Is This The World's Toughest Group Ride?

[@gcn]

🥵 What is the toughest ride you've ever done?

[@Natuh21]

Nowadays every ride is the toughest lol, coz Im always carrying my 2yo girl with me so its 12kg extra all the time!

[@robertnobles8189]

We have a “shootout” in Portland Oregon and I was getting popped out the back doing 32mph! 🥵

[@troycollett8540]

You need to check out the papas ride in Perth on Boxing Day

[@michaelwilliams476]

The Hell ride in Melbourne

[@aliensporebomb]

WIthout doubt the insane ride back in the late 1980s early 1990s in the fall where I had ridden very little that year - and my friends insisted on going on a season ending 100 mile ride that ended up with me having to use a borrowed bike (with bad brakes and no maintenance in years), wearing street clothes, and not prepared at all for it. At the halfway point I seem to remember buying a bunch of bananas at a store and ate the whole bunch in a questionable refueling maneuver. Towards the end maybe 75 miles in I had bonked so badly my friend literally used the belt from my pants and my shoelaces as a makeshift way to tow me some distance at the end of the ride because I was shelled so badly. When we finally got back (and I got a second wind of sorts after the sun had gone down) The post-ride meal at a restaurant was probably an epic several thousand calorie blowout. Never again! You gotta prep for that kind of thing.

[@sasatrifunovski]

The BEST part of this video is the love Hank got from Ollie Proper mate😍

[@gcn]

You can always count on Hank for support!

[@AirSpace]

and his gun puns. pa-pow!

[@Sttuey]

"You can get dropped in the first 20 seconds" - sounds like an average Zwift race lol

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

The classic all out sprint and burn out at the start lol. Thankfully in certain categories it quickly slows down midway. Definitely was a big surprise coming from racing outdoors lol.

[@stephenappleton2486]

You can last 20 seconds? Well done because I’m normally out the back in 5 seconds

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

Sounds like the first push after Valencia! Yes, I've ridden this ride on several occasions and it's like that.

[@markscott2259]

Hahahaha!! I thought the same. I get dropped every time right out of the pigpen.

[@gcn]

Hahaha we feel your pain! If you need some racing tips we've got you covered 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYfIaaN5edGCmJo

[@rg807]

More content like this. It's great to see rides that occur in other places.

[@gcn]

We love getting to connect with the cycling community around the world 🙌 There are some real hitters out there!

[@RichardGutierrezRG]

​@@gcn Come down to Silver City for the Tour of the Gila!

[@flynando]

It’s clear that Ollie is the faster GCN presenter at the moment. But the question is, can he keep up with he boys on the TTT? I think it’s time to do another round.

[@_Tp___]

what about Si and Alex?

[@cruachan1191]

Dunno if he's the fastest, Alex beat him in their TT challenge recently (not filmed but they talked about it on the Tech Show). It's clear though he's an absolute machine given he's the only GCN presenter who isn't a former pro. Long way from the days he got spat out the back of the roadies vs TT challenge though.

[@jonathanzappala]

I don’t know maybe that’s what his motivation was for putting in the work 😂

[@yokaidigital3033]

Don’t forget about Manon, she probably couldn’t hold the pace over a distance but her track racing past she’s fast for a sprint race.

[@JomarLayco]

Ollie probably has the better endurance than the rest of the GCN crew

[@esophagusfpv]

El Tour de Tucson, 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, Mt Lemmon climb, and now the Shootout. Its nice to see Tucson has been getting a lot of attention lately.

[@gcn]

We loved our time in Tucson! We would love to head back 🙌🇺🇸

[@vr4966]

So refreshing seeing a bunch of rim brake bikes under the best riders in the USA!🇺🇸 , they’re still alive for sure 🦾🔥

[@gcn]

Still kicking 🙌

[@bengtwahlstedt1021]

On dry flat roads, you don't need disc brakes !

[@dermitdemkuchentanzt4026]

Nice to c some sailing ships on the sea , same with rim brakes , so so romantic but let’s say ….

[@JRF82]

@@dermitdemkuchentanzt4026Triggered

[@fotmheki]

Hank is the team mate everyone need 👏 Good job guys!

[@gcn]

THIS! ☝ He's office hype man for sure

[@ryanwippler2186]

GCN, love this so much. The Tuesday Tucson ride is no joke. Can be so humbling. I was the first to get dropped when I last attempted it. As a fit, high-end amateur triathlete, held 450 W for two minutes and just watched as the peloton pull away once the proper festivities commenced. Fortunate for me, I was not the last to be dropped, as I had no idea which way to go!? Any day on a bike is a good day. Cheers GCN and Tucson!

[@gcn]

It's one tough bunch ride! Well done for just turning up 🙌Would you go back?

[@jeleyman]

That 2 mile long hill on Ajo Way is just the right gradient for the fasties to keep on top of 25 mph the whole way. Thankfully the following bit is good -3% grade.

[@aquicktake]

The "shootout" is absolutely all it's said to be - fast, hard, and no gloves brutal. Great coverage GCN, and Hank's Tom Hardy was funny af!

[@geraintjones6401]

Really good to see the camaraderie and mutual respect between Ollie and Hank. Great stuff.

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it 😍

[@WarHammerWH]

That has got to be one of the best GCN videos ever. Always wondered how the different presenters compared to each other. Hank may no longer be at his top pro form (which is understandable) but he still has the racing tactics and the top end turbo. Ollie is more of an extremely fit amateur, so it’s fascinating to see them in a race together. Would have liked to see Si and Alex too. I can’t help but to be inspired by their performances. How dare we not give our all when rides get difficult when these guys ride at 35+ mph… Now that’s suffering!

[@gcn]

GCN shootout is required!

[@WarHammerWH]

@@gcn Not sure Ollie would like that. Not because he couldn't win, but because he wouldn't want to lose (not that he would necessarily...)!

[@rocket3roadster10_ash8]

It was humbling seeing Ollie complimenting Hank struggling after he was dropped. This is something I’ve experienced a fair bit and an awesome aspect of cycling.

[@Madmaverick101]

Is Ollie now the fastest and fittest of the GCN presenters - like a bullet! Top marks, chaps. Love your work, Hank!

[@stevemawer848]

But Ollie does demonstrate the difference between road racers and time triallists - it's the constant changes of pace that the latter can't cope with.

[@mattshipstone9361]

Loved that, best video for a while- but it's the variety of content that's the winner. Great work everyone.

[@gcn]

Thanks Matt! We aim to make content for every cyclist, keep the comments flowing in 🙌

[@MrBrackley88]

In 2015 I was visiting a friend and I joined the Colorado Springs Saturday ride. Danny Pate, Katy Compton, many Olympians (the Olympic training centre is there). That was extraordinary. Hung on until 3km to go. Fulllll gaaaaassss!

[@gcn]

Oooof! Sounds like an epic ride 💨

[@destinyrose4596]

As an AZ native I am absolutely excited to see you guys have a blast visiting our neck of the woods

[@leerobinson732]

Thanks for the video guys great to see these local rides

[@njmoddjobs]

Ollie is now just a beast. Well done mate. Hank yes you’re a beast too. I know I would have been playing left-back at the changing rooms.

[@bobstephenson8747]

Great stuff, genuinely lolled at Hank’s Tom Hardy!😂

[@gcn]

Don't encourage him 😉

[@questgivercyradis8462]

I was laughing at Ollie's face, while looking at Hank's impressions!

[@TheConfusedCyclist]

Nice meeting all of you come back again!

[@papaduck1000]

Great Hardy impression Hank - will done intro to the vid

[@pizzadog50]

Hank showing some road rash ! Hank is no poser! Fun video

[@sixty2612]

Very fun to see friends in this video. I don’t do this ride cause I’m not fast enough and don’t have a road bike, but the route is a classic for anyone here.

[@quatrevelo]

Thank you GCN for all the original content and great cast, I am fully addicted to your channel !

[@wcubbin]

Nice to see a really positive side of road cycling in the US. A lot of stuff in my feed presents the USA as a car-centric nightmare. Also love the fact that amateurs can regularly ride with world tour pros.

[@zedzded]

For my money the Tuesday Shootout is a LOT harder than the Saturday one anyway, because it's got some decent little hills in it, whereas the Saturday one is just a huge group storming down an almost level road. If you know pack tactics and you can sprint at the end, you can win the Saturday Shootout and still not be in tip top shape, IMHO.

[@rtj6874]

Thank you for spending so much time in my beloved hometown. I raced in HS and college there before I got to sick too race and fondly remember the group rides. I was racing at the same time as Greg LeMond and remember when he raced El Tour de Bisbee though I think it has changed its name to El Tour De Zona. I loved your vids on El Tour de Tucson and the ride up Mt. Lemon. So many fond memories.

[@jrcollings]

Excellent, fun video guys. Great to see you two out working it and having fun. I live in Phoenix area, but can get down to Tucson pretty easily.. but there's NO WAY I could get past the first ten seconds in that group.. Thanks for taking us along for the ride! :)

[@gcn]

It was a tough ride! We would recommend giving it a go though... no wasted time on the bike 🙌

[@remsteraz]

The Saturday Shootout has slightly slower groups departing 15 minutes before the main group, and another 15 minute before that too.

[@sabastanknight6168]

Its great to see the boys on this side of the pond!!! Been a fan for years and will be for years to come

[@celestialmachine]

Many years ago, on my Trek 1000 with down-tube shifters, I used to tag onto the main when they left after "the old man" if I got dropped. Making it back to town with those monsters was always the most accomplishing feeling. I still remember grinding away and someone yelling at me "stop swaying, pedal with purpose" and that shit stuck.

[@robertreyes5036]

I did this ride before several times. Best I did was I got dropped at the base of gates pass. I was proud to keep up that far that day. Great memories of Tucson 😢 thank you so much guys. I live in Phoenix now and the riding just isn’t the same here

[@Kimberlietriracer25]

Like the antelope and the cheetah. Hank is clearly faster and can corral Ollie in "short" sprints and Ollie can break out of the stall if he just keeps pushing. A great team. I think if Hank did endurance training, he would kill it. He'd be the shot in the dark. The results would revolve(r). The hardest ride I have ever ridden was my first set of hill repeats, the first time back on a bike.

[@JFomo]

Good to see that rim brake bikes are still fast.

[@jacksonmah90]

They will never not be!

[@alpsalish]

Stil running rim brakes myself. They are superior.

[@gcn]

As fast as ever- you tend to go fast if you can't brake 😉

[@rlm4471]

​​​​​@alpsalish Rim brakes are great if you mostly ride on dry, flat roads. The further you get from that, the more advantageous disc brakes become. Rim brakes can be terrible on wet carbon rims, and overheating a carbon braking surface on a long, steep descent can cause catastrophic failure.

[@alpsalish]

@@gcn they're brakes though. What do you mean, can't brake?

[@Fennefar]

I think there is 1.000s of group rides like this one aroundthe world 😃 Only in my small Danish city we have pros, zwift KOM holders and A-riders sprinting through wet, wind and hills. 😮

[@yokaidigital3033]

I love Arizona, I moved here years ago for the dry climate. I’ve never done that run though I am sure I would get dropped in the first minute though. I can tell most of them were much younger and were pro level. I’m an amateur.

[@gcn]

Join the ride! Even if you get dropped it's worth it 🙌

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Ooh, bonus episode from Hank and Ollie’s US trip.

[@gcn]

We just can't help it... we had so much fun there 🇺🇸

[@TnFruit]

Love this stuff! Plz visit more group rides. 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@gcn]

Where should we send them next? 👀

[@TnFruit]

@@gcn maybe France, Italy, Portugal, some what is not often seen. Or eastern Europe.

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Absolute class video - both in terms of riding and Hank's acting. We need more Hank cameos at the start of GCN videos.

[@gcn]

Hahahah who should he be acting as next? 👀

[@thomasjerieff]

You really shoud try "onder the brök" near Maastricht Netherlands, famous by riders like, Tom Dumoulin, Tom Boonen, Jasper Stuiven, Avg around 44kmph on Saturday morning.

[@gcn]

Ooooo say no more! ✈

[@emilycarroll2250]

Love seeing Tucson featured on here!! It's truly the best place to live as a cyclist and triathlete :D

[@amir_mtb]

Loved the vibe, that's what cycling is all about!

[@BobMcKerrell]

Did the Shootout back in the day. I made it to the mailboxes before getting shelled and that was that. 😂. Tucson is awesome🚴👍

[@gcn]

Hahahah we feel you! It's one tough groupride 🥵

[@Velodan1]

The T-Town Derby is a famous 30 mile East Coast ride. Used to go off 2xs a week when I rode it in the 1990s. Though the race back to the velodrome ( Valley Preferred ) was only 14 miles, it had two shallow hills and motor paced by local and visiting pros and coaches. I often remember groups of 40 and as high as 80 participating and it always split up. The front group recording average speeds of 27-29 mph. It was always smoking and tons of fun. 🤩

[@Natuh21]

Best pair, Hank is an animal! Olie is like a real Pro 😱. Wish you could get an electric bike without speed limit to try if an avg person could ride with those crazy fast riders.

[@gcn]

Hahahaha that would be a fun test! The Motor bike just about held on in there 🤯

[@anthonyglennmenor2738]

I was in Tucson, AZ for a couple of months. Then I moved to upstate NY. I never thought I'd miss it until I watched this. 😭

[@richardwallace133]

Belonging to a racing club in 1970 Columbus Ohio , club races twice a week with a long club ride on Saturday was all I could do after commuting to my full time job . I still loved it but my results were less than stellar.

[@brianrichards350]

TOSEO should have continued.

[@iDarkXY]

my two fav gcn host in one video

[@gcn]

You'll love this one then 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmq8oKaqi753apI

[@JSC131]

Brilliant content Ollie and Hank awesome effort lads bravo GCN.

[@Garybaxter1]

well done chaps! The toughest ride for me was my only 100 miler with a friend... Ipswich to Lowestoft and back via Southwold...

[@gcn]

100 miles is hard work 👀 Nice ride 🙌

[@staff0flag]

If you like training at altitude, visit Northern Arizona in the spring and summer. Cool temps, highest point in AZ is the local ski area.

[@MrBootgrab]

Looks awesome...in the outskirts of Los Angeles..in Santa Fe springs..there once existed a training ride..100 laps....0.4 of a mile..you learned how to corner at high speeds ..I loved it. Tucson AZ is likely where id retire..and ride!!

[@roadracermark7946]

Nice one Ollie. Everyone's welcome to try the UK's hardest group ride it starts in Tickhill in Doncaster, 13.30 every Saturday heads out towards Retford and back towards Blyth. See you next Saturday Ollie you can get dropped with me 😂.

[@gcn]

Ollie doesn't get dropped anymore we're afraid 😉

[@GCNuser123]

First did that ride about 15 years ago!

[@SkylarsRnD]

Loving all the Tucson coverage!!!! I live just a few hours north in Glendale and will be riding El Tour this year! My wife was born n raised in Tucson :)

[@derronstravels21]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Made me reminisce about racing up Gates Pass in the 2005 Tucson Bicycle Classic.

[@kwachuone]

I only watched 1min 20sec of this movie, and already THUMBS UP for Hanks impression of Tom Hardy :D WOW!!!

[@gcn]

We hope you watched the remaining 10 minutes, it only gets better 👀

[@rmiller8832]

Nice to see our buddy Joey Iulliano driving the pain train. 🚂🐸. I think a Toad training camp should be in future. Would like GCN to showcase Collegiate Cycling in USA. Team racing ROCKS.

[@GrumpyOldMan70]

I love that you called out Virgin Atlantic! Well done on the ride fellas and that was a fine imitation of Tom Hardy.

[@onebigtentdweller9603]

I'm happy to see that Hank and Ollie got to fully explore the Tucson cycling experience.

[@ashleybrownau]

Boxing Day Pappas in Perth with the local Aussie pros and elite locals… A ‘bunch ride’ that has spectators lining the streets to watch Sam Welsford, Jay Vine, Luke Durbridge and other hometown pro’s smash each other, the day after Christmas. You guys need to come down and film it!

[@jessetoiber8061]

Thanks for showcasing the beauty of Tucson's cycling community! Presta coffee is fantastic, but I'd correct you and say those donuts were from La Estrella Bakery.

[@gt5087]

love this episode, should do more of this!

[@TheChez1230]

Really enjoyed this video as I enjoy the challenge videos. Great job boys!🎉

[@songofyesterday]

I like that Hank is such a contrast. Energy!

[@gcn]

He always bring the energy! 👌

[@lookpro.rideslow]

Hank’s impression of Tom Hardy was ridiculously good! Great video

[@chrisdunn8215]

NICE Tom Hardy impression Hank 😅😅😅

[@gcn]

yeah, not quite a SuperNice 😂

[@artiegorash]

Hank I agree. Those are classic lines. It has me rolling every time watch that movie or see the clip in a reel. Come ride in Alaska and we can have a shoot out! Haha 😂

[@gcn]

Lots of Tom Hardy fans on GCN 😆

[@sharonleetan]

Always enjoyed the GCN channel - it’s professional with solid contents. Can’t say the same for this episode though, the swearing for the sake of jokes was not pleasing and bring down the standards of the channel and the sport as a whole.

[@lookinforanick]

Can't wait to see the bloopers from this episode.

[@gcn]

You better get subscribed an keep your eyes open for the next bloopers

[@michaelroe6007]

Beginners ride. Hardest group ride is in Perth. Papa's Boxing Day Ride. Jai Hindley, Ben O'Connor, Sam Welsford. Ride till you drop.

[@gcn]

sounds like fighting talk 👀

[@petercarparelli]

Ollie to the camera: "Jesus" ..."Kill me now" HILARIOUS

[@stephenmcpherson1632]

I spend the winter in Tucson. Shootout is way to fast for me but I see it every Saturday as my usual ride is the same road but opposite direction. Local pro here told me "if you can't hold 350 watts for 3 hours don't show up!".

[@durianriders]

Looks like a great circuit. Tuscon is great for cycling BUT the bunch rides are not as hard as in Adelaide. IYKYK. PS: Hank should see the same bike fitter Ollie has. Hank seat height is too high and he cant drop his heels enough to sustain power.

[@gcn]

sounds like we need to visit Adelaide again, and send Alex out with the bunch 👍

[@tribalypredisposed]

It is awesome, wish I was fast enough to ride it again, but 56 now...back in the day there were some reservation dogs that would come after stragglers who got dropped, so you really needed to hang on. Another time, that rattle snake on the road wasn't dead, just warming itself...I can still hear the ping a striking rattler makes when it hits the spokes of a wheel.

[@gcn]

Wow rattle snakes mid ride that's pretty epic! Don't let age become a barrier, this video should help 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXTJopqkm9SJjbs

[@budlacombe]

You need to go do Gainey Thursday - Adero edition in Scottsdale, AZ

[@johnflynn4923]

Would be great to see Hank and Ollie give the 55 Endurance (misnomer) ride a shot on Saturday mornings in Chiang Mai. Then in the afternoon they could go and give Doi Inthanon a shot too just for sport!

[@madyogi6164]

Definitely great event to take part in! 👍

[@JohnAzzi430]

Come to NYC in the spring and do Weis laps. We average 27+ mph Hardest group ride in the northeast, right in the middle of Brooklyn.

[@dollabillwill415]

competitive group rides make for some of the best content

[@jameslee-pevenhull5087]

Lots of clubs have a 'Midweek Bash'. Above racing speeds for 50 miles or so. My toughest ride? Donnington Park motor racing circuit evening bash. 1994. Best of the Midlands TT riders on road bikes. It was all for charity. :-)

[@gcn]

Sounds like a tough ride 💨

[@DDGB08]

Excellent effort and content

[@gcn]

Thanks!

[@TheSmasher8000]

You've got to do the boxing day riverloop in Perth!

[@NWakeford]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKDZnKd3p85gpq8si=dFYrk5ua5PJAdmbM

[@gcn]

*Books flight ✈

[@Mavrik-60]

Welcome to my back yard. So a bike is your weapon is it. Like i said welcome to my back yard. May the best man win Keepemcoming

[@potenzaintertradeco.ltd.6970]

This video has given me more spiritual power to push even harder on the local evening group ride. 😂Zwift on real life.

[@becmango]

This Tucson content is solid.

[@mstrasser]

Looks so fun. Would love to do that once. Also, would love data overlays when you cut to on-bike GoPro footage a la many of the US Crit race breakdown channels on YT. Would add an extra dimension to the videos

[@gcn]

Ooo great idea! Maybe we can start putting power data into our videos?

[@mstrasser]

@@gcn that would be awesome (HR too - you know we want both! 😄)

[@jasonself9043]

Now you just need to do the Boxing Day Papas ride here in Perth/Fremantle, western Australia, fastest group ride in the world its said. Our local Pros get into it, and its insane!

[@gcn]

You're not the first to suggest this one 👀 Might have to take a Christmas trip down under 🦘

[@nathantoney.1501]

A good series would be to do all the fastest group rides in the country: Orange County California, LA County California (more than one group ride/race). San Diego (North county), Many more

[@csiebester]

You guys should ride up Pikes Peak in CO. In 19 miles (from Cascade) there is 7000 ft of elevation change, and it's all at altitude.

[@davidsaltwell1995]

Enjoying zone 2 ish on the indoor trainer whilst recovering from collarbone fracture!

[@donreed5074]

A shootout is a shootout, what's that? A rolling pin? What you gonna do? Bake me a cake?!! Love it!

[@sadlfjasdfacv]

There are faster group rides in LA, (Nicholas, the now ride, NPR), but what's crazy is the Tucson is so small.

[@martindoyle5505]

Looked like a blast. If we done that on the roads where I live there'd be lads travelling home in body bags.

[@tommytp85]

Hanks Legend impression...Epic

[@lifeisabeautifulride]

Come back to Tucson again and bring Manon and Heather!!! ❤️🌵❤️🌵❤️🌵

[@gcn]

We would love to 🙌

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

BTW, I ride with Sean on Fridays. He's a great person and he won the 2022 El Tour de Tucson. Also, I met Hank and Oillie at the Mercado San Augustin. It's the refuel point for both the Tuesday and Saturday rides.

[@gcn]

Thanks for saying hi to the team 🙌 We love meeting the GCN community - Have you ridden the shootout?

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

@@gcn The Old Man and Old-Old Man are more my style. Road the original and didn't make it to Los Reales without getting dropped!

[@uknowbass]

We have a Tuesday Night Worlds in Katy Texas starting in late May. Super flat, about 25 miles, and will average 25 mph with a lot of 30+ mph action, cross winds, and wicked corners.

[@gcn]

Yes please! That sounds epic 👌

[@habana6595]

We have probably one of the fastest group ride in France at Longchamp in Paris, it’s called the « Fast Pack ». It can reach 48 km/h average speed and 60 km/h top speed.

[@gcn]

Oooof! That sounds brutal, should we come along? 🇫🇷

[@habana6595]

@@gcn Please come !

[@jjjensen9493]

Bend Oregon had two group rides in the week that were pretty good. Haven’t done them in a while.

[@timsavre2923]

You guys gotta come back and do the actual Saturday Shootout, very different from the Tuesday ride