Is This The Year The Bike Industry Bounces Back? | GCN Show Ep. 625

[@johnlocher1667]

Thanks!

[@gcn]

Wow! we really appreciate it, thank you

[@Acousticmarine678]

Dan, Simon, you guys are the reason GCN is still up and running. People enjoy listening to you guys talk cycling, health, fitness and making fun of each other. Matt was also a joy to watch and listen to, but he went on to greener pastures? Thanks to the whole GCN crew for another year of entertaining content on what sometimes can be a rather boring sport but a gem of an activity for most of us.

[@whatsdougupto]

Thanks Simon and Dan! I can’t agree more you guys are the reason this channel is successful! And the people who you guys have brought to the channel. Love Connor, Alex, Hank, Ollie!

[@carlyuen4360]

True That.

[@MikeDuckett1]

Couldn’t agree more. I just can’t decide if you’re the Ant and Dec of cycling or the Wallace and Gromit! Keep up the good work.

[@ridercalledryder]

As a long time viewer of the channel and a cyclist from China, I would say that it's not just the high end models that sells really well. Everyone seems to be getting involved in cycling nowadays. And I'm more than happy to see that!

[@gcn]

That's great to hear! Dan

[@cb6866]

Thank you to the entire GCN crew , I greatly appreciate your channel for many reasons . The education , as I am a new/OAF cyclist , and the humor , as well as the places you show me , with the people connected . Thanks again , please continue .

[@cruachan1191]

Thanks all at GCN. Took up cycling last year around March after a running injury. Aged 47 now just completed Festive 500. All the videos on nutrition and training and clothing have been a big help, plus the maintenance vids here and on the Tech channel and also the training channel vids. If I can do 500km in a week then surely Dan as an ex pro can manage London to Manchester. 😂

[@scottbrown173]

Congratulations to GCN on another great year. Dan's journey back to fitness has inspired me to try to get back to improving my fitness. As my 48th year comes ever closer, I have been inspired to get back on my bike more consistently and pay attention to my metrics in a way that I haven't done for more than 15 years. Cheers to GCN!

[@Nehpets1701G]

I'm all for the industry bouncing back, as long as the prices of entry and low mid level bikes come down. They have been utterly ridiculous - compared to pre covid prices and adjusted for inflation.

[@dfargey]

The GCN Show has been a weekly highlight for me for the past decade and I have every confidence that it will continue to be so for the next decade and beyond. Well done, folks, and Happy New Year.

[@logtothebase2]

Without sacking anyone, you have a great team, you could do with more female lead content, maybe by collaboration with other influences and X pro riders, Otherwise you have a great formula, glad you survived what must have been difficult times.

[@anthonycox9635]

Totally agree. Some gender diversity much needed. Otherwise, absolutely love the channel.

[@mattwake7230]

GCN was a huge factor in buying a road bike before the pandemic. Watching Ollie on a gravel bike prompted me to buy one. This year I cycled it 2,500kms across Japan. I've also raised 10,000s for a childhood cancer charity from the saddle of my bike. Thanks GCN for turning me into this amazing sport.

[@mikes1976]

Love the Dan vs Si chemistry! More of you two next year, please.

[@lt-frankdrebin]

@gcn your output since being indy has been strength to strength. As a long time viewer (from a long time before, but still have my unused gcnclub #1 socks) the magic went somewhere when WB was involved. The recent videos feel like we're home. Well done all. Looking forward to 2025!

[@declanbroderick4453]

How about a bike Olymipcs. Several pratical challenges. Who can change a tyre faster, index a 105 mechanical griupset, replace a chain. Clean your bike after a ride.... Commute in different cities. Maybe a winter commute in Canada, or Scandinavia. A shopping trip with bikes to IKEA. Happy new year to all at GCN and thanks for all you have provided in 2024. :)

[@MggW]

16:37 Dan missing an opportunity to get Si to enter an Iron Man for £15k in charity donations.

[@J.Relford]

@@MggW SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

[@mommamooney]

Thank you GCN for another year of great content. You are the reason I am riding a bike. Looking forward to what you have to share in 2025

[@NeX1310]

I have to admit, I miss GCN+ for the brilliant content and endless racing, it was inspirational and a bargain. However I had the feeling that at the same time the GCN content felt mostly like ads, one after another. With redound freedom, it feels like you are producing a lot more of what you’d like to watch yourself than ever before. Keep it going!

[@carldowningphoto]

So is that £15,000 for Si to do a triathlon?!

[@SedriqMiers]

You could sell a teste ?

[@brianrichards350]

Oh yeah! Will all the stick Si has been dealing to Dan I would contribute!

[@wilkbrucec]

I was thinking the same thing. It seems only fair and Dan can mention it every week😂

[@ryangunnell9616]

Si and Dan, you guys never fail to crack me up! Thank you for all the great content and laughs. Here's to an epic 2025. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us all. Happy New Year!

[@Kenny17K]

Two videos: 1. Si (and other presenters as available) take Dan on his first endurance ride in prep for his charity ride; 2. Si doing a triathlon. It can even be a sprint.

[@gcn]

Do you think the bike industry will recover in 2025?📈

[@oplkfdhgk]

yes but only because of ebikes.

[@adamriley5943]

No

[@darkstar8098]

We are far away from a recover and all signs show more down. The ending of more brands like GT will be still a issue 2025. high end / high margin / limited stock - customs bikes will be still working this was never any issue. Huge bike brands will still struggle on low margin / low - mid end bikes also the e-bike market will be saturated at some point. We will still see high costs production places will be closed 2025 and outsorced to cheaper places. How the upcomming customs duties / war between China and US play into the supply chain / markes this will be a huge issue 2025 and how the bigger brands could play arround it / Taiwan etc.

[@DavidCraig-er6kq]

Doubtful. Bikes and parts still totally over inflated in pricing at RRP. UK definitely less loose change in everyone's pockets with Starmers Tax rises everywhere, so more people tightening their belts. Less bike manufacturers catering by making affordable/quality/reliable bikes at a sub £1000 price point that bring new cyclists into the market, so the overall market will continue to shrink. They are killing the cycle industry for years to come by not being strategic in that way.

[@1afterthep]

Bounce back from what? From ripping us off? I dgaf about the industry, bikes need to be more affordable.

[@Seppster58]

To all the presenters and staff at GCN, thanks for making this such a wonderful cycling year. Can't wait for 2025 and all the fun and informative videos to come!! Happy New Year.

[@gcn]

Happy new year!

[@petersylvester2905]

I miss Manon 😞

[@jonathancost4927]

I miss Emma P.

[@newttella1043]

I also miss Jeremy Powers. I miss Manon's, J-Pows, and Emma's smaller rider perspective.

[@DarenC]

It's very "white blokes' cycling network" at the moment

[@J.Relford]

I thought Manon was a fantastic presenter - but - she always sounded like she had a mouthful of sour candy when she talked. No, I will not elaborate.

[@bleckb]

I was thinking the same thing. Need a new woman in the lineup.

[@elroyaston6277]

When the races went away I wasn't sure how I felt about watching GCN but I have been pleasantly surprised at how many videos I've watched. I'm watching GCN much more than ever and I'm glad I stuck around. You guys are awesome.

[@brianclease5137]

Happy New Year! I have loved watching GCN all year! Dan's videos on his life changes, were very inspirational. All the best for 2025!

[@keithcar]

We need GCN retro! I love the throwback builds that Ollie and Alex did. I’d personally love to see more of that.

[@gcn]

That’s great content! Let’s see what we can do.

[@LittleTalksWithMyles]

Dan, as you push into your charity ride, and Si, I’m excited to see where your journey in gravel riding takes you next! I’m with you both in spirit as I work to get back into the “cycle” of pedaling myself. What you’re doing is truly inspiring, and I have to say, since you went independent again, the content feels more authentic-if that’s the right word. It has this grassroots vibe while still maintaining exceptional quality, which is no small feat. I’ve always enjoyed your work, but there’s something special about how it resonates now. That said, I do miss Manon; her presence added such a unique dynamic to the team. Oh, and as I say every year-one of these days, I’d absolutely love to see GCN at the Hotter’N Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls, Texas! Maybe 2025 could be the year? Here’s hoping!

[@AlisonAdventuring]

Happy new year to all at GCN! My wish for 2025 is that you do some more slow cycling videos (or release the back catalogue on the membership thing!) .. it would also be cool to see another female presenter (if Manon can’t come back, cos I really miss her presenting and insights). I loved Dans healthy series, really inspirational. Well done Dan on all your achievements. It will be cool to see Ollie’s new challenge- I’m sure he’s superhuman! Maybe we can see Hank cycling to and from more stately homes 😀 Si your gravel stuff was awesome.. and the carcentric vid, maybe you could try all the city hire bike schemes all over the UK and further afield, tying in with that carspiracy Can we get some more “first steps in..” following real folk? Ages ago there was a lovely one with a member of GCN team learning to ride on a Pinarello versus her own normal bike, that was great fun and good for entry level “normal” cyclists too Merry 2025

[@adamgriss2025]

Kudos to Dan for being a great sport. He’s been getting a ribbing for his fitness transformation which was a real accomplishment that he should be proud of and should be celebrated. 🎉

[@shaunmcnally7631]

For this year, I think everyone would like to see Hank and Marc Beaumont take on Unbound on a tandem bike.

[@yumyumhungry]

On the ultra record scene: One of the biggest ones was broken this year. Mike Hall's 2016 tour divide record was finally shattered by Justinas Leveka, who would have also won the bikepacking triple crown if not for a controversial DQ in the Colorado trail race.

[@blakegoodwin3591]

Going on 7, 8 years watching GCN. Could probably count on one hand the amount of episodes I’ve missed. We’re all thankful for what you guys are doing. 👌

[@gcn]

Thanks for sticking with us

[@lilbruin]

Thank you to all of you for the great content at GCN. I'm not your target demographic, but I enjoy the vids and find I always learn something (or am just straight-up entertained). Hope someday to see one (or all??) of the presenters ride in Canada? Winters are a bear, but we also have the Rockies. I'm sure you could find a challenge worth documenting.

[@sanktjohanser]

If I were to wish for one video from GCN in 2025, it would be Hank and Mark Beaumont finally riding the Trans Am together as a team. To this date, their film together was one of the best and one of the most heartbreaking. (Or maybe they could just do the Transcontinental and save the plane fare).

[@wick67]

Thanks to all of the GCN crew for what you do, and a very happy new year to you all. Dan, start prepping and do the ride no matter what. It would just be proper, wouldn't it?

[@gavinm717gkm]

You guys did a big job of motivating me to have my biggest and fastest year on the bike. Here’s to another year of rippin!

[@srenhornum5004]

You’ve done a lot of videos abroad, but none in Norway. Please come do something here as well. Maybe a full on winter commute challenge in the snow, or tackle the troll ladder, or Lysebotn Climb ❤

[@joetummon6490]

Happy new year Simon & Dan. Thank you for the entertaining and informative videos in 2024. Safe cycling to all in 2025.

[@tobiatkins87]

I’d love to see Dan doing a bit of bikepacking with Connor

[@lux-wattage]

I've been a long-time GCN viewer, and the GCN and GCN Tech shows are weekly highlights for me. It's clear you've stepped up a gear, and I'm really excited about all the content you have planned for 2025. I also appreciate that so many presenters have been with GCN for such a long time. It creates a stronger connection to the channel that I truly enjoy. That said, I really miss Manon, such a great personality, and her absence also means we now miss a female presenter... Wishing the entire GCN Team a healthy and successful 2025!

[@realvaughnfelix]

The bike industry shouldn't rely on cyclists buying bikes every couple years, they should also focus on getting ordinary people to start riding bikes, which will turn to enthusiasts,… I know that's not as sexy, but that's some bread and butter right there if you can tap into it

[@Andy_ATB]

Yes, absolutely!!!

[@mgpina]

Long time viewer here, not at a cyclist but thanks to you guys I finally bought my first road bike for my 40th birthday. It would be awesome to see more entry level videos

[@gcn]

Happy birthday! Enjoy that bike, and let us know if there's a specific topic you'd like to see in a video.

[@krehme]

I hope Dan can book some time with the local leisure cycling legends to at least get some quality time on the bike and find a happy place on the bike again.

[@D-Mode101]

Keep up the great content for 2025!

[@gcn]

That's so generous, thank you. Dan

[@zevrobins905]

I think Si sort of volunteered himself for a sprint triathlon in 2025: 400m swim, 10k bike, 2.5k run.

[@gcn]

Yeah, we hear him, sort of.

[@robincooney1263]

Thanks for GCN in 2024, the various themes are still the best online coverage of our sport. Racing News is my favourite. The industry will only recover if they expand their market demographic and start to cater for the many millions - including the majority of the people I know - that would love to get out on a bike but feel very much excluded. The bikes on offer are one of the main reasons. They don't want more tech - they simply want a bike with a gear range that they can pedal up a hill and that comes with lights and muguards designed as part of the bike - like cars or motorbikes. They certainly have the money, as the huge expansion in expensive eBikes shows.

[@sventice]

Glad the channel survived a pretty tough year; I'm sure there were a lot of stress and tears behind the scenes. Still enjoying the content and I hope it continues for a long time. (If you could bring back GCN+, though, that would be grand.)

[@rbonn3880]

Happy New Year, gents! GCN is always the light in my day...thanks for "bringing it" every day.

[@thunderheartwoman]

Watching this after my new year morning ride while drinking a green smoothie with banana 😆 Thank you GCN and happy new year!

[@darwindownhillers9270]

I’m stoked you guys are independent again but I loved the app when it came out. I’d love to see GCN and GMBN team up to produce something similar again. I’m not Much of roadie (my roots are mtb) I just love bikes though and that app really helped me get into and follow the road scene with its content and race updates.

[@ademkollari8992]

Can safely say, in my view, one of the best KZbin channels. I can't recall a video that I felt was boring, irrelevant, misleading or poorly produced and delivered. I love them all, but was particularly moved by Dan's back to fitness series (spoke to me on so many levels), Alex's and Ollie's 210km (seeing Alex persevere, as vulnerable as he felt), Connor introducing senior bikers, Si's endurance videos, Mannon attempting gravel qualifiers, Hank's dad helping him... So many. Always chuckle at slash forward slash bodge, so committed! I would appreciate a series about how a beginner cyclist could reasonably achieve some cycling goals (like riding 50-70km).

[@peterwadsworth581]

Jumping in to say thanks as well. I've been mountain biking pretty much since the start of it (mid 90s), but I've been really enjoying the road bike the last couple of years since I decided to do a triathlon. Your videos have helped me so much in understanding what the sport is really all about. You're all brilliant and I love watching you all... it is a bit of a white sausage fest at the moment though. You should probably do something about that! 😊

[@leissp1]

How much to raise to get Simon to do a triathlon? In Canada. After all all the hosts have had challenges thrown down! Happy New Year

[@gcn]

👀

[@tomimaanoja772]

One of my dearest wishes is still yet to come true. I would like to see Super-Hank doing a 50k-100k in freezing Scandinavian snow with his roadbike in roadbike gear and the next day do the same with proper winter gear and studded tyres. (Hank is the one you can abuse after all) Thanks for all the fun content and special thanks to Dan for making himself vulnerable and creating the best video series on GCN yet. MVP!🎉

[@gcn]

Actually, it doesn’t sound so far-fetched.

[@hennrysmustache]

Howdy! Let's see Conor Dunne ride across Ireland! I reached out to him in Jan about the idea and said he loved the idea. Everyone loves yall's epic rides!

[@JanneRasanen2]

First across then around 😅

[@MountainClimberZoom]

Thanks for a great year of quality shows. You guys greatly enrich my cycling experiences and keep me informed about important matters. Let's ride on through 2025!

[@stuartnathan1480]

Loved the carspiracy video! More like that would be really cool. More videos on "affordable" bikes £500-1000 and doing bikepacking on a budget

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

If you are looking for some foreign adventure video ideas for 2025 - Oman looks really interesting. Rouvy currently has 3 "desert" challenges . The Thibab gravel route and Sawaqim route seem quite appealing with only a little climbing or you could go for the hero routes - Jebel akhdar or Dar al Bayda both giving you around 1600m uphill

[@janeweller470]

Great to have Simon and Dan back!! A GREAT start to 2025😁

[@joncockburn2510]

Would be good to see you guys do more gravel rides around different parts of Britain, like Lake District,Yorkshire etc . Keep up the good work guys .

[@gcn]

we will see what we can do!

[@samuelpringer3204]

The bike industry did it to themselves with incredible price increases that they seemed to have thought they could get away with forever. New bicycles have become the toys of the rich, so customers are hard to find. Manufacturers who want to survive should try to find a way to sell quality products to the less affluent at an affordable price. That's where their prospective customers are today.

[@purklefluff]

Idea: giant community ride. schedule a huge road/gravel ride that runs the length of the country from northwest Scotland (where they do the highland trail race) down to the Jurassic coast and finishing in Brighton (good transport links to get home). Make it kind of a relay with pairs or groups of GCN staff tapping in and out. Publish the times, locations and participants ahead of time in a plan (so that joiners can book trains, B&Bs or camping spots ahead of time) then do live updates as you move down the country so that community members can join for sections of the ride, or as long as they want. Would be cool if it was for charity. If it was successful it would even make for a nice thing to do annually because nobody would have to necessarily commit to the entire distance

[@barry5138]

£250 rain jackets, 10k bikes, 500 helmets. Think I'll stick to the running

[@cilliankellycycling]

You only need one helmet really though to be fair

[@johnnoon9498]

Yep. Pricing people out of it ain't the way to make it grow

[@icanhazADHD]

I mean, $200+ shoes every couple months certainly adds up. Up-front, cycling is expensive, but I’ve found that the cost is spread over many many more miles than running gear. Although, as a participant in both sports, my wallet hurts more from event prices than anything else 😢

[@DJMSydney]

BRING BACK THE APP now that GCN is independent again!! The app allowed us to not merely be viewers of your content, but a true community of GCNer’s. The continued inability to interact via the app with riders from around the world results in GCN being incomplete…

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

The app was a product of the previous owners and takes a lot of resources to breath life into and keep alive. I would love for GCN to become able to consider reviving the app.

[@eduardostavale]

A huge thank you for you guys. Every week I cant wait to Watch new vídeos from gcn!

[@gcn]

Our pleasure!

[@davidmunro3188]

Thanks GCN for the amazing content and the passion you all bring. Love the videos, keep it going strong for 2025🎉

[@badodnk]

The new Goat and were all here for it next year. What a time to be alive.

[@marcuspartridge11]

GCN Video Idea! I've mentioned before that most of us viewers don't live in amazing cycling destinations. But we do love our local area! My idea is for GCN to pick an area (based on viewer submissions) and go on all the good local rides that would usually not be on GCN's radar. For example, I live in Banning, CA (no one's ever heard of it) but the cycling and the scenery here are great!

[@Cycleguy-s8q]

Happy New Year from Colorado USA🥳

[@recreativeco]

Would love a video about Si’s (and anyone with celiac) nutrition and fueling with celiac, maybe a bit of an exploration into that change and how it affected your cycling? (If it did at all) I am recently diagnosed celiac and I’m seeing some really wild changed in myself and my performance.

[@scottwilliammackay2564]

Great show guys. I love the content from all episodes and videos, presenter banter is great and I will certainly continue to watch in the new year.

[@dianahellman9254]

Have to say that I've noticed the step up in videos. Really have enjoyed following this year - looking forward to what 2025 brings!

[@gcn]

Great to hear!

[@nerigarcia7116]

7:20 I've done the opposite and instead of upgrading, I have sold off most of my modern bikes and went back to bikes I've loved in the past. Most of them fall around 2015-2019, carbon frames with rim brakes, both mechanical and electronic groupsets. My most modern disc brake bikes now are custom steel and titanium Speedvagens. 19:30 I used to have a Catlike Mixino helmet with the big hole vents and had a bee fly into one hole and sting my forehead. I no longer have that helmet.

[@jcwu1531]

Happy new year to y’all amazing people at GCN 🍺🎉

[@gregorysmedley8322]

Thanks

[@gcn]

That's very generous Gregory, thank you. Dan

[@AlanGeddes-w8p]

Happy New Year. 🎉🎉🎉

[@gcn]

Happy new year

[@Jon-cw8bb]

I have thoroughly enjoyed the content in 2024. Dan and the curly haired guy are great

[@dyzoly1335]

Hold the line! Love isn't always on time! This year I became a subscriber again!

[@Andy-5339]

Great work from GCN as usual. Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and successful new year. Chapeaux.

[@chadrob8345]

Thanks for all the content! Would be great to see you cover RAGBRAI!

[@thetechdog1951]

Soooo many highs and great moments, as well as great info mixed with humorous banter.. thanks! One, LOW though is Manon's departure. With the current all-male presenter lineup, my wife and I REALLY miss the female perspective and content!

[@andrewblakesley4202]

GCN putting a gloss on excessive greed. "Misjudged forecasts" does not really describe whats happened over the past 10 years. More expensive ✔️ New standards ✔️ Higher running costs ✔️ Reduced durability ✔️ Harder to home service ✔️ Reduced spares availability ✔️ We need brands to change their ethos and remember that we're not all chasing KOMs.

[@matthewabbott6263]

For me personally I have great faith the industry will thrive once again. In October 2022 I started a small bike shop with just one lesser known brand, fast forward just over two years I now have some of the worlds best and biggest bike brands on board and I’ve had to accelerate my five year plan to two and have just picked up the keys to a much bigger shop. I don’t think we’ve done anything radical just offering the best service and price we can and generally being nice. Oh and we have a really good coffee machine 😂

[@Jackrabbit49er]

I believe that the both of you would thoroughly enjoy RAGBRAI! #sionragbrai #dantoo #gcnonragbrai

[@marvmininger1835]

Happy New Year to all of you at GCN!

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

Happy New Year's. The bicycle industry is still experiencing issues and i still expect one or more brands to fail or be bailed out. One brand had that happen.

[@nalissa77]

Happy New Year to everyone at GCN!

[@paulworth70]

Ooh yes Simon, I had the wasp / bee caught in the helmet strap sting. Stayed out and finished the ride though so man up mate.

[@Aeronwor]

Now I really want to see Si do a triathlon.

[@jasongreen6886]

Would love to see a series about Dan’s training plan for the Ambitious About Autism Ride. I’m also signed up for the ride and just kicked off training. See you in June.

[@osm6435]

Pound notes still available in the Isle of Man. Not UK but British Isles. See your T shirt missing the island as well as Channel Islands. Happy New Year.

[@jonathanhowland42]

Spring 2024 I was on a local bike path here in San Antonio TX. I came across someone who got their first ever bicycle. They got the cheapest one at the local Trek store. I almost had a heart attack when I learned entry level bikes were 2K

[@emil_copenhagen]

Tak!

[@gcn]

Thanks very much Emil. Dan

[@StratoJohn]

Happy new year to everyone at GCN 🎉

[@gcn]

happy new year!

[@PhilR-b8]

excellent GCN. You guys are back to producing superb content. However can you please advise when the rest of the old GCN+ videos will be re released??

[@jongoerke8983]

Happy New Year 🎉

[@emil_copenhagen]

Regarding the fan-blow-dry-your-shirts... I used the exact same (I guess) sort of fan for four and a half years. A month and a half ago, during a Zwift ride, it kind of exploded. I heard a very loud boom, and only by coincidence and luck, none of the hundreds of pieces of the three petals rotating, now turned into moulding yet very sharp object flying across the room, hit me. I had used it to hang my (post-ride obviously sweat drenched) towel on, and it might - that's my guess, anyway - have coroded, giving under for the vast amounts of sweat dripping down into it. Or maybe it was just an old fan. Since I'm not an American, so noone is getting sued, though. I naturally finished my Zwift ride unaffected and cleaned up later.

[@pedro_8240]

7:55 depends on what you want. If you want high end, sure, but if you are fine with entry level, not really, and specially if you don't mind shopping around on AliExpress for some China Specials. You can get a carbon frame, carbon wheels and electronic groupset for a very reasonable price, if you care about not having a namebrand bike.

[@cheznay8088]

Transcontinental Race? 😀😂 Keep up the good work and keep those epic videos coming. Love you guys 😍

[@bubblesezblonde]

The GCN mission statement of "Let's try to unalive Son-of-Hank's-Dad" proved to be a good one. Kudos, but I worry for him. Really enjoyed the content since you regained independence.

[@garyjackson5448]

Dan “ an ‘uncle’ who wasn’t an uncle” starts a new ‘ Me Too’ for 2025