Gravel Racing In The Stunning Swiss Alps! | Riding The Gravel Epic

[@gcn]

What race would you like to see Ollie tackle next? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

[@adamgriss2025]

BWR!!!!

[@martinus-mart]

An Impossible Route with @TheVeganCyclist

[@PuhutaanPyöräilystä]

He could do Ruska in Finland next autumn. 2200 km through rain and sleet self supported.

[@thomasmarker8198]

Eroica in Gaiole or Bakewell

[@adamgriss2025]

@@martinus-mart Your suggestion definitely gets my vote!

[@jonshepherd5906]

I see Contador didn't turn up for this race, I guess he didn't fancy getting dropped by Ollie for a second time.

[@justinbouchard]

no epo and contador dont' race

[@krilynck]

I love that this race is neutralised on the descents. You actually get to enjoy the scenery when stopping over, get down safely and have a great day in general by not having to push all the time.

[@LukasDombrovsky]

Me being a slow descender, I like the idea! :D I am too afraid to push it in corners I descend for the first time. After all, is it worth it on local bike race where I race over 20th place in my category? :D

[@cookingandlive]

Like an inverted EWS event? I second that

[@chrismccannIRL]

Nah pointless. So basically it’s skill-less. It’s just endurance lightweight riders then and anyone who’s actually decent off road is penalised as the descent is where they will perform

[@cookingandlive]

@@chrismccannIRL it would be a little dull, but if you watch xc and short track you can't say that you dont need talent up hill, imo

[@HanxHeez]

The spirit of gravel.

[@alexjohnson6462]

I remember when GCN first started making videos on gravel riding - seems like only two or three years ago but was probably more. Most of the videos were pretty much of the theme "are gravel bikes really even a thing" and at least 80 percent of the commenters were convinced it was just 90's drop bar mountain bikes and the whole endeavor just did not make sense. Just go ride a mountain bike, almost everyone said. How times have changed in just a few years. Works for me. Now you'll notice almost everyone gets it. Here's to hoping to see more gravel races and rides, just so long as we don't completely forget our road riding roots as far as content goes.

[@rothotborski]

@@davidgfisher The reason may be that some people get kinda bored to fly over offroad terrain with their full suspensioned bikes with hardly any challenge and want to get back the old hardtail feeling of mtb again...so its a kind of challenging yourself with a more simple bike. Comparable idea in some way is the whole fixie/track bike thing... For me it is just a way of getting away from traffic and still having the feeling of a roadbike, and I neither want to effort nor maintain a suspensioned bike. Yes its a kind of step back, but lets say it, riding your bike offroad isn't necessary at all (for most of us) and a lot of people wont understand why we love to do that no matter what bike we use...

[@harimathur2191]

As long as the UCI doesn't mess it up (again)

[@BiffBruise]

8:00 Moots is based in *Steamboat* Springs (in Colorado)

[@kstethespokes1051]

Ollie; ‘If I can do it, anyone can do it!’ Erm, I beg to differ! Looked fun though 🏔🏔

[@santiarenas9028]

For real, Ollie really tends to downplay himself for the audiences

[@tomnutting3836]

Agreed 🤣 he’s way too bloody humble!!

[@bobbybobman3073]

*Cough cough* Ollie dropped Alberto Contador, and then proceeded to go on and finish the race unlike Contador. That day was basically only climbing, Ollie does not represent the average person. He represents the average person with a natural disposition towards cycling, who has reached the "reasonable" natural limit of performance. And even still this could be pulling an Ollie and being a bit modest.

[@ltu42]

Does that mean everyone can climb Sa Calobra in under half an hour and do an everesting, too?

[@scottbert9556]

I was biking so slowly today my fitness app thought I was walking. Thought I'd share that.

[@ohwell2790]

I really like to watch people suffer while having a coffee in my warm living room. Thanks for the video

[@Planetone.]

Same here having a nice warm coffee😋 enjoying the views👌 and scenery while our friend is Gravel Grinding😊

[@WegrennerX]

I like to watch after a long ride like today. Thta’s better than couchsurfing the whole day. Go be ashamed 😜

[@veriest1]

Drinking my coffee on the porch and watching my kids ride bikes in the yard.

[@sepg5084]

I just rode 70km today, half of it were climbs. The only way i do "couch potato" mode nowadays is if i am playing PC games. Feels good, man

[@alexseguin5245]

@@sepg5084 Same here!

[@nerdexproject]

Splendid work on the edit fellas! Always a treat! I grew up in Switzerland so I can fully attest that it has some impressive landscape to offer! :)

[@AndrewEvenstar]

It's on my list of countries to visit, my friend told me it's a place I have to go!

[@rohitm1907]

I hope a longer version of this will be on GCN+

[@achillesdoesthings]

"grunting and heavy breathing,not that film though" what a legend ollie

[@leonardgbrisebois]

A reference to climbing Hardknott Pass when Ollie was with Cycling Weekly

[@neilrobinson7965]

I live in Switzerland and yes, it is fantastic for gravel riding!

[@davidf2281]

First line made me spit out my coffee. Genuinely.

[@jswplant9086]

"grunting and heavy breathing - not that kind of film!" thanks, i just spat half my dinner out laughing!

[@Seppster58]

Ollie is my fav presenter. Nice to see this excellent ride. Keep them coming.

[@cb6866]

Good job , again , Ollie ! Thanks for sharing that . The smile tells it all mate ! Peace

[@jethromasere3222]

That opening though!! Utopic

[@bicibugscolo9550]

As someone has already pointed out, Moots is based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, NOT Colorado Springs. There is a big difference. Wish I could afford one of their bikes. No worries, Ollie. You are such a great sport for putting up with all the **** the other presenters give you for being less than perfect. You are an awesome cyclist, and a scientist too! Cheers

[@jamesnoller7895]

We need these videos in full 4k, awesome views though!

[@johnnybow7045]

At least in QHD... but yeah

[@elbotho]

What are you watching this on? I'm on 480p :D

[@prestachuck2867]

Your eyes cannot see in 4k. It’s marketing designed to part you from your money.

[@BreakingLance710]

@@prestachuck2867 lmfao wtf? You’re joking right? You do realize the human eye can see 576MP? For reference, that’s 32000 X 18000. While 4K is 3840 X 2160. Get rid of your tin hat bro, it looks like shit on you.

[@liam9196]

@@prestachuck2867 YoUR EyEs CaN'T seE mORe ThaN 30FpS

[@stevie150365]

Couldnt get that smile off ollies face with a crowbar , says it all great video , i wish we had gravel where i live

[@jedisdad2265]

One of if not the best video ever on GCN! Well done Dr. Bridgewood!

[@jirdesteva]

A smile from ear to ear. Great work great fun.

[@DBxCooper]

Let’s just put a happy little tree right here.

[@whatwouldjacobdo]

How did you get away with hijacking that plane?

[@francoispayen]

Bridgewood's been killing it lately with the epic rides & races.

[@jayshockey5461]

You da man Ollie! Great vid! Can’t wait to see you do another epic race! Don’t keep us waiting👍🏻👊🏻💪🏻

[@richardstoner866]

Credit where credit is due....Ollie is a great presenter.....super video...👍

[@JibbaJabber]

Bob Ross: "Every day is a good day when you paint." Me: "Every day is a good day when you ride." #JustRide

[@pittviper6320]

A Bob Ross painting! Ha ha ha

[@MrIanD1]

Enjoy the pretty little birds 🐦 😏

[@anttitapio4145]

No cars, exploration and sense of freedom. Sounds like mountain biking 😊 Happy you like it Ollie! Switzerland is beautiful

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

Thanks Ollie for sharing your Gravel Epic Switzerland experience with us. The scenery looks very inviting.

[@retroimportgamer513]

What a beautiful country Switzerland looks, top of my bucket list Well done Ollie, great video 👍

[@waveril5167]

prepare your wallet ;)

[@FBrodlie]

I never expected Bob Ross to feature in a GCN video! Great analogy for stunning scenery

[@babygerald4645]

Ollie now has his own personal bell for the Bike Vault segment. Congrats on an incredible adventure, Ollie. Top form, mate!

[@ltrtg13]

If Ollie want's to improve his off road riding. He do a few videos with GMBN. Then sign Ollie up for BC Bike Race in Canada.

[@sergeigasilov7307]

Hmmm, given that Ollie calls Swiss fire-roads "off-road", he will hardly be able to do MTB race in Canada as even our paved roads, or at least 95% of them, are rougher than Swiss gravel.

[@HumaneNewt]

Ollie signing up for redbull rampage, heard it here first

[@ThomasCleanbag]

Aaaand Ollie has visited a barber too! Great views, cool hair!

[@jeremypritchard569]

Not only is Ollie a great presenter and a talented bike rider, he is also a brilliant ambassador for the UK in a post Brexit world. Good man Ollie and all at GCN.

[@PumpkinVillage]

That was some epic scenery and Ollie looked really good. Looked like fun. Thanks for the video and take care, Al

[@kilianjungel7619]

Olli you are an unbelievable beast!

[@paullinnitt5450]

Great video of a great event. Be good to see something similar organised here. South Wales, or the Borders would have many suitable tracks. I think you need to zip tie the bell on for your next ride with Si 😉

[@michaelb9664]

The Dirty Reiver is in the Scottish/Northumberland boarders every year.

[@martinandersson5833]

Wow! That looked like so much fun. What a beautiful country🇨🇭❤️👍

[@danieljentsch3360]

I had fun watching Ollie do it. I'll leave it at that

[@chrisblanchard4938]

That was good, thanks for sharing.

[@stevethistle7974]

anything Ollie does makes me smile!

[@jameshoey303]

Loved this video....more please

[@jimbojet8728]

That was a great vid Ollie, I have really enjoyed it. The course looked lovely tough but not cruel? I hope as I may just give it a go. I do like that Ti bike too, I won’t be buying one as I have one already, a Litespeed Watia with the Campag Ekar groupset fitted. It’s early doors yet as I’ve only had 3 or 4 rides on it, but I am thoroughly enjoying it. Getting off tarmac riding gravel tyres on a very good Ti frame, is nothing short of magic. It can only get better. The gravel trails through beautiful terrain, being comfortable and enjoying the cycling, well, words don’t do it justice. Thank you, I am glad you’re enjoying it too!

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

Clever format with the timed sections! It feels like so much has changed since Ollie dropped Contadore...

[@gavinstubbings4271]

Fantastic video really enjoyed this one

[@SendingStache]

really enjoyed this one, GCN Team!

[@higorrcosta9323]

Ollie’s references are always the best ones! The hills are alive. “Ollie ever makes us laugh.” Great guy.

[@galenkehler]

This looks Epic 👌 Oli actually makes gravel look fun 🤯

[@teunluijbregts2533]

True - the Valais is beautiful. And perfect for gravel riding 😍😍

[@nachiketh3650]

What a timing?! Just wanted to watch a new GCN video

[@pikirkandansalamtobat1743]

From INDONESIA

[@bluetickbeagles116]

Outstanding video and what an epic ride. I would love to do this in mesmerizing Switzerland.

[@AndrewEvenstar]

Man, what an incredible route. Must be so enjoyable and challenging to ride it! That bike looks so nice, and it's very pricy!

[@williammooney3998]

Oh how I wish I was there

[@lesliereissner4711]

Is there a GCN video without rain? It seems that the presenters even bring English rain with them to other countries! Maybe this explains the enthusiasm for disc brakes. Very nice video!

[@deuce9624]

Titanium welds are beautiful

[@MrTurbohampster]

321 GO!!!! Everyone waits for Ollie to turn his go-pro on 😃

[@NisseOhlsen]

Reall great, guys, thanks a bunch. I hope you are doubling down on a team effort on the 2022 KOM/Taiwan.

[@svenfahrt5085]

great video from my home country👍 unfortunately I could not attend the event

[@tenderlovellcare]

Well done Olliie! That's a massive achievement! Loved watching this. I hope we see a picture of this in the "Weekly Inspiration" section. ;) Great tunes and editing too.

[@agifford2064]

Arrowhead 135 - International Falls, Minnesota / January 31st each year - Mandatory starting gear includes a minus -20F degree sleeping bag or colder rating.

[@Fliegercantfly]

Man bucket list

[@Anatedu861]

9:50 Sia's Titanium singing in the back :D Nice.

[@tomaburque]

This is the content I desire.

[@Peptou]

What's up with the lack of colour grading with the video?

[@Kimberly_Sparkles]

It’s definitely on the dark side. I just figured gravel was gritty like The Wire.

[@deputydd4364]

Yeah - if I can get the colour grading matched on my family holiday videos surely GCN can!!!

[@TransCu]

Fantastic video! ... Would love to see Ollie at the start line in Marrakech as well!

[@thereeder5rs]

Olie kills me! #weldpor….. Good job Olie and Team!

[@Quevallyn]

Excellent film as always. Surely the next ride has got to be Unbound… but the full XL. Wouldn’t want it to be too easy for Ollie 😉

[@markchristian6182]

I knew GCN would soon later stand for Gravel Cycling Network. Kidding aside, this vid was awesome!

[@twotgfltandahalf]

Yeees, welding. Nice. Good riding too.

[@CyclingOffToSomewhereIDK]

Well done, mate.. Now I want a titanium gravel bike :-D I wish I climbed better but I know GCN has videos to help. Even one, I think, to simulate hills where you have none. I live in the flat part of Southern California but I found some hills finally. I'll get there eventually. Great video, GCN's always are

[@chrischupp9760]

That would be a nice ride

[@SunGod]

Nice Sunnies 😎 These roads look very familiar to the SG team - hopefully next time we can ride together!

[@bubblesezblonde]

5:17 Lovely soliloquy! Always enjoy your vids Dr. Bridgewood. Yes the rift might have been a bit much for one's first gravel race. Wow the food looked stunning too! I also love a clean looking weld. Oh btw I thought the music was WAY too loud.

[@BT-ej9xf]

Moots isn't in Colorado Springs. They are in Steamboat Springs. Worlds apart. Colorado Springs is where all the Talibangelicals live. Steamboat is a cool little ski town with an awesome bike builder.

[@seanlacson1310]

Ollie always loves the alps next video would be riding a recumbent on the alps

[@arweldavies88]

Bob Ross 🤣🤣 Genius

[@stevenpike7530]

Finally. proper titanium gravel rig (read no polyurethane composite…unless you include the BIC lighter)…

[@samhuestis8164]

Routt County is Steamboat Springs, Colorado Springs is in El Paso County! Great vid tho

[@PJVERRY]

Love it Ollie says no traffic......next shot had a car going the other way....genius 😂😂

[@streetxlens]

keep going bridewood 🤟🏼

[@ttmallard]

I got a headshock fork for my Salsa, fairly light magnesium cast, oil dampened, and a 4-axis shock seatpost, they're never too heavy ... comfort aside, wheels are in contact longer in realtime when it matters, you will go faster with more control per watt a bet, 3-beers 🍺🍺🍺

[@joffbrown]

One for Manon next year

[@ADCFproductions]

9:31 and there goes all the grease lol

[@pedalbikebowes]

Great video Ollie 🤙

[@mattwake7230]

I live in switzerland and you've just sold me a gravel bike

[@neilrobinson7965]

@matt, do it! I also live in Switzerland and there are fantastic gravel options all over the country, not just in the Alps. I ride more gravel than road these days.

[@gcn]

😂 You won't regret it!

[@mattwake7230]

@@neilrobinson7965 How do you find gravel routes? I can't seem to find an app that suggests them...

[@neilrobinson7965]

@@mattwake7230 i just map my own routes on Strava. The heatmap is invaluable, as is the satellite view. As Ollie says, there is always an element of exploration with gravel riding. But if you choose route popular on the heatmap, you won’t go far wrong.

[@mattwake7230]

Awesome. Thanks for the tip!

[@rnghwdbcs]

So much gravel content recently! Is this a sign of the GGN coming?

[@alex-murphy]

Nice Moots bike. Shame it's not in "titanium white".

[@nileshvagal]

Oli how are you humanly possibly riding so much everyday .. your strava stats are off the chart !!!!

[@dugldoo]

I'd love to see GCN put together a team of their international presenters, including Olie, to do the L'Eroica Gaiole in Chianti. Unfortunately, it just finished October 3rd, so we'd have to wait an entire year. But there's L'Eroica California April 29-May1, 2022 and L'Eroica Brittania, Aug 6th & 7th, 2022 you could think about.

[@sepg5084]

I prefer aluminium frames for rough terrain. Titanium is just bling for people with excess money

[@kieferhernandez8437]

My students in Grade School knows who Bob Ross is, they love him. Thanks to KZbin. :D

[@curlisdave]

Swiss gravel looks very like normal Irish country roads 🤣

[@SlimPickins_07]

That's usually where you find gravel, on roads.

[@kaustubhkharat1715]

Nature at it's best

[@michaelb9664]

To all those complaining about the gravel content. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. It’s the Global Cycling Network. That means it covers all aspects of cycling, gravel riding or off road riding in general is popular and for very good reason. Not everyone wants to pretend they are in the Tour de France while sharing the roads with traffic.

[@robertmuckle2985]

If it's a "race"...where did you place?? C'mon Ollie, inquiring minds need to know this stuff! LOL

[@andrew1976williams]

Brilliant video!

[@Blanc777]

Weldporn is definitely a thing. Even bikeweldporn is a thing.

[@mahziaralirezaie6451]

Well done man