How To Ride Flat Roads Faster

[@gcn]

Do you prefer the flat to a descent? 🤔

[@oumtaha3834]

It was 14 years we need a buy a ice cream

[@DoNuT_1985]

In general, not so much because my bike isn't aero and I'm a light rider but sometimes I enjoy settling into a rhythm and digging in for my home straight, especially with a tailwind. 😁

[@markricketts6957]

My favourite will always be a hard climb. My second favourite is the on the flat at about 15% below race pace and staying at that all day.

[@animalgarden825]

I love flat roads and sprinting.❤

[@MultiEski]

Flat , keeping same speed , and only noise from tyres and wind. :)

[@jonathanzappala]

Favorite flat road? The one with a big tailwind

[@CycoWarriorx]

Facts…😂😂😂

[@audiolatroushearetic1822]

I need to know where this road may be! I always choose the wrong one 😅

[@alessiob8700]

​@@audiolatroushearetic1822there is one at the end of the wrong one. You just need turn left (right in the UK).

[@BreakawayB]

Your power will be lower when you’re hunched over in the aero position due do your hip angle being tighter, BUT the increase in aerodynamic efficiency will offset the power drop. In the end, we’re seeking speed, not necessarily a power number (admittedly, they’re often related).

[@endcensorship874]

Get a bike fit it won't

[@CarbonRider1]

@@endcensorship874he is talking about being in the aero position, it has nothing to do with bike fit. For most people, the lower aero position, or TT position produces less power. My TT and Merckx position produces less power than being upright on a road bike, but are substantially faster than a standard road bike position. It’s not due to lack of bike fit.

[@timtaylor9590]

i think when they did that test the riding position would be the same because it wouldnt be a test for anything since everyone would alrdy know the answer to the test before they took it. ya know

[@blaze1148]

@@endcensorship874 100% I find the forward position generates more power than an upright one.

[@velodor2267]

Born and raised in Cornwall, I've never seen a flat road in my life. Not entirely convinced they even exist.

[@cathalkenneally1614]

I have found that commuting by 12.5 miles to work and back I have improved my health, my cycling and speed. It has benefited my longer rides at the weekend. It’s a fairly flat ride but at three times a week with no hills has really helped me. My recent London to Brighton ride was a lot faster than last year and I want to cycle longer. My next big ride is a 90 mile ride on 1st October with the eventual goal of 100 miles probably sometime next year. I also have a 100 kilometre ride coming up in August which, I’m looking forward to

[@amishrider]

I'd love to see all of you take on an event as a "pro team". Manon and Connor would have benefitted from a team on their recent gravel efforts. Depending on the event the guys could be domestiques to get sprinter Manon to the finish or perhaps climber Ollie to the top. I understand the presenter to video ratio from a business perspective but I think you'd be able to make plenty of vids; pre-event covering planning, training, tactics, bike choice and post event vids covering debrief, experience, learning, data analysis, etc etc

[@CommissionerManu]

That would be a legitimately cool series to watch!

[@amishrider]

Right! Imagine having Connor, Si and Alan as your domestiques with Hank as your lead out for the sprint finish!

[@inz_uzi]

The most important thing on flats is to be aero so I find it hilarious that I'm being taught by a lovely lady with a gillette flapping stylishly in the wind and a friendly Irishman who is as small as an 18th century barn. Good entertainment. 😊

[@RhymesWithPorridge]

At 4:40 I notice Conor is using "Pogacar hair" to go that little bit faster.

[@DoNuT_1985]

Worth noting that you should still have a good/safe grip when riding on the hoods, no just lazily putting hands on them. More than once, a sudden crack or pothole nearly punched me off the handlebars when you don't watch out for a moment.

[@_ben_sweet]

A good core will combat that. The bumpier the road the more I loosen my grip and let the bike move under me. In a group it’s important to still have control of the bike, but a looser grip will help with control

[@DoNuT_1985]

@@_ben_sweet You still should be hooked on the hoods, without squeezing it to death. Slipping off the bar and taking an unwanted turn isn't what you want for a little aero gain. Riding in the drops is safer in that regard, but I also like the hoods better in the flat.

[@ItimDave]

This happed to me yesterday!

[@neologian1783]

@@_ben_sweet 100% agreed. If bumps / cracks threaten to knock you off the hoods you are probably resting too much upper body weight on your arms than is ideal. Ideally your core strength supports your upper body weight......not your arms and hands resting heavily on the bars.......which actually reduces stability and fine control of the bike.

[@kokonanana1]

@@neologian1783!!!!!

[@konstantinpapoutsidis6076]

I want to thank you guys. I`ve watched your instructional videos since last year and I think they helped me a lot to improve my position on bike and to ride a bit faster 👍

[@brianrichards350]

My trick is to use a junior cassette 14-28 with reasonable chainrings. I'm never going to spin out a 50 - 11 anyway..the closer mid range gears allow for optimal selection on long flat runs.

[@marcobucher9726]

Great Video, many thanks. Maybe to Manon, it would also help you're closing your west 😉

[@goldenmath4091]

Somerset levels is where I live and I love em, miles of beautiful flat roads and views from a postcard!

[@thomasgoodyer7435]

Maybe do the gilet up for a start? 🤔

[@Marlon_B-8]

Still my favorite and funniest GCN pair 😊

[@yijuntey]

preparing for a national triathlon championships and this is exactly the type of cycling video i needed. Thanks!

[@khawcc]

Favourite flat road - Tanah Merah Coast Road (TMCR) in Singapore, GCN should make an episode here! Get in touch if you are coming this way 😊

[@geoffreyhoney122]

"Hoo-Chaaaa!" That was a cracking video Manon and Conor and gcn! Lots of practical tips. Although I ride a lot of rail trails, they can be relentlessly sapping of strength. Chedoke Rail Trail, Hamilton to Brantford (Ontario) for example, is 40k of ceaseless slow creeping climb. Give me some flats in a river valley or terrain that gently undulates with the occasional flat in between!

[@jw3638]

Just literally did an out and back flat road ride 2 days ago to practice my position and to see if i can get some PRs. The tailwind out felt good but the headwind back wasn't so great.

[@aemiliadelroba4022]

I’m recovering from a long and fast exhausting ride , I got heat cramps 😮 Uphills rides are so exhausting.

[@TheFloridaBikeVlogger]

this is a video I need. I moved to FL from IL and lived in the valley and my cadence is out of control here because I am not used to be so far down the cassette

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Sounds like a big move 👀 How are settling into the Florida cycling scene? 🐊

[@newoldsteel]

Lol SAME

[@fltstfrnd]

My favorite flat "roads" are the local rails to trails bike paths!

[@jonathanthompson1012]

What a bunch of legends you both are!!!

[@nathanmcginty5755]

A turtle head always gives me a boost in speed.

[@jacksonbangs6603]

Here in Southern Oregon, long stretches of flat roads are not that common. Sooner or latter you will need to do some climbing. Good video none the less and happy trails.

[@nealhooker]

Great timing as my bike leg in 70.3 this weekend is flat!

[@pauldyerdyer2731]

Connors bar tape is shocking!

[@throughthewindow4894]

I find it easier to go fast of the flats. Holding speeds is the issue. Thanks for the tips.

[@Thezuule1]

One way to ride faster on those flats would be to zip up your shirt so it isn't flapping around in the breeze like a sail! 😃

[@bobtavener4824]

Hi Conor and Manon, great video with extra tips for us that live in the flatlands around the Cambridgeshire Fens. Why don't you both come out and join me and my cycling buddy, Paul, at the Flat 100 South, 17th Sept, organised by Sportive HQ, out of Peterborough? We would gladly let you draft behind us, if you think you can ride slow enough 😂🤣

[@dmcarthur60]

Woo Cha ! Love it 😀

[@dragosmihoc6277]

I really appreciate your videos and I learned a lot from them, but sillca tyre pressure calculator is wrong. And I will keep saying it because is so confusing. Keep up the good work with the videos 😊

[@stevocanuck]

on flat roads, does an aero bike go faster than a climbing/aero bike? For example, factor ostro vs giant tcr?

[@user-vi3oc7xn7c]

Hi you all flat lovers. The place to ride flat / mildly hilly is in Finland. Miles after miles of the most beautiful country roads. And nice people too.

[@Outsideville]

04:05 Conor cracks me up. 😂

[@johnstrac]

Re flat roads, I've been advocating a sprinters Etape for years ! Also, Connor, sort that bar tape !

[@gcn]

Sprinters Etape! Where do we sign up? Conor is bane of our GCN workshop don't worry 👀

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

Do you have just one pedaling stoke? Or do you have several different ones? Do you only sit in one position on the saddle? Or do you move fore and aft? Moser once said he varies the power to provide a micro-rest (not his words) to the legs. Other pros have other methods. But I’ve discussed it with other pros who say absolutely not.

[@matteo.ceriotti]

The Silca tyre pressure calculator requires the system weight, not your body weight, Manon

[@bravesirmick8463]

That bar tape though...

[@philipwooldridge9606]

Conor sort that bar tape out!

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

Awesome video,Connor's huge frame must cause a lot of wind resistance,I wonder how much more than a average rider.🤔

[@HDW-dz1lj]

Admiring connor's XC bike

[@bobbysilver272]

"How to ride flat roads faster".....Manon: leave your top unzipped and flapping in the wind?

[@xprodigy1x674]

Yeah as an avid and larger TT rider the flats are my home 😂

[@mnveloguy]

Or you could invest in a velomobile. My Bülk does 30mph on nice flat pavement for around…165 watts. With the super aero race hood that number drops a good bit lower.

[@davemellor4697]

Says Mannon with her top flaying in the wind!!!

[@JDRELGOR]

I'm 6ft6 and find that going up hills are an advantage, on the flat I find I need to maintain a certain speed and cadence.

[@Yewchooob]

I'll be honest Conor. I can't cope with that gap in your bar tape. It's giving me palpitations 😅

[@blaze1148]

Pushing as big a gear as possible I find is far faster than just pure cadence for obvious reasons.

[@vivekacharya3652]

what bike is connor riding?? somebody tell me please :)

[@naomibright4956]

What bike is Manon on please?

[@paulyoder865]

I would really like to see a sponsor build a custom extra large bike that fits Conner. His bike looks too small for him.

[@cesarsousa2282]

N327 - Furadouro to S. Jacinto...

[@mopedvieh]

What was this video about? I was totally focused on Conor's bartape. Who did this?

[@aemiliadelroba4022]

Also unexpected events on the road , like deer 🦌 and cracks on the road , need to focus .

[@238949]

4.04 Manon's not impressed 🤣🤣

[@newoldsteel]

On my steel bikes I need all the aerodynamics I can get 😂

[@a.campos891]

If you want to ride faster, definitely zip your jersey. Don't let it be a parachute.

[@cerocerocinco]

I've got one for Manon. Dont use your bodywarmer as a parachute.

[@Norm0770]

Zipping up the gilet will also improve your speed on the flats Manon!

[@kaltonian]

and don't think that on the flats you don't need to change gear, sometimes you have to continuously shuffle through 1 or 2 gears to keep up the cadence and manage different road surfaces, yeah I noticed years ago how rd surface influenced the ride, if super smooth tarmac then yeah rock hard skinny tyres, our country roads require a fatter tyre not so hard to keep constant contact, but we are all different and you just have to experiment, but it's certainly worth checking road surface before a race

[@mariauvas5695]

can you to search midousuji sprint style and try it im gonna see if its aero 😎

[@mariauvas5695]

position

[@mariauvas5695]

for connor

[@ItimDave]

So the fact that I'm relatively tall and still slower than my short friends is not excusable 😂

[@timoma6620]

Lovely how this is the trillionth vid where the viewer gets told to get aero and there's not a single shot of anyone on aero extensions, not even as an accessory hanging of the bars

[@kraatshenk7665]

If you'r long. Short frame long stem. You are closer to the one in front.

[@robertkeyte8144]

Can I ask taller riders are better tt riders cause of the leg power

[@djgotgame1537]

You need Jonas vingegaard on your Chanel

[@georgiatrudell7787]

This bike was really easy to assemble kzbin.infoUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and required very few adjustments out of the box. The wheels did not require any truing/adjustments. The frame had some small scratches, but nothing major.I did replace the seat though - the seat it came with was very uncomfortable. The tires need to be re-inflated every 4-5 days, but this appears to be quite common for the narrow 700x25 tires.Overall, in my opinion, this bike looks and rides like a much more expensive bike.

[@binder946]

❤

[@mathias_q_lorenzen]

Would you please zipp that wind-vest, that is not helping you... :O

[@ciprian-ctinspiridon9550]

Not sure if keeping the sunglasses behind your neck is part of the video or is just a matter of preference. 😂

[@philippemiller4740]

Use a recumbent

[@zzhughesd]

I’m very so so on flat. And awful with a headwind. Only go up hill well. Film flam power on flat. I’m light. The flat and me have never really gelled. Legs at 46 don’t feel strong. Up hill still go really well. Odd KOM. Back on flat and practically give up. Odd

[@EdMontego]

Does he got the Saddle to low?

[@romanpramuka2703]

Flat roads are only necessary evil to get me to the hills 😉

[@douglasgeorge6186]

Do dope

[@robertmuckle2985]

Are you sure you couldn't find less aero helmets?😂

[@hugobrown2516]

so how fast were you guys going???

[@StefanKoefoed]

I miss the sound of Conor's bike clicking 🥲

[@techbubakromg]

w cameraman

[@jason200912]

how to ride faster on flat without watching the 7 min video: buy clip on aero bars. done.

[@giantolentino9186]

Head down and sing in your head 😂

[@schumi3006]

How to ride flat roads faster: Get your own Connor so you can draft behind him

[@harrie974]

Tip 1: make sure your shirt isn’t flapping around🙄

[@steinfossgard5210]

Puh!

[@timtaylor9590]

did they ever tell us why ppl can put out more power up hill vs flat ? my guess is flawed power meters. legs and cardio dont get worse according to terrain... its a no brainer. when going up hill ppl tend to focus more on the down stroke and find a rhythm there. the effect is a moment of acceleration on the down stroke and deceleration during the dead spot. on flats the pedal stroke is usually move even so theres less rest on the muscles during the dead spot while keeping even power throughout which i suspect the power meters dont read as high compared smashing down on just the downstroke. its possible to try and use a climbing pedal style on flat but also think the yoyo effect of momentum going up hill helps with rhythm it may also be possible that at higher speeds it effects breathing as well, but i think most ppl would get used to it perhaps or maybe not. it would be worth while measuring head rate while putting out the same power going up and down a hill, likely decending will increase heart rate compared to going slow up a hill that will effect performance as well.

[@HighFell]

Connor did mention it. It’s really all about aerodynamics. Put simply, you can go faster on flats than up gradients, however the faster you go the greater the aerodynamic drag, (it’s proportional to the square of speed so ramps up at a vicious rate) A rider can max out their power output on a climb as the extreme effects of aerodynamic drag have not been reached and gravity is constant, where as on the flat you will hit a brick wall of aerodynamic drag before your max power output.

[@timtaylor9590]

@@HighFell Connor wouldn't say that it's completely wrong. Have another look. Putting out power has nothing to do with aero or speed. On a trainer there is zero drag and zero speed.

[@HighFell]

@@timtaylor9590 power is all about speed. Power meters really measure ‘Torque’ (work) and ‘Power’ is the rate at which work can be done, the calculation from torque to power is reliant on the algorithm used by the equipment so there is a margin within that, but in essence you will always produce maximum power on a gradient not the flat for the reason I have explained 😁

[@timtaylor9590]

@@HighFell you should ask for a2nd opinion is you don't believe me. you're completely wrong. A power meter measures the power a rider is putting out no matter the speed going fast does not make the legs weaker or cardio worse.

[@timtaylor9590]

@@HighFelljust to be clear, you're saying aero drag takes away power that's all wrong it does take speed not power.

[@princeandrew5430]

Pointless - just het a fairing and /or draft a double decker. Climbs are where it’s at

[@mario.221]

Chainring

[@sanaez]

Ничего не понял, но очень интересно🥰🤗

[@endcensorship874]

Step One: Ride behind Connor all day.

[@fisharefriends598]

Having a fast super light road bike helps…

[@inz_uzi]

Weight doesn't mean much on flats.

[@mokotramp]

Silca tp calculator is crap! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@mclaarson]

Riding on a flat road without a bike line is freaking dangerous. With vegetation growing as high its impossible to know what comes. 2 riders just died in an accident the other weak. Chose your route as safe as possible preferring bicycle lanes.

[@thejeffinvade]

He is too tall

[@slowcyclist4324]

Buy an e-bike. Problem solved

[@christopherhenrich6505]

MONSIEUR ARMSTRONG ALLO????? They banned me everywhere from Instagram. At the gym Next to the grocery throughout the widow I saw a grandpa with his bike full of bottles of water, so after the gym in my trunk please tell him if you’re friend, talibans and French police spying

[@pigupigu]

Buy a $20,000 bike with deep section carbon wheels and also setuo tubeless

[@HighFell]

Long socks and a ‘proper skinsuit’ wins every time

[@HighFell]

Manon’s accent gets ‘more Welsh’ when she is riding harder….

[@abastabul9115]

Is this one of them videos that tell you how to be a great cyclist and fail miserably during an 'epic' race?