Road Rider Vs Cyclocross - How Bad Can I Really Be?

How hard is cyclocross? Marianne Vos, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel are among the top big-name road riders who transferred over from CX. Conor however is a pure roadie who corners like a double decker bus. So, we’ve called upon Amy Perryman to teach him a few tricks in preparation for his first race. The new Wout van Aert or more Wout van Fart? Let’s find out!
00:00 Intro
00:51 Differences between CX & road
01:46 The course
02:18 Conor’s first lap
05:12 Fast downhill corner
07:45 Hurdles
10:54 Steps
15:26 Remounting
17:40 Conor’s second lap
19:59 Analysis
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How do you think Conor will get on in his first CX race? 😬 Let us know in the comments below! 💬
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📹 How To Mount & Dismount Like A Cyclocross Pro 👉 • How To Mount & Dismoun...
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[@gcn]

How do you think Conor will get on in his first CX race? 😬

[@bimblingalong]

at least the course will be taped so he won't get lost...

[@abedfo88]

As well as matt 😢

[@Jari1973]

👍😁

[@Velo757]

🤔🤨😂🤣🤣🤦🏻‍♂️

[@kpsig]

He will be dropped big time. Too big for this kind of racing.

[@Tikadok]

She should be a presenter from time to time. Her laugh is contagious. Love the content.

[@AndySimpson1969]

100% great at explaining techniques and with a lovely sense of humor!

[@iancollins6104]

Totally agree. More Amy, she works well on camera.

[@Frostbiker]

I would love a whole series with her teaching different techniques. I could use some of her confidence in technical terrain.

[@oregonadam6367]

Especially if she brings in more cyclocross too 😊

[@temporalsoliton]

Agreed. Natural speaker with a clear voice and concise speech with few ummms, errs and buts.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Amy is so much fun. And a skillz boss. More Amy please.

[@gcn]

More Amy... here you go 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmWYaX-PmsuXfpo - She's got the skills though right! 🙌

[@dylangrantz8124]

more Amy please. She has a ton of fun on the bike and makes it a good watch

[@paulb8587]

That was laugh out loud funny. Amy is a delightful addition to GCN and fair play to Conor for having a go. I loved Amy's diplomatic observations like "That's an interesting way to run" and "That was entertaining"!

[@gcn]

Hahahah "That's an interesting way to run" is never something you wan't to hear 😂- What did you make of Conor's skills?

[@michaelberenzweig6096]

Amy is AMAZING! She definitely needs to be a full time part of the network! Amy saying, "I'm being dropped by a roadie!" Classic! Amy is a rock star!

[@gcn]

Nothing worse than being dropped by a roadie 😂

[@kevinpower5880]

More Amy please she has such an infectious laugh and knows her stuff.

[@gcn]

She really does know her stuff! What other challenges would you like to see Amy take on? Teach Dan gravel maybe?

[@leithahyde8072]

More Amy please. I love how she just has fun every time she appears

[@gcn]

Amy brings the energy 🙌 Pleasure to shoot with her!

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

Love Conner’s self-deprecating sense of humor.

[@swordmonkey6635]

He's British.

[@philipcooper8297]

It is worth knowing, and GCN taught me this years ago, that If you want more grip in the corners, put your weight on the outside leg, really push into the outside leg pedal. This also works on the road, and it's like magic. Anyway, great effort, Conor.

[@jesmondo5785]

Good pointer!

[@gcn]

Great tip! If we do say so ourselves 👀 Conor back on the cross track soon?

[@ShaneMundane]

Glad you brought Amy back, she was great in the last video and again this time. Fits right in with her banter and has such a great attitude.

[@gcn]

Would you like to see Amy back? 👀

[@ShaneMundane]

@@gcn Judging by the comments everyone loves Amy, so of course bring her back 😄

[@hugobci]

Amy is so natural on camera and interacting with other presenters!

[@petewillmot]

Brilliant video! Amy was at the Bill Higson memorial in Reading last week and we kept shouting “GO ON TEKKERZ!” as we didn’t know who she was! We do now! And realise how great she is! Looking forward to seeing more content from her and the TEKKERZ team!

[@amyperryman4320]

Ayyy thanks for the shouts, I remember hearing you guys 😝

[@petewillmot]

@@amyperryman4320 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 Our pleasure! We’ll be sure to shout your name next time now we know who you are!

[@aAnd67]

Great effort Big Conns. All I could think of, was the ministry of silly walks, when you we re-mounting😅😂😅😂

[@gcn]

Hahahaha... Harsh ... but fair 😂

[@aAnd67]

@@gcn Don't get me wrong, I love Big Conns, he's my favourite presenter on GCN, He's the Shimano 105 of presenters. 💙🤜🤛

[@cb6866]

Thank you for that , Conor , Amy , and crew ! Dude...the beanstalk reference was hilarious . AND , I don't think she's laughed more . The nard slam in slo-mo ? twice , with giant like sounds ....a classic . Oh mannnnn

[@GtwoManila]

Amy tried her best to hold her laughter while watching Conor struggle. Would like to see a part 2 and check back with Conor's skills in CX.

[@gcn]

Watch this space! Race day is coming 👀 If you turn your notification on you won't miss it!

[@joerossa1112]

Amy was so fun! Bring her back for more videos. Conner and her make a good team.

[@MrBenoit00]

You should do a series of videos about his progress, just like you did Ollie and his hour record stunt.

[@gcn]

We'll have to convince Conor to do more racing for that 👀

[@donnajago]

I've not laughed so much at a GCN video in ages, well done Conor😂

[@jessicamccarthy6429]

Omg the combo of Amy and Connor is the absolute best please bring them back again! This video was one of the best ever, hilarious, informative and so so entertained!!!

[@wrench_n_ride8159]

OMG! Amy's laughter was contagious! But then who wouldn't be laughing at a stork trying to do cyclocross. 😂😂😂

[@gcn]

Hahahah stork cyclocross 😂

[@ELMARIACHI13]

🤣🤣🤣

[@dannythach-song]

Yes!! Amy is back!!!

[@jeskli11]

Great to see Conor willing to improve his skills and giving CX a try! One good tip, which I think I've first heard here on GCN from Jeremy Powers, was that if you're already running after dismounting and your right hand is still on the bars, you're doing it wrong. You must learn to put your right hand on the top tube before your feet touch the ground, or at least do it almost simultaneously. That'll save you at least half a second every time you dismount, which can over the whole race add up to significant amount of time, and once you get used to it, it becomes very natural, so it might also save you some energy.

[@gcn]

Great tip! Getting back those small time scales is super important... Every second counts on the cross course! ⏱Do you race cross?

[@jeskli11]

@@gcn Normally I do and class it as my favourite discipline. This year, however, a blind old lady in a car who didn't yield decided I'll be 'rather' running on a set of crutches than with a bike on my shoulder…

[@christofferstenbeck6630]

"Baby, giggles, don't look at the bush the next time" -Quote of the week. Great video, what a duo and love to see Connor race and more technic videos with Amy!

[@thomasmeier-muller2442]

They’re so good together, had really a lot of fun watching.

[@gcn]

Did it make you want to try cross? 👀

[@thomasmeier-muller2442]

@@gcn oh definitely not, i probably would break all of my bones

[@kevin._.farren]

Conor Dunne, the nicest most polite man in the world! Always like his videos.

[@10ktube]

That looks like a fun cross course. Courses where I am are basically jammed into places that aren't wide open, so it's endless turns and you barely get up to any sort of speed. I like rideable obstacles too like stairs and smaller trees/logs. Great video.

[@gcn]

Nothing feels cooler than riding obstacles 😎

[@blahblah24304]

Amy is such a good presenter, very engaging and natural style. Definitely more from her please!

[@larter_larter]

This is some high quality content! Can't believe this is freely available on the Internet. Love it, GCN!! ❤

[@gcn]

That's right 🙌 We love spreading the cycling stoke!

[@darrylearnshaw7102]

Great video, hilarious. Amy’s laugh is a winner

[@dorydiavelone3531]

That is REALLY GREAT ADVICEMiss Amy execute each thing well to the best of your ability … ans of course ….podium!!

[@MonoderHungerForest]

Now that was good fun to watch, almost made me want to try cyclocross! ❤

[@gcn]

Almost? Go in give it a go... you'll love it 😉

[@alansmith2593]

Love Amys method of teaching the flying re mount. Looked like a proper brill coaching technique. these too are rad

[@Alex.R.Feyn.]

Conor made the perfect sound effects with his disc brakes when crashing into that bush. Easy life for the editors.

[@AndyLewsey]

Woohoo!! More Amy please 🙂

[@HKRoad]

Great one. Well done Amy and Conor. Had visions of Conor fully visiting that hedge. Mind you, we would probably still have seen his top tube and head above it.

[@zedddddful]

Amy's remount at 13 minutes was smooth AF that's pure skillz

[@gcn]

Conor will get there one day 😂

[@zedddddful]

@@gcn yeah there's no way 😂

[@erickok]

More cyclocross content please! Really enjoyed it.

[@skipwalker1954]

Amy bent over laughing saying "that was entertaining" was PRICELESS!

[@ebikescrapper3925]

When I did cyclo cross training I was taught to swing your right to the inside of your left leg when dismounting. This way you are in a natural running position and you are not twisting your back.

[@ivansemanco6976]

Yes but at my time we was using clips so I was removing my left leg from clip before i swing my right to the inside. If you forgot… Im not sure how to do it properly with clipless.

[@ebikescrapper3925]

@@ivansemanco6976 hi, thanks for replying. Another video?

[@nstrug]

We teach hanging the unclipped leg back to beginners now as it results in fewer injuries. Once they be mastered that they can bring the leg through.

[@yamaman2711]

Bring Amy back as presenter for more videos. She's a great coach and CX rider.

[@garryhaines3066]

Nice vid and loving Amy on the channel

[@ELMARIACHI13]

I think that to get a quicker time on Cyclocross courses is mastering the apex of corners,and try not to go wide.Conor did well thanks to Amy`s lessons,and GCN should definately make Amy a GCN Presenter. 😀🚴🚴‍♂🚴‍♀

[@ChrisSchraders]

Stoked to see Amy back on the channel!

[@richm.3477]

Oh man! I felt the shock waves from that serving of Double Nut Crunch at 0:07 all the way over on my couch.

[@colinfisher2463]

Amy is a legend!

[@zukzworld]

Great video, loved it. 🙌🏾❤️✌🏾

[@gcn]

Thank you! Would you take up cyclocross?

[@zukzworld]

@@gcn well, I bought a cyclocross bike few years ago, before the gravel craze, and use it quite often on rough roads along with my normal road bike (on sunny summer days)… but taking up a cyclocross race on grass and mud - nope, not sure… I even use my mountain bike for snow days, not through muddy trails. 🤓

[@davidroberts6766]

Very entertaining video. Amy was great. Love watching Connor, because he is a younger, fitter, version of me! 2.04m dudes for the win.

[@Hoolio1967]

Chapeau Conor! Excellent first effort! Master that remount and you'll be fine.

[@brent_f]

Owww!!! I felt Conor’s second attempt at mounting his bike, after the steps, all the way here in Canada!

[@beverleywhitby5460]

Absolutely brilliant

[@garymmx]

I know its all been said but mote giggles on GCN please. Nice job Amy. Conor too!

[@KoenMiseur]

Amy is awesome!

[@aguszg]

Pls let Amy and Connor do another video it was very entertaining 😂

[@edgerat]

Amy is awesome!!!!

[@leeadams2413]

Amy was brilliant helper and Conner was a riot.

[@Joshuavoice29]

Great improvement Connor!

[@rachelharvey71]

Great job Conor and quality comedy moments love it 🥰

[@gcn]

Always a fun day out with Conor 😂

[@user-lr7cd1gg8s]

Hi GCN, I am a fan, and watched almost every video. Is it possible to test out bike apparels, such as jersey, bib shorts of different brands?

[@mathias8013]

Great to see Amy back on the channel!

[@gcn]

What challenge would you like to see Amy take on next? 🚴

[@Latchfpv]

Amy's an amazing rider, wow.

[@01FozzyS]

Nice to see Amy back! Such a natural on camera. Now how about an Amy v Hank cx?

[@jamesdaw131]

Loved this

[@bubblesezblonde]

The Ginormous Leprechaun will be towering o'er the field at the race. I'm surprised you weren't gloved-up Conor. You hit that saddle HARD!!!!

[@JLW3113]

Amy is an absolute delight! I’d love to see more of her. She’s a natural in front of the camera.

[@phunkalicious4]

I Love Any, she is a natural presenter, entertaining, patient and awesome.... Go Conor on your cyclocross journey!!

[@gcn]

Would you like to see more of Amy on the channel? 👀

[@a1white]

“Speed speed speed….maybe a bit more speed 😅”. I reckon Conor needs to use El Alto for the competition, I can see the big wheels of that totally flying up those steps!

[@ChrisGuarraia]

Bring on more Amy! Her laugh is the best!

[@VladislavBozula]

Hi Conor. It look's like a fun 😏 Great job Amy 👌 Which type (label) of wahoo mount are you using on this bike? I'm looking for something that will still hold the light or the camera in exactly the situations he demonstrated. Thx

[@dorydiavelone3531]

Yes see you just needed to feel it EXCELLENT CONOR!!

[@lesmerritt7976]

Conor does have a rather high center of gravity, which makes it harder for him.

[@timotejianpoljak1859]

Aren't the two best cyclocross riders in the world quite tall? I know Van Aert is 190cm but dont know about MvdP

[@anthonybanks2979]

I like that the GCN has a tall guy now . I'm 6.6 and nice to see another tall person, i've tried MTB and cross ( does not end well ) I'll stick to the road !

[@samreynolds5694]

Holy shit. I was crying. 😂 Brilliant. Now you have to do a race. 👍

[@magnushartell]

Looking forward to seeing Conner do the bunny hop over the barrels in the race.... saying we have seen Si (without Amy's prep though)

[@__-bk6mm]

Even as a Brit I love how British the banter in this was lol Come on mate don't look at the bush lol

[@fredmcgough748]

Connors enthusiasm is contagious, but, also funny. I'm not sure guys as tall as Connor should do cyclocross. His instructor is extremely patient.

[@gcn]

Hahahaha... everyone should do cyclocross!

[@shepshape2585]

Very different from road cycling. Dismounting, mounting or as it's called, the flying mount, running, carrying your bike, very physical. Kudos to you for even trying it. It looks like a lot of fun, but you really have to learn new skills and make sure your fitness is really good.

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Cyclocross feels hard :) I had a nice time watching this video :)

[@swordmonkey6635]

Do the newer cyclocross bikes have flat sections on the top tube to make them easier to shoulder carry? I remember older bikes having that feature.

[@Bluesman2509]

Amy is Amazing ❤

[@shane4176]

Amy is awesome keep her doing videos!

[@wrench_n_ride8159]

Nice job Connor! And no broken ankle!

[@238949]

Was literally cheering out loud when Conor got over the hurdles first time, what a champ

[@bittiapina]

My favorite gentle giant Conor is back! And with another smash of a video. Amy was such a good teacher! Good tips and easy way of explaining so that even us non CX people can understand. This was such a fun video! "Podium? Podium" 😆 Good luck on your race, Conor! 🫡

[@philipwoodhouse7371]

"It's an interesting way to run" brilliant.

[@gamby16a]

I love when non cyclocross riders try cross out! This was awesome and Amy is delightful! Very good on camera. If I had Conor's engine, I'd be a pretty solid cross racer, because my skills blow his out of the water 😆😆😆 Super fun video.

[@gcn]

Hahahaha sounds like you need spend some time of the road tuning that engine 🚴

[@gamby16a]

@@gcn Plenty of hours on the road! Just 51, heavy and not very talented 😁 I can handle a cross course better than Conor tho! 😀

[@tristanpitt3185]

Just had my first CX race and it was amazing but got smoked. That being said its just added fuel to the fire and so ready to train harder and hopefully podium one day.🔥🚲💪. Best of luck Connor

[@gcn]

Awesome! Well done on your first cross race - it can be super scary racing for the first time. Will you be back for more? 🚴💨

[@tristanpitt3185]

@@gcn you bet !! Already booked three more CX races to end the season. In for some gravel races next year as well.

[@gcn]

@@tristanpitt3185 Amazing! Sounds like you've fully got the bug 🙌

[@gcn]

Fueling Is Winning 👑

[@_cpdchua]

@15:08 i felt that my guy.....

[@Jarek.]

16:29 _Ministry of silly walks_ , 💯% 🤣

[@stevenqirkle]

I have been thinking about trying cyclocross, and this video has fully cured me of my temporary insanity.

[@user-db2kk9yq5c]

Love you Conner you handle gravel just like me! Really bad but make me feel so much better 👍

[@lesley9888]

`nice video

[@mitch_smith]

Connor reminds me of a great dane puppy, trying to figure out how to legs! I've not laughed so hard at a video in quite a while.

[@WendsH]

Oh man, this brings back memories of Ollie and J Pow. Is Zonhoven Conor's next destination? 😆

[@kippen64]

Hey Connor, I also corner like a double decker bus and I am only 163cm and riding a small road bike.

[@philipwooldridge9606]

It's my first season of CX ( first time off road), wish I had Connor's bike handling skills.

[@mec_de_normandie]

huge thanks for using UCT - T-Shirts & Sweats track in the video by the end jungle is massive 🙂🙂🙂

[@willjones7132]

Hope the comments are as brutal as in the past, one of my favorites was something like: CX being like bike polo, you want to like it but just isn't there. I see grown men, or women riding around a field with mud pits, sand, and small obstacles on a road bike that has some tread on the tire(I know they are specific "cx" bikes but in all honesty they are slightly modified road bikes) it just makes me wonder...

[@jonathanfroggatt5865]

Is it true Conner speaks in a high pitched voice after squishing his plums 🤭 Great video 💪

[@Star14trek]

Your a legend Connor 😁 .... well better running off the bike than Ollie 😂 .... maybe Ollie should join you at the CX race .... pretty please that would be a 12 out of 10! .... may be Matt Stephens too 😮

[@better.better]

Matt's been gone to the competitor emag for several years now... he did some good cafe ride interviews for them though. I think Si mentioned on last week's GCN Show that Matt was announcer for a race they were talking about too

[@gcn]

Conor and Ollie both taking on cross race... that could be interesting! Who do you think would win? We'll go with Conor - Ollie isn't a fast mover off the bike 😂