How Much Faster Is A Pro Gravel Cyclist? | Beginner Vs Amateur Vs Pro

[@gcn]

What do you love most about gravel cycling? 🚴 Let us know in the comments below! 👇

[@chrisstrider]

No traffic 😊

[@sorenludwig3978]

it feels faster then riding on the road.

[@bardongalang32]

You can do it on and off the road 🤘

[@mikeainsworth4504]

Greater availability of sticks for when you forget your magic stand 😉

[@Paganiproductions84]

The single tracks 🤣🤣

[@andyharbin411]

This video showed the joy of riding that we had when we’re kids. The whole reason to ride is to have fun.

[@gcn]

Gravel is good at stripping cycling back to the basics and just enjoying the ride 🙌

[@chrisstrider]

Kudos to you amateurs Danni is a serious gravel monster….not many pro riders would want to be chased down by her

[@bonniemccreadie1079]

Clearly Si is not the only one to forget the shadow stand!😂 Always love a Manon vid and well done Emma!

[@georgebailey6307]

Knew it was a matter of time for Danni to make it to GCN!

[@Neilhuny]

This is one of my favourite ever GCN videos! Completely honest and totally relatable - Emma, you are my hero!

[@dexterx9862]

This video deserved more time being spent on it, it'd be great to see GCN take a beginner and change their life from a fitness cycling aspect

[@happytrails1963]

Had no idea gravel so popular. Thumbs up Emma for accept the challenge and give it a go hope she enjoy it. So fast! 10k vs 200k wow.

[@bikecommuter24]

how much faster ? Beginner- Trying to make it to the Cafe. Amatuer- On the way to the Cafe. Pro- Waiting for the other two at the Cafe.

[@bubblesezblonde]

4th at Unbound??

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it! What event would you like to see Manon do next?

[@Velo757]

​@@gcnshe should try and do the transcontinental race... 🤔🚴🚵🚴😬

[@wchu702]

@@gcn Finish that fixed gear race in Germany if they still hold it.

[@neilsmyth1812]

the fun they all had doing this was a joy to watch. .more please. .

[@Veloworthy]

Danni is the real deal! Got to see her race at Unbound and she was with the best gravel pros in the world.

[@gcn]

She's rapid! Loved having Danni on the channel, should we get her back for more?

[@Veloworthy]

@@gcn Absolutely! If not you can always bring me on for content too ;)

[@amishrider]

Nice to see Manon getting some ladies' only screen time, she looked to be really enjoying herself. Good work team. Perfectly timed this vid, I'm doing the Kent Gravel Epic this sunday.

[@jamiefarrell6496]

Enjoyed this vid very much - gravel as fun between friends (that’s the “spirit of gravel” imo). Took me back to the halcyon days of the J-Pow gravel content!😊

[@ImAnEmergency]

GCN has blessing us with Harriet and Emma as the newer riders! Also I don’t think Emma would have benefitted from clipless pedals in this format since as a new rider trying to compete in events like these, adding another stressor like clipless pedals would probably be more mental strain than benefit.

[@gcn]

Great point! For beginners just getting out riding is the number one priority.

[@habbahan]

Don’t call carbon bikes and near-top groupset “beginners” please 😂 I just got my true beginner gravel, full alloy and with Claris components. Now that’s a proper 😂😂😂 Fun fact, I’ve put a new set of 48mm tires, which makes half a price of a bike 😅

[@christoferstromberg6605]

Going by comments on other videos true beginner is bikes cheaper than €200 :D

[@wchu702]

What do you expect? It's GCN. They don't operate in the real world. Still love the channel though.

[@jonpoon3896]

I dunno about your area. But group rides around here usually have beginners borrowing bikes. And since they’re owned by enthusiasts, they’re gonna be decent bikes. But for the sake of the video, it still demonstrates the difference between a beginner and pro’s ability

[@lazypanda1493]

Exactly, I just got a canyon grizl 7 al and it’s like my dream bike, cost me nearly $2000 and the only thing carbon is the fork 😂

[@Metal-Possum]

I've got a 1990's Merida with a mix of vintage Deore DX, XT, and RSX components as a gravel bike... cost me the equivalent of 150 squids including having it powdercoated.

[@phillockwood8414]

That was a nice comparison. The good news for everyone is that the ability aside, the more miles ridden, the faster the rider.

[@gcn]

Miles mean smiles 🙌

[@Adventuregirl96]

They had so much fun, I would have enjoyed riding with them. Next time they can come ride where I live outside Seattle and enjoy out gravel.

[@gcn]

What's the gravel riding like round there?

[@Adventuregirl96]

@@gcn Close to my home there are some wooded parks where you can find some shorter trails like on your video. These are easy to get to and work well if you want to ride both on tarmac and some gravel. If you go to Port Gamble there are some access roads and some good single track. Just be careful since this is where the MTB bike park is and you might have to share the trails with the crazy GMBN crowd. Great rides though I take both my gravel bike and MTB and have fun no matter which one I do. My favorite though is to head over to the Olympic Peninsula and do some bike packing and ride the Olympic Discovery Trail and explore some fun seaside towns. If you are ever in the area you need to try the Chilly Hilly on Bainbridge Island and after you are done get some proper fish and chips.

[@izi941]

7:00 you’re wrong…it’s perfect representation of an amateurs bike. They usually have better gear than professionals 😅

[@kangmi26]

Manon on black jersey.. gourgeus 😍

[@lolathecattheboys7817]

Enjoyed this video. Would love to see more of Emma who was amazing as a beginner on gravel

[@gcn]

Emma smashed it... we'll see if we can convince her back onto the gravel? 👀

[@nerigarcia7116]

Interested to see this with everyone on the same setup. That loop looks wonderful.

[@stevenlevitz8895]

8:12 “I’ll reel them in just like fish 🐠!”

[@williamhilliard7386]

Good show , all different levels !

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Come on GCN .... another Emma video please.

[@gcn]

What should we get her to do next?

[@jrlpking]

Amazing camera work

[@gcn]

Thanks a lot!

[@jevgeniardassov]

Talking about differences in bike weight is as relevant as talking about bolt weight differences in a race car. The difference that matters is in the system weight, and considering I am 86 kg and the bike with a frame bag, bottles and pedals is 8,9 kg, so 2 kg is actually 1%… And 300 grams is basically taking number two before the start. 😅

[@aethylwulfeiii6502]

At speeds above 10 mph aero is everything.

[@seattlegrrlie]

I've been riding the same gravel, dirt trails a good 20+ years and this last year is the first year I've had people speeding past me throwing up rocks. I also ride road and I say keep your speed to the road and leave the dirty, dusty trails for 8-10mph plus don't startle the horses. It's really not cool

[@wchu702]

Well, I always ride with others in mind. If no one is around, I like to go fast. Before passing equestrians, I ask if it's OK if I pass. They always appreciate it and besides I don't want to get trampled by a startled 1500+ lb animal.

[@menelson11]

I have an idea for another video. I want to see a beginner, amateur, pro gravel addition with a twist. Find a trail to race that is hard enough to make a mountain bike the best choice. The twist is bike selection. beginner gets to race a mountain bike, the amateur gets to ride a gravel bike and the pro has to race a road bike. Who would be fastest?

[@kubagornowicz]

Emma would definitely benefit from lighter gearing/higher cadence (and spds)

[@gcn]

Perhaps so but the first thing to do it get on the bike and enjoy the ride 🙌 Let all the tech come next!

[@kubagornowicz]

@@gcn Of course, no need to force anyone to anything! :)

[@BurtonHohman]

Close call with that child almost getting knocked out at the start of the 10k 😄 love these videos. It’s amazing seeing just how good pros are

[@shellypalumbo5297]

Fabulous vid Manon and @gnc. I ❤ to see more content like this!! Women are the fastest growing demographic of new riders in the USA and there are now more and more serious venues for competitive racing every year worldwide. Thank you @gcn for your increasing efforts to bring women cyclists to the forefront. Kudos to y’all!!🥰 I still believe that Manon would like a female cohost to work with her. Yes/no?

[@gcn]

Great to hear you enjoyed it! Cycling is for all and we love playing our part in brining this to everyone. Great to hear you enjoyed the content 🙌 Would you like to see Dannie back on the channel?

[@shellypalumbo5297]

@@gcn ok, I’m old and forgetful. LOL You have me at a disadvantage. I do not recall Dannie? You’ll have to remind me. Lol

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

Cool video,Emma is excellent for a beginner and the course was nice and flat for Manon.💯👌🏻✌🏻

[@gcn]

They bossed it!

[@racyagentmac]

I gotta get myself a gravel bike always an awesome vid with manon❤👍🤘

[@gcn]

Do it! You won't regret it 🙌

[@tihohohoho]

Just do a Build me up/ Road to Unbound with Emma

[@etherealicer]

And Si, crying because he can't find his Gravel bike.

[@gcn]

We made a film about the GBDURO on GCN+, you should check it out! 👉 gcn.eu/GBDURO

[@martindirkzimmer]

The music in your videos is always O.N.ah...... P.O.I.N.T.aaaahh...........!!!

[@orbeuniversity]

Awesome! This is somewhat of a random request: How did you film this? The camera shots are astounding. Would it be possible to have a "Behind the Scenes" video? It's just hard to believe that all the video footage was done by one camera person.

[@chance123575]

more of Danni please!

[@gcn]

Unbound 2024?

[@chance123575]

@@gcn sure but would love to see her as a guest presenter!

[@MTBScotland]

Specific - the word to make things more expensive.

[@wanderingboy8271]

Do it with the beginner on the pro bike and the pro on the cheaper

[@thecrowsecho]

Global Gravel Network (GGN)?

[@stevenlevitz8895]

“I’m Manon the Gravel Noob!” 🤗

[@jonwyatt262]

What I like about riding gravel, I hardly ever see anyone who might laugh at my 50 year old bike.

[@bardongalang32]

Liked it. That's nice weather out there. Nice environment too. I hope I can get my own gravel bike in a place like that here in the Philippines. 🚴🤘

[@RyanAggabao]

Perfect ang gravel bike sa Pinas. Mabilis gaya ng road bike at matibay parang mountain bike. Uso ba diyan ang Jamis Renegade?

[@throughthewindow4894]

Gravel is only new to people who never thought of doing this sort of riding before.

[@aethylwulfeiii6502]

I’ve straight up rode my aero ride bike with 28 mm treaded tyres and nabbed some gravel road KOMs

[@aajfranklin]

Whereabouts was the 10km route?

[@juannauj4428]

Waiting for the Cyclo-Cross edition

[@gcn]

What pro should we call up? 👀

[@wchu702]

Shrosbree!!!

[@thecappy]

We need a video on does aero matter for gravel.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Would have to be Alex, as Ollie doesn't do gravel.

[@DavidVidaurri]

Girl powa❤

[@qiaopiding8815]

I want to know if CX bike can compete with gravel bike on this road.

[@gcn]

We've done videos comparing the two in the past 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWnEZWlsYqtnqtk

[@Paganiproductions84]

aero matters everywhere also offroad

[@renecornelius113]

They had a bit of advantage over Emma with their clipless pedals . 😅 Great effort though!

[@MichalBrat]

I see no advantage in that, no reason not to ride flats on any gravel bike.

[@renecornelius113]

@@MichalBrat I fully agree, I just thought they might have extra gains on Emma for having a fuller active stroke. She basically just had a 2-6 stroke.

[@MichalBrat]

@@renecornelius113 It has not been proven in any cicumstance except for full sprinting maybe, for rider that are used to clipless pedals all their lives. None of that applies to Emma. Clipless are cycling's biggest dud.

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

@@MichalBrat It's personal preference at the end of the day. The biggest performance gains are in shoes not pedals, and the reason clipless generally performs better is the greater availability of high quality, stiff soled shoes. But calling it a "dud" is just code for you being stuck in your ways.

[@MichalBrat]

@@hendrixinfinity3992 That's the thing - personal preference is legit - everybody does as they want. But we are talking "performance disadvantage", so not about preferences, but numbers and data. And the data shows what I stated above 🤷

[@thesea4120]

Ex Pros aren't really amateur though are they? They've still got really good physical and technical abilities just not at their peak right?

[@SKULLKR3W]

so cool

[@ebikescrapper3925]

Why is Harriet not the beginner?

[@gcn]

We have loads of people lining up in the office to try a new challenge!

[@Sergspain]

Falling on my face in the dirt at higher speeds than with my mtb 😁

[@billmccaffrey1977]

Part of me really has to laugh when people say gravel riding is about a decade old. I grew up in a time and era when all the roads were gravel, rolling hills with lots of sand and gravel trails. We had really shit bikes by today's standard and we constantly broke them. It's all we knew. Gravel is going the same path as mountain biking where an industry and formalized sport was born out of a desire to build better bikes with greater challenges, and of course to capitalize on financial opportunity.

[@gcn]

You make a good point! We have an awesome film about the GBDURO on GCN+ that you may enjoy 👉 gcn.eu/GBDURO

[@wchu702]

Well said.

[@bobbybobman3073]

Sorry but first ride looks more like a skills test than a fittness test, so its not shocking mannon on former track pro (I think) would be fine for the fitness of a skill and grip limited 36 second course. I'd love to see a pro mountain biker try that course on the same bikes as you guys. I wouldn't be too shocked if they had some specialty skills to grab a second or two on you guys.

[@rokibuca]

I like my gravel bike because I can mix surfaces on one ride

[@gcn]

Absolutely! They're so versatile!

[@Jari1973]

Wow 🥰 Am I the last person in the world who rides his gravel.. 25mm, 110 psi 😂??

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

110 is way too high for 25mm on smooth tarmac. Even the pros run 28s at 80. look up Silca tyre pressure calculator to get the best tyre pressure for your specific setup and conditions.

[@Fawaz571]

​@@hendrixinfinity3992not really depends I live in a flat country with very good roads so it works for me i just glide and glire. But yeah 80 is good if you have potholes or gravel chunks in the middle of the road

[@Jari1973]

@@hendrixinfinity3992 Most of the time I run 100 psi.. But 10 km TT pressure is 120 psi 25mm + latex.. Dear people, don't look at the pressure counters on the internet.. the tire manufacturer informs you or you can get the correct pressures by asking them 👍

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

@@Jari1973 The tyre manufacturer only knows about the tyre. They don't know anything about the conditions you are riding in. Plus if you go by the sidewall then you are essentially running the tyre at its maximum safe pressure, not its best performing one. You clearly don't know anything either since Pogacar is using tyres that measure over 30mm for his time trial in which he beat the entire pro peloton except one. I guarantee his team know more than you

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

@@Fawaz571 No, the science says you're wrong. You'd have to have roads as smooth as a velodrome for 100psi to be worth it. 80 is the absolute maximum I would set measured 25mm tyres at. I used to run 25s that measured 23 and had them at 85 with no loss of performance over a higher pressure (but a lot more hand pain). Now I use 30mm tyres which measure 27 on my rims. I run them at 65psi which is the minimum I can run before the threat of clapping the rim starts to come in. Running tyres at their minimum rather than maximum increasing comfort and speed. It's a no brainer.

[@TheTrev53]

Just out of interest, when did Dani go pro? Does she not work for a shoe company and ride for a UCI amateur team, DAS Handsling?

[@MarioDallaRiva]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@nightcrawler2321]

How tall is MANON?

[@TomPhotoix]

I ride that loop several times a week on my gravel bike, and you all smashed me….granted, I do ride there from home which is about 4 miles, but still…

[@daveclee2325]

Where is it? It looks lush!

[@TomPhotoix]

@@daveclee2325 Forest of Dean. It’s the family cycle trail, well most of what they used was anyhow.

[@daveclee2325]

I thought it might be, it’s not so far from me

[@xtrailz]

Can we have more gravel videos please? Don't make us grovel for gravel.

[@rule3036]

Now try that against a pro XC rider on a xc mtb.😶

[@NicoleGonzalez-ot5js]

This is not going to show true strength gravel races are about endurance there is no way she can ride as long and hard as a pro unless she trained like one

[@henryhuber1050]

"Professional Gravel Rider" 🥴 Dont like how roadies have sucked the fun out of what was once a casual and amateur sub genre of the sport

[@blazefpv3038]

so, the Canyon didnt pay You , so You deliberately take close shots with distorted logos ....

[@leopard936]

Who was that littering ?

[@sand9577]

Hey get back to training Manon.

[@StefanoMantegazza]

Gravel is dead!!!

[@wchu702]

Yeah, sure it is. That's why UCI pros are quitting their teams and racing in the States.

[@rule3036]

Gravel gravel😴😴😴😴

[@johndinsdale1707]

Gravel racing is about ultra endurance and none of these tests are relevant. One day the presenter will take training serious?

[@gcn]

We made a film about epic gravel racing at the GBDURO on GCN+ that you might like! 👉 gcn.eu/GBDURO

[@romemancer7905]

So now we have Pro gravel cycling ??? Give me a break...maybe you should all empty the rocks out of your heads ! gravel shmavel...Get a real bike aka XC mountain...bike...lol.

[@wchu702]

The only rocks are the ones which you've been living under. 40K participants at Unbound. $250K USD prize purse for the pros, which is about 4x more than the biggest XC purse.

[@occyman]

GCN must be completely out of ideas to turn out this garbage

[@Velo757]

Emma is super cute!!!!! She seems like a really nice cool and super fun person to hang out and chill with!!! Cool video! PS: tell Emma I said hello....🫶🏻!!!

[@cb6866]

NNNNNnnnnope. come on