Phils Gaimon's "Worst Retirement Ever" - Mt. Evans Hillclimb

Phil takes on the legendary Mt. Evans Hillclimb, with some help from his friends.
Cannondale, Mavic, Castelli, Chamois Buttr, Velofix, Clif, ISM, Arundel, New Balance, Oakley, The Feed, Wahoo, and Orucase all helped Phil get to the bottom of the climb. He'll have to get himself to the top.
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To learn the full story of his racing career and why it's over, preorder "Draft Animals," out now wherever you get books! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/553064/draft-animals-by-phil-gaimon/9780143131243/
Want to ride with Phil? His cookie Fondo will be here before you know it: www.philsfondo....
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Phil's personal website: philthethrill.net/
Sponsors:
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Cannondale: www.cannondale.com
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VeloFix: www.velofix.com/
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Thanks to my friends at Appettite 4 Adventure Media: www.appetite4ad...
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[@stianmaurstad]

Even though there is a lot of joking around and hilarious humor (love it!), you manage to get through a lot of honesty. Just straight out joy and disappointment with no polished bullshit. I love that! Makes it real. Keep doing this Phil. You´re representing a category of bikers which is most likely where we all are (don´t get me wrong, we know you´re one of the fastest climbers in the world). But, let´s face it, there´s like 250 riders in the Tour, then there´s the rest of us.... And telling that story with humor and honesty, is something we all can relate to (it will never go out of fashion). Great work, bing extra tyres next time ;-)

[@christopherpeltzer2155]

Phil Gaimon is a Cat 5 in cross... This conjures ideas for a pretty fun video of Phil lapping people to me.

[@JoeMinock]

YES... But in a Cookie Monster outfit.

[@ΘάνατοςΧορτοφάγος]

Chris Peltzer SSCXWC!

[@mfnbpwnz]

If Stan Nice was allowed to race SSCXWC there's no reason Paul Garmin can't.

[@samvickery3116]

dude cant jump a crack in the road so probably deserves to be a cat 5 in cross.

[@baranray]

I'm an old (very old) former competitive swimmer, and man, your point about getting beat by someone better, etc. is something you can (sort of) live with, but if for whatever reason you show up ready to go through whatever pain is necessary to see what you're capable of, and something outside of your control issues a death zap on your effort, it aches. And it keeps aching until you get another shot.

[@garyosullivan5759]

I love how sensibly you respond to setbacks. Gent!

[@BikeBodyMind]

microwaving a cookie on a towel... I appreciate your perseverance

[@youriverstraete4986]

Never thought I would see my hometown Izegem in a Phil G. clip. Epic!

[@bicyclerider3978]

Alex's Sagan jab... Subtle.. But sharp. At least you didn't throw your bike.

[@estebangonzalez6877]

Don't matter if you Kom or not. So cool to see another side to cycling. The guest pro riders was also cool to see.

[@briancarlson1798]

Best episode yet! Omg, awesome. Well, at least the first few minutes.

[@Pratalax]

Best episode! So cool that all those people came along. Almost felt gutted until Howes came along and started taking the piss. Sometimes a good ribbing is what you need to lift the mood, even when you're the butt of the joke. Do keep making these!!

[@mcanix]

Should come over to the UK for hill climb season, no drops needed and you wouldn't have to add weight back to the Cannondale at all

[@philmorgan9784]

Would love to see that, but I reckon the UK climbs are too short for his strengths.

[@michaelfield3668]

Hard knock pass? Could be a shout.

[@fenceyhen4249]

A UK hill climb is just biking up a piece of plywood someone leaned up against the local public house

[@chriserhard8724]

Sagan would jump it!!!! HaHaHaHa

[@1983phoenix]

Came here to write the same thing!

[@mikexkennedy]

Would've slapped his own ass doing it too!

[@wrxzboost]

i love how real these life or death record attempts are!!!!

[@TheYellowCarGuy]

Phil you should really do a daily or semi daily vlog. You seem to have plenty of going on to make them interesting. I think it would really catch on and get you a much bigger following on youtube. Love the videos, keep it up!

[@hedleykerr3564]

Finished reading your book Draft Animals fantastic book! I get the feeling that the frustration you had in the final years of racing and not getting the chance to do a Grand Tour your feeling some of that today! Either way you always make a very entertaining video, nothing to be ashamed of that's for sure Phil! Thanks again for some great entertainment and hard work!

[@benwolf8011]

Nooooooo!!! You were so close Phil! Keep the good content coming! You're videos are the best!

[@njh451]

Right in the feels. Damn punctures :(

[@jazzguitarjackson]

I loved this episode! It was heartbreaking but I really hope there is a next year! This is too much fun...

[@hedleykerr3564]

It shows your human Phil, something to shoot for next year! Even though you double flatted you still made a great day of it! Thanks for all the great video's Phil!

[@lirrtrainwreck]

I think because you were so good about it. I felt even worse for you, especially because you’re just trying to give us some good content and I appreciate the video.

[@billbill2032]

On my ride today I yelled at a pot hole for Phil!!!

[@WARnTEA]

Are there any mountain bike climbs phil can take a crack at? That'd be fun to watch.

[@laurelrunlaurelrun]

Even Sagan flatted out of the Olympic MTB race

[@michaltoman2805]

And Paris-Roubaix

[@proffate]

are you comparing going up a paved road to going down a bunch of rocks?

[@FreekaPista]

proffate - I mean Phil did puncture going downhill over a bunch of rocks

[@Iccemann8]

That’s crazy!! My first attempt climbing this mtn a few years ago my derailer broke at the same spot.

[@Iccemann8]

Still waiting to go back and conquer. Especially cus I mentor kids and we took them to do the climb and some did and they have that over me 😂😂

[@jongoerke8983]

So awesome, so brutal, I appreciate your supreme effort and the tragic disappointment. Thank you for posting.

[@jonathanpass8175]

Dear Phil, Please create a Cool Kids Racing Club w/apparel/team kits (for sale). also, the collab w/Haga, Howes, et al is a awesome! I wish you could go live spring training camps for us civilians with commentary. It would be cool to see what 4-500mi weeks look like, and the grind of what it's like to get ready for a season.

[@paulkaump8784]

Shift part of the blame to Alex...nicely played, sir. As an aside, couldn't you stay over another day or two and hit some of the other KOMs in the area...maybe give Flagstaff another run?

[@nickhumby7601]

These just keep getting better :)

[@DrewMuldowney]

Man, that sucks for you but this was a great video. Thanks for making it, dude.

[@pablocastanon9641]

Phil is sponsored by Mavic but has no extra wheels.

[@pahouseholder]

True. Magic should've FedEx'ed some to his hotel with the cookie on a towel.

[@TurneyUK]

Great fun little vlog 👏 it’s great to see a little team of pro and ex-pros working together, top work. As you said it was just unfortunate that you had rental car issues so you couldn’t recce the course first or you’d have been aware of the dire road surface. Just needs one little thing to go wrong to have a big knock on effect. Still great effort overall.

[@Freakysantana]

Unlucky Phil, having that lead out train for the attempt was amazing. next time you'll nail it!

[@maikelion]

Funny to see the vending machine pop up, even we in the region find it a bit weird. You can get a full crate of beer out of the wall as well

[@patrickstoddard6610]

Did this climb and Pikes Peak on back-to-back days for my 40th birthday challenge after "training" in the flat lands of Texas. You flatted out just when it starts to get nasty. The last few miles are tough for sure and those cracks in the road that run perpendicular are annoying.

[@anthonygarvey1]

Another awesome episode!

[@burgershot]

Sat watching and literally just laughed out loud at the 'cool kids' bit ! Too funny!

[@Ed-ip2sg]

Tom d used a disk wheel also. Had a perfect day. Plus he used some other helpful stuff :)

[@brendavane9148]

Really looking forward to your Taiwan KOM video. You pep talk to the GCN guys must have been pretty good because they went pretty well. You would have been pleased with your result.

[@cmcclo1]

Phil, it's impossible not to see that.

[@markshumaker928]

You should try for the Haleakala KOM in Maui. It's the longest climb in the world.

[@misanthropickat6167]

And the gradient is insane! I lived on that mountain for three years... also beware that the cars don't like to share the road there.

[@rydermoran3724]

such a great video! thank you

[@patrickmeyer556]

Good luck next time. Heads up! Being a former pro I know you know how to handle those kind of situations well.

[@KrunkmasterP42]

Keep Keepin it real Phil!

[@estelja]

Phil, do you have any footage of your Pikes Peak KOM? That would be a great episode.

[@garybonham6048]

Such an awesome team!!! And Castelli is awesome kit by the way. Shame Cannondale isn't US anymore....

[@garybonham6048]

Epic support from great American pros!!!!

[@Aholeintheozone]

I'm hoping to do this soon!

[@brendavane9148]

PHIL, when are we going to see your Taiwan climb?

[@cmfall1986]

I genuinely think we need to see a worst retirement ever cat 5 cross race episode. That would make my day.

[@peterdieleman303]

Whaha, wtf: Zeeuwse mossels in a vending machine. Appreciate you including the banter. Tough luck on the flats.

[@beauscrate]

That sucks! What a rough road, reminds me of the top of Guardsmen pass in Utah (the cobbles of Utah) Speaking of that...are you scheduled to ride base of park city to Guardsmen?

[@samsanders3150]

I road that a few weeks ago and was super agitated

[@raymundogonzalez4963]

man i wish i would of been there when you were there!!! i did this climb a year and a month before this.

[@fsquared64]

You so cannot blame Howes for anything. That guy is hilarious!

[@TWSUF-JI]

Another awesome effort and video!. Head over to Boise and do Bogus Basin.

[@KidFury27]

"If you know what I mean." Damn I love that 4th wall breaking from a pro perspective.

[@Psyk078]

Not just any cool kid, you're the cool kids leader! \m/

[@bscjake]

You'd think for an event as big as that they would have enough time and local support to patch something that big on a downhill where hundreds of people are going to be going over at race speed...

[@dandawson8128]

bscjake - no kidding. Seems a bit too obvious, if even Alex Howes told him about it, seems it was common knowledge. Also, what’s rule #1 of a group ride? Be self sufficient. Plan ahead, and have tools for a flat. If the small bag on my bike is too heavy for his underweight bike, he could have given it to his motorcycle or car support. For a big bad pro, kind of a rookie mistake. Cool dude and great footage, but a surprising bummer that a flat was too much to be overcome.

[@philadams9254]

I don't see the Tom Danielson time on Strava?

[@murdockcrc]

Wtf is wrong with the US road infrastructure??? That trench in the middle of the road! Ridiculous. Great vid. Keep posting.

[@spooger27]

Good effort Phil gutted for ya that really sucked good luck with the next one.

[@CasperLCat]

Hi Phil and ilk of Phil: Do you ever put on heavier duty tires and or tubes for races on broken pavement, gravel etc., or is that an Unthinkable Sin against the God of Weight Minimization ?

[@markm7777]

What's the film that was mentioned?

[@jbaillie]

Amazing how you climb just as fast with the brakes and handlebars intact...

[@StGlaciers]

slow-mo geek squad, i'd fit right in

[@timroden6617]

Have Chad in this video. Great. Winner of the Finale of Giro d'talia 2019

[@jwdicken1]

That short section where you flatted comes at you quickly. Lots of shit road there to take you out of your rhythm between the steep sections. The weather is a huge factor too. It can easily be too cold, windy and/or stormy up there at 14,000ft plus. Surprised to not hear it mentioned that it’s the steepest paved road in North America. All those little cracks going up? Well coming down is absolutely harrowing. I’ll never forget that joy-filled terror.

[@johnbagofdoughnuts9610]

What was the date of this event?

[@panostziotakis3450]

Grand tour podcasts Phil.that you should do.and Monuments podcasts.Roubaix,San Remo etc...with guests.

[@vivekrbs]

Alexi Grewal has some amazing numbers up Mt Evans. This was in the 80's with inferior bikes

[@pahouseholder]

Of course, we want to know when you are going back with no number to try it again?!

[@thatsnogood]

Phil. Evans is closed to cars all season. You should give it another go this year.

[@taniay.8361]

That hotel towel had seen a lot of stuff before cokie came !

[@mattmctour]

Phil- someone on your team needed to fill that meter wide dry creek bed across the road with cookies so it would have been in your radar. Not your fault!

[@cothealiv780]

Literally passed you going the other way seconds before you flatted lol. I saw you and your car and did a double take.

[@cycleforgreatergood8005]

Two bottle cages?!?! So you're one of THOSE guys now?

[@darraghmcb]

Chad Haga is a f**cking legend!

[@cerberus1981]

Roads like that are the reason I built up a rigid 26er with fat slicks as a secondary bike. Better luck next time

[@jwdicken1]

cerberus1981 it’s just one short segment at the base of the final few thousand feet. But it will sneak up on you. Lots of shit road there to take you out of your rhythm between steep sections. The weather is a huge factor too. It can easily be too cold, windy and/or stormy up there at 14,000ft plus. Surprised to not hear it mentioned that it’s the steepest paced road in North America. Let’s just say the air is quite thin.

[@jwdicken1]

The steepest paved road, not paced.

[@Sprint42nd]

I fuckin love Alex! Damit Phil...

[@drasztikus]

Still a legend

[@Ew-pc5pk]

Phil Gaimon's "Worst duvet cover ever"

[@mdx9286]

If it wasn't for the mountains in the distance, I would have sworn you were riding in Chicago.. FML!!!

[@pjr7613]

At least you KOM'ed the juniors' course

[@felix-xo8oi]

how did your bike fixing sponsor not have extra wheels for you?

[@conorverbruggen5133]

Next 2 series: Phil's Journey to Cat 1 CX/XC

[@jeremiahbishopswheelhouse]

Oh NO!! ;o Dang, Sagan would have jumped it. Good episode!

[@mr.gewehr9862]

This had a very funny ending 🤣

[@JP-om3ou]

"I'm not that good I can tom dumoulin in the woods" 11:01

[@AB-fh9zh]

Went hunting for this comment, not dissapointed.

[@Incaensio]

Howes >.

[@codywschroeder]

Is Chad Haga the next American hope for the tour? If not, who?

[@FrekeOne]

why not use an aero helmet and save some watts? Like the Specialised Evade?

[@JS-tb9hu]

Good question

[@rserton]

Tom Danielson at his 'peak'...if you know what I mean. Yup.

[@lardogbeck]

Hey, it could have been worse. I crashed on my way down after I finished in 2012 and got to spend an extra 4 days in CO in ICU.

[@WmCRobison]

Ah dude, that sucks. What a bad break.

[@montgomeryseaman7022]

Bruh you ever had a Cookie from Chic-Fil-A??? changed my life

[@thierrybudts6687]

Brutal now i need a cookie,greetz

[@GerardHogan]

I love grumpy Phil

[@garyives1218]

and c'mon ,c'mon great tunes too....bless you

[@mindciller]

Nice work my man. Keep retired as long as you can

[@dr10501]

Complain to the transport agency about the lack of maintenance done on the roads!!

[@KetzalSterling]

This is literally an ad for tubeless tires. You're retired Phil, this means you no longer need to run tubs. Try modern tubeless for your serious filmed efforts. It's simply not worth the huge effort and cost to risk flatting. I switched to Schwalbe Pro One tires and have never had a unrideable flat since. With the correct sealant, Orange Sealant for example, it's an absolute game changer.

[@jacksonjxnatti596]

Ketzal Sterling well aren't you special

[@woolfel]

Lol, slow motion with blues. I'm laughing sooo hard.