rouvy challenge climbs as full rides - either in TT mode or if they appear as a race. The just ride option in Rouvy allows drafting as well as breaking up the climb if you want. I did the bedoing, malaucene and sault - climbs and descents last saturday evening and i am attempting one ventoux climb every day this week.

[@gcn]

Nice work! Have you seen our GCN challenge on Rouvy?👉gcn.eu/Rouvy-Challenge

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

@@gcn yes. I did the 3 the day after Ollie. I was around 40 mins slower than Ollie and did the Stelvio route last. You guys should do more Rouvy challenge content in future as they have sponsorships with la vuelta and the datev challenge triathlon series to recreate their bike routes. 50 years old though. I am understandably knackered after each climb.

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

@@gcn quick update. I have now managed 8 ascents since last Saturday. So 1 more climb to go.

[@kestralrider313]

I'm a sprinter, but definitely down for long rides in the routine, but I need to be fit for them to be fun. Some long rides are just done because I'm missing my previous fitness and want to add to that aerobic base, making even my shorter future rides better. The only ones I don't enjoy are those that I go further than my body was ready for, something goes wrong, saddle sore, etc..

[@michaelfretz814]

Dan should watch the PBP documentary on GCN+ . . . Ooops!

[@MrYorrik]

I’m completely with Si. A few long rides a month are great. They get you into a different and good headspace, and more importantly, they exponentially open up where you can go and what you can see on your ride. Up to two hours total from home gets me just out of the city in any direction and back home, which is fine but can get a bit samey, but four hours or more total and now I’ve got climbs or flat rides and all sorts of beautiful sights and countryside options to cycle to.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Now let‘s all stand up and have a minute of silence for GCN+. 😢

[@philipwooldridge9606]

Puck doesn't look old enough to get served, maybe she can only get beer on the podium?

[@adoj105]

Dan: Long rides of 4 hours .... Me: 4 hours, I thought we were discussing long rides?? 4 hours is a nice medium ride 😃. The group I ride with are more endurance based I believe. We like both but honestly we do consider a 2 hour ride a short ride.

[@ausbrook]

When I go for long rides, I also can not recall much what I thought about either. It might be one reason why I enjoy long rides too.

[@gcn]

It can be very mediative 🙌 Getting in the zone and bashing out the miles

[@R20VT100M]

I enjoy rides around 60miles but any further than that, I feel my energy and power levels dropping and my speed suffers. My last ride of over 100 miles I had cramp issues too so I’ll stick to shorter distances

[@greggsenne1268]

I'm gradually increasing the length of my rides toward a total of 100+ miles per week. My goal is to enter a few century rides in 2024. I think at least one long ride per week is necessary.

[@onlycatclay3093]

Well I don't think anyone is going to come up with a better caption than Dan this week

[@karenatkinson7964]

#captioncompetition: "where's Puck Pieterse when you need her?"

[@jmpete517]

Si, you’re so right. We need long days in the saddle. Not all the time but it’s a great way to decompress and enjoy what we love. A weekly TT or the weekly group ride is fun too but I need the long days too. Dan is crazy. Actually sounds like he’s getting old!

[@richardmiddleton7770]

I did 7.5 hours completely fasted before, that sucked, but only after about 5 hours, started to feel light headed and actually sleepy! Was training for The Dirty Reiver 200k gravel race. Also did the Mary Townley mtb loop on a cyclocross bike completely fasted AND no water! That was a 4 hour ride, training for the Three Peaks cyclocross race.

[@richardgate1571]

It’s a day out for me. No deadline to get back, change the planned route if you like, enjoy a food stop, take in the scenery….. ok, I do love next to the Yorkshire Dales :)

[@StoccTube]

I did 165km yesterday with some mates… usually do 120-150km with 2-3k climbing once a week in the Aussie hills in Victoria. It’s the best part of my week. Starts at 5am, usually home by midday. I smile from ear to ear the whole time.

[@carloalbertodondona3650]

Well, in both cases, short or long, I come back home with a smile! But planning a new trail, staying out for hours (I'm slow :-)), and enjoying views and thoughts, come back literally exhausted, gives me such strong feelings that remain for days, until the next "adventure/challenge". PS What a surprise the greetings at the beginning of the video: I live in Torino, near Pecetto. Come to see the first stage of the next Giro! Happy XMas to you all and have good rides. Carlo

[@Jackrabbit49er]

Brand kept pace with Puck but gets no love

[@joekawasaki]

When you wax your chain, the first 10 minutes thechain is really stiff & needs working in. If you're going straight to an event, the break in already being done is ideal!

[@lgarcia67]

I agree with Simon. I normally go ride by myself because of schedule conflicts with the local club. However, I have found it very enjoyable to be myself and not listen to anything or anyone; only the noise of my bike’s hub. It’s like being in deep meditation; it completely clears my mind. So yeah, I enjoy it a lot to be out for 3 hours or so. No question though, the rest of the day goes to the toilet because I’m super tired at the end.

[@bowrepublik]

Lol... As a Canadian! Bringing the bike inside when it's -30 outside. Your chain etc will freeze up due to the bike being warm. Just a tiny bit of snow will cause a skipping chain / poor shifting. Keep it outside and WD40 it down when the Chinook comes.

[@brianwillaman1776]

Riding in the winter here in Orlando, FL, USA is ruff... the avg temp on today's ride was 63F 😎🤣

[@highplainszwifter]

My wife says long endurance rides are generally less comfortable than our shorter sprint style efforts, and as Dan says “short, point to point efforts get the job done” so to speak. Key is the use of lubrication creams or fluids on the delicate bits always. But if busy lives are the general rule out there, I’m guessing other couples find that putting aside two or three hours for a ‘session’ is difficult. Hold on, are we talking about cycling!?

[@jok3r54]

Where can we watch all the gcn documentaries at?

[@fredericaudet25]

I looooove long rides. Nothing makes me happier on a bike then being the fartest I have ever been from home. :-)

[@bleckb]

All the accolades for Puck downing her beer, butr Lucind Brand finishes at the same time. She too is power!

[@toddrossauthor]

On Wednesday, I timed a 38 mile ride to finish up at the time and place that our club was starting it's 24-mile ride, which was rather quick. Surprisingly, I was able to stay in the front group until about (total) mile 58, when I started to flag . . . So, I dropped off the wheel of the lead group and finished my 100K about 300 yards off the front . . . Feeling pretty good. Tired but good. I think the long rides build considerable strength. Combining those with intervals has made me a much stronger rider.

[@nicmorton280]

Short rides are super but so are long rides, which enables you to see new places😮

[@patrickjoseph3618]

My longest ride was 168 miles with a friend that finished 200 miles. I purposely ran over something to blow out my tire. I was tired and sore.

[@yumyumhungry]

Re women's podium beer chug; I'm loving the influence Sepp Kuss has had on the sport already.

[@Alex.R.Feyn.]

17:30. In India you can come across bikes with 5+ people on it, so I guess the amount of handle bars make sense.

[@bryanthomas3687]

The end of GCN+ is such an incredible shame. It’s hard to get excited for the 2024 season knowing it’s going to be so inconvenient to watch without GCN+ and less fun without the connected GCN+ community.

[@glebnoujin2922]

Long rides are the best for all the reasons mentioned!!! In the first 30-40 minutes I always have a feeling of dread and fear of whats ahead of me but then a sense of calm takes over and you just ride, I get a little sad when i know that i've hit the half way mark because it feels like you are on your way back (or to the destination) from that point on. I miss you GCN+ !!!!!

[@johnlieto8906]

we all love riding, love our bikes etc. A Long ride, that was a goal or that has a destination is very gratifying. But, on a regular basis, 1 to 2 hour rides that have varying intensities are the best, they give you energy and improve your day, your outlook and hence make you feel like your ready to be your best. Long rides all the time will grind you down. Let's face it, we are not all bike racers.