Banned Cycling Upgrades You Can Use But Pro Cyclists Can't!

[@gcntech]

Do you take advantage of any of the things we can do but pros can't? Let us know in the comments 👇

[@jascollinscork]

I was cycling home recently and was feeling too warm so shoved my sleeveless jacket down the back of my neck under helmet/jersey and got a PB on a segment..... don't know if aeroness helped or not 😁

[@erwinjaytabuniar85]

Of course we can do whatever we want ride as we want 👌

[@taufikabidin412]

Yes, recumbents

[@BixbyConsequence]

Take a break whenever I want.

[@haotrannguyennhat9550]

#AskGCNTech if my tire gets puncture and I have to walk home wearing road cycling with clipless pedals, should or should not unscrew the bolts and detach my cleats?

[@noahyue]

I think you'll find my finances to be much more restrictive than the UCI when it comes to fancy bike tech.

[@cyborg7758]

100 % accurate

[@BGraves]

isn't that the idea? make it accessible to average joes?

[@genaddi1234]

Well, my finances don't even allow for fancy food

[@alexfox1226]

@@BGraves sure, if average joes are able to drop $12k on a bike

[@bobicabayo]

Lol

[@chrisbirkle6648]

This bloke is absolutely smashing this role! Only been in the job a few months and now one of my favourite presenters. Well done mate. Great videos to enjoy with a coffee 👍

[@serdiezv]

Although Ollie is a great Tech presenter, I feel like Alex has that Jon vibe so many of us missed

[@chrisbirkle6648]

@@serdiezv Ollie is brilliant. Love his technical stuff, he explains things very well. You can tell he’s a very experienced journalist. I like Dan and Si’s banter on the other channel too

[@TheTrixman123]

@@chrisbirkle6648 Si making fun of Dan’s age way too funny

[@darrengoh7825]

Was expecting the greatest plot twist at 6:57 "Next up on the list, saddles. You guessed it, the UCI have banned them as well"

[@core2zero]

we can call them, integrated dropper post

[@rkgr2]

Unless you ride in groups. There is always that guy that acts like the UCI rules the road.

[@thedistance1155]

Thats a bloke

[@Dravhs]

The doper.

[@chrisjenkins1]

Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades....and pull your socks up to your knees

[@ClemensAlive]

Well I tried the team radio once... But since my gf just saw it as a reason to shout at me even more what a slow duge I am, I decided, that the Komoot navigation voice is the womens voice I prefer on my rides.

[@haotrannguyennhat9550]

I hope UCI would never ban Dropper Post in road cycling :))

[@snuttall7134]

You mean the Ollie Post? 😆

[@haotrannguyennhat9550]

@@snuttall7134 may be 😂😂😂

[@Sashko_Dee]

My favorite banned cycling accessories are my cape and my six foot tall wizard bong.

[@JMise]

The 6.8kg rule that was introduced in 2000 has been around "long before I was born"? Damn, never felt so old...

[@barath4545]

Bjarne Riis was famous for fanatical attention to details regarding bikes and I know from a guy who worked on his teams, that there were in some cases, re-branded parts on the bikes that were non-sponsor parts, but were painted over cause they were better than the sponsor mandated stuff.

[@AllanPhillips]

Not much point in changing the UCI weight limit now that disc brakes have arrived and very few bikes manage to get down to 6.8kg with pedals, cages and computer mount.

[@d.2940]

Alex, fix the sound, add some noice cancelling cover over the ply woods in your garage!

[@ivan0kurnia]

Install foams on the wall! Dampens echo

[@UloPe]

The UCI should ban the UCI

[@walcottav]

I believe we are all duty bound to join together and ban the UCI. #spoilsports

[@KenSmith-bv4si]

Echo echo, I turned off the sound and read the closed caption and for some reason I'm reading with an English accent, bloody hell. Acoustic titles would work wonders Alex.

[@Thankz4sharing]

Even a tiny aerodynamic fairing gives a tremendous efficiency boost.

[@galenkehler]

The UCI haven't banned CamelBak style backpack hydration systems, they just regulated them so harshly that they're pointless.

[@feedbackzaloop]

Well, should I wish any bike or wheelset, I have to consult my sponsor first too - my wallet

[@garyshell7925]

Fantastic!!! 👏

[@karlkoehler341]

UCI want's to keep cycling a sport, i.e. a competition between riders. I wonder though why there aren't more recumbent bikes used by the general population.

[@luv2golfnbike]

I Love the “GCN Tech” episode all about the latest and greatest cycling tech in an all OSB(chip board) enclosed studio ;)

[@DaveCM]

I kind of like their bike weight minimum. It does help, to some degree, make the bike more equal. That way if someone rides a 48cm, they won't have an weight advantage over someone who rides a 54cm.

[@AC-wq7fo]

...weights being added?

[@LukaszMielczarek]

But almost all pro cyclist ride on size S frames

[@deanb61]

As a triathlonist, I think most of my gear is banned by the UCI...doesn't help me win much though :)

[@charliewhelan9488]

Triathlete, usually

[@deanb61]

@@charliewhelan9488 I suspect that's a contraction of Triathlon and 'compete'...what I do can't really be labelled 'competing' :)

[@darthvegan435]

@@deanb61 Right there with ya, brother..

[@dzat]

Yeap, ironman & challenge event dont bother wt UCI's rules 😀

[@KimonFrousios]

@@deanb61 On the chance that you are not joking: No. It is from greek "athlete", a person participating in an "athlon" ie. a sport. "Tri" of course means 3.

[@DougMorley1]

As Campagnolo set up Fulcrum as a separate company years ago, I'm wondering if this was to get around the Shimano/Campag clash as far as wheels go. Campag must have been worrying big time with the increasing dominance of Shimano.

[@helmutkok7833]

it is, same with shimanos pro brand

[@hotcakes1117]

Get Alex a proper mic set up please

[@happydays8171]

The UCI banned compression socks. And now the SuperTuck. But not I, I'll always be a tight sock SuperTucker.

[@bojanvasic8273]

Hi GCN Tech, can you do something to improve the lighting and audio quality of Alex corner. And that annoying flicker on the tv in the background? Thanks.

[@Kimberly_Sparkles]

Yeah, I can't watch the videos where that's obvious. The flashing is a trigger for my migraines.

[@KekusMagnus]

man the UCI is so fucking cringe, there should be a "no limits" racing class, any bike and equipment allowed as long as it's only powered by the rider

[@sgroadie6367]

I thought you were going to talk about specific gear which have been banned by UCI.

[@timmytubede]

I have mudguards on my bike and the UCI hates it. But it makes riding on rainy days much more enjoyable. I also have a rear rack and luggage bags to carry groceries, my laptop, spare clothes and of course some snacks and a water bottle. That setup would probably result in a hefty fine at a race

[@pphedup]

A Race???????

[@punkandprovocation]

How much mileage are you guys gonna try and get out of the "stuff what pros do" topic?

[@iberiksoderblom]

I ride for the endurance excersice and fun, and is never going to take part in anything under UCI rules. It makes bike-life so much more fun and enriching to ignore all things UCI.

[@m50d]

Since my bike is non-UCI (recumbent) I had resigned myself to never doing organised events. But then I discovered Audax - older than the UCI, and they allow you to use any (solely human-powered) bike you like.

[@iberiksoderblom]

@@m50d Great, thanks 🙂👍

[@bertdebruijn7129]

Some aero features on the bike. Like different tube shapes (aerofoil), fairings, and you don't have to have a 2 triangle frame like some triathlon bikes don't have.

[@zedtony8110]

Wow we are allowed to carry a saddle bag on our rides, gees thanks.

[@kyriakostheocharous3442]

Bro the sound quality..!!?

[@DaveCM]

Too much echo. He needs to put some things on the walls to help if he is going to do a lot more from his cave

[@davidkosi7662]

Sounds just ok to normal listeners

[@stevenx3m]

If you look at big races they seem to be allowed to use at least one type of mudguard - AssSaver. It doesn't help the rider behind you though.

[@djinthemixxX]

But keeps your bibshorts 'dry'

[@dansugardude2655]

Me: Hey I have better upgrades than you do! Pro: Sure, but my average watts are higher than your PB’s. Me: 😳😳🙈

[@BFinesilver2]

Use super long negative stems combined with a steep seat tube angle and your seat all the way forwards thats put your further past the bb than the UCI allows and super aero.

[@tornagawn]

As a kid I coveted a double drinks bottle holder mounted on the barges, like the Tour riders in the 70’s

[@p2e]

hey gcn, god forbid covering up the opulence of that studio, but ever consider adding some sound deadening over some of that fancy chipboard?

[@GCNalex]

Hey, it's not a studio, it's just my garage 😂

[@robertcatuara5118]

@@GCNalex It's a beautiful garage. Loved the making of video. But it sounds terrible. Add some sound deadening. Please!!

[@Kimberly_Sparkles]

@@GCNalex It still needs sound proofing, Alex.

[@jeffreydzialo]

I'd like to see uci road races with zero support. All riders would need to carry their own food and water, and have a bike and tires that could last the whole race, or bring a pump and a tube. I can't stand the lines of support vehicles, and if the objective of racing is to sell bikes, i think it would be more representative to show the bike how it will be used in the real world.

[@JR-wj9bh]

Start your own organization

[@markj.a351]

If the garage videos are going to become common could you put some echo dampening foam up please?

[@drew79s]

Mud guards are about the aerodynamics thing. Tyre turbulence is a big issue. I'd imagine you could shape a range of other items to be aerodynamic aids as well... I also wonder if the drink packs under garments were aiding cyclist cooling as well?

[@pphedup]

Meth

[@shannontrainer5857]

Honestly, I think we should leave hydration packs to the mountain bikers(GMBN).

[@chrisdunn8215]

Did Alex get his long socks mixed up with his odd socks or did my ears fail me..! 🤔

[@Jaaaaaffff]

The closed captioning thinks he said "long stops" 😬 I think your ears are just fine.

[@AndrewFredericia]

Aerobottles are also banned by the UCI. Pros have to use round conventional bottles.

[@Xsifilad]

I wish there was an Unlimited Bike League, where you could go balls to the wall with best of everything.

[@xmtxx]

IHPVA takes care of the records. The hour record is a 90km... You have British Human Power Club, or Human Powered RaceAmerica that organize races. It's mostly recumbent faired or unfaired bikes, which is great. Wish those were more mainstream. The faster the bikes, the better.

[@paulktfdaly6242]

Saddles - where is the line or point where the saddle has to sit, is it behind or in the middle of the bottom bracket. Thanks

[@neptronix]

You forgot to mention the biggest one the UCI has banned.. Recumbent bicycles.

[@la.intempestiva]

Alex, when you record yourself you can lower the shutter speed of the camera and it will take away the flickering of the screen behind you :) Really curious info on the video as well!!

[@paulcargill]

Whats going on with the audio? Using the on board mic as opposed to a separate mic???

[@Sergio_Math]

On the wheels point: We saw Ineos using unbranded Lightweight wheels instead of their Shimano ones for the Giro TT stages. These contractual obligations aren't as strict as I once thought.

[@u.e.u.e.]

The content is good (although I missed photo examples of the banned clothing stuff). Unfortunately I really need to criticise the video and audio quality!!! To much blue, too little dynamics in the shadows, not enough colors, a flickering screen and the awful hall because the microphone is 10 ft or more away. Please get a good wireless microphone and place it somewhere near or in front of you!!! It's really urgent.

[@davidburgess741]

Jettisoning the saddle before a sprint may just have been invented!

[@Mike0]

UCI will ban it soon, but that won't stop triathletes

[@mikesmith2864]

Every time Alex says "for you and I" it's like a needle in my brain. It's "for you and ME" dang it!

[@pembrokeshiredan]

Yeah. I was going to say the same thing!

[@galenkehler]

Lol

[@richarddavis3239]

Totally agree, bad grammar is bloody irritating.

[@davidwall7747]

Get it right - the pro's 'CAN'T' use long socks if they wanted to - 4:32

[@Doniyorbek_Turgunov]

Hey GCN can you send an external mic and not-gopro-camera to Alex pls? Psychodelic blurs on tv screen behind and echoed voice of Alex makes me sleepy))

[@troycollett8540]

In Australia we are required to use a rear light during races

[@gavynarmstrong6599]

I can dope all I want, train with the boost, stop doping, continue to train to keep the gains for 12 months and then enter local races, win those, win regional races, win the U.S championship, sign with EF making Uran support me, win TDF, Win Vuelta, Win Giro, Win TDF again, talk mad trash about Lance Armstrong and saying I am the best Armstrong, win TDF and be 3/3 and retire.

[@chiimaero]

The video sounds a bit like UCI bashing, and sure UCI is not perfect. But all rules are here for a reason. More often that not, a good reason. That may be a good idea for a future video. Breaking down the less popular rules and try to explain why they were added in the first place. I'm no expert, but maybe even the socks lenght rule could be seen as positive :)

[@joeshmoe7967]

Well obviously we need a circuit, where Pro Riders could use any and all tricks other than dope or motors. It would be interesting to witness what really IS and advantage as opposed to 'thought of' as an advantage. I would also like to see races where top riders are put on 100% identical bikes, kits, everything. I would like to see this in other events/sports as well

[@pphedup]

So, hey, why ban dope? Everything goes. Tour d F aka 200 Stoners

[@dzat]

U can use bike & equipments banned by UCI for ironman/challenge & most triathlons event 👍

[@dirtynachobuffet]

I don't understand why some things get banned. I mean, obvious stuff, like a drugs and motor, should be but if it's an option for everyone, then it's no longer an advantage

[@nilipak3565]

Where i can buy a GCN jersey thank you for answering my question

[@chrishebert5672]

It's "for you and me" not "for you and I", as in for you and for me. I kept yelling at the TV "ME!". Enjoy the channel, this just got to me. ;-) P.S. I just noticed that others had pointed this out, too.

[@challacustica9049]

The UCI has now banned bicycles with 2 wheels since they give an aerodynamic advantage.

[@fred-fo9jx]

4:20 MORGAN BLUE!!!!

[@aua6330]

6,8 kg is too high of a limit ? Well, maybe for rim brakes, but Matej Mohoric's bike was far from safe.

[@marjorieboissinot2037]

How many times could you say « banned by the UCI » in one single video? 🤣🤣

[@shenzhenpingpong]

How about iPods to listen to music or audiobooks?

[@jshepard5840]

Imagine that, we're all free to do whatever we want when it comes to cycling. And here I thought I had to follow the UCI rules or they would come to my house and murder me. Thanks for setting me free.

[@dang2651]

Urmm, no one said they won't.

[@pphedup]

Read all about it: "Horrible Plywood Man-Cave Broadcasting Room not allowed at Tour!"

[@Justintanega]

Saw Egan had a mudguard (assguard style) on the other day which I thought was great

[@KimonFrousios]

What I got out of this is that it is time to form the IUMC: International Union for Modern Cycling and relegate the UCI to retro racing.

[@Keepinitreal61]

let everyone use the lightest bikes available. Them no hidden motors or bike changers & happy disc breaks.

[@pphedup]

Yeah, no Lance motors.

[@hellopsp180]

#AskGCNTech I am trying to upgrade my really old Apollo Bike from Halfords. It has Shimano 7 spd gears but I want to install a road handlebar and shifters. Can I get away with just changing the handlebar and shifters to Shimano 7spd road style? "Shimano Tourney ST-A073 Gear/Brake Lever Set Road 3x7-Speed black" Or will I have to upgrade EVERYTHING including the cranks cassette and both derailers? My bike is 3x 7 spd. Has MTB handlebars with grip shifters. It has a rear spring and front shocks. but I don't think this has any effect on the bike really. It has a Front Disc brake and a rear rim brake. I assume if I change my shifters to STI, the brake cables also need to be redone at the same time.

[@simonm1447]

The shifting index is identical at 6, 7 and 8 speed systems. You can use different levers and keep the rest on the bike. You can even use 8 speed cassettes with 7 speed levers, it works but of course it will only shift 7 of 8 cogs. From 9 speed on the index is different. The brakes depend on the type of brakes it uses, V brake levers are only compatible with V brakes, but not with older cantilever brakes which uses different cable ways.

[@attorreatravere4590]

Are there so many pro peloton bikes able to go under 6,8 kg, even with the disc brakes, the power meter and the electronic shifting? And this rule ceased to exist, would so many pros go to...say..5 kg?

[@dougfitch3649]

I and other pros of the 80s used our preferred equipment at times and swapped out paint or labels etc to look like the sponsors. Some equipment just sucked horribly!

[@paulbradford6475]

Balance of performance is a curse in other sports as well, like auto racing. Many high-end street cars can go considerably faster than a similar model racing version.

[@ivancajka732]

0:05 and in the case of Twan van Gendt and Julian Alaphilippe, the best cycling babes 😉

[@BleedGibson]

Friendly neighborhood IT guy here Please sync up the frame rate of your TV with the shutter speed of your camera, the flickering is very annoying Either that, or you can just turn it off, cover it in green paper and put an image on the TV in Post ;)

[@thetruth156real3]

I take advantage of not being ruled by the UCI, in fact some snobby riders have pointed out that my bike and add ons now resemble a small family hatchback,, well sod them! When I pass them on the road the children wave from the back of my bicycle and pull faces at them. Ha! Who’s laughing now?

[@nanab256]

how long socks are better than short one?

[@Carlifurafollas]

At least UCI didn’t ban the habdlebar

[@t.b.r.2844]

E-bikes banned ?? But why🤔 🤣👏

[@Hossxx]

If your racing though under something like USAC alot of these are also banned

[@keiji293]

when are we going to have a behind the scenes set-up tour?

[@charliewhiskey8440]

Love my shameless not-so-hidden motor overtaking uphill while towing my kid in a trailer

[@JackofNothingess]

And now for another segment of, "Screw riding upgrades, buy upgrades!"

[@BFinesilver2]

Use a rear bottle holder behind the saddle. Saves 5 Watts for peanuts.

[@darthvegan435]

I'd be interested in those, but do you have a recommended one? Many reviews I see on them complain because they're cheap, unreachable, or both..

[@einsteinisbae27]

You guessed it! Apparently I'm doing a lot of guessing :D

[@florpdorp7190]

I hope the UCI kicks the bucket they're a bunch of idiots by allowing teams to use better tech it would also allow for more teams to dive into trying to make better tech to go faster

[@71CMM]

Is correct punctuation in titles also banned?

[@sortehuse]

Also Bike Bell are allowed!

[@Catharsis791]

We need adapted epo that is not unhealthy for amateurs

[@ProtoKJ]

like almost none of these are upgrades lol

[@pierrecautain2999]

Use a wireless microphone, too much reverb ! :0

[@Bouheidegger]

This ep needs a 'you name/guess it' counter.

[@edwardhoward6556]

What about INEOS? They have shimano as a sponsor but use aerocoach front wheels for TT’s. How are they contractually allowed to, given shimano has their own wheels??

[@robertcatuara5118]

Seems to me if they black out the logos, it's OK.

[@itarry4]

They also have used Lightweight wheels for the Tour. The biggest race in the year and they went with unbranded lightweight wheels instead. I guess when you've got the budget and success of INEOS you can get away with whatever you want to.

[@tawilk]

no mention of unique bike frames, ultra aero frames? lotus makes bikes you know.