Is This The Perfect Italian Gravel Ride?

[@gcn]

What would your dream ride be? 🛌🚲

[@gmadruga]

L'Eroica, the long route.

[@DarkdmbN01]

germany

Tuscany is on my bucket list! But riding in Scotland or Spain will be great also. Available for me is more the Netherlands or Belgium, perhaps some bikepacking in Flanders.

[@struancochrane753]

"You can average 35kph" on a 90km ride with 1400m of elevation gain, I would be delighted to Ave 30kph on the road. You're a machine Hank.

[@mlee6050]

I had to convert as I use miles for cycling in UK, I believe I average 19.2kph over that distance but when only cycled 4.8km at a time before on year before the ride

[@michaeldewing1904]

I’m new to cycling from decades of doing nothing and working really hard to get to 25km/h on road😢

[@eleycki]

I can only dream of 35kph average on the road, let alone!

[@mlee6050]

@@eleycki it's easy to average but just that distance to manage it is another thing

[@better.better]

I currently average about 10 miles per hour on my Surly Big Fat Dummy not even sure that I could do 90k anymore, especially not on this bike. I should borrow a road bike just to see what my current abilities on a normal bike are. I did 33 Mi the other day, just under 900 ft of climbing. I don't know the exact weight, I had a spare coat, my work uniform, change of shoes, floor pump, my work handheld, couple of water bottles & a can of coffee. for reference the stock frame with the bags and rack with deck weighs about 54 lb, so probably at least 60 lb if not 70 (27-31kg), and I weigh about 180 lb/81kg. what do people think that would equate to on a carbon frame? probably is a way to convert weight per distance per hour to unloaded watts per equivalent flat distance

[@pauloosterhout]

I'm glad to see that GCN sent Hank out on an epic bike ride that did not involve forcing him to ride to exhaustion; endure extremes of heat, cold, or altitude; and crushing his soul to the point of mental breakdown. It looked like Hank had a lovely time.

[@michaeldewing1904]

Hahah now that you mention it Hank does get a lot of really rough challenges..! 😳🤣 poor guy

[@gcn]

We're nice to him sometimes..😂

[@Daniel-yf9iy]

Right on! As an aged 50+ runner/cyclist this is way more my speed.😅

[@DarrenMansell]

GCN production quality is incredible. This is why traditional broadcast media is fading - this is so much better

[@enricobertolotti8856]

Gcn is actually owned by a subsidiary of warner brothers

[@wotexpat9367]

It's owned by Discovery, though many ATL channels now have digital channels, and I am sure the investment Disco have made enable this production.

[@TheObeseDuathlete]

This is the topgear or the grand tour that didnt happen. GCN slays them

[@gcn]

We're so glad you enjoyed!

[@miguelcpt]

What a beautiful solo ride. Makes me wanna ride in Italy

[@gcn]

It was stunning! What part of Italy would you want to ride?

[@ktelep]

I took my bike to Tuscany this year and can confirm that it's absolutely worth it. The climbs are sometimes brutal (I did miss a few gears actually, so it turned to be a nice strength training), but the views and the landscape are rewarding to say the least. Getting up early to see from my bike the sun rising above the vineyards and the hills was an experience I will never forget.

[@juliozapata1134]

Gino Bartali, Andrea Tafi, Gastone Nencini, Fiorenzo Magni, Alfredo Martini, Franco Bitossi, Mario Cipollini, Paolo Bettini, Michele Bartoli, Franco Ballerini and many more....all of them from Tuscany

[@mattwood2612]

Looking out of the window and it's cold, wet and drizzling......see Hank riding in the sun, I can't wait for summer, only 6 months to wait. 🤣

[@gcn]

Not long to go now 😂What plans have you got for the summer?

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

Same...we finally got snow last night, and I think it's going to stick.

[@jw3638]

65% Hills + 25% Mountains = 90% (missing the other 10%). Hank's math = 😅. But Hank's positivity = 💯. Only thing missing is Hank's Dad. Grazie for the tour il Tuscano

[@better.better]

the other 10% is probably the flat bits

[@veganpotterthevegan]

Too much Italian wine math

[@petersauer94]

Hank is just perfect for these adventures, absolutely love his enthusiasm and commitment ❤

[@blaze1148]

He is definitely better outside on his bike than in the studio setting.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

​@@blaze1148I'd rather see him do the 24hr penny farthing record on the velodrome

[@gcn]

@@veganpotterthevegan now that would be a challenge we'd like to see..

[@candelaresiMarco]

Come in Umbria Hank!! There are beautiful gravel path as well as Tuscany we have near Orvieto wine and olives tree !! Then of you ride near montefalco there is the most famous red wine on my region!! Beautiful video and beautiful bike

[@davidshardlow4369]

Great video Hank! I was out in Tuscany with a great group of 20 last month, riding a wonderful 300km loop from San Gimignano… absolutely beautiful part of the world, and best experienced on a gravel bike 🚴

[@gcn]

100% a gravel bikes opens up this world loads 🙌 Did you do the full 300km in one go?

[@davidshardlow4369]

@@gcn No, over 3 days! It was the Glorious Gravel Tuscan Epic… would highly recommend 🚴😎

[@davidreeson3741]

Hank, practice saying “Cam-pan-yolo”, grab a vintage bike and get yourself signed up for l’Eroica 209km in Gaiole in Chianti for some vintage Tuscan gravel next October!

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Well done Hanksimus Maximus! I was indeed so entertained, I want MORE of this amazing content! So beautiful and love seeing a different take on gravel!! Please keep this content coming!

[@lifecycleproject]

Great video. Tuscany is a wonderland of awesome terrain and jaw-dropping medieval towns, but Hank definitely needed some better advice on the local cuisine. Spaghetti with cozze (when inland) and 'doughnut' ice-cream ? Almost as sinful as a cappuccino after lunch !

[@n22pdf]

Lovely vid Hank your rapid dude, I didn’t know they are doing a Gladiator 2 awesome 😊 great to see you riding Campagnolo.. I ride campy mechanical on all my bikes brilliant ❤❤ 🚴🏻👍🥇 Pete

[@alinapopescu872]

I most certainly would love to see more of a fellow "Gladiator" fan ! Thanks, James, for this lovely trip 🙂❤

[@gordonmarshall7743]

Awesome, thanks for showing us th Tuscan countryside

[@gcn]

Our pleasure... literally, it was an absolute hoot to film 🙌

[@silviubadic]

Such an inspirational ride and an inspirational video. But I'm inviting you all to ride in Transylvania. Gravel, road, MTB, whatever, it's a hidden gem. And it's cheaper than Tuscany, although you will not see olive tree meadows nor the sea. And don't worry about vampires because I've been going to Transylvania for the last 6-700 years and I haven't seen any vampires.

[@onederment]

"This is absolutely insane", you said it. Pasta in 40c ... madness. I bet you exploded when you got back to the hotel . Probably why you were the only one on the roads and in the restaurant

[@MrKayDeeJay]

Really cool video!

[@user-abuser-t1l]

The script in this video is perfect. And Hank is such a charismatic pal!

[@alanmckellar908]

Indeed, I am entertained. Thanks for taking us along Hank.

[@Ripagood]

One of the best GCN videos. Thanks Hank.

[@Grant_Ferstat]

I've never done, well, any gravel riding but one of the best things I ever did as a tourist was a day cycling tour our of Florence into the Tuscan hills. Magnificent.

[@gcn]

Sounds Incredible! Would you try gravel riding?

[@Grant_Ferstat]

I woud love to@@gcn

[@PedroTD]

My favorite place in the world, glad to see that I could also combine it with my favorite sport !

[@kippen64]

A great demonstration of why gravel bikes are relevant. They let you have adventures. Adventures are fun.

[@gcn]

Adventure is where is it at 🙌

[@dylanhunt5368]

Isn't it a good time of the year for Hank and an unwilling participant to go for a 2 night backpacking trip in the UK. It's an excellent time of the year to test the functionality of equipment

[@gcn]

Oooo we like the sound of that! ... Who should we pick on?

[@kimpoulsen5623]

That dismount though! Gotta go practise!

[@LiveOutLoud2024]

Hank - you need to do another video with your dad! I love the ones you’ve done with him.

[@joskoevoet9569]

Great ride n scenery. Next up: L'Eroica medio (135km) or lungo (211 km). Even better scenery and if you do the event you'll get incredible food at foodstops and an unforgettable atmosphere.

[@RobertAArgo]

Loved this video, and the Gladiator quote was the icing on the cake. Yes, I know that quote by heart as well!

[@abikeesclerosada]

Absolutely beautiful!!!

[@papaduck1000]

Great job Hank

[@adellapigna7189]

My favorite place on this planet. The heart of Europe along with Rome.

[@gcn]

It's Beautiful! Have you ridden in Tuscany before?

[@scottamy404]

I rode the Tuscany Trail event the summer of 2023. It was super beautiful, but also very difficult.

[@_BH8_]

The route looks amazing! Is it on Strava, or can we find the GPX anywhere?

[@AdamBoothUK]

Did a trip to Tuscany last year. 40C heat meant early starts but then you got the whole day to lounge by the pool, drink the wine and eat the excellent food.

[@gcn]

That sounds perfect! How did you find riding in the area?

[@AdamBoothUK]

@@gcn I was based to the East of Siena. The roads were smooth, the white roads a little less so off the main routes, borderline between gravel and MTB. The steepness and length of the hills were a surprise, as were the signs requiring snow chains in winter!

[@fredbr95]

You've ridden more italian roads than GCN Italia this year

[@gcn]

Are you suggesting that He's looking for a new team 👀

[@rbonn3880]

So jealous, but glad to see Hank get a plum assignment for once!

[@marcuspartridge11]

Loved the "Gladiator" scene!! 🗡

[@kennedystuart5685]

What an amazing ride. So envious. Lol. Way to go Hank. Wicked.

[@TwiinStar1224]

I'll be traveling to Italy in February and this makes me want to rent a bike for a day while I'm there to explore.

[@omgahandlelol]

Always a good motivation to move the pedals. Thanks GCN, cheers to toscan wine 🎉

[@melin1969]

i had no idea that 65 plus 25 added up to 100 ) or is the missing 10 flat )

[@Planetone.]

Award winning actor of the year 11:08 ❤

[@shampa1n]

'The whole world to myself'. Cycling got to love it.

[@gcn]

No better feeling of freedom than on a bike 🙌

[@Ben-td4vz]

We are entertained! Very beautiful and fun to watch video. Keep on Hank(erman)!

[@dmcarthur60]

Italians! So friendly. I love them So true but you are Mr Friendly yourself Hank 😃

[@D_isco_D_ancer]

Tuscany is epic everything

[@thekhaling14635]

Wow! Really an amazing route.

[@gcn]

Such a fun route! 🙌 Have you ever ridden in Tuscany before?

[@thekhaling14635]

@@gcn I wish to some day.

[@tymanski1]

nice one, hank! last april i stayed a week in Chianti-Tuscany and virtually had all those wonderful gravel hills to myself in the spring sunshine. and the italian cafe stops!! absolutely perfect and a worthy bucket list destination. can't wait to go back (this year, mallorca off the bucket list :) )

[@abhimawa1]

Thank you for the good video. This looks so composed; the scenery, the content, the bike (especially 😂), no unnecessary pointless speed. Lovely ❤

[@gcn]

Hank puts all the speed when he needs it 😂 Glad you enjoyed the video! Couldn't get a better ride than an Italian gravel ride 🙌

[@abhimawa1]

@@gcn it should be. fare bel giro!

[@eleycki]

Superb Hank ride in a great setting.

[@IamPapaShaw]

Hank, 65% + 25% = 90% The other 10% is gelato shops.

[@gcn]

100%, Gelato is super important on a Italian ride!

[@janderson7562]

65% is hilly and the other 25% is mountains! That's all of it? You are a lot of fun Hank, glad your not my math teacher. 😂. Great video, I wanna go back and bring a bike this time!

[@Gold_Stadt]

I'd love to take my gravelbike for a ride there one day. Best regards from the South of Germany.

[@andrealewis514]

Idea: Bring your fans to work day. :) This was fantastic!

[@Pep8691]

"65% of Tuscany is hills and the other 25% is made up of mountainous areas" .. .ummm.. carry the 1.. square root of a cork trees density.. divide by the specific gravity of pasta.... #naileditHank 🤔🤣 Seriously, a great video and GCN didn't attempt to kill Hank and let him have fun and enjoy this ride!!

[@marknethercoat3314]

Tempting, very tempting to go there for that sort of gravel ride (albeit, at my slightly slower pace)

[@triadexteriorservicesllc]

Wow! Dream ride no doubt! 💜

[@Jorgytonton]

This looks a lot like the best parts of central Texas with less spiky plants and more climbing, beautiful ❤

[@TopGearGTASA]

I want traveling series with Hank cycling through differend countries and their regions and talking about interesting things or facts.

[@h31sman]

Second this. He has that chill Bourdain vibe that flows well with wherever he’s at. A cycling No Reservations would be siiiiiick.

[@gcn]

Where do you want to see Hank go next?

[@TopGearGTASA]

Hard to say :) since winter is coming to Europe. But I would like to see him somwhere in the north. Iceland, Norway or Sweden @@gcn

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Thank you Hank. That was just .... 😍

[@lokerola]

Great vid! I miss GCN+.

[@algmusicuk]

Amazing!

[@Dmitry-Moiseenko]

Thank you for a great video! Tuscany is really great, now it’s in my ‘to visit’ list! 🇮🇹

[@gcn]

We hope it's top of the list! 👀

[@pubzilla3210]

Tuscany is probably the best known gravel due to the tuscany trail with actually 4000+ participants, the strade bianche.

[@gcn]

Tuscany trail look like a great route... should we send the presenter over?

[@gregvassilakos]

Bravo!

[@mommamooney]

Loved the tour! Would love more tour rides

[@prestachuck2867]

1988 Giro winner Andy Hampsten lives there! You could do a GCN+ Legends film with him right there!

[@michaelsantiago1504]

More pls TY!

[@cruachan1191]

Having just spent half an hour removing some of that epic Scottish gravel from my bike, this looks very appealing (although the clean-up would no doubt be just as bad with all that dust!)

[@rudyelizondo1935]

I’ve got the specialized diverge, nuff said 😊

[@brianridley1102]

Fantastic place and great to see a gravel ride on actual gravel and not MTB tracks. Hank looked far too chilled though, where was his challenge. He must have been waiting for a man in a white coat to step out with his challenge on it like top gear!! "Hank you must ride the Stelvio off-road, one handed in your bare feet"...now that's more like it 😁

[@michmastahl]

What´s not to love about Tuscany? And sure I want to see more videos like this.

[@gcn]

It sure is stunning! Hank did a documentary with his Dad through Tuscany, you can see that here👉gcn.eu/tuscany

[@mbtravel7294]

Lovely, keep up the great content! 🙂

[@richardrr4220]

Italian scenery stunning as ever - the standard GCN video promoting bike brands / components is really dull however thats my fault for missing the paid promotion notification - I enjoy the GCN videos that aren't deliberately created to promote something

[@derf9465]

Hank has a bar bag!!!

[@MrQuattro18]

Great episod from Italy! 👍

[@Broodjemetbeleg]

Please share the route file in the future. I would love to ride this one!

[@paulfrancis8746]

Hank…… love your attempt at mastering the Italian language “paaastaaaa” What did you think of the Orbea Terra?

[@OldSchoolBaby_WWNB_pl]

Beautifully ;)

[@anasgtr]

Missed a trick here lads. Should've got the 2 of you on a Ridley and on a Scott and you could've filled the video with Gladiator references. Great video nonetheless 😊

[@Yuniel_Quevedo]

Nice trip

[@markfinney-gp7uo]

This was great!

[@alexheney]

How on earth can he start by saying when you think of epic gravel, you don't think of Tuscany? The place where the Strada Bianchi is run, probably the ultimate European gravel race.

[@nerigarcia7116]

There are tons of beautiful gravel in Italy and Spain, I'm not sure why it's not already included on that list.

[@RealHMW]

I love this video! We are there (in Caldana) every year in summer. Do you have the route on strava so that I can copy and re-ride it in 2024?

[@Boopop1024]

My first day on Italian gravel, in heavy rain, bike got a bit dirty, no big problem. My second day when I attempted Italian gravel, it had turned to clay and bunged up my groupset. Shoutout to Buccis Garage in San Quirico d'Orcia for letting me use his pressure washer! 😂

[@gcn]

Sounds like an adventure!😂 Would you do gravel riding in Tuscany?

[@roberteastwood6937]

Great viewing!

[@t0mrhod3s]

Can you link to the gpx please @gcn? Wouldn't mind doing that loop myself. If you're ever back in Italy then for some real hidden gems head further south. It's not the traditional cycling heartland but there's oodles of gravel in the more rural south...

[@danielbrown6152]

Yes, just help yourself to the farmer’s labours. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve witnessed tourists sneaking into and helping themselves to orchards and vineyards. Otherwise, this was a beautiful video.

[@user-xz5eh7bq9o]

This terain looks like Skopelos island Greece!

[@davidpala7882]

If you want epic rides off Road in Italy try Sardinia next, Hank believe me!

[@lexington476]

11:20 hit it spot on 🙂.

[@nycdrummingstar]

That which we do in life echoes in eternity

[@yt4y-raki]

Really Wonderful and impressiv. So where can I find the film with you and your father in Tuscany? Thanks 👍

[@McLovin38FFs]

65% is made up of hills and the other 25% is made up of mountains! Thankfully he’s good on a bike!

[@mikedellar5653]

……and the other 10% is?

[@MsDDPirate]

@@mikedellar5653wine tasting at vineyards?

[@mikedellar5653]

@@MsDDPirate 👍

[@gcn]

Welcome to Hank maths... where we play fast and loose with the rules, but it's fun to watch!

[@TheObeseDuathlete]

This is the topgear or the grand tour that didnt happen. GCN slays them