When Roadies Ride Mountain Bikes... | Can Fitness Beat Technique In XC?

[@gcn]

What did you think of Hank's effort? Are you going to give XC a go? Let us know 👇

[@Paganiproductions84]

Yes only xc and gravel for me both whit the same xc mtb

[@stuartscott3948]

Picked up the MTB lingo too. Sorry dude, thanks mate.

[@stuartscott3948]

Next week's video. Hank doing Man from Belmonty and Dreamline....

[@robertharrington4405]

At first it looked like the bike was taking him for a ride rather than the other way around.

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

Hank did very well. I won't be giving pure XC a go because my versatile gravel bike can do most of that sort of gnarly terrain and yet still be nimble and fast on paved surfaces.

[@NeuroNoggins]

Can we all take some time to appreciate the weapon that is Hank, the guy just attacks everything and takes it in his stride, what a guy!

[@adapta]

Hank the tank 👀

[@gcn]

He does fully commit to pretty much everything we throw at him

[@AndresCoronadoGtz]

He even attacks the ground

[@McStoolio]

Lol, where I come from, being called a weapon is not a compliment, quite the opposite. “Check this weapon out” =(“check this bellend out”.

[@pipolchamp8205]

him and ollie are my favorite

[@satori4183]

"Not aero though is he?!" Ah, when cultures collide 😂

[@gcn]

hehe

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Rich could have gone 30s faster with shaved legs. 😂

[@Einfach_nina_be]

5:45 Si becoming one with the trees 😂

[@gcn]

Si's happy place!

[@galenkehler]

"I think I've got it, loosey goosey" Proceeds to ride the trail stiffer than a wooden board...

[@gcn]

haha, cut him some slack!

[@mihajlomitrovic1211]

I don't know about mountain bikers, but we roadies would never say wood is stiff🤔

[@TheZwiftRacePlace]

I think that my favorite scene was when Rich rode off into the woods and both Hank and Si just stare off into the distance with a look of bewilderment and Hank goes, "he's not very aero is he?"

[@hplfd1]

Ok - learned something today: before riding my XC MTB I've to dance like a pregnant Kangaroo :-)

[@gcn]

Always

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

Si the Time Trialist, Si the XC rider, Si the jack of all trades

[@simonrichardson5259]

Haha, and you know what they say? Master of none!

[@Sklouchechi]

@@simonrichardson5259 He won against 3 Roadies, and Ollie. Dude's a master. Won XC Races when he was young. Dude's a master.

[@SorinVBogdan]

Instant upvote for XC content! I know the video is trying to portray Hank as a total novice but man he absolutely smashed that loop. Should be really proud of himself. If he would train on the course for a week I bet he could match Rich's time

[@LUCYDIAMONDBOXER1]

I'm a roadie that's definitely swaying more to gravel...more fun going off the beaten tracks, no cars, explore better views and improves my bike handling. Also find riding 40 miles on gravel is harder than 80 on boring linear roads.

[@tome1389]

I promise you won't look back

[@pipolchamp8205]

sold my road bike for a full on XC bike, fitted 2.1 gravel tires, rides on-road and off-road like a dream, definitely not missing my road bike that's for sure, smiles per miles all day any day

[@kojuha1]

You shall have no other God but the Road!

[@nicholkid]

No traffic makes it so much better, dodging cars is my least favorite thing about biking

[@gcn]

For sure there's loads to be said for going off road, on a gravel or mountain bike - definitely helps to keep cycling fresh changing it up regularly!

[@Rqoiz]

I like how Hank puts himself in challenges with the guys from Gmbn. First Blake uphill and now Rich on an XC-course!

[@DinnerForkTongue]

He's ballsy for sure!

[@cb6866]

Thank you ,,,,Si , you are a funny bastard ! Having Hank dancing in the woods??? Man..too much . Great fun for all , and Rich is a good man as well . Be safe

[@the_spanner_ch7mp]

As a GMBN fan/follower nice one Rich representing GMBN and mountain bikers. Now for Hank bloody good effort considering you were up against an ex EWS rider and someone that loves riding XC. Enjoying the GMBN/GCN colab stuff

[@ANTheWhizkid]

Lol max payne. Hank has definitely my kind of humor. I love these coop episodes. A nice weekend to everyone.

[@gcn]

Niche but hilarious

[@davidsoftley4648]

Rich is naturally so funny, "My money's on Hank" 'Is it?' "No! Ha ha ha", quality.

[@gcn]

Savage from Rich

[@dionysiaex5538]

Looking forward to James and Si's forthcoming "How To Be A Pole Dancer" video.

[@madafakasana5546]

Hey +Global Cycling Network Send Si, Hank and Rich to the next Steamboat Race or Dirty Kanza

[@gcn]

We'd love to

[@AntonzBravo]

GCN & GMBN crossovers is my favorite type of videos!

[@alicangul2603]

5:45 When you have that one friend you can be stupid with

[@gcn]

haha!

[@markush7001]

Richard clearly needs to do more xc content on GMBN. I've been getting most of mine from GCN and dare I say Pinkbike. I do wonder though, how would Rich have faired against the Siborg.

[@innesdunbar]

Nice to see Si doing his bit for the environment by fitting a solar panel to the back of his helmet.

[@colerobertson8743]

I live for road cycling but there’s nothing like the technicalities of mountain biking. It works your upper body more and hones your skills on any discipline of cycling. Keep cranking away folks, no matter what the terrain!

[@LUCYDIAMONDBOXER1]

05:48 editing opportunity missed for some Hawaiian hula music to be played over Si’s swaying 😄🕺

[@gcn]

Great idea...

[@mxkstfmk]

Great Job Hank! Only 30 seconds in it? I think if he was given more time to get some flow he'd be there. Experience on an XC makes a huge difference.

[@seang8785]

All these years of mountain biking and to think I’ve never thought of gyrating like an Am Dram student, before riding my bike. Top tips GCN thank you! 😂

[@Bacciagalupe]

Those conversations like at 9:29 are SOOO fun and satisying. Learning for life!!!

[@chiccorocker]

Hey don't be hard on Hank, he did a great job with a time that close to Rich, who is indeed a very capable mountain bike rider. Come on he can even battle his fellow GMBN colleague the Don and this should tell you something. When you are used to the skinny tires giving you speed rather than grip it's a massive difference and takes time to get used to. With that being said #teamGMBN awesome performance Rich!

[@BC-vj5vv]

Underrated comedy at 2.20. Face, skid, turn and wheelie.

[@greengonzonz]

Love love love the cross overs 💙

[@kyled121]

me too

[@olke85]

Impressive, just 30sec behind. This doesn't actually look very good for Rich. Rematch with Roadbikes.

[@petit_ecureuil_malin]

I really do like those featurings gcn gmbn because i literally feel like a mtb rider on a road or like a road cyclist on a mtb track, im both and either of them and feel like i dont have to be either of them, just enjoying riding So its fun, makes it closer to what a lot of people must feel with the expansion of cyclism, just enjoying riding without more questionning or having to adopt some particular social group codes or to be cliché Hope you got my point im French speaker so might be confused in english but anyway, hello from france and wish you the best 😘

[@lirastolons4951]

I love these crossover videos so much! I also think Hank is a fantastic mountain biker considering his primary discipline is road. I would like to see Manon mountain bike too 🙂

[@albullit]

Genuinely impressed with Si’s advise. Very well thought through and worded. I reckon James could do with weighting the front more though. Perhaps a few SouthernXCs for James to get in more practise :)

[@aminburke2459]

Hank the tank, the best iconic tag I can give this dude. He backs down from nothing. Good confidence.

[@martinandersson5833]

Great video guys! Hank gave a 100% as usual👏You should definitely have more races with Gmbn👍

[@spin2win721]

First it was a road bike. Then it was a emtb. Now because of you guys I’m gonna have to get a XC bike. Daym you classy influencers. Daym you!

[@footballcards2025]

Great video lads! When cycling off-road I ride hard-tail XC, most of my mates have gravel bikes. When on tarmac or very compacted gravel they have a slight advantage, but when it gets slightly loose or bumpy the benefits of the front suspension and difference it makes to speed is very noticeable. Too many routes in West Dorset involve bumpy bridleways so I'll be sticking to XC when going off-road.

[@greengonzonz]

True, I guess it's a little bit of a mind trip.... "you've got to let go to improve control" but it's totally true 👍

[@DinnerForkTongue]

In the chunk, you don't control the bike as much as you agree with 'er.

[@MEchanicAL_LSTAR]

So you’re telling us Si didn’t go for a lap? Wonder what his time was.🤔

[@Bob_Shy_132]

Sundial?

[@jessetamez7362]

The best bit was Si shaming James at letting the team and road riders down and James being appropriately shamed. Best acting in a GCN video.

[@JonathanFisherS]

These series where roadies go offroad are by far my favorite. Lets have Blake take Simon to a bike park PLEEEASSSSEEEE

[@sbabadi]

He did take him to the pump track… check gmbn :)

[@TrippyandDa]

Love it🤣🤣 I don’t understand this DB fad either. After 20 years of MTB’s I’ve predominantly ridden road bikes for the last 10 years and still have my sub 10kg 90’s Cannondale for the occasional off road adventure. The video made me think of so many things I do naturally on a bike now. Great video guys

[@augustschilling6486]

Thanks as usual for the content. You all rock. I think Hank acquitted himself very nicely here...with practice he could reduce that 32second deficit. On the downside, now I need a new MTB also.

[@neopac]

you'd guess, having to design the graphics of an integrated stem/bar, i wouldn't end up as something that reads 'urin'

[@GFClocked]

These cross-over collabs are great. I'm an mtb guy, but it's super cool to see new people get into it!

[@peatfitzpatrick4998]

I'm a MTBer and looking at that it seems Hank is already better than me. Great video and those XC bikes look amazing

[@michaelwillis4528]

Rich has got a lot of power and I suspect he would have been the best option to bring into the 4 v 1 TT before resorting to outside help. Definitely need to see more of rich getting in the drops.

[@qute13]

5:45 who needs an air dancer when you've got Si?

[@TorrentUK]

I bet if Hank had been shown how to pump on the trail he'd have taken the win. Awesome effort though! Now...let's get him to Bike Park Wales ..... :)

[@jacksharmonoquinn572]

Saw the title of the video and already figured Hank was going on a new adventure. .. I'll take that bike if you're done with it..btw Would love to see what Manon could do on a mountain bike, she's very versatile also.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

What was that other cyclist at timestamp 13:10? Was that a GMBN insider? How much time was lost?

[@scotth5038]

We picked up a rodie taking his mtn bike of the car for his first ever ride, and a little mosture on the roots. Come on Sailor we will show a good time. After 30 mins it was THIS is intense. Damn You have set up each corner, root ball and rock set. You don’t sit and pedal, no cars but low trees that will knock you off your bike, a lot of areas where you can’t see 10 feet ahead, (how sharp is the corner, whoops with a root to wheelie over). We never saw him again....Gravel ????

[@AveryAbbott]

When can we expect to see Hank's Dad out there on an eMTB?

[@AmaroqStarwind]

You guys should keep going back and forth between Road and Mountain. You'll get the best of both worlds that way; fitness AND technique. Perhaps some of the skill from mountain biking may even trickle down into your road performance, especially whenever you're riding a gravel bike.

[@raff5604]

I'm a mixed rider and though I love my road bike getting out into the forest is so much fun and it does improve my climbing and technical skills. All one of them...

[@Rqoiz]

And on the flip side, getting out on an road bike helps getting your endurance up for longer mtb-rides!

[@9090Glenn]

just ask Mathieu van der Poel - Wout van Aert - Tom Pidcock how they "stack-up" - it is clear - off-season OFF-ROAD riding makes GREAT ROADIES

[@TheCatAteMyShoe]

I've never ridden a full suspension bike before. But living in central Kansas, USA, there aren't much in the way of opportunities. Yes, we have the Flint Hills, but they're more like Gravel Racing. But then, there is Little Egypt...

[@Ropetable]

I ride road, gravel, xc, and trails, all with my leightweight xc hardtail.

[@pipolchamp8205]

put on some 2.1 fat gravel tires, put it on tubeless and you're off for an adventure.

[@Ropetable]

@@pipolchamp8205 i rock 2.1 vittoria terrenos. weighed them both at 580g each.

[@Andys_cranks]

Looks like good fun but bloody hard work, think I will stick to my Gravel bike and plodding along slowly. As for the dancing it once again proves that Hank will do anything 🤣🤣🤣

[@gazzervw]

30 plus years ago mountain bikes had no suspension, there were not many dedicated places to ride. bridleways, canals and the woods. pretty much this new unheard of before gravel riding. get out and ride what you like where you like. i love my road and mountain bike but my cross bike is my go to bike 95% of the time

[@tomjackson175]

Watching Si and Hank warm up for mountain biking by twisting and gyrating reminds me of exotic birds doing a mating dance. “Come hither! Let me lure you into my seductive world - of mountain biking.” I should not have been eating breakfast while watching this. 😅

[@kinza999]

The leaver on the handle bars is for the dropper post. You might be able to move about on the bike if you use it 😉

[@joelyons886]

@1:00 puts on glasses UNDER straps... Mountain bikers, need I say no more!

[@daviiies]

Good effort! Saw you there filming by Super Nova and you smashed my time (which is in no way surprising!) 😂

[@nightsfalling]

5:45 who else keep repeating this part? I don’t think it was just me.....😂😂😂

[@dunedin3976]

Brilliant, lots of fun. Thank you. PS I always feel that I’m watching an episode of Made in Chelsea when Hank is presenting.

[@budycelyn]

poor old hank was hamstringed in that race, i didn't see Si showing him trail pumping for free speed

[@SorinVBogdan]

Exactly, pumping is the most important thing for keeping your flow. No matter how strong/fit you are, pumping will be faster than braking and pedalling

[@kristenbrook897]

Nice floppy dance Si! Keep teaching that to all the boy mtbers out there will you, will make us MTB chicks look cooler 😁

[@BikerionMTBChile]

Found a new gif source for my whatsapp , Hank & Si doing the pre ride dance lol

[@tobynorman852]

Ngl as a mountain biker it was quite nerve racking watching Hank on those trails... but awesome to him giving mtb a go!

[@hughsemple7000]

I have never seen a mountain biker doing that arm thingy 😂 not even me

[@douglaspate9314]

Si: not only will you make a great granddad... those sunglasses killed it even though they were stuck into the back of your helmet!

[@felixkloss5667]

0:58, OH NO... Glasses under the helmet straps....

[@HAFIZzainalHZ]

You know it is gcn rider when the go pro chest angle is pointing at the handlebar the whole time. 😂

[@ThePonycat]

Holy hell when I was mountain biking we were using the 27 Wheels. Front suspension only. But then again there was the downhill mountain bikes but damn times have changed for the awesomer🤟🤙 and I would have loved to have this as a teenager because it was a pain in the ass to lower the seat manually when you eventually get to the trail. And then have to put it back up when you're finished to your favourite riding position to ride back home

[@kevinstanley3581]

In answer to the initial question just mention 'Tom Pidcock'. Superb performance in the XC race last week.

[@groenner81]

0:57 Rich, Rich Rich 🙄 Sunglasses UNDER helmet straps.. Rookiemistake 😎

[@theanimaster]

I’m a little embarrassed to say - I learned something from this video, even though I’m an XC rider who watches more GMBN than GCN! I’m a bit of an outlier though. I use my XC bike mainly on paved paths just for sheer exercise. I’m a small frame build, 5’6” 140lbs, and I ride an upgraded 9kg ProCaliber (carbon, tubeless wheel) 9.6. I figured I get max speed with my tires at 26psi.. but on recovery rides I will ride at around 24psi and still burn close to the same calories than at 26psi when “giving it everything” - yet have a very comfortable ride due to the lower psi. Someone should do a video about using XC mountain bikes as a fun exercise tool.

[@thecrowfliescrooked]

Si thanks for bringing the Bonner out 😂

[@sarcasticsaint8442]

Plothole, Hank somehow got that injured knee already at 01:30, which was supposed to happen in the next 12 minutes?

[@geoffreyfowler9198]

Those fancy Wilier XC bikes don’t have dropper posts? (They do look exquisite)

[@jagrutirathod]

There was a lot of new energy in the room tonight, and some of it was just so Rainbow Rhythms, and some of it was just so not Rainbow Rhythms 🌈😂 5:35

[@geocoupe8144]

The GCN/GMBN crossovers are always a good watch! Rematch on gravel bikes round the same course?

[@paulroelsolon]

5:34 You're Welcome 😂

[@freshturns_snowboarding]

eyyy 2 roadies goin at it on a mountain bike gotta love it

[@kippen64]

Great tips from Si.

[@rcranes2227]

Pump track is a good transition from roadie to mountain. Learn to move around on your bikes, then hit the trails!

[@jabehauber]

A gravel bike can't be beat overall when you are bridging tarmac sections with an expedient and./or fun cut through the woods. Weapon selection really depends on which surface is going to be predominant in your ride. For me, I can't seem to stay on pavement, so a gravel bike is the minimum requirement. That said, I wouldn't say no to a 10kg XC rig!

[@ltrtg13]

I'm surprised Rich didn't say something like. "If Hank thinks I look like Mark Wahlberg, I'll go along with that".

[@gulfcitynd]

All the more reason I own a polygon premier 5 great for riding in the woods

[@egutzait]

"Why don't you just ride XC mountain bikes" because equivalently priced XC mountain bikes are 2-3 kg heavier. *I may have 10-15kg to lose around the mid-section but those 2-3kg are super important or something

[@ltrtg13]

Is Hank v Rich going to be another series like the GCN v Si? How about seeing Hank v Rich in a full length XCO race. Add a few extra racers so it's not just 2 riders. Maybe about 20 for extra excitement and tension.

[@Hardcaslte]

Weird sound effects, lol. Whenever something happens, no matter how small, for me it's hup hop hup hup hup hop hap huh hah hop huh hup.

[@oscarcaruso204]

His effort was EXCELLENT!

[@2scoops624]

5:45 I think I'm all loosey goosey after watching that dance. Now I need a wet wipe.

[@Si_B_Cumbria]

Do Si’s glasses double up as a solar panel when plugged in to the back of his helmet? Great for phone charging etc 😂

[@clintnieves]

Oh no Hank is converting 😅✌🏼

[@2darkdragon]

cant wait for the day i see a video titled, "SPECIAL GUEST: DURIANRIDER"

[@b-horu7452]

“I can always sabotage his bike” *Proceeds to attempt to unthread caliper mounting bolts by hand*

[@riffmeisterkl]

Give him a dropper post :)

[@williambowen8211]

Hank was within 3%, time wise. Pretty impressive for a bleeding rider!