Can We Survive A Stage Of The 1903 Tour De France?

[@gcn]

Would you be mad enough to take on this challenge?! 🤯

[@nt2883]

YESSSSS!!!!!!! I'm already thinking of how to get my 1930's fixed gear to france!!!!

[@tobiasbouma4071]

Two months ago I rode from Amsterdam to Paris in a day (that's 490k), but I could imagine this could be tougher with the older bikes and shitty saddles. Should note that we had 45 kph headwind from the start, but I suppose that would make up for having a modern bike rather than a 1903 vintage bike, right?

[@neilshannon9930]

Tobias Bouma That's a great effort either way.

[@bertchalmers]

Only if we can do it on 1903 food!!!!

[@twigle3015]

LaughingSaint That is not entirely true, there are lots of people interested in history that use the old tools, fi. ww2 enthusiasts, old car racers, there is a whole subsection of classical music devoted to playing on old instruments.

[@MrGrenadeMcBoom]

If you made this into an hour to hour and a half documentary retracing the course and telling the story of the first race I would PAY MONEY to watch that.

[@downtofun]

Same!

[@joelmartin4023]

Agreed...!

[@joearnold3594]

I would pay to ride it! Not on an ancient bike, but as a rando style event.

[@HJ877]

In case you haven't seen it already, you'd probably enjoy watching Phil Keoghan's doco 'Le Ride', where he rides the 1928 Tour de France stage for stage on a 1928 bike. Really good watch!

[@tobi-mr4zb]

i second that

[@IraklyShanidze00X]

I can only imagine what passing drivers thought about two so sharply dressed monsignors riding bicycles apparently stolen from a local museum.

[@glowiever]

they might be apprehended, but for the fashion crime instead

[@stopglobalswarming]

RollinRat but, they are roadies

[@sirrivet9557]

Probably thought they travelled back in time for a second.

[@KandiKlover]

Probably thought they were king of the Hipsters.

[@dwebb1935]

Oui, I kept thinking the same!

[@jrsuk1170]

Every time I start telling myself my bike isn't good enough, or is too heavy, I'm going to remind myself of this video and save myself a fortune.

[@DaimyoD0]

I'm wondering what went wrong with the planning that permitted them to ride 100 year old bikes but not have enough time to re-grease their bearings.

[@Dylan-ug6jp]

​@@DaimyoD0 They re-grease them periodically, but this is not shown in the clip (otherwise it would have been too long), I appreciated how they used to simulate the use of grease like they did in that era, grease which dries after a certain number of hours in these awful dry and dirty roads ( they were lucky to have a perfect tarmac, if not I don't think the would have received authorization to use those bikes), and should be reapplied to be of help for the bearings.

[@giorgiozampieri4352]

I drive a 1970 eroica and it's mad though, I can't imagine how hard a 100 year old bike can feel

[@tchoutchou1876]

Old racing bikes are not bad, pretty efficient

[@bekanav]

@@tchoutchou1876 Correct. Basic tech is very much same as in today's bikes. I've seen old ads, according to them race bikes did weight a bit over 10kg (90 years ago). Biggest development step since the beginning has been air tires, not high amount of gears or switching to aluminium or carbon frames

[@ChrizzzyEGolf]

The founder of the Tour De France, Henri Desgrange, once said that his ideal version of the race would be so brutal that only one rider would make it to Paris. This video does a tremoundous job of demonstrating the difficulty of one 400+ km stage, but remember that in the first Tour de France, they had to do FIVE more stages of similar length. Great video fellas!

[@jonashobrack9107]

"Forget what is laying ahead, because right now you are okay" those are some nice words to live by...

[@smallhatshatethetruth7933]

not really, that's the like being lulled into a false sense of security and then being doomed. Much like we are today

[@attila_the_hunk9685]

@@smallhatshatethetruth7933 😂👏 The idealist vs the realist.

[@jokernepalm]

This is EXACTLY the type of content we want to see on GCN.

[@stephensaines7100]

On a related channel, yes. GCN is for a certain niche, this is for a much wider one.

[@bluej511]

This may be the best video you guys have ever put out, great to see all the collabs with Mark, you guys should make him a regular i bet he's quite insightful. Great video, as someone who lives on the French Riviera and rides around this is a fantastic video. Should do a video of each decade with corresponding bikes, maybe the most epic stage from each decade. Like if you'd like to see it, let's get it going.

[@gcn]

Thanks bluej511, we enjoy making this kind of video and we love how much people enjoy it

[@bluej511]

@@gcn great, you guys seem to film in Nice quite a lot I just never seem to run into you guys haha.

[@marcuspartridge11]

That's an excellent idea!

[@dougcalder6661]

YES great idea each decade of bikes and stories

[@buckroger6456]

That is a awesome idea. I would like to see more on some of these legendary tour moments.

[@iMetuz]

"If it's not abundantly clear, I am broken." One of the most relatable quotes I have ever heard.

[@rutabega2039]

I wonder when "bonking" first started being used by cyclists.

[@johnfrancisdoe1563]

Good work lads. But we all know the first Tour de France was done by Asterix and Obelix more than 2000 years ago. :-)

[@tonyfranklin8306]

Getaweetabix was epic on that tour ;o)

[@2adamast]

By Ceasar himself (apart from one small village)? By Clovis as France is what he conquers?

[@chipskylark8869]

I'm sure some llama toured France before then

[@universallychallenged8098]

'Asterix and Obelix' this guy knows his shit

[@alfadoesstuff.4256]

I’m too young

[@arcreehysteria9805]

The first year the tour went to the mountain chain Pyrénées (south west of france), It was 300km with more than 10 super hardcore mountains to climb on dirt roads. When the winner arrived, he looked in the eyes at the director of the race and said "You are a murderer"

[@13redlion13]

yes, what makes it even funnier is that the director henry Desgrange did not check the mountains but sent Alphonse Steines there to see if the roads are ok an can be ridden on and Steines just went to check the Tourmalet by car at the end of June, got into a snow storm, his driver refused to continue further so he went the rest of the road by foot, arrives at the top at 3AM and the other day sends a message to Desgrange: "Got to the top of Tourmalet. Very good road. Easily passable."

[@Thicc_Cheese_Dip]

@@13redlion13 the added details make it even better: his driver left him behind due to fear of bears, a local herdsboy he tried to pay to help him left him behind, he considered sleeping on a rock until dawn but realized he'd freeze, he slipped on ice and fell into a stream, climbed back up and fell into the snow, and then and nearly got shot by the search party sent out by Desgrange to find him.

[@AlbionSupreme]

@@Thicc_Cheese_Dip Proper lad, that one

[@hardeho]

This may be one of the best videos GCN has done.

[@gcn]

Thanks for all the support Joe, we're pretty proud of this one

[@frazergoodwin4945]

Bonkers. Absolutely totally bonkers. What where you guys thinking!?! Total respect for completing such a massively hard challenge though and - as usual now - fantastically shot and edited. Brilliant.

[@gcn]

Thanks Frazer

[@adityawardhana6066]

Wankers!

[@timrichardson2]

Just awesome, Mark rocks that 20's style! GCN you need to put Mark in charge of ECN ( Epic Cycling Network). Mark needs to be a regular, he is a natural presenter.

[@gcn]

Now there's a thought....

[@dannyhanny1191]

Agree. As of this video, I hope Mark is considered GCN staff if he wants to be on it. Damn.

[@polsifter]

Endurance Cycling Network

[@guymorris6420]

Epic Cycling Network ?

[@colinltube]

Cool project guys, BUT you forgot a detail - obviously you couldn't remove the tarmac, but remember at that time they hydrated with wine and "opened their lungs" smoking :-D

[@chriswitek9455]

hey if youre drunk it probably doesnt hurt as much

[@youboy1067]

They also ate parcels of salt when dehydrated :p

[@jacobmarshall7138]

I cant imagine. men were insane back then

[@raspadsistema9993]

@@jacobmarshall7138 Man were Man back then.

[@carlos.5290]

@@raspadsistema9993 today they supend a stage for "too much rain". Come on! Ciclying is all about men vs nature.

[@marvinkitfox3386]

Its amazing to see how those two AGED by 15 years in the course of just one day's riding.

[@CartoType]

And how they started off looking like Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, but by the end the big guy looked like Sacha Baron Cohen.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

This is one of the most visually beautiful videos GCN has produced.

[@philippegoogle1388]

Yeah France !

[@nt2883]

This is possibly the greatest thing I have ever seen! Let's take the Tour old school again. Single speed bikes and looooong stages.

[@Sethimus82]

trans continental just started

[@eepyrom]

And self-supported. Riders have to carry spares and know how to fix their bikes up. That might get bike manufacturers to focus their efforts on developing reliable, durable bikes rather than disposable ones that only need to make it through one season.

[@guymorris6420]

No two way radios, team cars, team doctors, soigneurs, mechanics and all the rest.

[@nt2883]

@@eepyrom absolutely. Maybe it would bring back the true craftsman built bicycle. Made to last 100 years. There won't be many of todays carbon aero watchimacallits left in 100 years time

[@andyc9223]

100%, been wishing it for years

[@schuletrip]

Imagine how bad the roads were back then, how much more difficult it would be.

[@Hardcaslte]

I can't believe there aren't more comments like this. They did it slower, with modern gear (aside from the bikes), with support, on fresh roads. If you really stop to think about how insane it would've been in 1903 it blows my mind.

[@keinpietz7697]

@voynich can you imagine millennials doing that today? No fucking way. PS 1001th comment... I'm emotional.

[@robertcoates2752]

@@keinpietz7697 James is literally a millennial...

[@keinpietz7697]

@@robertcoates2752 you must be too, because your reading comprehension is clearly lacking.

[@robertcoates2752]

@@keinpietz7697 You said. Can you imagine millennials doing that today? In response to a video in which a millennial does it. But if that doesn't work for you how about this? bikepacking.com/news/alexandera-houchin-2019-tour-divide/ 29 year old women winning the women's class of the Tour Divide on a single speed.

[@dragoncivicnola]

I really...REALLY wanted to see them try and use that carbide lamp.

[@2adamast]

Back when I was young we were still using carbide lamps, makes your snot turn black and when there is no water you can pee to make it work.

[@smitajky]

I have a similarly looking hurricane light with a wick. Nowhere near as bright as carbide. And it had and green and red side panels a la nautical port and starboard. But it was robust and on springs. I have ridden with it on pitch black country roads but that was before the traffic went insane. You know the days when people actually looked out the windscreen rather than piloting the car by mobile phone.

[@dushk0]

Thank you! I'm a sucker for making old tech work, so it was 11/10 a disappointment! Even if they just showed it for a short while and then did the rest with the LED side-by-side but just why not? Even the museum would have agreed, I'm sure.

[@KandiKlover]

I would've loved to see that too, I would also love to have one for my bike. You can still get newly made ones BTW. I have a mining helmet lamp and a little box of carbide I got from Lehman's in 2017. It has a little adapter to handhold it as well. I like the warm glow it gives.

[@prime8nate]

I was hoping to see them ride with spare tires across their chest, bandolier style.

[@patunknow7253]

As a French and passioned about cycling, it's a lovely way to improve my ENGLISH LISTENING. Thank you, it's really amazing, keep going this way!!!!!

[@alejandroramirez6347]

Bous so me tríos mantenant!

[@andrewince8824]

I can tell you, your written English is fantastic.

[@FlatSpinMan]

So many things to say about this wonderful video. Firstly, moustaches. Wouldn't have been half as good without them. Secondly, well done to you two. That must have been horrendously hard. A huge distance on ludicrous bikes. Massive respect for even attempting it, let alone persisting with it. Third, it was beautifully shot and scored. Finally, do you have any more footage to show us? A feat this impressive deserves more coverage. I would have loved to see more of the suffering and bantz.

[@gcn]

Thanks JMS we loved making this, and there might be more to come 😉

[@stephensaines7100]

@@gcn There has to be more to come. This appeals to a much wider audience too.

[@grahamwood3934]

I was waiting for them to raid a cafe and down a brandy and bottle of wine to make the ride experience more authentic

[@Calum_S]

Or hitch a lift on a train or car.

[@soundninja99]

Or have enforcers that threaten competitors and break their bikes

[@ChuckPuffe]

and smoke to "open up the lungs"

[@garyeves4991]

They did! Except the brandy!

[@kingrobert1st]

Yes, and then get their bikes stolen!

[@ollietee5316]

Mark: "Are you any good at big-miles riding?" James: "No"

[@garyeves4991]

Hank was amazing, they both were!

[@blu0065]

Every time I look at GCN, I see Hank suffering. I thought all about poor Hank and the suffering he does for his job. But now after watching GCN for a year, you start to realize he's actually really enjoying it. Go Hank. Keep up the passion.

[@gcn]

Haha! Hank does love to suffer!

[@mig6pie]

That was absolutely nuts, and I can't even imagine how hard it would have been riding on gravel, as opposed to paved roads, just the vibration makes the ride excruciating, well done fellows, I tip my hat to you both

[@MBosworth87]

GCN - you should sign Mark Beaumont up as a permanent presenter. Great guy!

[@FlatSpinMan]

He is so great to have for these ridiculous challenges. When he says a ride is hard, I believe him. Loved that line:"As is probably abundantly clear, I am broken."

[@moi7748]

I listened to his audiable book, "Around the world in 80 days" which is narrated by the man himself. Brilliant achievement, great guy - I highly recommend it to anyone, cyclist or not

[@IanPhillipsWildlife]

Agree for sure, Mark Beaumont always makes for a good watch.

[@stopspammingmesrsly]

They dovetail so well like they've presented together for years. Maybe that's what a 25 hour bike ride with a guy does.

[@RD1R]

@@stopspammingmesrsly every world leader should have to ride 24hrs straight together with a few climbs thrown in

[@citizenwolf8720]

That Mark guy is a great presenter. Very likable on-screen presence. You should make him a presenter.

[@lokie1964]

Citizen Wolf totally agree. Love to see more of Mark Beaumont. He is a legend.

[@stephensaines7100]

Both of them! I thought they were a very well balanced team, in all respects. Excellent ride! I got an endorphin high just watching it.

[@manji001]

I seriously love Mark Beaumont's brand of cycling. He's inspired me to do more and put in more miles on the bike (him and Jenny Graham). KUDOS to Hank as well! I am simply enamoured by the sheer audacity of you both!! AMAZING EFFORT! CHAPEU Messieurs!!!

[@brianmessemer2973]

VeloPinephrine it’s so true. Watching Mark makes me want to ride more. Now THAT’S a good characteristic for a GCN presenter!

[@kruofud]

this should have been made in a full length documentary about the entire ride with preparations, planning, etc... this has so much potential! Great editing, BRAVO!

[@mjcau]

Not to mention the outrageously gorgeous cinematography, this is a beautiful microcosm of all the joys and sufferings of cycling. More epic rides with Mr Mark Beaumont please GCN!

[@evanreeves5966]

Hank actually looks like a proper pro in this video when they hit the climbs. A hardened man. Then just seconds later after the camera cuts he looks absolutely broken.

[@bhumiriady]

This is super cool and awesome! For me, this is beyond epic. Chapeau to Mark and James for attempting this.

[@vicenteguzmanp]

Probably the most exciting an beautiful GCN video I've ever seen. Thank you for bringing us such good content. The way you tell the story, the roads that you're riding, the astonishing photography on this video, and the intention of making everything as accurate as possible to how it was back then... Honestly I could watch it over and over. This kind of videos makes us go back to the roots of our beloved sport and really allows us to connect with those Gladiators as Mark accurately calls them. It makes us go back more than 100 years into the past were the only thing that really mattered was the man and his bicycle. No powermeters, no support cars, no marginal gains, just the rider, his bike and the road. Cycling in the purest form possible. Chapeau to Mark and James and to all the GCN crew.

[@Luigi88765]

Lol, I thought they were eating fruit and I was like "wow, they really committed to the period" until I saw they were munching on some pringles and coke xD

[@gcn]

If we'd really have committed it would have involved some interesting food choices and alcohol 😂

[@maxmahn459]

@@gcn Why not?

[@orppranator5230]

Actually, Coca Cola was invented in the late 1800's.

[@DakotaBeckerMAGA]

Same here lmao I thought those were orange peels til the very end you notice he’s eating Pringle’s lmao

[@ariat3381]

@@maxmahn459 alcohol is like the worst thing to consume when doing exercise. Fucks up your heart rate

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

"If it is not abundantly clear, I am broken." Brutal....

[@briansmith2125]

You gents are beasts among men just for having attempted this! If you two never spoke words to each other again for the remainder of your lives, you'll always be blood brothers.

[@MyBizCoach]

This was superb to watch. What would have made it even better would have been if it were a 60 or 90 minute video which covered more of the history around the 1903 tour de france, some of the riders, the stories and legends. Well done!

[@tkaakko2416]

Hank's face in some of those shots... If I've ever seen someone in agony, that's the face right there.

[@thehandleiwantedwasntavailable]

Well done guys!! That was an incredibly tough ride. Mark with his infinite endurance wisdom was a pleasure to watch. I think Hank wouldn’t have survived without him!

[@Hukarez1]

Hey guys. I just finished my first EROICA GERMANIA race on a 1930 bike. Only 30 km, but with no gears und a saddle hard like a stone. On country roads and farm lanes. It was a really great experience! So I can imagine what a challenge a 400 km trip with that old Equipment is! Absolute respect to both of you!

[@Ivan1234772]

You guys produce the BEST cycling show on the planet! This must have been absolutely brutal! Massive respect!

[@goodvibebiker4776]

No matter how Mark suffers, he still seems calm and collected. Signs of a Ultra cyclist

[@jensenhealey907efi]

This is THE BEST video GCN has ever done by far! Huge congrats and thanks to Hank and Mark

[@hansy3]

Blows my mind. Well presented, great, informative and entertaining network.

[@hansy3]

But .... when did the POOP!?!

[@FjodorMouseCat]

Favourite comment on gcn “if it’s not abundantly clear... I’m broken”. And that’s from the man himself🤯 good job lads!😃

[@jeffreywilliams3646]

Well done. Great persistence. Your notes don't mention which museum provided the bike.

[@davidf2281]

Yeah, it would be nice to know more about the bikes and their provenance

[@mattswain552]

@@davidf2281 I thought this, too. They barely talked about them at all which was disappointing. Despite how enjoyable a watch this was, it felt like it was cut to ribbons with how little info they put in as the introduction.

[@krisberntzen]

They're Matt Stephen's first two race bikes.

[@jeffreywilliams3646]

@@krisberntzen LOL. Are you certain? I thought his first two bikes were carved out of stone. I do miss Matt - he's almost old enough to be my peer.

[@sohi2rydes]

Very nicely made. Bikes, clothing, route, all was awesome. Plus it is so great to learn about the origins of bike racing.

[@apzeoifjpazeough]

GCN starting to look like Top Gear / The Grand Tour, but on bikes. That's a big compliment.

[@bazza2974]

This was amazingly shot and edited. The slowmos, wide drone shots, night filming, it was superb!

[@bjornvonmyrkr5755]

wowowowowowowow absolutly beautyfull movie ! Seriously , we need a documentary about the trip ...or the making of . It's insane !

[@FernandoLeme1979]

Dude, I got emotional watching this. One of the best gcn videos ever, along with Si and Josh in Morocco.

[@grandad1982]

Big respect for you guys, even bigger respect for the guys how did it on the dirt of the early 20th century.

[@Nicool333]

Don't forget that this road was gravel (rough gravel) in 1903.

[@vienteflora]

jeeeesus

[@lieblingsleguan1591]

But the guys back then didn't ride on 100 year old bikes but quite new ones. :-D

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

Lieblingsleguan lol

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

Nicool333 Back in those days cyclist smoke quite a lot too. They believe it help breath better.

[@matthewlewis2072]

Hipster heaven, single speeds on gravel

[@colinperras4673]

Why isn't this a feature length? This was amazing.

[@aquilonianace4791]

The first tour was won brakeless fixed gear 52/20 gearing. Do it again properly. You had it easy with your fancy freewheels and brakes. SLACKERS!

[@thomas.moerman]

"If it's not abundantly clear, I'm broken." Brilliant or bonkers? A bit of both? Respect.

[@patavinity1262]

Having a shower, a change of clothes and a cold beer once they'd arrived in Lyon must have been *so good*

[@gcn]

SO good.

[@Thermaldrone]

@@Andras_Schiff yeah, but the start was delayed because of cart trails on the road. I believe most of the distance was probably gravel or cobblestone in 1903. Any way, insane event, both in 1903 and 2019

[@KandiKlover]

After 25 hours? Nah that can wait until after I sleep. First thing I would do is get naked and plop over right there.

[@macktaylor4389]

@@KandiKlover Find me a fountain and I'd be dunking my naked arse in there in a hurry.

[@prime8nate]

I'm sure they smoked a few cigarettes to keep in the spirit of the original race.

[@tonymeades4555]

One of the best and jaw dropping videos I've seen. The music, editing, content and length was spot on. Congrats to you both and respect to riders of the past. Simply superb

[@socopower]

OMG that face from Hank, in the middle of the night, about to doze off, priceless! Tremendous effort guys, well done and thanks for sharing!

[@markmyers8775]

I have watched this video twice now and I can say, with all honesty, that it is the most exciting video involving cycling I have seen! The scenery alone is breathtaking and the bikes are obviously like nothing else you would normally see anywhere. Great job.

[@gcn]

Thanks Mark!

[@andrewlindley4865]

As a downhill MTB rider, mad props roadies. That's another level of hardcore.

[@Calum_S]

When Mark Beaumont says it's tough you know it'd finish off most people.

[@usget]

I’d have been finished by about an hour outside Paris!

[@gromm93]

If by "finish off" you mean "literally kill", I'd say. This would kill most serious amateur cyclists. 95% of *civilians* would be dead before nightfall.

[@marcbuchel4873]

I got goose bumps when he said that!

[@kbc163]

Three years later and still my favorite GCN presentation. The bikes were ludicrous but the effort was real. Shows just how far our sport has come. Good show! 👍

[@robertsummers3652]

This is BEAUTIFUL!!! I love you guys for doing this. Thanks a million!!!!

[@kamucho]

Chapeau Mark & Hank. Chapeau! For Mark to say that's tough is crazy! Loved the cinematography and music! Glad you made it safely to Lyon!

[@maxkokensparger2811]

Is it just me or is gcn’s content gotten so damn good! Cheers dudes your content is beautiful

[@stephensaines7100]

I'm an avid distance cyclist, but to be honest, much of GCN doesn't appeal to me. This did. It really did, And it will to a general audience, sans lycra. If GCN wishes to get more exposure mainstream, this is how to do it. This was stunningly beautiful, and as close to doing distance for pleasure (and utter compulsion) as you can get. I got a tan just watching this...and a charliehorse.

[@theuean]

Unbelievable. You've hit the realm of quality presentation and film craft akin to Top Gear. This was awesome - more!

[@dirkdriessen1133]

I once rode from Schaffhausen-Swiss to Kehl am Rhein-Germany 266 km with baggage in one day. This was one of the best and most exhausting days of my live. It took me 19 hours with many breaks including swimming. You reminded me on this and know iam planing another ride. Thank you.

[@MitchHedrick]

I came back to watch this after a year...it holds up as one of the best films and most epic rides GCN has ever done.

[@mathiasdieste]

Oh welcome to Lyon GCN! Would have loved to see you at place bellecour! Hope you enjoyed my hometown!

[@simongilliat2205]

Yep, I lived in the Croix Rousse for five years. Lovely to see Bellecour at the end. Wonder which road they took into Lyon? Probably through Fontaines, past Ile Barbe, and down the Saone.

[@EddieDBama]

HOLY MOLY!!! That was tragic just watching you two suffer like that. Good on you boys. Tip of the chapeau for your efforts. Great video.

[@rizkiyoist]

The production quality in this video is just through the roof, awesome, keep it up!

[@liamturner6424]

I primarily just cycle to commute and occasionally for a little ride in the evening but I love to watch the more documentary style videos on endurance racing and especially the older bikes.

[@robertborchert932]

How about a little perspective, from an old cyclist? I'm 54. In my teen years, I rode a traditional Dutch style bike (my father is from Holland 🇳🇱). 5 speed Raleigh. In my 20s I bought my first real road bike, a Centurion with downtube shifters. Put over 120,000 km on that bike. Mavic hubs and wheels. Years later I bought a custom bike, a Tallerico, hand made Columbus steel with Capagnolo Record 9 set, also with Mavic wheels. What a difference! Put 22000km per year on this machine. Cycling is in the blood, man! Each year I take the day to cycle out, here in California, to meet the Tour of California peloton mid-course. Each event I put more miles in my ride than the days stage, rain or shine. Yeah, rather than simply watch the peloton ride past, I like to experience the weather, and the grind, just as they do.

[@neilshannon9930]

The roads and the bikes back then would have been pretty ordinary. The blokes riding them must have been extraordinary.

[@liammarin4450]

Well don’t forget that they were pretty much all on drugs constantly and yes it was much harder but nothing to be proud of.

[@herbertsdottir9223]

@@liammarin4450 "nothing to be proud of" - what's wrong with you?

[@gregkane8635]

Liam on drugs? In 1903? Wise up

[@jochenkraus7016]

I read on the page below (in German) that the first documented cases of doping happened at around 1870, well before the first Tour De France. Putting athletes on drugs to increase performance is much older. Maybe that numbed the suffering a bit, but they were actually racing on these bikes in 1903, these two guys in 2019 aren't. All of them deserve respect for that. www.cycling4fans.de/index.php?id=346

[@MotRi1986]

@@gregkane8635 in the invite for the Tour in the early 20th the organizers stated that they would provide food and drink but the riders had to get their own drugs. Doping have always been a part of TdF but even with modern drugs like EPO those rides on that equipment would be extremely impressive.

[@leohorishny9561]

Thanks for doing this. It added to my memories from reading the book, "Gironimo", where that author rode the entire Giro d'Italia route on a 1914 era bicycle. If you enjoyed watching this, you'll like reading that book for an even longer ride experience of what you saw here. Amazing.

[@JWL-UK]

Just brilliant, great content and unbelievable photography. Bravo!

[@premdasyesudasan5778]

I still honestly do not know why I come back to this video time and again.

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

This video, I watched a year ago, started me on a grand and beautiful cycling journey. Thanks guys.

[@Fennefar]

I am really proud of my 100 kilometers ride (expensive frame and Zipp 303) and then I see this. Amazing!!!

[@tag180rotax]

I didnt know freddie mercury was in GCN!?

[@s.bruyere8496]

I want to ride my bicycle. Uh. Everything makes sense now.

[@toberify]

Beautiful tribute to riders of old, beautifully filmed. This video made me finally subscribe to GCN. Thanks!

[@ggedney1]

This is the greatest video that I have ever seen from GCN. Mark Beaumont has a REAL mustache. I think it would be great to recreate the 1903 Tour de France in route and regulation every year on "natural" bike and call it the Classic. It was really fascinating and exciting. I would actually prefer Mr. Beaumont as a bike-mounted commentator but I must point out that Henri Cornet actually won the tour even though he finished 3hrs behind Garin. The others were cut for drafting behind automobiles, hitchhiking, having a bicycle follow them, etc... etc, and for whatever reason Garin was evicted from the winner's circle is lost to history. I think someone should be disqualified if caught drafting an automobile in a race, but it would be incredible to see a bike from 1903 go 70mph and I would watch it. Please get a new set of tires and chain first, however. It is actually the authentic thing to do. I would like to know if Mr. Beaumont thinks he could complete the stage (or stage II with the mountains) more or less easily on a penny-farthing and if he intends to complete the entire 1903 tour, eventually?

[@tjlazr]

My respect for this effort remains undiminished, serious commitment, I for one will not winge about riding up a hill again

[@fionahunt8530]

Fabulous video! Big congratulations to you both for taking this on and completing.

[@gcn]

Thanks Fiona

[@StoneThatTheBuilderRefusedKK]

Im French, TOTALLY not interested in cycling, but you guys are so fun to watch.

[@gcn]

Thanks Elec, hopefully you'll love some more of our videos too

[@graniteforestdojo1372]

WHOA! I've ridden RAAM, and now I am not worthy! BRILLIANTLY DONE! And gorgeously filmed.

[@LeoUfimtsev]

I did a spontaneous 515km ride on a modern bike. I feel your pain and passion. Good job lads.

[@alexmtbful]

Awesome!!! The beautiful landscape, this sunset, your crazy effort, your bikes and clothes, reminding how it probably was back then (I mean in the night without light, without gps system, sweaty ?cotton? clothes and so on)- just incredible!!! Thank you!

[@Tympan]

Just brilliant! One of your absolute best videos. Thanks to all who helped out and especially to the riders.

[@jamskof]

youve outdone yourself guys, beautifully shot, fantastic idea / concept. nice one!

[@bradycreativeart]

This is fantastic! What a great video and adventure! Thank you for making and sharing this!

[@billincolumbia]

That was just stunning. We knew Mark could ride, but learned that he's a great presenter. And we knew Hank could present, but had no idea he could ride like Mark. To do that distance on rutted dirt and gravel really would have been grueling, and would have required three days to recover. Great video, all.

[@gearmonkey]

the long stare @13:57 is just spectacular. I can feel the exhaustion from over here. Great ride, great video! chapeau!

[@EricKummerer]

Thank you for this. I happened upon it by chance after a long, and hard weekend, and feeling myself laugh with joy felt so warm and wonderful. Your piece was wonderfully shot, a beautiful love song to these incredible machines that you woke from ages rest for one last hurrah doing what they loved before their eternal sleep. Thank you for the victory lap, tonight.

[@Darkmaiki]

They did it in 17h 45 minutes in 1903.... 8 hours difference!!!

[@ZachTheExcitedViper]

Yea but doesnt that cause you to raise a bit of an eyebrow as to the authenticity?

[@Darkmaiki]

@@ZachTheExcitedViper Not because I'm pretty sure that a brand-new pro bicycle from 1903 is much better than the 100 years old bicycle from a museum. I say pro bicycle because the bicycle used by the best riders from 1903, was probably the best bicycles you could get from that time, and not a "typical" 1903 one.

[@Welgeldiguniekalias]

@@Darkmaiki Also they would have taken amphetamine pills, which were perfectly legal at the time.

[@Darkmaiki]

@@Welgeldiguniekalias did they? It's a real question. I knew that they did it during the latter decades but I don't know if they did since the first day.

[@AlphaSkewber]

They also tried to kill their rivals and take trains when commisaires were not looking

[@jasongirvan6729]

What a fabulous video I love it when GCN takes a good insight to show where the world of cycling came from and once again proving that cyclists are the gladiators of the world. You two now rank in my books as some of the toughest men in the world. Question though, why did you two switch helmets, was it for the descent, I know bikes were dodgy but were the helmets too?

[@lenahygiena]

The helmets were dodgy. Especially for Mark who didn't even have one. Only a cap

[@jasongirvan6729]

How did I miss that, I guess I liked hanks old helmet so much I missed that marks was only a cap rofl 🤣

[@stephaneschifflers]

Well done GCN and thanks again for a great video. The original bikes in the Tour were even more basic than the ones used here: no freewheel (!!), no brake, no derailleur. In later Tours, before freewheels were allowed, I believe racers used rear wheels with two fixed sprockets, one on either side. So you could "change gear" by removing the back wheel and re-mounting it the other way round.

[@gilbertmoses6099]

In Tanzania there are still those kinds of bike and are racing on dirt..it's amazing to see what these guys can accomplish