What's The Ideal Sock Height? | GCN Asks The Pros

[@ozziejim8472]

Can’t believe I’m watching such a discussion.

[@fireroadie6654]

A tattoo that said “UCI sock length” with a line would be awesome.

[@Jester123ish]

And then they change the rule.

[@glenndonnell133]

UCI-SL2020[-------------------]

[@fireroadie6654]

Glenn Donnell That funny I was thinking something like UCI SL2020 [-----] 😂😂😂😂

[@thomaswinkler9610]

@@glenndonnell133 that leaves sufficient space in case they change the rules. and in 50 years the leg looks like one of those houses wearing flood markings...

[@ForeverLumoz]

I would love to spot someone at a race with such a tattoo 🤣👌🏻

[@hondasaurusrex6998]

Up to the armpits! 2 inches above the shoe like in the 80's. Always wore them like that, on the bike and off the bike.

[@jarnozondag694]

Ew

[@Robertlavigne1]

Ankle socks for me. Don't care what other people wear. We all look like dorks so lets not kid ourselves that x is more stylish then y.

[@kidsafe]

Hey Alex, the man asked a simple question.

[@Ditypo]

Aye, what's he waffling on about

[@Jeff-bd4gg]

Athletic compression socks that are at least knee high have another benefit other than aero. They increase circulation, keeping you blood moving to power your leg muscles and removing waste, increasing the time before you fatigue.

[@petrilatva-rasku9789]

The correct sock length is 12 cm and they are white. Anything else is wrong. Jonathan Dibben nailed it perfectly.

[@SE-qb9jv]

😄Lol, That never bothered me, Long or short as long as they’re comfortable. ☺️👍 happy ride 🚴‍♀️

[@petinka721]

Love that answer! "Whatever they give me".

[@justinmcgoldrick5228]

Dear John, I live in Perth, Western Australia, and as you are always saying "Can I come and stay" I have the perfect place. We have a view of the Swan River, a smorgasbord of fine food 50m down the road, a multitude of bikes to ride and a very comfy bed in which to sleep. So, yes, if you're allowed to stop over for a few days feel free.

[@erikwolfe3187]

Dowsett's got it right. Just below the calf muscle...

[@sj6656]

0:18 Perfect sock length! Great job Groupama FDJ

[@ChrisCapoccia]

sock length is a relatively easy rule to enforce like bike frame geometry. many of the other rules, even ones that might be more important like anti-doping are much more difficult to enforce

[@stevecarpenter7462]

I enjoyed this video more than I I could ever have thought possible. Great, relaxed responses from the pros. Well done.

[@TimRrstrm]

I like a rough midpoint between my ankle and the bottom of my calf.

[@scotth3354]

I like my socks to reach all the way to the end of my toes.

[@jamesbeagley4839]

There is an ideal sock length??

[@intrepidscotland8091]

I raced in the early 80's so nowadays socks look too long to me, far too footballer like. However, not as bad as the shorts going to just above the knee and covering the quads completely.

[@ParzivalPlaysAtari]

I started in '92, and I don't understand how guys today can stand to wear sleeves down to their elbows, shorts down to their knees, socks halfway up their calves, and have their "roadsuits" zipped up all the way, even in really hot weather. That shit seems excruciatingly uncomfortable to me.

[@jochem1986]

What I love about this issue is that it brings significant aero gains, yet is very hard to enforce during a race. That makes it a very difficult topic within cycling, and I just love the mayhem it causes.

[@Gunbu]

I took about an eight year break from cycling and just got back into it a couple months ago. The popular sock height has gotten much taller since I last rode!

[@Dangarangg]

I like the extremely specific: “not too high, and not too low” 🤣 hilarious

[@theforgottenbrawlers]

More of these please

[@kiwi_kirsch]

4-5cm above mid of ankle. anything higher than that looks a ridiculous lot like tennis socks in german sandals. i am german, i do in fact know latter painfully well.

[@albr4]

Dowsett is right, just at the bottom of your calf. socks too low; you look like a sunday sportif rider, too high; you look like a triathlete. Get it right in the middle and you look like a Pro.

[@UenoLocker54]

I haven't worn socks in like 3 years.

[@jacksquat2067]

I like mine on the shorter side, about 4" above the ankle. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@OldDavo1950]

I am an ankle socks in summer and long socks to my knees in winter under my leg warmers.

[@mariuscpeter]

They should also have a rule for the chamois area for men, to go from the tip of the problem until the end of the hills and don't exceed 5 mm beyond the treasure. Or, do they have it already?

[@davidmarshall2399]

Marius Peter the measuring jig for that could get interesting

[@philm2304]

About 2 or so inches above the ankle bones for me.

[@KevinWakliFitness]

Here in Africa We Cycle, Walk, Run and Even Jog Barefooted!!!

[@MrAndypree]

Kevin Wakli Fitness thats how it’s supposed to be, we weren’t made to wear shoes😆

[@KevinWakliFitness]

@@MrAndypree You're Right Brother 😊

[@MrAndypree]

Kevin Wakli Fitness just seen your vids on your channel, very nice!! You have a new subscriber 👍

[@KevinWakliFitness]

@@MrAndypree God Bless You Brother🙏🙏🙏

[@A_W_Bell]

How do attach cleats?

[@davepratt9909]

Couldn't you get around the sock issue by wearing tights?

[@gadenhertog]

Like Koen de Kort: right length, right colour (and right colour shoes too)

[@trevorhayes5414]

John, when are you going to visit Adam H's garage? That's gonna be an awesome interview!

[@lesflynn4455]

Can't believe I watched it to the end. UCI sock length is actually a thing. Wow. Koen de Kort has it about right I think.

[@RESolberg]

How about racing in a Lycra onesie?

[@fahim113]

More of adam hansen plz, he's always interesting

[@hugobrown2516]

I figured out what the sock height is all about with the UCI. They don’t really care… BUT they just want every rider to have the same height. Rather than every one in peloton looking scallywag! In different heights.

[@leeoien3645]

Excellent commentary and insights into the sport, Jon!! Serious! So much more interesting than that 'How to install a bottle cage fiasco episode'! :) :) :)

[@vr4042]

Is sock length really a historical look thing? Or more because of the advantages compression adds to the calf. If the latter, then what is the difference with the shorts that are worn? Why not allow over the calf socks? Other than looking like a knob) I personal can't wear regulation length socks because of my calf size, the socks never stay up. So I just go with the below ankle sock.

[@MrMarek19]

Not to low to ankle not to high middle for that way i feel good

[@ericsonnen5248]

I like short socks

[@MrBoggins1234]

Which other rules should the UCI be enforcing that riders feel the UCI are not? Any ideas what this or they could be?!

[@mrkickback3105]

When the rider are talking about how other issues are bigger and need looking at- what issues are they talking about?

[@mikelzubieta6003]

I have my first triathlon next week and I do not care what people say, I am wearing socks, it just takes 4 seconds. #SocksInTri #SockPhylosophy

[@nadgeemark]

If your socks obscure your vision they’re too high and if they don’t reach your heel they’re too low. 👍🏼

[@garykeen1]

How about asking the Pros, if they could choose current or retired/no longer with us ..who they wish they could have as a super domestique riding for them? @jensvoight for me

[@mouselim72]

I think the socks are there to protect our legs from the chain and sprockets

[@brucelangsteiner4599]

Shorter sock in the summer and longer in the winter. I'd say common sense should prevail, but we are talking about professional cycling and the UCI.

[@jerre6882]

There is a reason riders love old women pants :) It feels smooth!

[@elpoutre2522]

Ideal sock height: lower than your knee, higher than your ankle. The best sock is the one you already have

[@elpoutre2522]

Is it me or they ask this question every season? Has the rule book changed or is it just easy clickbait report?

[@tubbytoast2]

Ok it's simple , John goes to Adam Hansen s house , measures every cycling sock he owns with calipers finds an average , multiply that figure by 1.18 and then devide by the ratio of sock to gloves he has , then what ever sock length Viviani Is rocking at the moment the average of those two measurements that is the perfect sock length 😯🙂🤔

[@melvynheron3551]

Better any length than no socks at all I prefer calf length

[@SergioCristancho]

sock heigth is not an UCI / teams or cyclist issue ... this has tobe a thing of the manufactures of cycling sports wear, blame it in them of the heigth can or go crazy hihg or crazy low, I don't bother to ride along tri atlethes or compression socks fans, but am in the game of wear it as they come no matter the heigth.

[@jonathanzappala]

The real question is why do some people care about how long other people’s socks are? It seems like most of the interviewees did not 👍

[@everactivedad]

Unlimited is the proper sock height

[@MAGAmaniac1000]

British track team trolls everyone by wearing socks at he Olympic Games.

[@mightygollum2270]

Is the cross worlds going to be on gcn racing next weekend ?

[@gessistyle4861]

If you subsgribed to them you will see if the livestream is already planed. Hope that helps you

[@JonCannings]

The crosswind worlds.

[@rodrodriguez5847]

Perfectly said. Dont pass ur calves.

[@pauldamian2988]

Is there a rule about wearing a full "skin" suit? Kinda like when the swimmers had those super fast suits. Hmmmm...

[@sheilastallard]

Brill !!!!!!! I'm not going to say how far my socks go up my legs!!!

[@museves]

My socks length is the 3pairs in the bargain bin

[@mihailapaul9155]

Good to know :)

[@h31sman]

Team chicken legs checking in: socks that go up to like an inch from your calf look great & make your calves look nicer.

[@slippy9916]

I wear knee high Red White Blue stripe win I ride my MTB.

[@davidmarshall2399]

The perfect length is whatever the UCI says it is.

[@takuan650]

Yeah - sock length - right, anything else?

[@jbratt]

Definitely not over the knee.

[@raff5604]

I hate socks!!!! I always wear ankle socks to keep the feet from sweating too much, only because you know what happens without socks...

[@JStockinger]

UCI sock height is just as dumb as socks over leg warmers.

[@jesusenriqueriveratellez531]

Under the knee

[@mirage2nr771]

Am a triathlete. feels bad.

[@geoffdelperdog8838]

8 and ha half minutes talking about socks... Seriously? Like almost everyone said, there are more important or interesting things. So to answer Jon's question, "who knew socks could be so interesting," no one. Because they aren't.

[@brianmessemer2973]

Love this series when you interview tour pros before races, Jon. Glad to see my favorite rider Alex Dowsett among the riders interviewed - but really, each of the guys you interview always end up saying interesting things, it really humanizes the riders.

[@danmc7815]

If you can wear leg warmers or tights, why would it matter??!! Otherwise, as low as I can go, to show off my fit and sexy legs.

[@careymahoney1605]

No socks is the new trend...

[@isaaccardenas3515]

The higher the sock the downer the foo

[@ruwiki]

Which language is this clearly drunken rider speaking at @1:45 ?

[@govody]

Answer: Ask Assos !!!

[@redalert2834]

The impeached US president is bananas and his twitchy fingers control the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons but, hey, let's have a hard think about how best to wear socks. Next episode: the most aerodynamic brand of toothpaste to use with gravel bikes (whatever they are).

[@Ditypo]

HHHAAANNNSSSEEENNNOOO

[@JapaneseReds]

Socks? Mate, who cares?

[@solitaryrefinement6787]

1st World Problems.

[@phillentz6742]

I seriously can’t believe that something as trivial as socks are a huge issue to begin with

[@jorstvondoom684]

Across all the Global... channels at the moment, you are clearly really struggling for original content. What next? Pro cyclists' nasal hair trends?

[@ronbyers9912]

Eight Minutes Twenty Nine seconds talking about sock height. No wonder so many people think pro cycling is a pansy sport.

[@garthly]

Uh-oh, the P-word...

[@teddyedward5529]

Do women exist?

[@ketjuariittaa]

End of ideas. Then stop making 3 videos / day.☝🏻🤔😐

[@phillippitts6294]

Are you so hard up for content that this is the best you can do? 👎🏼

[@no_handle_required]

Who cares?