We Bought A Bike For Less Than The Train Ticket

Let's face it, the train is getting pretty pricey these days. So we wondered, could we now get a bike cheaper than a train fare costs, and ride it to the UK's capital city of London? It sounded like the ideal challenge for Hank!
Could you get a bike cheaper than your current train ticket costs? Let us know in the comments! 👇
00:00 Can We Get A Bike Cheaper Than A Train Ticket?
01:10 Hank's $100 Bike
02:02 Bike V Train: The Route
02:35 Mechanical #1
03:40 Local Bike Shop To The Rescue
04:18 Back On The Road
08:19 Mechanical #2
08:49 Halfords To The Rescue
09:24 Back On The Road (Again)
13:34 Late For Our Date
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[@gcn]

🤔Could you get a bike cheaper than your current train ticket costs? Let us know in the comments! 👇

[@feedbackzaloop]

Once I had it cheaper than the bike addon for a bus ticket. But it was still a legit purchase, not for free

[@mamamovlue9189]

Nope ours is only 25bucks

[@kerrynball2734]

One key point you seem to have overlooked :: You don't get to keep the train at the end. In the case of the bike you do .....

[@budbud2509]

Mate , Brake hoods uncomfortable ? Now u know why they use to have padded mitts on all the time ! Also should the worst happen, it protects your hands from gravel rash

[@Tbo1235]

Mine is £17 return so I’d struggle

[@Boopop1024]

GCN accidentally making a political video about the shocking price of UK rail fares.

[@dentonmattt]

And quality of UK roads

[@GreenCurryiykyk]

No accident.

[@gcn]

Correction - we made a video about how great bikes are! 🙌

[@matthewbaynham6286]

And a politican statement about screwing up the bolt that holds up your saddle.

[@kendrewreviews]

Iu make a video about doing tricks on a bromoton? I've noticed brompton content on your channels (gravel bike conversion, uphill racing, commuting, ect.) But what about tricks? Is it possible to do a wheelie, manual, bunny hop, etc?

[@wuzihuzi]

100 pounds for a 2 hour train ticket. That's ridiculous.

[@bugsygoo]

It's complete madness.

[@MnRider57]

But if he waited until 9:32 it would have only cost £43 and he would have got London before noon.

[@Epiqe]

call it Brexit stuff...

[@dankbank7424]

He's lying. I just checked trainline and it's 38 GBP without a railcard.

[@blake-gl4wn]

@@dankbank7424at what time of day?

[@ericpmoss]

The lesson is -- nationalize the railways -- 100GBP for 100 miles??? 25 euros makes a longer trip than that in Sicily, and with amazing scenery.

[@chetmanley1885]

£75 quid to go 300+ miles (Osaka to Tokyo) in 2 hours 13 minutes with loads of leg room and a floor so clean you could eat off it.

[@Tom-ol5zz]

wait until you hear how much in cost in canada for a train ride

[@Ostsol]

Lots of things to consider when it comes to economic sustainability. What are ridership levels like at the current price? Would cheaper tickets result in more riders and therefore more money? Or would the system be consigned to operating at a loss, funded by taxpayers who don't use it?

[@StudentopiBlog]

@@Tom-ol5zzwhat are you talking about? Toronto to London Ontario costs $50 one way that’s 30 Pounds!

[@dlawrence3187]

I got a Flixbus in Portugal for a 75 mile journey for the princely sum of €2.99 plus a €1 booking fee. No sweat.

[@Catflavor]

Haven't finished the video yet, but I can't help thinking that the value of the bike will still be about £85 when it gets to London. Whereas the train ticket doesn't have much resale value unless it has bite marks from Taylor Swift on it.

[@cptjeff1]

Okay, so a couple points here- back in the day they didn't ride on the hoods much. Seats were relatively lower and you rode on the tops or in the drops, and the drops put your body in about the same position as riding on the hoods does today. Rim brakes have plenty of stopping power if you're not using 40 year old rubber. And that seatpost probably wasn't the original and wasn't quite large enough for the frame, leading to the slippage. You need to find the proper seatpost or a shim rather than trying to torque that bolt down further than the frame will go. Those old steel racers are a lot of fun. But at least ride around the block a few times before attempting a century!

[@obsidianclorox]

I have the same bike and the post isn't the same so the previous owner must've changed it

[@ericsyd]

This bike is not that old and your point is contradicted by the photo in the video @12’12”…. This model is not a very high end model though and there were already rubber hoods then. He could have moved the hoods up or turned the bars up….

[@gorjn1]

Weinman made soft rubber covers for the hoods. They were comfy and used a lot.

[@matthewlewis2072]

Those are CLB calipers, I think. They were terrible, even at the time.

[@prestachuck2867]

I raced during the late 1970’s and 1980s. We used the hoods all the time. Nobody, and I mean nobody trained or raced without gloves, and most cycling gloves were padded, or at least had relatively (compared to today’s gloves) thick leather palms. That seatpost might be original, but looks like somebody cut it off short. Some people did that to “save weight”, and it’s a bad idea. Less surface area to contact the frame internally. It’s also possible that the post will slip if the post and frame are over-greased, especially since some of those seat posts were chrome-plated, and some others highly polished. Also, on frames with binder tabs brazed on like that one, you will get a better clamp on the post with the correct binder bolt than a regular nut, bolt, and washers, due to it being recessed and interfacing correctly with the tabs. Seats were not relatively lower. Many riders, especially professionals still rode with about a thirty to thirty-five degree knee angle at the bottom of the pedal stroke, but many American riders were simply not knowledgeable about positioning at that time. Most (but not all) Europeans were. When young Greg LeMond signed his first professional contract with a french team, one of the first things they did was raise his saddle by about three centimeters, and put a longer handlebar stem on his bike.

[@adadinthelifeofacyclist]

One-way cycle journeys are always into the wind. If you're going the other way later in the day or a couple of days later, the wind will change so it is still a headwind.

[@MrShredguitar]

This video perfectly sums up two fundamental ways in which UK is falling apart: hugely overpriced train journeys and roads that look like they haven’t been maintained since the 50s. Kudos to you for braving them - and on a prehistoric bike too! That takes some serious balls 💪

[@rustyroy5385]

I was actually surprised how good most of the roads shown in the video looked. Personally I wouldn't want to use a road bike on UK roads, hybrid or mountain is more suitable for our road surfaces.

[@tomrachellesfirstdance7843]

Really good video, really enjoyed this one. The channel is so much better when you upload videos like this instead of the constant ad videos. The camera work and music really goes. Well done to everyone who produced this. Btw love the classic bike

[@professorsogol5824]

Since you commented on the music, may I say then that the balance/sound level of the music was too high relative to the voice volume. That is to say when Hank wasn't talking the music was so loud that the other people in the room asked me to turn it down and when the music faded out, I couldn't hear what Hank was saying.

[@BrianRPaterson]

Come on. GCN content is completely free. And the videos containing sponsored products are still fairly subtle. Think of it as someone else paying the production costs, so we can all enjoy Hank and Co. odoing stuff like this.

[@irfuel]

@@professorsogol5824 Sounds like your average Hollywood movie to me :D

[@zmuzzy101]

​@@BrianRPatersonfree at the point of sale not free free. They can be held to a standard based on the amount of money they bring in with advertising.

[@removaldaddy]

Must admit, i didnt have any problems and I wear hearing aids. ​@professorsogol5824

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

10:33 you can lipread her saying oh ffs 🫢

[@_MattyG_]

I ride a 1959 Bianchii 100 miles a week commuting. Does just fine!

[@gcn]

That's a strong commuting effort 💪

[@user-yv2cz8oj1k]

100 miles in a week, easily done, I know someone who does 200 miles a week on her electric assisted bicycle and she had her hips replaced and had a heart attack a few years ago. As long as you have a good route and leave enough time you should be fine.

[@nonegone7170]

@@user-yv2cz8oj1k 100 miles a week is pretty close to what the average dutch teenager cycles to school

[@user-yv2cz8oj1k]

@@nonegone7170 Well they are normally healthy.

[@blissbouwerij4033]

Aluminum can, tear a few 1cm x 5cm long strips and fold one end over as a hook. Hang them into the seat tube and slide the seat bar in. Hope it helps next time

[@smallplane6576]

Definitely works. I've shimed my seat post after every other option I tried failed.

[@gcn]

The old Shim method! A true classic👌

[@neilfurby555]

Beer cans ....brilliant shimstock, available anywhere, and cuts with a penknife!

[@TheColdphish]

I hope you keep that frame and restore it. It's a classic.

[@dfishpool7052]

Hi Hank - well done - epic ride. It reminded me of the time when I rode from Ross-on-Wye to East Acton with a friend. We left at 22:00, rode through the night and arrived at 07:30 at my friend's brother's place. I think that I then slept for eighteen hours straight off!! In 1959 you could safely use the A40 and I have a memory of stopping in the Windrush Transport Cafe and eating egg and chips - Cliff Richard and the Drifters were on the Juke Box - ah, happy memories. About a week later we made the return journey starting at 10:00 and arriving home at 19:30 - the disance each way was around 133 miles. The bikes - I had a Rudge Pathfinder equipped with double chainwheel and 4 speed Benelux derailleur and my friend had a Raliegh Lenton Sports of similar spec.

[@outtrigger]

none of these timestamps make sense. bad comment

[@gubsak55]

The time stops are not time stops for this video, but the time on the watch then.😊

[@ashokcaptain4088]

E.p.i.c. ride 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@gcn]

What an amazing trip! Maybe we should try to challenge Hank to this ride 🧐

[@garymmx]

​@@gcnthat's exactly what I was thinking 🤔

[@alinapopescu872]

I don't know what shocks me more - the fact that I'm nine years older than the bike or the fact that you, good people, pay that kind of money for a train ticket.

[@oscargarcia9665]

I'm shoked that he has a girlfriend

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

On the day*. Generally if you're taking the train to London you'll have more than a days notice.

[@Garrett-sd9uw]

I was surprised he could buy a team replica bike for only £85. - But then I noticed the crank seemed low-grade and the steel is HLE. It's a cheap bike painted to look like the race bike.

[@a1white]

@@Garrett-sd9uwwas wondering about the steel. What’s HLE?

[@dankbank7424]

He's not telling the truth about the cost of the train ticket. I just checked my trainline app and it's 38.80 GBP without a railcard.

[@matthewnormand2041]

Japan has the rail thing down. I just rode the Shinkansen from Yokohama to Kyoto for about $85 USD each way. Three times the distance, about the same trip duration, clean and punctual, and for less money. Also, an excellent view of Mount Fuji as a bonus.

[@arthurkirk2100]

That sounds like a great deal whereas this train to London is over a dollar a mile each way.

[@professorsogol5824]

But would you want to ride that route? National Route 1 isn't a fun road to ride

[@matthewnormand2041]

@@professorsogol5824 I've ridden on some of NR 1 and, you're right, it isn't that fun. If I'm riding it, it's usually just a means to ride to the nearby mountains.

[@maximraketalife]

Mount Fuji 😍

[@mrvwbug4423]

Japanese rail is actually more expensive than UK rail and UK rail isn't cheap. Hank quoted a first class ticket on GWR from Chelterham Spa to London Paddington. standard class ticket is about 40 pounds. First class on the Shinkansen is closer to $300 for a 2 hour trip.

[@user-zn6sc1tj4n]

How many times did you try to change gear from the brake levers ?

[@gcn]

Hahahaha! He doesn't change gear normally 🤣

[@rivnuts7398]

Hank’s gift as a story teller is much appreciated and entertaining.

[@gcn]

Story tell, sufferer, Crash test dummy ... All the same 😉

[@treyquattro]

once again Hank suffers for our art, what a hero. That train ticket though. Train racket more like! It's great to see that Hank has got off the trainer and out of the cold water-filled bin long enough to get a date! Well, Emma probably doesn't see it quite the same way, unless she's an avid GCN fan too.

[@gcn]

We don't understand there are non GCN fans? 😉 You better watch out on the roads... Hank is back 💥 Can you think of his next epic challenge?

[@samblenkharn8099]

Hack tip. £23.40 would have been enough to buy a mountain bike type rear mudguard, with a collar that clamps round the sestpost. With the clamp set flush to the top of the seat-tube, and done up as tight as possible, there's a good chance the seatpost wouldn't sink. I did it on an mtb ride once when I'd managed to unwittingly knock the quick release collar/clamp off my seat tube when transferring the bike between cars pre-ride. Seatpost didn't sink!

[@LouieBaLLz]

Leave it to Hank to go on a date in his GCN kit. 🤣🤣🤣

[@a1white]

Kit worth more than the bike! 😅

[@gcn]

Suited and booted 👢

[@Broodjemetbeleg]

​@@a1whiteby 4 times😂

[@folcobanfi4370]

Hank mentioning Jeremy Clarkson was spot on: when he described the challenge, I immediately thought of the old Top Gear challenges and of JC going "how hard can it be?" 😁 As it turns out... Very hard. GCN is the new Top Gear!

[@cptjeff1]

GCN really needs to do more top gear style challenges. Four presenters going bikepacking for 10 days and each has a 250 pound budget. Go! They've done it a few times before and it's always really fun.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Car vs Train in the Uk depends heavily on where you're going in the UK. Around London, no contest, the tube is the absolute fastest way to get around. A trip on the ECML or WCML on LNER or Avanti, will be faster than driving at least to the primary destinations like Birmingham, Manchester, Crewe, Leeds, York, etc. And for GCN specifically, GWR from Paddington to Bath is definitely faster than driving. A regional train like TfW or ScotRail will probably be comparable to driving. UK roads are either very twisty, very congested or both.

[@gcn]

Are there any other challenges you'd like to see Hank take on?

[@programmer1356]

@@mrvwbug4423 The tube is about 3 mins/stop (very variable I know) and there's the waiting and changing. I have commuted in London for [ahem] many decades and mostly the bike is faster. Also the tube is absolutely disgusting - it's dangerously loud and the air is almost un-breathable, it's ugly in most respects and you have to like strangers shoving their heads into your armpits. There is no tube south of the river - they have taste there.

[@BlokeOnAMotorbike]

@@gcn yes, race the sun. Land's End to Lowestoft.

[@KuroSanArts]

I'm gonna bet that was the wrong seat post on that bike! On an old trasher like that, a section of a fizzy drink can will act as a shim rather than snapping bolts or even worse, the mount itself!

[@logojones96]

thumbs up on this one for Hank letting it rip, haven't heard that many beeps in a GCN vid lol

[@jonnoble1551]

Great video and a good effort to get all the way to London. Nice to see my local town feature and a thumbs up to Roylan cycles for helping you out. Keep up the good work!

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamesetheridge6224]

Was anyone else hoping the ‘important engagement‘ would be an actual engagement?! 💍

[@WellValUa]

me until the very end....I thought she'd cancel the wedding if he doesn't show on time!!

[@jonnyg88]

I think maybe he did! He used the word engagement 3 times and said he’d make it up to her at the end…. 😅

[@alinapopescu872]

Yes, I was.

[@gcn]

Can't pin this guy down 📍

[@paullinnitt7710]

That was the plan ..... until Hank was many hours late!

[@SteevyTable]

Little tip on the seat clamp issue. If you need a bodge to get you somewhere and can't get it to actually stick, tighten a hose clamp around the post right around the seat post just above the seat clamp. I don't think I would do it if the seat clamp isn't grabbing at all, but if it's kind of sort of grabbing, but the seat is still sinking, it works. Also absolutely would not attempt this on a carbon seat post.

[@AlexisToddsworth]

That coffee shop is in Bath! It's an awful lot of trouble to go to the wrong location! 🤣

[@jlore6344]

That bike looks awesome. With a good cleaning and a few upgrades that could be a great commuter for sure. This was a fun vid, thanks for sharin.

[@RobertAArgo]

Enjoyed this video, Hank and GCN team! I would love to see more “journey” videos like this.

[@gcn]

We'll try get some in the works, keep your eyes peeled 👀

[@pd314]

Neat video, but should have disclosed train prices. This peak (anytime) £108.40 fare is only for trains leaving Cheltenham before 08:21 and from London between 16:38-18:34, all the other train fares between £39-55 single, and £68 for a return. Yeah, that's too much, but it's important context.

[@rbonn3880]

Well done, Hank! Definitely an adventure worth sharing.

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Absolutely love this content !! Hank's bonkers challenges are epic and so fun to watch. But next time, ride the bike for a day or two ahead of time so you can iron out the glitches. I hope Emma is patient and understanding! Great to see the old steel bike! I have a Nishiki from that Era, I bought for $40 CDN. Such a fun bike but the old road gearing is a bit brutal! More of this content please! What a great challenge.

[@removaldaddy]

Must agree, Hank made it worth it, even his miserable face

[@gcn]

Any challenges you think Hank should try?

[@xavcarmic0686]

Be nice if Hank did the L’Eroica on the Pug in October.

[@gcn]

What an idea...will ship this over to Hank!

[@benallen3015]

Great video, and whilst I'm not agreeing that we all buy bikes instead of train tickets. It does highlight the fact that public transport is so expensive he'd even have been better off just driving and parking for less. What encouragement is there to use a service that takes longer, is more expensive unless convenient than driving other than the self-imposed environmental guilt.

[@gcn]

We agree, we're not suggesting everyone should cycle 100+ miles but is was just a fun idea 👌 The train is very expensive 💸 and lets face it ... not as fun 😔

[@secretsfullofsaucers]

Amen about the potholes, got 2 punctures caused by them in the space of two weeks recently, some roads are just crumbling away, having to keep half an eye on the road instead of on cars/pedestrians is not good either

[@Andres_Suarez]

This is awesome! pretty good idea to make this video! cheers! keep doing this.

[@hamstergraphics]

To be fair, that's a pretty nice bike to get you there. I had a similar kids version of the same bike in the 80's.

[@gcn]

What a kids bike 👌Do you miss the bike?

[@user-go6tj2rx4o]

No later than 4 years ago I rode a 1957 Sport Enfield bike. This device weighed 17 kilograms and had a maximum gear ratio of 46:14.

[@616sam1]

always love the silly challenge style videos, especially the group challenges

[@andrewblakesley4202]

That bike's comfort is so easily improved. Buy some budget (but sound) short drop bars, levers with hoods and bar tape. The biggest tyres (25-28c) that fit those rims and frame. Saddles are non-negotiable. Once you find the one that right, stick with it. Then, I think you'd clock up the miles without pain.

[@KelvinSuddith]

Can we talk about the bike shop mechanic really fast? What bloke, so happy to just be of service. Sure it probably doesn’t hurt that he’s going to be in a GCN video, but my guess is, as with most mechanics, if you were to bring something like that in, they’d be happy to get you going again quickly

[@JonCannings]

What a great guy!

[@gcn]

The world needs more bike mechanics 🙌 If you give your local shop a bit of love it'll come back 10X ❤ The cycling community is stronger for having people like this!

[@aajfranklin]

This video makes me nostalgic for my first drop handlebar bike. It was a beautiful, blue, steel Peugeot with down tube shifting that I bought on the cheap like this one. Sadly the frame was mangled in an accident (drivers: please look out for cyclists) and I've moved on to modern bells and whistles since. But I'll always remember that old bike fondly.

[@othgmark1]

Those old Peugeot bikes looked great.

[@gcn]

Old but gold! Would you ever want to go back to a steel bike?

[@aajfranklin]

@@gcn the dream is three bikes. Carbon endurance road bike, e-bike or e-cargo-bike for commutes and practical rides, and a vintage steel Lemond for my heart 😍 Chuck in a fourth bike for the turbo trainer while we're here. All that's stopping me is space, money, and my partner's sanity.

[@petercarparelli]

Hank is the best presenter. Informative, and hilarious. Job well done!

[@hereticyogiexpectationsups4037]

I was working in bike shops back when that bike was made and the pearl white was awesome!

[@arthurkirk2100]

Great premise! And I still have my white and blue Peugeot. First real road bike with many great miles and memories.

[@gcn]

Great bikes! Seems like lots of people want to keep hold of them 👀

[@chrischambers4563]

A good old Hank challenge, I love these!

[@gcn]

Nothing better than watching Hank suffer 🤣

[@TheChez1230]

Love your challenges my fave, need lots more please ❤

[@ax1066a-ghd2]

Well done, great video!

[@infocuslearning]

Were the Wahoo pedals included for the £85? 😂

[@cjpearceyt]

Great video! Love the bike too let’s see it once you’ve made a few upgrades :)

[@jennifercash1093]

ahhh it's been far too long since we've seen Hank suffering for our enjoyment! great challenge, and yes for a one way/one off trip I'd probably take the train, but think of the longer term picture, and you'd save loads if you were about to ride regularly

[@feedbackzaloop]

Welp, Germany wouldn't make it easy: no way you are riding a 42 Pound bike across the whole country

[@curtisclewett5249]

been there done that 800k on a $20 iron horse bought second hand slow cluncy got the job done 800l with average speed close to 30k an hour if you minus stopping time

[@chetmanley1885]

Also because in Germany the price of a train ticket wouldn't buy a lot of bike. UK train ticket prices surprised they didn't rock up on a carbon race bike.

[@feedbackzaloop]

@@curtisclewett5249 must say 30 kph is extremely fast for a "slow cluncy" even for 80k rides! Unless you stopped every hour for another hour. But that would be still more on schedule than Deutschebahn

[@feedbackzaloop]

@@chetmanley1885 when you go below 150€ mark of the cheapest new bikes in stores, the prices and conditions are wildly random so amount of bike per euro is amazing as well. The amount of train per train ticket in Germany is also very nice. If not for the uncertainty if you get any train.

[@HolgerNestmann]

They also didnt ride the whole country. They rode 100miles. And no luggage.

[@DarenC]

I had a Peugeot racer in the 80s, made from Carbolite 103. I upgraded to a Reynolds 531c in 1988, but the Peugeot did me well as a teenager.

[@gcn]

Did you sell the Peugeot or is still kicking around?

[@DarenC]

@@gcn the Peugeot got resprayed and used as my beater for a while, but it's gone now. I still have the 531c bike; still in its Coca-Cola livery, albeit with a replaced seatpost, pedals and rear wheel but otherwise original

[@jsky2udonkey]

Great content! I like it! Maybe because I just repaired my 1990 Bianchi Caurus 909. But honestly my spare parts (bottom brand, chain, cassette and a new set do tires) were alredy more more expensive than the Peugeot you ride during this trip. 😅 But, please do more of this stuff every now and then than on this channel

[@VictorYepello]

Great challenge and a fun video. More please.

[@CameronFraserACHF]

"I wasn't born when this bike was built" might have not hit quite so hard if I hadn't just said to my wife "That's a lot like my first road bike...also a Peugot, but 12 years older".

[@matt_acton-varian]

Brilliant concept. And yes, if you research carefully and buy smart you can start ridiculously cheap. I bought a fixie frame with gubbins for £26 four years ago. Sold some of the extras which were not to my preference for £50, used a couple of bits from my own spares bin and spent £120 on parts. Now I am in the middle of restoring a gifted 1949 Claud Butler and after hours of cleaning and servicing parts, and £80 net in a new cockpit and tyres (the bike had been converted to flat bars) it should be ride ready by the summer.

[@johnbeckmeyer1696]

Hank's bit about acting where he was outside Pinewood Studios made me laugh. Also, I was half expecting to see Hank's date walking away with the camera crew at the end just as Hank approached the cafe on the bike.

[@mig25foxbat]

As a local, a) trains from Cheltenham are stupidly expensive b) if you do this trip again, go south from Burford via Ducklington instead of through Witney, it's a lot better to ride. And from Marlow, follow the river round to Maidenhead and then come into London via Eton. Similar distance to your ride but much less effort!

[@10ktube]

I would have done that without thinking twice, BUT, I would have given it a once over and gotten the kinks worked out, then done it. I know, not the same idea as you were going for, but buy bike, check it, test it, ride it to London, bang on idea. Cool video, and cool bike, if you guys want to get rid of it I'll gladly ride it.

[@manoz6194]

Trains are so expensive, it's cheaper for me to rent a car when visiting family!

[@Smokewith_Jesus]

This is the content I have subscribed for! Kudos.

[@gcn]

Lovely stuff! We'll be sure to keep sending Hank on some crazy rides

[@spaakridder]

Well done! Nice video!😁

[@jeffreybruwer]

When a single one of your pedals costs more than the bike they're on 🤣

[@cycleistic1365]

Builds some character to ride old bikes like that! 13:18 The old rim brakes are perfectly fine, just often the problem are petrified old pads, lack of lubrication on levers, cables and calipers. Been there, done that, having bought an 1980's road bike that wouldn't stop at first, but after servicing posed a danger if OTB if braking too hard - true story. I'd take that Peugeot any day over a new carbon everything, internal cable routing, disc brake, direct mount, etc. fancy bike carving some percentage of watts for 1000x the cost. Old bikes are fun, you just need to make it yours by service and an adequate fit. Frame in the video looked at least one size too big, no wonder uncomfy without decent adjustments.

[@draconianTL]

Depends. I ride an old Dawes steel tourer and the canti rim brakes are absolutely terrible.

[@CarlBaravelli]

One the funniest gcn videos for a while. Loved the sincerity 😅

[@philippejoseph8604]

I live around moutains and in those days ( 1970 ) 52 / 13 was to go fast and 42 / 28 was for the mountain ! An important thing if you want to ride old bikes is the low distance between your feet ( because of the strait crankset ) that will hurt your hips joints. Very nice video.

[@playandteach]

I don't think either shop is fully ok - firstly for selling the bike with a cut down seat post, and secondly for fitting a new bolt with the saddle post way above the minimum mark. I think I'd have been tempted to say that you could have a cheap seat post fitted, but not a repair that risks the rider.

[@henrikandreasen7455]

Wrong diameter sadelpost ?

[@dodgeviper1234567]

Great video. 👍

[@frankrizzo367]

Good challenge and content as always!

[@hoggledoggleboggle]

Loving the Top Gear style challenge...more of this! What can possibly go wrong!

[@melibaut]

Great video! I bought a Critical bike one time by accident for $80. It retailed for $299. It was on sale on Amazon for $160. When I went to check out, it happened to be Amazon Prime Day so when I signed up it was 1/2 price. Great cruiser of a bike 🚲

[@iansingleton]

Well done Hank! Great effort!

[@AdamBoothUK]

I’ve probably ridden most of that route in various stages. Some lovely roads and some worse than gravel riding with all the holes. Good effort getting over the Chilterns on that gear ratio!

[@gcn]

It was tough! Do you still ride those roads?

[@bestbiker7323]

More about old/affordable 200 pounds bikes! It got you there

[@suspicious_white_van]

Love this content!

[@edwardmacrury5376]

Great video Hank, keep up the good work. Come to Cheshire East the roads are appalling.

[@robbchastain3036]

O my, one of my favorite bikes was a Peugeot PSV-10 which I bought in '83 after seeing it on the cover of a UK bike-review publication which I had purchased in DC where hundreds of magazines and newspaper titles were available. And I still browse and buy books and magazines at Barnes and Noble, the closest we have nowadays to those earlier news and magazine stands.

[@tongucyaman]

This was an awesome video for an awesome idea. Well done.

[@timodonnell8615]

love the top gear vibes of this video, well done

[@stefandirks8061]

This was literally my introduction to road biking as a kid. Riding a fundraiser ride each year and the night before pulling my mom's 1970 sekine out of the shed, pumping up the tires and riding 130km with no training. Did that about 5 times on that bike before my highschool teacher borrowed me a modern bike in the 2007. Getting the sekine up to 50km/hr was the fastest feeling in the world. 😂

[@gcn]

Sounds like an amazing teacher! Did they push you to get more into cycling?

[@nicks8829]

Had one of those Peugeots mine was graphite grey with yellow and orange flashes. Great bike.

[@marcusathome]

GBP 100 for that bike is a good price! I think the bike has more potential with slight modifications: A more comfortable saddle and a proper bike fit will make a difference. Installing new brake pads and lubing the cables will improve braking. Put on wider tyres - 28mm should fit - and you get extra comfort. It will be the same classic bike still but certainly a better ride.

[@SquareWheelMedia]

We have a fairly good cycle network here in Ireland (and it’s getting a lot better), but a 25 minute commuter train to the city, only cost €3

[@boc-tonysyklist2145]

Great effort! Very expensive train ticket though!

[@daztastic147]

Great video, the livery on the bike really takes me back to the 80’s when I was a kid. Unbelievable that a train journey costs 10x what it would in petrol, this shows that something is very wrong with the system in the UK. On a final note, the term near-death experience has become so misused over the last decade or so!

[@pj9375]

Well done James! And well done Halfrauds… often gets stick in the cycling community, but great they helped you out.

[@andrewfisher9067]

Awesome work Hank

[@andrewonmyway8184]

Good job young man!

[@julianwinn4502]

Was out on my 1983 Raleigh Quasar tis morning in the Peak District. It was given to me by a friend of my fathers. After some recommissioning (tyres, tubes, cables, bearings) it is doing fine service.

[@gcn]

Awesome! Do you get any funny looks riding an old bike like that? 👀

[@julianwinn4502]

People are genuinely interested and often reminisce about riding similar bikes in their youth.

[@johnnunn8688]

Small point but important nonetheless. We use MILES in this country, look at any road sign.

[@paulgordon7526]

Reminds me of my old 12 speed Peugeot Clubman I owned back in the early 80's 🙂well done Hank !!

[@gcn]

The clubman is a classic 👌

[@sawworx8194]

I love these Top Gear style challenges, keep them coming! Have you guys considered building amphibious bikes or riding a bike to the north pole?

[@kennerwong4204]

Great idea!

[@GeekonaBike]

I luv the nearly parallel rear dropouts. Great for a single speed or fixie

[@suhdud4646]

I found that cutting an old tin can to make a shim worked for me when trying to stop my seat post from slipping on a retro build that I did. Talking pot holes, what if they are neglecting roads in the hopes of people rather opting for the train which is a recurring form of income rather than spending to fix a road at a cost.

[@doxielain2231]

Liking the score to this one. Kudos.

[@nerigarcia7116]

I started out riding a Peugeot like that back in the 80s. I loved that bike, it was a prized possession. Years later I went back to my parents' house to see if I could restore it and was sad to hear my dad gave it away.

[@rossgarykelly84]

Fantastic content lately