How Hard Did Cycling Use To Be? | Modern Cyclist, Retro Bike, Classic Climb

So what was life like before the invention of the derailleur? How hard was it to ride a bike with only two gears over mountain passes? Thanks to Tullio Campagnolo we'll never know.... but Ollie found out.
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Leave us a comment below!

[@gcn]

Would you give this a go?!

[@davidharrington6273]

Definitely, and I am think you should try an event like L’Eroica in the future!

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

No. Give me 5 minutes to switch gears in the rain. Still no.

[@garrettturbett593]

I did Paris-Roubaix on a steel single speed last year. That’s either downhill or flat other than a couple of bridge crossings, so I’d rather not tackle any major climbs without my Di2 and a nice wide block!

[@amfearliathmor8213]

Just got to learn to dance on the pedal technique rather than to spin on the climb. It does require more upper body strength like Greg Lemond had though.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

Not on a single speed, no. Mad. My Das was a club racer in the 50s... Single speed, steel frame, 100 mile TTs, no support...hills and all. Bonkers,

[@barriewilliams4526]

One of those was my everyday bike lol, I am 82 now though :)

[@80beanz]

That's why your still alive😅

[@jeremyemilio9378]

@TigerLizardz Gaming or he could be lying about his age

[@iTzzproclan]

God bless you

[@Cloobornius]

Woohoo barrie!

[@erichaheidrich4593]

Cool

[@jacquesmalecaut4956]

By far the best GCN video. Ollie is so naturally funny and engaging. Editing was amazing also!

[@carstenweiland7896]

Toe Clips are awesome, some are really tight and they should hold your feet in place, I love them. Modern tech is good too and it is really easy to unclip your feet.

[@doriankelly101]

Your filmmaking skills are wild. I subbed for the content, stayed for the cinematography.

[@gcn]

Cheers Dorian 😊

[@marccarter1350]

I ride 853 steel, mechanic group set, 32 hole wheels, calliper brakes Selle San Marco Rolls saddle. Kept it old skool. Its 5 years old, still runs amazing. Not everyone is a wannabe pro! Nor has access to 10k to find the latest carbon deluxe super cycle. Some of us ride for pleasure

[@gboyspeed]

Music and video quality is in another level

[@gcn]

Cheers!

[@Paul_Paulson]

Wonderful! Although did I notice that you were using a freewheel? Maybe try it on a fixed gear(s) for the real authentic experience :-)

[@caskinfg]

That's a nice mountain, the Passo Croachydown

[@stockton350]

A hundred thumbs up!

[@LaughingSaint66]

Those gear cables could knock out an eye 😂😂

[@daltonbedore8396]

brake cables, but yes lol

[@LaughingSaint66]

Dalton Bedore Oh yes well I can be forgiven since I’m clearly exhausted from having cycled 1900 miles of a 2000 mile challenge for myself this month with 90,000 feet of climbing and 16+ century rides this is what happens when a man only cycles all the time and has no other distractions in his life it’s a sad sad day

[@lewis72]

That "really crap, flexible frame" was Reynolds 531, so it couldn't be _that_ bad !

[@ericoschmitt]

Hey you talk about steel frames as if they were all crap! Modern steel is amazing.

[@novennelagua3151]

My first road bike is a vintage road bike

[@Quimerateck]

For me it's the same, cause im riding a bianchi 27" x 1 1/4

[@lemonpaper]

Wow this guy describes my actual bike and then says “Rubbish! Tick!”

[@JaredArchbold]

I was thinking the same thing. Jealous of the opportunity to ride that bike on that pass.

[@KandiKlover]

I'll pass on that pass but I would love to ride the old road bikes too.

[@BushidoMusicOfficial]

He literally described mine too (a fixie) minus the brakes

[@em_oh_why_oh]

Lol I could only afford a second hand steel bike from the 80s and I keep up with $5000 bike cyclists in local group rides 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@wretchedgrey]

It's because 95% of the performance is in the person riding and not the bike. The extra 5% only matters in races where taking off a few pounds with a $5k full carbon frame actually matters.

[@M3T2W01f]

Rumor has it that the camera crew only had to walk to film Ollie.

[@gcn]

Not all that far from the truth...

[@LaughingSaint66]

Amer J. 😂😂😂

[@gcntech]

@Savage Poet using the dark room, aka the actual night, whilst Ollie still continued to ride up the hill.... Jon.

[@juilescieg]

probably stand.

[@iwritechecksatthegrocerystore]

As somebody named Ollie this hits to close to home.... 🤣😂

[@christopherfisher6293]

My late dad always rode fixed gear of 48+18 all his cycling life ,and could give me and my gears one good kicking all the time. Tough times made very tough men used to pain and discomfort on a daily basis, and that went into cycling. Well done dad, well done!!

[@joshnicholson2934]

I do that now but with 50+16 and I love it! 😁 Usually beat roadies

[@samh2023]

@@joshnicholson2934 Me too, but with 54-14. Usually beat motorcycles

[@Shivasyn13]

@@samh2023 Me too, but with 58-13. Usually beat cars

[@bullyborg]

I do 62 11 everyday on commutes usually beat f1 cars.

[@Hambonebodi]

I guess I am a wuss at 42/18 😂

[@DrewKime]

And you just know there were dude-bros back then who would give you a hard time for switching to the "easy" cog.

[@ljrandom147]

Lmfao

[@thebelly925]

“Oh, look at young Bridgewood! Switching to the 18 tooth cog? Why don’t you just trade your jersey for a corset and a dress?”

[@newttella1043]

"first one to switch gears buys beers"

[@gcn]

Hahaha this is so true!

[@jthepickle7]

Back then you were lucky to find a 24t cog. 36 - 24 was the best you could do.

[@veloriderkm]

Are your videos now produced by Christopher Nolan with a score by Hans Zimmer? Honestly fellas, who ever is behind the scenes.. you moved me with the sights and sounds. Thank you.

[@Velofil]

This was like watching a TOP GEAR episode ....for Cycling! EPIC editing and kudos to Ollie

[@bonolee07]

Velofil I was thinking exactly the same lol

[@giuseppe8844]

This video takes the GCN cinematography to a whole new level. Anything less than this will now be disappointing....

[@gcn]

@@giuseppe8844 Uh oh... 😬

[@chuckpietro]

Velofil, I agree completely. Excellent production 'Top Gear' style. And Ollie has the best timing with his words, hand down. Jeremy Clarkson eat your heart out. Keep it up GCN!!

[@powersturbo]

This video was the boring version of Jeremy clarkson taking a dump uphill.

[@geeano9232]

Ollie is undoubtedly one of the funniest and natural presenters on GCN ⚡️

[@marcelopadilla842]

capo...!!!

[@pavels470]

Channelling Jeremy Clarkson for sure

[@rap4live39]

Just love this guy. Such sympathic this man...

[@ilCantaluppi]

If you turn he volume up and listen closely you can clearly hear Ollie’s kneecaps pop

[@imgonnabuss]

noooo way! ah man that must've been gnarly to experience

[@lst1nwndrlnd]

I think mine popped too.

[@geoffdelperdog8838]

Was this a short film? The cinematography is getting incredible at GCN! Keep it up, team!

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

I know, right? GCN doesn't have the goofiness it had when Matt was around, but the cinematography is outstanding and the hosts are up to the challenge of presenting that the film quality demands.

[@lennymccartney1]

yes, and the twist was that ollie wasn't dropped!

[@geoffdelperdog8838]

I'm guessing this comment was the springboard that led to GCN+ documentaries.

[@ojanssensande]

5:08 The brakepad is almost 1 meter away from the rim. Ridicolous! But you got a bell to warn other people of the crash that is to come.

[@albr4]

could be way better adjusted but I've restored my own 1950s road bike and it's got some kind of lightweight steel tubing that means the bike is so flexible I had to loosen the brakes massively to stop them from rubbing when I put force into the front fork

[@ojanssensande]

@@albr4 oh interesting. I've got that in my bike while sprinting hard. But my pads are very close. Mabye it is your wheel, as well?

[@albr4]

@@ojanssensande I've got the original wheel on the front so it probably does have a bit of play, but I looked at it and held the wheel in place and put pressure on one side of the bars and I could make it touch, looks like the fork flexing. I have the same issues even on my aero road bike but it's just my "training wheels" deflecting so I have to loosen the brakes so they don't rub. High end wheels shouldn't have much deflection. That old frame is like riding a bike made of jelly compared to my aluminium frame.

[@alexbrown1995]

I noticed that and cringed. A lot.

[@terencej72]

@Olaf J Arf arf arf.

[@andeez4663]

I love Olly's presenting style and great content too. Well done GCN

[@richm.3477]

He's been a nice addition to the crew.

[@nathanphillips875]

You guys are become a cycling version of top gear... you might even be better! Great filming, editing, presentation and story telling. Well done Ollie and the team 👍🏼

[@neilcaress9036]

I assumed you meant that as an insult until the last bit!

[@justinlee463]

I was thinking the same thing watching this haha

[@LOCKEYJ]

Gcn is entertaining though

[@mazdaman2315]

Nah they aren’t better nobody’s better than old top gear

[@neilcaress9036]

@@mazdaman2315 I can't agree I'm afraid. I can't stand any version of the bloody show!

[@genuine74boomer]

I must congratulate GCN again on another superb video - it is so refreshing to subscribe to a bike channel that doesn't just talk about the latest gear but also gives fascinating insights into the heritage of this amazing sport/hobby/pastime/passion that we all love. Editing, filming and the script were all spot-on and (although obviously you shouldn't tell him this!) Ollie is a great presenter - engaging, versatile (great RP accent on the 'vintage commentator' bit) and professional. As one other commenter put it below, GCN is the 'Top Gear' (in its heyday!) of cycling channels!

[@jacksquat2067]

I love how sarcastic Ollie was in this one. It was "positively magical!" XD

[@gcn]

Laugh or cry eh?

[@hoser7706]

That was seriously smart wit. How many times have we all searched for that next gear only to discover, damn, that is it!! Lol. Brilliant video

[@truthseeker8483]

Made me smile all the way through this video :-)

[@tepperpepper1047]

My knees hurt from just watching this.

[@gcn]

There were many collective hurting knees at GCN HQ too...

[@RasPutintheGreat]

My thigh hurts.

[@engineergaming4295]

This is like Jeremy Clarkson giving a history lesson while driving a really old Range Rover on a narrow road

[@bhumiriady]

This is super awesome and fascinating! That vintage bike and kit is a time capsule! I like it!

[@Bv1nte]

Meanwhile fixie guys are laughing out loud of that Sisi complaining about having bad brakes and 2 gears

[@JohnBatty]

Ollie clearly putting in the effort, grinding away, but still narrates clearly - not out of breath at all. Kudos, fellah.

[@U20101954]

my knees exploded just by watching this...

[@tristramwilson2661]

Great vid production, very creative and as you said Dan, next level!

[@jen3800]

Ollie's my fave presenter. like a boy still, in his enthusiasm and humbleness, and funny as hell.

[@markmurphy854]

I had a friend 40 years ago that used to race with Tullio. He said the same thing that the video did that Tullio was a better engineer than cyclist, but he was always coming up with new ideas to try. Great video GCN!

[@rockcycle824]

It's okay, Ollie, we enjoy your suffering more than Si's anyways 😂

[@jaredkieser9317]

The production quality has definitely gone up, most noticeably the score. Oli is also a world class presenter. Chapeau guys.

[@gcn]

Thanks Jared - glad you enjoyed this one. Big team effort 👍

[@albr4]

wow Si looks different today

[@mykytajex2248]

@Savage Poet Silicon

[@milescorporosus4058]

I have to admit, there's something about the old style cycle that I find really appealing in that stripped-down way. Not as a _replacement_ to more modern tech -- there's a reason it developed in the first place -- but it's interesting to see how much you can sacrifice and still call it a road bike.

[@craigpaterson5085]

Ollie still pedaling at 60rpm even at 2x speed - great video

[@szabiakanich]

Really loved this one. The cinematogprahy, the music, the old bike, the old cycling gear, Ollie's "announcer voice". Fantastic video.

[@booklover3959]

superficial garbage and uninformed on vintage bikes

[@edwardkerrigan5356]

I found the music a damned invasive nuisance.

[@ClassicalPan]

Haters gon’ hate!

[@mitchrapp9727]

This was very entertaining Ollie, I'm glad you're with GCN.

[@Psychedelic_Kat]

You forgot something that riders had back then, that you don't (maybe) and that's Cocain and Amfetamin xD

[@mrvontrips]

ah yes and then pictures of the riders at the finish with foam at their lips. Iconic.

[@KandiKlover]

@@mrvontrips Meth doesn't actually make you do that.

[@davidmurray3685]

Brilliant video, and gorgeous background music. Great guys ;)

[@jordyd8916]

Love you Ollie! How many times did they have to cut you swearing?

[@GCNuser123]

Every other word. We have some talented editors.... haha

[@deswhite8268]

Ollie have you throttled Si yet for dropping you in it

[@troywillis9873]

For a laugh I recently rode a 205km 2,200metre elevation gran fondo on my $100 single speed pub bike in similar weather. After that experiencd I commend Ollie on how composed he appeared during the video but I wouldn't be surprised if the editors are now in counselling.

[@lmc333]

Sorry but I was laughing all the way through the video... You are way too funny Ollie !! Priceless... Thank you GCN for another awesome video !

[@powersturbo]

Please tell me what was so funny, I missed it.

[@jacquesmalecaut4956]

Ollie is a legend.

[@hollridersanktgallen7618]

Dear GCN Boys, best vid you ever made!!! Have no more words to describes what I feel!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@rogerlindley3095]

I rode a Jack Hateley steel bike with a fixed gear when I was about fifteen years old. The club I rode with mainly cycled throughout the UK Derbyshire Peak District, pretty hilly. If I moaned a bit to the guys with Campag gears they would tell me, the only way to get really fit is to ride a fixie. It may have been true because at seventyfive y.o. I'm still riding about three times a week in both Peak District and The South Pennines although now with gears. ,incidently the Jack Hateley o ly had a front brake which occasionally made descending quite exciting.

[@edwardkerrigan5356]

I don't understand what all the fuss - and fearmongering - is nowadays about fixed gears. I'm a lot older than you and joined my first cycling club (CTC) in about 1948 and EVERYBODY rode fixed wheel. The only reason anybody had a derailleur was to bolt it on for a couple of weeks holiday tour each summer, and that was all. The rest of the time - club runs, solo riding, time trials, hill climbs even, they rode a fixed wheel. As I remember they ranged between 66 to 72, perhaps 74 inch. We always rode with front and rear brakes, though. For various reasons I stopped cycling in about 1954 but I don't remember any significant switch to gears by that time - presumably they became more widely used soon after. I returned to cycling on my retirement twenty years ago and am still riding, like you with gears now, although I tend to seek out flatter terrain nowadays, gears notwithstanding.

[@jessicaduncan9347]

Edward Kerrigan ?

[@edwardkerrigan5356]

I'd forgotten I'd posted this - just put another one up top - oops!

[@luketolchard]

"I might just die" - How I feel about University work!

[@mrljgibson]

University work is easy. Wait until they let you out into the real world and see the much tighter deadlines and companies who are practically willing to work their staff to death.

[@desertrainfrog1691]

@@mrljgibson I'll try to avoid working for shithole companies.

[@emrebaloglu1744]

Best thing happened to GCN is getting Ollie on board , always a charm watching episodes featuring him

[@terbennett]

That's amazing when you compare the improvements over the past 100 years, but let's not forget that In the 20's and 30's they did it on poorly paved roads or dirt roads.

[@danielday713]

Simply breathtaking footage and great commentary. The group of you are really great at what you do. Your humour and knowledge... bellissimo!

[@dannylo4807]

Very well put together episode. One of the best gcn piece no doubt.

[@gcn]

Cheers D. Lo!

[@ronroman3536]

I greatly enjoyed learning some cycling history. More please!

[@cheminremi7835]

Looks like slow-motion with normal sound.

[@gcn]

Haha!

[@alastairwood7277]

"Or I might just die". I mean is there even a comparison which one is harder.

[@jimblake3574]

Just as he says that, he's passing a sign that looks a bit like a cross...

[@newttella1043]

This was a great piece. GCN retro jerseys anytime soon? You have to admit how stylish Binda looked compared to Froome.

[@gcn]

Thanks Newt! We'll see what we can do on the jerseys 👍

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

@@gcn Oh... sign me up for one! I have two other GCN jerseys in the mail and on their way here but I think I could fit a retro GCN jersey in somewhere.

[@itsjustgenoski7302]

NewGenerationsOfCyclist: This Really Sucks It Feels Like Hell!! OldGenerationsOfCyclist: Feel How We Feel Beyotches!!

[@ethanhayes9989]

THIS is the sort of content we love GCN!

[@booklover3959]

Garbage. Uninformed and superficial.

[@armouredoutlaw1537]

@@booklover3959 you forgot, FUN!

[@matthewkitchen10]

It’s amazing how a phrase like “it’s positively magical” just comes to life out of Ollie’s mouth.

[@davidstevens7346]

I find watching Ollie suffer is strangely satisfying. ;)

[@johnnydoe66]

Almost as good as watching Tom "The Brick" Last climb! 😁

[@gregmuon]

That's pretty hilarious, and brave. I'm not old enough to have ridden in the 20s, but I am old enough that I was told to ride a fix in the winter to improve my spin and make me strong. I lived in a very hilly area, with climbs somewhat similar to that. Big climbs are possible, but the pedaling form was different that today's. You really do need to be able to pull up and pull up hard to get enough torque for the big gear. It's not a myth. It looks like the straps in this video were not pulled tight, and the shoes may have not been cleated. For riding a fixed gear up a steep climb with 10% gradients in sections, cleats are very useful - pretty much required. Obviously it helps to be super fit. I won't be attempting it again at this point in my life...

[@richfi9576]

another spectacular GCN video! If they get any better we'll be watching at the cinema, or I'll have to get Netflix...

[@booklover3959]

low bar

[@GregTheGuitarist]

The quality, topics and content of your videos is getting better and better. Moreover, i would choose it over any programme broadcasted in TV. Keep on guys!

[@markusmencke8059]

NIce one. 👍👍👍👍👍 One question - how can someone who sweats so much like Si be allergic to rain? 😉😛

[@UenoLocker54]

Single speed climbing is great. Makes the geared bike feel like a walk in the park when you go back to the same climb.

[@TomAbramoff]

Ollie suffering > Si suffering. You had me in stitches multiple times, Ollie!

[@richardcroft9475]

I got a contest for you: Ollie suffering versus Si suffering versus Lasty suffering versus Hank suffering.

[@Bubbles991]

I am still using this version and completing 200 km in each week

[@Nostalgiaforinfi]

Fixed teaches you to be one with the road and the bike. I learned to spin fixed.

[@AZ-FPV]

Wow.. epic videography, the aerials, the music, the effects.. all the way two thumbs up 👍👍 Kudos to Ollie too for making the ascent. I hope GCN has a good chiropractor to put his knees back together 😅😂🤣

[@Jonny_Red]

Looked like Jan Ullrich wearing the sausage helmet and grinding up the climb 😊😊😂😂

[@spleen123]

Ollie brings so much contagious enthusiasm to his videos! ...also that vintage shirt collar is on point

[@stealthmermaid40]

Right! The velour track shirt was the cherry on top

[@boredandnaked]

"Positively magical!" @9:10 made me laugh so hard!

[@wy3131]

Brilliant! Still remembering back in the late 70s when I was still a boy, looking and admiring those Campagnolo components in a local bike shop, drooling and not even close in being able to afford it, let alone a basic road bike. It’s just beautiful!

[@chaosbreaker657]

@Tom Smith Must've been a bargain of a lifetime you made.

[@chaosbreaker657]

@Tom Smith How's your experience? Judging from your post, you enjoyed your bike, yes?

[@chaosbreaker657]

@Tom Smith Yeesh, that stings painfully. You alright now?

[@bettsdn]

Ollie, I could just hear you grinding through the cartilage in your knees on that climb... 😬😬😬 Brilliant video though.

[@kieranself9844]

Ollie is the best thing to happen to GCN since someone said” let’s start a Global Cycling Network Channel”

[@njm3211]

Well done Ollie. Your Italian pronunciation is very good for a Brit.

[@gcn]

Surprisingly good eh?

[@tmgrapplerszone]

As someone who has been trying to ‘earn’ my next road bike by putting miles on my 46x16 single speed, i can really appreciate this. Sometimes i feel like my thighs are going to explode as im climbing, hoping my chain survives 😂 great vid. Thx guys

[@EMC2Scotia]

This is probably the funniest clip I've seen on GCN in a while!

[@Biking360]

Music and cinematography are truly awesome. Hard to believe this is a KZbin made video. Kudos to all the production team.

[@asnow1990]

No idea what you've done differently, but this is beautifully shot!!

[@FATTYDH216]

Brilliant Ollie . I know its now been a while but You are a tremendous addition to GCN . Best Cycling KZbin channel without question . Good job lads.

[@ABFPV584]

My favorite presenter all day

[@derpynerdy6294]

I can very much relate with my BMX back in the day im not into mountain bikes i used bmx for traveling with 1 brake

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

Ollie Pain Face + wide aspect ratio (2.35:1) = awesomeness. Kudos to the videographer for giving us such a wide aspect ratio.

[@hungerknochen]

I love you guys. I love the channel. But that was to much. I have to leave you, you have gone to far. It is that devasrating, i did unsubscribe. And then subscibe to the emtb channel and wear fluttering shorts from now on. YOU CAN NOT SHOW A SRAM GROUPSET WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT CAMPAGNOLO! IN ITALY! TO THE GIRO! ON THE CROCE D'ANUE!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

[@theoverengineer]

Brilliantly thought out, well executed. Thank you for suffering for us, Ollie. Much appreciate the historical context, I find mindself celebrating Thanksgiving on May 30 this year, featuring the groupset and quick axle.

[@inabit1956]

Great vid. Love the details like the bell on the stem and the backround music choices. Thanks Ollie!

[@tomnix8194]

I think there is a reason that Ollie is the right Guy for riding that, even he is not the strongest biker of all the GCN presenters.....Since I have seen the successful Everesting I know that this Guy is really tough an unbreakable!

[@josephfarrugia2350]

A wider range of gears & gear ratios also meant less stress on the knees. Not just riders from the 20s-30s, but even 60s & 70s all have knackered, damaged knees. Eg: Hinault? Hinault hasn't been able to do a proper climb for over 20 years (when he was just retiring from pro cycling) let alone now at the relatively young old age of 64 years; he missed a Tour de France due to knee problems in 1983. Even his gait (walk, step) is compromised. Just for reference, Hinault was a BEAST of man, super-strong & a well-built body for cycling. This with him having WAY better gearing than the 1920s/30s, but less gear appropriate climbing ratios than modern group sets available today. Don't believe the B.S. from the sons & daughters of former pros from the 50s/60s/70s saying my father/grandfather's knees are OK: all (really, ALL) have damaged super-knees from the grinding they had to do.

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

"Si is allergic to the rain" Why didn't y'all just pull straws to see who would be the lucky one to ride it?

[@hedleykerr3564]

Nice work Ollie you should have had T. Lasty there to consult for grimacing facial expressions! Remembering when I 1st started riding/racing I had an Ultra 6 speed 12x19 freewheel with a 52x42 chainrings! I then moved to Colorado and got a 12x23 for the climbs! It was an ultra 7 speed then Suntour/Regina were the freewheels used back in the day! I remember doing the Mt. Evans race a couple of times(1984-85)using a 12x23 the 1st time, then I got smart and used a 12x25!

[@hhansen3551]

Audio in the BW pictures is spot on

[@GCNuser123]

thanks! thats my retro voice

[@gcn]

Thanks H! Amazing team behind the productions too 👍

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

@Savage Poet I'm with you. I'm going to start asking for this in the comments on every "out of studio" video they do.

[@sudduthjonathan]

I like how Ollie skipped the water bottle to save weight up the climb. Legend.

[@gabrielghanem8253]

The entire quality of the video is so good!

[@mothererich]

This might be the greatest GCN video every made. Maybe.

[@davidharrington6273]

This is the one I’ve been waiting for! great job! Edit: Did Si get a haircut or something? He looks different😜

[@gcn]

Heck yes!

[@nadsv93]

Also compare the fitness of Binda vs. Froome. Binda would probably mind his business after and go wood chopping after, while Froome would need a recovery period managed by a team of specialists.