We Found The World’s Lightest Hill Climb Bikes!

[@DarenC]

That galaxy/nebula paint job looks... out of this world! I'll get my coat

[@playandteach]

I was there yesterday, sorry to miss the opportunity to say hi in person. Great new team bus, but what it really needs inside are spare tyres and a track pump, if I remember rightly.

[@bergerniklas6647]

and some water if a certain person bonks again

[@gcntech]

We’re still assessing whether the extra weight of the track pump is worth it compared to the hand pump, as it would marginally affect the handling and range of the bus (spoiler alert: it’s worth it)

[@flipper2gv]

Under 5kg (4.6-4.7kg) with pedals is bonkers.

[@Shadowboost]

Pretty easy with lots of rim brake bikes. The real bonkers part is sub 4 kg

[@flipper2gv]

@@Shadowboost this is a rim brake and the person had to do some pretty extreme mods to get there.

[@jheiethutz]

@@flipper2gv i know someone who has 3.7kg without mods

[@Afrikakorps68]

I found it more useless rather than bonkers. At least if you don't participate in uphill races

[@flipper2gv]

@@Afrikakorps68 it's an uphill race!!!

[@shaun7163]

The team bus is awesome, I also love this video, just geeking out, chatting to people, seeing the individuality and getting into the spirit of it all ❤

[@jackroutledge352]

One of the fun things about bikes, is you can treat it like a lego set. Replace whatever you like with whatever you like, and you can do ot all yourself. So much easier than modding cars.

[@festerofest4374]

And most of us complain about the price of bikes, but a car hobby gets much worse lol!

[@TESTA-CC]

Rim brakes for the win 👌👌👍👍

[@paulpenfold2352]

Not if they're carbon. That probably explains why they're so cheap. Also, I reckon a fair few of those TPI tubes melt on the way down the hill as the rider gingerly drags on the brakes creating a load of friction and heat.

[@mlee6050]

​​@@paulpenfold2352​ I'm looking to build a Trek Emonda ALR with pedals estimate 6346g with butyl tubes as tpu is horrible since pump up every 3 days and discs but that's before hornit db140, Trek SLR axs 9 is like 6.7kg advertised, I think for a build to support 120kg rider still than limited to 80-90kg rider is good at weight Forgot to add I went ALR as I want to pick my seatpost instead of seatmast

[@emanuele8226]

@@paulpenfold2352 They don't, latex ones do. In any case people have been "gingerly dragging on the brakes" creating friction (which is what brakes are for, technically) for a century or so and it was just fine, but now it's become ridicuolous for some reason

[@paulpenfold2352]

@@emanuele8226 On Saturday I was coming off the North Downs escarpment dragging on my tpi filled front tyre and it punctured. On closer inspection I could see the resin on one of the folds had melted causing the deflation. This was an alloy rim, which was hot to the touch.

[@swites]

Much cheaper too! Serious money for a disc brake bike under 7kg's.

[@dougpence3862]

Rim brakes win the day...rim for road, disc for dirt.

[@johnsheetz6639]

I do mountain bike sizes I got kind of forced into disc brakes because The aviailability of the good rim stoppers you can get them but it seems like a premium

[@jascollinscork]

UNBELIEVABLE bikes 🤯🤯🤯 great to see you there on the mic 😊

[@quacker998]

Ollie’s enthusiasm is infectious 😅

[@SteveNinetyski]

Quite the opposite for me, I find him insufferable. He really fancies himself, me me me me me, I'm smart, I'm smart, you're not. You ain't fooling me. I bet no one other than GCN employees spends more than 5 minutes a time with him in his life out of work. Such a fake-o

[@davidthomas9079]

Cracking atmosphere at the championships yesterday. Good to see you again Ollie.

[@anhtaipham7585]

2.72!!!! Wish I have that much money for all of their mods 🤣

[@jonpoon3896]

To be fair, it was weighed without pedals

[@kevinhwang7448]

Coolest bus. Love to see it blinged out

[@JonCannings]

Lowered, spinners

[@gcntech]

@@JonCannings The neon is on its way as far as I know

[@djrlloyd]

How about next year, one (or more) of the GCN presenters takes part. It would make a great video on the day, and you could do a whole GCN Tech series on training and building up mega light bikes….maybe one bargain basement build from second hand bits and one no expense spared build. You could then compare results. Just a suggestion.

[@MichaelWilliams-iv6dj]

Bike Radar did whole hill climb seasons. Some of the best cycling KZbin videos out there.

[@fabioqueiros9322]

@@MichaelWilliams-iv6dj coincidentally, wasn't that series done with Oliver Bridgewood? I think he was there before jumping to GCN...

[@jeremynorth]

Excellent. More of these real world videos please

[@cb6866]

Thanks Ollie and crew

[@gcntech]

Thanks for watching and the comment :D

[@cb6866]

@ pardon my faux pas Dr O !

[@elPedro666]

Seems like the ladies were really leading the way there, great to see! Love seeing what can be achieved with a relatively sensible budget too, chapeau.

[@matthewlewis2072]

Like Jo's bike, THM and AX Lightness 😬

[@elPedro666]

@@matthewlewis2072 totally, that really is something else!

[@pcat007]

I love hacks; I love bodges; I LOVED this video!

[@gcntech]

You're in the right place

[@Rodjov12]

@@gcntech Can you do a video on how to covert a standard road 2x set up to a 1x hill climb specific set up like the ones seen in this video?

[@chirpy999]

Great film, what a cracking event!

[@TodRaines]

Love this stuff!!!! I would take 1 of these videos over 500 featuring whatever aero disk brake stuff the manufacturers are foisting upon us these days. True creativity at its finest!

[@matthewlewis2072]

They are "foisting" what consumers want...e.g. brakes that work in the wet. I bet you still use down tube shifters

[@eddiewards123]

Feather came 2nd with disc brakes...

[@TodRaines]

@@matthewlewis2072 Nope. I bought one of the first disk mountain bikes back in 2003. I have no problem with them if that's what you chose. I also have a tire sliced on a group ride in my garage after an idiot with disks slammed on his brakes in the middle of the bunch. Full disclosure: I live where the sun shines 300+ days a year. So, that's a factor. Lol!

[@TodRaines]

@@matthewlewis2072 The point of the original comment is that I'd rather see bikes customized and creativity on display rather than features about the latest off the shelf stuff.

[@freenational]

Yes but it only makes sense for hill climbs where carbon rim brakes is good enough to stop the bike at the end of the climb. For descend, rim brakes need alloy wheels and that brings it back to disc brakes territory.

[@theoutdoorpt7267]

I was so excited to see Ollie and the new bus at Hopwood services on Saturday it looks fantastic! Look forward to seeing it out and about again. Great vid as always

[@luisrosano3510]

I love the IQ new electric Kombi. Agree: is the best team car so far. Congratulations! The bikes as always, gorgeous.

[@johnbowman83]

Good to meet you Ollie and hope to see you on the start sheet at Bank Road next year!

[@TheExposerofLies]

I bet that this hill climb challenge was a real scream 20 years ago. Great vid! Thanks from the USA.

[@matt_m126]

As an ID.4 owner with a bike rack on top, I approve your team vehicle choice. 👌

[@mommamooney]

Herbie had it going on!

[@MildStallion1]

The GCN team car/van does look cool - but my all time favorite was the livery on the old Jelly Belly team cars.

[@blakegoodwin3591]

The VW is sick - go ham with the mods!

[@glbernini0]

Star Wars dip is well worth the weight!

[@kunzworld2309]

Yes! It is the coolest car

[@supakidgalaxy]

Definitely coolest team vehicle

[@Hammett-le2di]

Cannondale Supersix Evos were beautiful before they dropped the seat stays and went disc only. I got one half price when the new ones came out - only about 5 years ago. Exposed cables, rim brakes - so easy to work on and goes like the clappers. Still, progress eh?

[@andrewzach1921]

What a fun video. Thanks

[@dh7314]

Some lovely bikes and dedicated riders

[@DealWithTheDevil.]

Been looking forward for this one!

[@chrisgarner3714]

Best team van!!! Agreed

[@mommamooney]

Love the team bus! A bike rack is a no brainier

[@eddiewards123]

It was my first ever nationals after stumbling across GCN and Feather's videos last year. Since then I've ditched gymnastics and taken up cycling more seriously. It was incredible to ride with such an atmosphere and soak it in. I knew my legs and 9.1kg bike weren't going to be smashing any records, but boy did I have a great time doing it! ps. I love how my dog Ted (with blue Horsham Cycling doggy jersey) features frequently in this!

[@staff0flag]

As a "big man" I am never on my drops. Not sure I need to cut my bars, but I do like the look.

[@U.s.e.r.3493]

Epic team bus

[@23TomW]

Love the budget bikes!

[@StacyODell]

The team van is definitely cool. Unfortunate that it doesn't seem to fit a track pump inside, however.

[@garethhelliwell9736]

Modify the van. GCN turns into the A-Team.

[@allanbuchan6947]

Three of those Cannondales weigh the same as my mountain bike .

[@madmick9205]

Awesome!!

[@Nehpets1701G]

Herbie wins! 🏆 🙌

[@marcopaganotto9125]

Ali Express is the answer people! Tune seatpost vs Ali Express Tune copy, £300? vs £18.90! They're identical, and the copy version is so good, and so durable, even though it weighs a miniscule 130g, I've purchased over 6 to use in builds and upgrades!

[@andrewmcalister3462]

I want to see GCN mount one of those pro team roof racks that mount 9 bikes on to the new team bus.

[@JonCannings]

Lovely stuff mate. Nicely reported

[@larrylem3582]

Deathstar top cap for the win!!!!

[@billcodey1430]

The coolest cycling livery in all Bath.

[@julianallen515]

I love the hillclimb bikes and special tweaks to get the weight down to crazy levels. The SuperSiixs are so good looking and the best bang for buck t get a sub 6.3 bike. That said Abi's SuperSix Evo's "ali express bought saddle" looks suspiciously like a SupaCaz saddle though.

[@Stelvioman_2758]

The team bus❤❤❤

[@OriginalTrev]

The bare minimum for the team van is a workstand, fastened to a rear door and a tool caddy also fastened to the rear door... of course you've already proven the cyclist you're supporting is capable of carrying the air pump and patch kit.

[@alanwallace8059]

They are great spectator events, good report on the competitors efforts. re the VW, if you can't get your road bike inside your transport without taking off wheels etc., like you can in a Honda Jazz, you might as well get a full sized van.

[@emanuele8226]

Weight limit removed: disc brakes disappear

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

Any need to go downhill fast; disk brakes disappear,

[@emanuele8226]

@@brannmacfinnchad9056 you mean they re-appear? Agreed, but very likely the minuscule gain one might get from better braking while descending is more than compensated (negatively) during ascents by the massive 800g/1kg of weight gain from a disc-brake setup (including what it implies in terms of wheel and frame weight). Max braking power is determined by tyre grip anyway, not by brake power.

[@GiacomoRz]

Not the best example :) without weight limit (and a very specific effort in mind) there's also a lot of "safety" which disappears (chopped handlebars, drillium in many spots...). I don't think you want to imply that rim brakes are less safe, do you?

[@bengt_axle]

If you're going to get a bike rack, it would be cool to have a custom-made rack that holds the bikes in the back of the vehicle, and swings out of the way when the hatch is opened. This would be much more aerodynamic when driving at high speeds and easier to load up as well. Even better would be an innovative inside rack that stows the bikes with both wheels removed, in order to save space. You should open source this van customization project to the GCN subscribers and see what comes up!

[@dexterdrake1734]

removing the hoods is crazy weight weenie behavior 😅

[@zzhughesd]

!!!!

[@ltu42]

Building a lightweight bike for hill climbing is a crazy weight weenie activity. I'd say removing the hoods is less crazy than chopping off the drops.

[@bcamping1]

These bikes have breaks for going uphill. Maybe it is in the rules, but still, kind of funny.

[@zeddman]

​@@bcamping1thats what i was thinking lol. id imagine an ultralight fixed gear in the hill climb race would get first haha

[@cd0u50c9]

A lot of these modifications are for show, for sure! A lot of them have the weight equivalent to whether the rider has had a shave/No. 2 that morning or not.

[@woodworks2123]

Ooof proper bike! See what happens when the uci is unwanted. I'd love a road race that the uci had no duristiction.

[@Prufrock888]

I am sure that GCN will tell us that a modern aero disc bike would beat any of these up a hill.

[@knedragon]

My weight weenie build is a 2021 Pinarello F rim brake Pluto in a size 54 hitting the scales at 4760 with pedals, cages and mount ready to ride.

[@Nat-DAVID]

Well in fact the cheapest bike is also the lightest: 2.72 Kg!! and i also love the blue color. unfortunatly to small for me...

[@bobbafett1971]

I actually have a 79 van that is a coffee shop. Server coffee and espresso out the back.

[@dudeonbike800]

Party in the front?

[@philipcooper8297]

Up next: Helium inflated tyres with helium inside the frame.😀

[@mlee6050]

I wanted to feel frame with helium if possible lol

[@philipcooper8297]

​@@mlee6050 I'd imagine you would stuff a tube (balloon) inside and inflate it.

[@gcntech]

Imagine the boost if a spark flies out when you shift gears! 🚀

[@Alan_Hans__]

Yep. That non flammable gas would go hard :P

[@philipcooper8297]

@@gcntech You mean hydrogen (The Hindenburg disaster).

[@Moodlesstimes]

There’s a new technology out there…it’s called clip-on-microphone ;-). Btw nice video!

[@paulastin944]

Your bus needs a personalised reg ending in GCN!

[@christianlieske80]

Ask Connor, you have the opportunity to race with the pros at the beach races. No expensive bike needed and a lot of fun. Most popular race by far is Egmond-Pier-Egmond in the Netherlands. You see more than 2.000 people in one race …

[@07lapierre]

No Disc Brakes! ;)

[@jonpoon3896]

Hey now. That’s 2.72 without pedals 😏

[@oceanedetotes]

I have a 6.5kg bike, now I want a 5kg bike !

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Rookie question from an old MTBer: Chopped drops leave you with practically the same as a straight bar with bar ends. Would that be allowed?

[@Alan_Hans__]

UCI rules don't matter. It's gotta have wheels, pedals and brakes.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

@ Sure not the UCI but the national hillclimb something. I don‘t really know the rules in hillclimbs, that‘s why I asked.

[@DH-.]

Get in Anker Home battery bank for your van it's strong enough to power a small home, and has optional solar panels

[@Ian_in_an_ocean]

You’ll never get an honest answer in regards to costs when someone’s spouse could be watching 😂

[@emmanuelhpun]

@2:00 I have those exact knockoff TRP RRL brake levers from Aliexpress. Got them for like $7 for the pair. Hood rubber feels terrible, but can't complain for $7.

[@JollyGiant0]

Your Buzz is nice but the coolest team car was the Bahrain Merida McLaren 720s. Soz😂

[@locualoein8543]

Some one did a sub 4kg road bicycle (less than 3,5kg?), but it will not survive a hard and long climb. The RD was mod, the brake calipers too etc etc. and two front rings with FD custom.That casette weights too much, soul kozak made many years ago one in aluminium very lightweight. 4.3kg with mods in many parts could go under 4. Modern stuff is not as light as in the 00s, except Darimo custom parts.

[@jameswestgate416]

You do get the same experience in IM wales on the bike course but you have to unfort do an entire IM to experience it!

[@perdiendolafe]

Elita one is so underrated

[@michaelw7438]

Your bus needs a name……..Gregory……Garfield…..Georgie…..Girlie…..

[@lux-wattage]

1:21 Yes.

[@nonomnismoriar9601]

Love hearing Ollie talk bike tech nerdery, think he knows the bikes better than the guys that have built them Time for a crossover with Trace Velo for a super light, super cheap bike build?!? £10k bikes are cool but I'm never going to have one of those.... I'd spend a grand on a sub 7kg machine though and bore everyone to death about it :)

[@jayobannon5359]

So are you going to add an ICE engine to your car? At the very least a gen set. It takes as much current to brew an espresso as 10k driving.

[@mattwedd2511]

Shame I missed it but I was out on my bike, just next to Hexham strangely. Thankfully I didn't roll on through because that would have been awkward.

[@philipmitchell7660]

The id buzz is cool but what I'm really wondering is how many watts you gain through your aero hairdo when walking....

[@monkmchorning]

Well, good for you. Now find the world's lightest hillclimb rider.

[@Crall-xb8he]

I think it’s the kid on the balance bike 😁

[@festerofest4374]

There's that light as a Feather guy!

[@andreronan1035]

Ollie just baptized a new weight weenie! 2.72 kilos 😅

[@AGT0M]

The mini-bus looks great. Too bad the steering wheel is on the wrong side.

[@funfactsdaily076]

The volkswagen waggie needs some widebody and a carbon hood (+ ofc an ls swap)

[@TGShunai]

You can't think of any other event where you can join without experience? Have you ever seen a UCI gravel race lol?

[@alexsen4536]

How the hell did that first guy have a SRAM Force AXS derailleur for under $1k?

[@ricardosilva-xz1yt]

Coffe maschine. I want to see the UCI having a fit over you guys ofering free espressos out the back of your van going up alp d ouest'🎉😂😂😂😂

[@cd0u50c9]

The Hill Climb Champs - sponsored by 2nd hand SRAM!

[@j4zzx297]

Were is luke from trace velo when you need him?

[@albertomiragil850]

those saddle from AE, are elita , like the seat post, costs around 20 bucks and weigths.... 96 gr ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ Anyone can do it with buckets of money, the merit goes to those who spend €1500 and get a sub 6kg bike

[@klx-y]

im looking to buy a s works venge like the one here in this ollie video. does any one have one which they will be happy to separate thx

[@jastiksk8crw]

Can include pounds for us yanks? Thanks mate. Good work 🍻

[@sativagirl1885]

Q: where should an uphill hour record course be established?

[@HkFinn83]

Shush don’t mention the rim brakes it’s a secret😮

[@aliciaharvent5271]

6.03 for 1200 pounds, wow, the value

[@jdjames997]

Super cool event! Love the cool bikes, and creativity. Question, lots of “Ali” express type parts. Isn’t anyone worried about them failing, and causing one to crash? I’ve often thought about buying a cheap one piece cockpit for my bike on Amazon or Ali, but having it break during a downhill section seems terrifying, or even while riding next to cars in traffic. Are they not worried here because this event is mostly climbing???

[@stuartmisfeldt3068]

Jo’s bike was weighed without pedals! 4.3 w/o pedals!