Andrew Feather’s 2024 Hill Climb Bike Is RIDICULOUS!

[@gcntech]

What do you think of Feather’s bike? 🔥

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Too expensive for the bloke on the street. Get real

[@KenSmith-bv4si]

I think Ollie got a chubby during the freehub sound check, LOL.

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

@@KenSmith-bv4si he deffo had a stalk on and then disappeared in the bushes for a tug

[@budbud2509]

Olli could save 1kg by having a haircut .......

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

@@budbud2509 at least 300g of silica chain wax in that birds nest

[@carbonbikerepair1]

Before we introduced Andy to SWI bikes we ‘modified’ his 2018 Cannondale Super six using our robot repair system for the hill climb. We shaved off 200g from the frameset bringing it in at 620g thereabouts..at the same time we did some development work with SWI too so I’m glad Andy got a dedicated team in SWI - a great true monocoque brand. Go Andy we are routing for you mate!

[@sirehan1002]

who’s andy??

[@MyRestoration1]

@@sirehan1002Andrew Feather 3 time national hill climb champion

[@better.better]

surely you are kicking yourself by now ​@@sirehan1002

[@Ninja_Revenge]

You did a terrific a job on that SS Evo! I atripped my 2018 rim brake gen2 to bare carbon, but to use robot to remove composite itself is another level of weightweenism!❤

[@carbonbikerepair1]

@@Ninja_Revenge Thank you. Pop in one day for tour!

[@jikemenkins7098]

It's hard not to love a champion hill-climber when their last name is "Feather". That's just plain cool 😎

[@SpicyTrifongo]

and people say the 40k names are on the nose.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Even better, to become champion in 2023, Andrew Feather beat Harry Quick up a climb named The Struggle.

[@carreramann]

Danny Hart/MTB !! Sam Hill/MTB !! Harry Kane (Hurrikan ?)/Soccer !!

[@tomcruz3774]

I hope one day gcn tech gets to visit companies like darimo, thm, schmolke so we can see how these crazy ultralight parts are made.

[@Speedy.V]

They are all in China. 😂

[@PeakTorque]

Flybike Huizhou is your factory if you want a monocoque frame

[@sebastianh5929]

@@PeakTorquewould you recommend their frames?

[@MB-Secure]

Yup. These Schmolke parts are really amazing, I can confirm. I recently got a pair of wheels from them

[@SteveNinetyski]

3d printing..moulds...carbon...easy

[@murtheblur33]

Really enjoy getting to see the hill climb tech and Ollie did an amazing job detailing the nuances of Feather’s build. Can’t wait to see more hill climb coverage. The coast to coast ride Ollie mentioned is one of my favorite videos and they are due for a round 2 with another chippy tea!

[@alexgraves6842]

Best of luck for Andrew in this year’s BNHCC 💪💪💪🙏🙏🙏

[@musclelessfitness2045]

He doesn't need luck, he's gonna win again 🤣

[@criticalGuyIn]

@@musclelessfitness2045 he lost, disc brakes.

[@simonsepic]

Omg that's an episode right there. Get comically small and comically large handle bars, get a mega steep short hard climb and see what tines you can all achieve on the same climb with different sized bars!!!

[@simonsepic]

I can give you a weird example to think about. The wide bars do more than people give them credit. I am a roadie so I do use drops as standard. I used to tow my son on a tag along but I live in a very hilly town so it's real hard work towing a kid up some of those hills. I use flat bars on a chappy mountain bike to tow him as standard but on one occasion I thought oh I'm gonna use my allez for a change to tow him. When I tried ti ride up those hills without the full width of flats I honestly couldn't generate enough power to pull him. This taught me that Andrew is onto something, there is a definite loss of power when you have to really put the power down up a hill when your using slimmer bars.

[@mommamooney]

Excited to see how he does on this bike! Love the chain check, “Good lad”

[@CatManDoSocial]

Very, very cool. Thanks Ollie. Love that Andrew Feather. Hope he runs away with it again. And what a frame.

[@davefave4351]

'€500 and he doesn't even sit on it!' Increases the resale value Ollie and at these prices, needs must... I must say though, looks slick, svelte sophisticated and fast standing still but Hey! It's not always about me, is it? Happy weekend everyone!

[@gregkane8635]

A stock new giant tcr sl with cages (no pedals) and bartape out of the box is 6.3…… could be made a lot lighter and it’s a lot bloody cheaper…

[@paulwillis8504]

Great video! I really appreciate the focus on the bike's lightweight design, but I was hoping to see more detail on the cable routing, especially since the bars weren't taped. A closer look at how cleanly the cables are integrated would have been super helpful

[@Dreamweaver94]

I wish raw gloss carbon fiber finishes would come back in style on bikes, the weave looks awesome!

[@GrandadRambles]

“Speaking of Andrew Feather” had a feeling a new video was coming out soon 😂 HOW MUCH!! 😮 will it be a few grand cheaper without the wax

[@ridhaadaniels4746]

Still wanted to see Andrew Feather on his cannondale with the disc brakes. Hope there will be some GCN challenges of him using the Cannondale bike

[@Zhiloreznik]

New sponsor new bike. Not gonna ride Cannondale unless the pay him more

[@gregvassilakos]

Thanks for another great video.

[@MV-sy4id]

Love to see your videos. Everytime I try to say myselft too many vids and the yet another one fully satisfying. Thanks

[@dakalla]

The stem looks like an alixprs copy of an FSA NS Acr stem. Around 240g heavy!!

[@sheen675]

yea :) I have NS ACR Steam on my bike and it is very similar XD

[@jonhcosta]

Proper hillclimb race bike. No paint or nothing.. I love this

[@cb6866]

Thanks Dr O , and crew . Will any of you get a chance ti ride it ?

[@ariffau]

Have you tried climbing in a shifter angle that tilted up? It’s good. Trust me. I tried. It’s one of those things you gotta do and see where the wind blows. It’s like tilting your levers in, great for aero position. Shifter tilted up? Feels great when you’re always climbing out of the saddle. 👍

[@waluta]

and what about descend after you reach the top of the climb?

[@ariffau]

@@waluta don’t we all descend in the drops? Lol

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

It's probably also why WT pros tilt their saddles really low at mountain stages. Where at such gradients you actually get a flat seat pedalling up a hill. I guess it's climbing specific stuff that you usually don't see unless there's a specific stage you gotta win.

[@brianridley1102]

Great bike! Looking forward to the championship, I have been following Ed Laveracks training for it and he seems improved from last year. On a short course it could need tenths and hundredths to separate them all!

[@Taz86]

Hunt makes fantastic wheels, I wish more people would ride them

[@morneauh]

I thought they were getting them made in China. Good to know they are now making them.

[@JoakimGarde]

I want it. I wouldn’t know what to do with it but it is absolutely awesome

[@ChrisSpriggs-rj2ys]

Wot no bar ends😮

[@qwerty261]

Even with the race kit on it, 5.3/4kg isn't that light for a specific HC bike. It's the rider that makes the difference, Feather is just a beast.

[@vittocrazi]

5.4kg IS crazy light...

[@qwerty261]

@@vittocrazi for a bike, but not for a specific HC bike.

[@straightcirclee]

Schmolke made an entire lightweight bike the Schmolke Leggerissima

[@omarlondon]

beautiful bike, same weight as my s works aethos with a power mirror saddle

[@PorucznikBorewicz]

Give it up for the Waxed Chain Patrol!

[@MrJaycobsen]

Same weight as a RTP S-works tarmac. I know he's sponsored, but i rather have that frame since it has some aero features too.

[@swolebro]

That saddle and seatpost look like they add a lot of grams, carbon or not. Do you even need those when you're climbing?

[@KenSmith-bv4si]

The "Twig" has a new ride, nice.

[@bryanmolino8465]

in an uphill you have to lessen the weight on the rear .. you only need weight in the rear when descending.. seat post angle could be the problem it is slanted backwards means your weight transfers in the rear makes you slower

[@bradmacdonald7626]

Hang on, I know it’s a different bike, but the clip directly following a discussion on Feathers lack of bottle cages, shows a bike with two bottles

[@iansingleton]

Is Andy the first (let's face it, probably the last) hill climbing poster boy? 😂😂 I went up Rowsley Bar climb in the Peak District last week, I'm 6ft 2" and weigh 17 stone so I'm no super slim climbing machine but still he (yes he has the KOM on it) had over 12 minutes on my time over 1km! 😂😂😂😂 That's just ridiculous. I did ride it as part of a bigger ride though. I'm sure he would've just gone up it for the KOM, but still.

[@cornsiausem]

5.3-5.4, and he doesn't even need to resort to the dark arts of drillium, ollie!

[@better.better]

you have a point Ollie... why even bother with the saddle and saddle post? he could save a lot of weight by removing that. typically I use my saddle for leverage when I'm out of the saddle, but if you're not using it to sit on that opens it up for a lot lighter options that are specifically suited to provide leverage

[@klarkolofsson]

Disc brakes on a niche hill climb bike?

[@questgivercyradis8462]

If he's going up crazy gradients he has to get back down them safely afterward?

[@marcvb3364]

@@questgivercyradis8462 Dude, people have raced alpine descends for decades on rims. How can you think he isn't safely going to get down one small climb LOL

[@questgivercyradis8462]

He may just like the disc brakes. You can do the descent on rims, sure. But discs are stronger - especially in a rainy place like England.

[@Spongeblunt]

Your local A&E is begging you to plug those bars before they core someone

[@adamdennis7167]

Sounds like me and my mate! 30 years on bikes and we have only just put bottle cage and bottle on our bike (initially for L2B) 😂 I mean still need to learn to put liquid in the bottle

[@CarlaAlderete-jo1rt]

superb!

[@Zhiloreznik]

Would be interesting to see top pros (Pogi and Jonas) give it a go against the field.

[@user-el3rp6nh5m]

almost as fast as a 2008 bike with rims. The cycling industry has gone mad.

[@kingofherdaz]

Would have been cooler to see the final race version

[@shansung6628]

Well, tarmac SL8 s works frame weighs 685, even less if you strip all paint (and even less if you manage to get a special carbon layup frame set that all pros at bora, soudal and trinity ride) and it will cost like 7k. I’m assuming Andrew went for swi only because of climbing specific geometry and how it handles while going up steeep gradients.

[@krisjones74]

The bike manufacturer Swi was started when a defective batch of decals were delivered to ski wax manufacturer Swix.

[@pruutus]

👏

[@aktieninvestor308]

Dr. Oliver Bridgewood ❤

[@kalmarkristof03]

*points at dura ace rear mech* “nothong fancy there” bruh

[@SteveNinetyski]

6:20 The Feather never has bottle cages..never needs to drink...then 2 seconds later there is a clip of him cycling with 2 bottles😂😂

[@Fugitive_8]

To put it simply even though some of UCIs rules and regulations are to say “strict” theres a reason why theres a limitation for weight take French rider Julian Alaphilippe for example flew into the mountains

[@soulsurfer8797]

Is the fork installed backwards?

[@williamko4751]

Still don't understand. Why this disc for climbing?

[@mpvsystems9302]

Yes, skip the bar tape and plugs ro save 10 grams, but install brakes that weigh 100s of grams more than lightweight rim brakes, not to mention the extra spokes and extra carbon required in the frame. It makes a mockery of the whole endeavour and just proves that it's all driven by marketing. The sponsors of high profile athletes don't want to promote "old" technology, I'm actually surprised they let him use tubulars.

[@tiranor]

@@mpvsystems9302 I'm not a specialist, but maybe the rims would be heavier with rim brakes.

[@mpvsystems9302]

@@tiranor Rims for tubular tires do not have flanges, so they are much lighter than clincher rims. Also, the brake track on a tubular rim for rim brakes is directly supported by the upper and lower webs that forms the tire seat, thereby saving even more weight. Any additional carbon used in the brake track would only increase the rim weight by a handful of grams, which is nothing when compared to the additional weight of disc brakes.

[@tiranor]

@@mpvsystems9302 thx for the precision

[@markj.a351]

Because it’s 2024

[@manfrommontreal]

What cassette and chain is he rocking? Or did i miss it in the video?

[@gangstreG123]

Carbon fiber cassette with unobtanium chain, custom from Shimano

[@manfrommontreal]

@@gangstreG123 sign me up, even if it costs my soul or my Dura Ace cranks!

[@bubblesezblonde]

[@heksogen4788]

How does he do descents in drops with these hoods/shifters so high up?

[@brittle1]

So £11000 for a frame with carbon layup so thin, a pothole might just crack it in half 👌

[@Zhiloreznik]

Aethos is lighter by almost 100gr. Cheaper as well.

[@dougpence3862]

Rotor crank with 30mm aluminum axle or 24mm steel axle?

[@seattlegrrlie]

Later, Ollie asked the bike to marry him. It's true love 💕

[@allanhov]

6,2 kg was much more than expected. Pretty sure Andrew still has a lot of potential minor gains in terms of equipment (like tire choice). Someone has a video of a Spesialized Aethos at 4,64g and even that could be made lighter for pure hill climbing. His performance is definitely 97 % watt/kg.

[@matthewsmith6486]

Neat bike! My money is on Feather to win.

[@AndrewStorey]

Does he, or can he, cut off the drops part of the bars? That would shed some weight.

[@andreemurray7039]

Surprised ollie has got one not aero but light for up coming ride?

[@benjaminplant3734]

Looks like my Trek Domane AL4 except my bike weights 10.5 kgs and runs Tiagra 😅

[@VH5150BAZ]

2014 super six Evo, Sagan ltd edition. SRAM red, Metron 55 wheels, 6.4 kg with pedals.

[@jozef6663]

You could have S-Works and LAB71 frames for the price of this one. It's nice though.

[@rolandmg1]

It’s a shame he’s sponsored by Hunt as with a decent set of rim brake wheels with his tubulars would save a fair bit of weight and he could put some bar tape on.

[@Haplo59]

Yeah I don't understand why this subject isn't even discussed Lighter and cheap, why bother with discs on this bike ?

[@MrCreamlover]

hunt wheels are bril

[@julianallen515]

6:19 "He never has bottle cages on his bikes". :6:27 Feather rides past the camera with two yellow bottles on his bike! Can't recall him ever riding in he drop[s so why doesn't he cut those off?

[@markbailey2130]

it was Alberto Contador's bike

[@julianallen515]

@@markbailey2130 Ridden by Feather with two water bottles on.

[@brandondenmark10]

Yes but he clearly says on Feathers personal bikes there are no cages which there were not in the video of his bike

That portuguese made, german branded saddle is so much more comfortable than it seams...

[@ricardorusso1462]

So that frame is twice the price of an SL8 for just 5g of weight savings? Does the monocoque construction really make that big of a difference?

[@marcvb3364]

No, it's a marketing move

[@NeoPayneHK]

will this bike get lighter if swapping to new sram red?

[@Jalfred92]

I believe most of the weight difference is in the cassette and cranks, especially as it has separate batteries. A dura ace kit with aftermarket cassette and crank should still be lighter

[@mrsmith4662]

Isn't there a minimum weight which they can't go below?

[@someguy2940]

isnt sram red axs lighter?

[@madyogi6164]

Disappointed?

[@judeackland-patel6646]

Isn't gcn often sponsored by Shimano?

[@invisiblescout6335]

the cranks are, everything else is heavier. If he replaced these cranks with sram e1 cranks and a sigeyi power meter he could lose 70 to 100 grams. And another 30 if he used the elilee carbon spindle cranks

[@fixi47711]

😂😂😂

[@jpj4449]

Feather "doesn't need to drink"? In the clip at 6:26 you can clearly see two bright yellow bottles.

[@markbailey2130]

Alberto Contador's bike

[@Cycle.every.day.]

I bet the 42cm bars took some viewers by surprise , narrow bars restrict your breathing as your upper arms press against your chest sides,and you don't get much leverage as mentioned in vid.

[@edymarkonthego4096]

This bike is the same weight to my bike frame.😅

[@FabianNibbe]

Odd that they went with a regular aluminium stem on this high-end build

[@IPlodAllDay]

"he never has a bottle cage" then 5 secs later at 6:25 there's a video of him with two. He is human.

[@markbailey2130]

I think that was him testing Alberto Contador's bike

[@IPlodAllDay]

@@markbailey2130 ahhh! 👍🏻

[@crypcase150]

Make winter aero 111 more holes flags.

[@vandals11]

feather body, feather bike

[@fpeter01]

"Frameset: €10,900 - Frameset Includes: frame, forks, integrated handlebar & stem" I bet that this frame is made by virgin hands at full moon.

[@georgemicolta2130]

🔥

[@matthewbaynham6286]

I thought lights were compulsory for hill climbs and time trails.

[@mikewood9514]

Why disc brakes if this is for hillclimbing?

[@stuartwalker6409]

"he never has bottle cages on his bikes" next frame riding with two bottle on his bike lmaooo

[@peterdobos1606]

that's all well and good, but when power to weight is the goal, the bike is a small percentage of the system weight. If you want to maximize it you need to address the elephant on the bike, if I may butcher the metaphor. Not with years of training and optimal nutrition, nay-nay. That stuff takes too much time and effort. No, I mean with a specific "low residue diet" leading into the hill climb competition, paired with the judicious use of enemas. BTW those sound like great topics for a future show. I am sure Connor or Si would love to be guinea pigs for science. I can already hear Si doing his "beep-beep-beep-beep-BEEEEEP" at the appropriate moments...

[@ad9898]

No water bottles, then Feather rides past with water bottles :)

[@markbailey2130]

it was Alberto Contador's bike

[@matt99is]

Of course they could make the frame lighter, just do a rim brake version...

[@Music-pq8cm]

If he doesn’t ride in the drops, why not hack off the drops and save more weight?

[@peterthomas8053]

10,500 Euros. Does that include those two rather large cracks at the top of the seat stays? at1:45

[@marcvb3364]

🤣 that's the carbon layup

[@peterthomas8053]

@@marcvb3364 🫢😂

[@idpro83]

Why does nobody build a sub 2kg bike?

[@Alan_Hans__]

The freehub isn't all that important when you're pedaling the whole time but the fact that the pedals stop immediately is a good indication that there is watts of friction in the drivetrain.

[@msapereable]

Hallo GCN, i might have a suggestion. Why not make a video on how to properly brake on different terrain and road surfaces using disk brakes, mostly on road bikes. Apparently its not as easy as people might think......Locking out and everything

[@someguy2940]

i think this sort of problem most people wouldnt encounter in their lifetimes, and if they do its only a one time learning experience

[@andrewgturnbull]

Surely it's not race legal without bar end plugs?

[@Ninja_Revenge]

Disc brakes - skipped

[@Andy_ATB]

Hillclimbing needs a Balance of Performance to make it fair......

[@Abra089]

Why would he not get an integrated barstem to reduce the weight of components if he’s that nuts about weight

[@steven6064]

You can buy the Cube Litening Air SLT 2024 with only 6,5 Kg for just 7500 EUR. If you remove the Bartape and Change the Saddle to full Carbon you can easily achieve 6,2 Kg. 😂

[@sasha371]

Give that bike to Oleg Twisted Wheels and it will be 4.5kg bike :)))