Ride feel is very important, but maybe there are a thousand different variables other than bicycle design: wheels, tires, saddle, seatpost, handlebar geometry, etc., etc. ……. But sure, it’s definitely all down to the frame.😂
100% ride feel rider, Reynolds 853 tubes made exactly for my measurements by a local builder, not stiff but not noodly parts, latest tires, latest 3D printed saddles. If its stiff, carbon or disposable doesn't make the cut.
Foreword - I think of cycling first as transport, not as sport. Sport cyclists have slightly different priorities to transport cyclists who just want to get A to B. That said... Lukas touched on this briefly but there's a key to bicycle comfort that really needs to be forefront in this discussion. Let's nerd out for a minute on springs. A bicycle is basically just lots of springs in series. From the ground to your sensitive bits we have tires, rims, nipples, spokes, hubs, bearings, axles, frame, seatpost and saddle. All of these are springs and will flex under different loads. The key that must be remembered is that when you have springs of vastly different spring rates (like our tires and frame) the stiffer spring will not flex really at all until the softer spring has completely maxed out its travel. For a better understanding of what's going on we can simplify this situation to just two springs and just imagine a really small soft spring that you can flex with your fingers sat on top of a big truck axle spring. That big axle spring won't flex (noticeably) until you max the travel on the small spring. The same is true of our tires and frame. TLDR upgrade your tires, make sure they're wide enough, make sure they're at the right pressure, and don't worry about your frame. For more nerding out check out a couple of other youtube videos: "Why It's Impossible For Steel Frames To Be More Comfortable Than Aluminium" by CYCLINGABOUT and "Vertical Frame Compliance Is A LIE??" by The Bike Sauce
Cycling About sells 9000 dollar belt drive Aluminum bikes. It's a myth that you can't tell the difference between carbon, steel and Alu on 32mm and smaller road size tires. It's also a myth that seat post length is more important than this. I'd only listen to that guy if you are planning on running super wide tires and touring bikes, even then I'd rather have a proper Audax bike over one of his setups.
Let's say everything you say is true. Why does my 1980s steel frame Giant Superlite ride so much nicer (I'm not saying faster) than brand new aluminium or carbon fibre bikes?
Alex has become my favourite GCN presenter after that amazing Colnago Steelnovo video (yeah and the Ferrari too). He's done a great job here as well. Keep going mate!
Would be interesting to do this video together with GMBN. Despite going as fast as possible is the goal on both sides, the ideas on handling are very different.
I've always taken it that there's a broadly inverse relationship between speed and comfort. Out of my 3 bikes, my folding bike "feels" the most fun and relaxing to ride. also I love the acceleration and edginess of the 20" wheels. It's also by far the slowest.
As ever, we're told about high end bikes that the pros ride. How about a video about how a bike feels for the average middle aged non-skinny person who averages 13-16mph on a 40-60 mile ride? I know too many people still ride the wrong bike because they think they want lightness or speed, but most of the people I know have accepted that they actually need something more suited to the riding they do. Can we have more videos for these people, or are we in the minority of viewers and those videos would tank?
I had a bike custom made for me in 2014 and it was fine but I never thought I was at my best. Then I decided to splurge and buy a Specialized Roubaix Pro. OMG!!!! Night and day. I LOVE my Roubaix as it feels so good I can ride faster and much longer. I had tried 8 different bikes before settling in that one.
Really interesting. I had no real knowledge when I bought my bike. I will be trying to get a new one past the 'fun police' soon. So great to have some better insight now:)
@ well for a man which copious amounts of cranks and I assume different lengths , I wonder if a more heel down style would allow you to get more forward / lower as your hip angle would be different. Not a criticism, just different .
@@Gixer750pilot Everyone's crank supply has its limits, including mine! Potentially yes, but I just find this is my style. That's not to say it's the best setup, but more a personal preference.
@ I know. It’s just an observation . I know Si is very similar . I know when I had a bike fit years ago I was the same and was told to drop my heel . To reduce the hip angle .
I believe we as consumers are "told" how a bike feels, we then go ride it with that pre-conception in our heads and our brain adapts our feeling to that of the pre-conception. It's exactly the same as a Radio DJ telling us what a hit record is. It's been going on for years! Advertising and Marketing! I hear it all the time on the social ride, lads sound biting the media when talking about how their bike feels to ride. This happens with tyres, group sets and so on. I'm a bit stubborn in that respect and will take my time to decide how my new bike feels and make my judgement. One thing is for sure though, above say £300 there are no bad bicycles anymore. Generally they're all great to ride.
As much as I agree that a lot of those explanations how a product supposedly feels or behaves is marketing speak, I think that it still highly depends who is telling this information. There are quite reputable sources that are knowledgeable and reliable in their assertions. So this info can be very helpful with a purchasing decision. To some extent I also count GCN (especially Tech) to this category, although I feel like you have to be more and more careful, if it's not just a video that's an ad here. One last thought: some people really need to be told, how some product feels, because they are just too stuck up to decide by themselves if they like a thing or why they would or would not like it.
@colorona8456 absolutely! I wasn't stating my point in a negative sense. More a "it's the way it is" sense! 😊 I first realised what people were saying was media tainted when they started riding tubeless tyres and couldn't quite explain in their own words how they felt so they used sound bites from things they'd heard on TH-cam! 😂 But it goes on and on. A friend of mine tried and tried to convince me electronic groupsets are the best things since sliced bread! But everything he said literally came off the shimano advertising for the groupset he was riding! 😂 I guess you only notice these things if you watch and read a lot about bikes/cycling yourself. 😂 My new bike has electronic gears but to be honest well looked after 105 mechanical gears are fine. The benefits definitely do not out weigh the extra cost.
She's gone. In July 2024 she said ''After an incredible four and a half years with Global Cycling Network, it's time for me to turn the page to the next chapter in my book.''
Has Mr. Lucas ever engineered a bike with the geometry and materials that he wanted and for some reason, that doesn't make sense, had that bike fail in its goals?
Yes yes we know you’re upset and crying. Join the club of constant complainers in GCN comments. You’d think GCN owned and ran every bike brand with how much nagging goes on
I love my Aeroad, but the seat stays and seat post are so stiff, it kills me on long rides. So I bought an Sworks 🤣. I still love my Aeroad though so it's not going anywhere. I'll still use it for Crits, but for longer rides and road races, it will be the SL8. It's so much more comfortable and light.
"feel... the forgotten metric no-one is talking about..." ??? What do you mean? There are many who ride solely on 'feel', who don't use power meters or head units because they're a distraction. It's why many don't ride modern bikes that need fat tyres and low tyre pressures to mask some truly terrible riding characteristics. And it's why rim brake bikes are held in such high esteem by those who place a premium on 'feel'. So no, riding on 'feel' isn't forgotten, not even close.
How much do you focus on ride feel? 🚴❤ What did you think of this conversation with Canyon?
Ride feel is very important, but maybe there are a thousand different variables other than bicycle design: wheels, tires, saddle, seatpost, handlebar geometry, etc., etc. …….
But sure, it’s definitely all down to the frame.😂
100% ride feel rider, Reynolds 853 tubes made exactly for my measurements by a local builder, not stiff but not noodly parts, latest tires, latest 3D printed saddles. If its stiff, carbon or disposable doesn't make the cut.
Just avoid modern bikes and be happy
For me its all about the handlebar tape
1st and foremost the color, as long as it is blue ...
Foreword - I think of cycling first as transport, not as sport. Sport cyclists have slightly different priorities to transport cyclists who just want to get A to B. That said...
Lukas touched on this briefly but there's a key to bicycle comfort that really needs to be forefront in this discussion. Let's nerd out for a minute on springs. A bicycle is basically just lots of springs in series. From the ground to your sensitive bits we have tires, rims, nipples, spokes, hubs, bearings, axles, frame, seatpost and saddle. All of these are springs and will flex under different loads. The key that must be remembered is that when you have springs of vastly different spring rates (like our tires and frame) the stiffer spring will not flex really at all until the softer spring has completely maxed out its travel. For a better understanding of what's going on we can simplify this situation to just two springs and just imagine a really small soft spring that you can flex with your fingers sat on top of a big truck axle spring. That big axle spring won't flex (noticeably) until you max the travel on the small spring. The same is true of our tires and frame.
TLDR upgrade your tires, make sure they're wide enough, make sure they're at the right pressure, and don't worry about your frame.
For more nerding out check out a couple of other youtube videos:
"Why It's Impossible For Steel Frames To Be More Comfortable Than Aluminium" by CYCLINGABOUT
and "Vertical Frame Compliance Is A LIE??" by The Bike Sauce
Cycling About sells 9000 dollar belt drive Aluminum bikes. It's a myth that you can't tell the difference between carbon, steel and Alu on 32mm and smaller road size tires.
It's also a myth that seat post length is more important than this. I'd only listen to that guy if you are planning on running super wide tires and touring bikes, even then I'd rather have a proper Audax bike over one of his setups.
Let's say everything you say is true. Why does my 1980s steel frame Giant Superlite ride so much nicer (I'm not saying faster) than brand new aluminium or carbon fibre bikes?
That was a great video, cheers Alex!
Thanks John, glad you enjoyed it
Alex has become my favourite GCN presenter after that amazing Colnago Steelnovo video (yeah and the Ferrari too). He's done a great job here as well. Keep going mate!
Thanks very much!
Would be interesting to do this video together with GMBN. Despite going as fast as possible is the goal on both sides, the ideas on handling are very different.
I've always taken it that there's a broadly inverse relationship between speed and comfort. Out of my 3 bikes, my folding bike "feels" the most fun and relaxing to ride. also I love the acceleration and edginess of the 20" wheels. It's also by far the slowest.
As ever, we're told about high end bikes that the pros ride. How about a video about how a bike feels for the average middle aged non-skinny person who averages 13-16mph on a 40-60 mile ride?
I know too many people still ride the wrong bike because they think they want lightness or speed, but most of the people I know have accepted that they actually need something more suited to the riding they do. Can we have more videos for these people, or are we in the minority of viewers and those videos would tank?
Fun to hear about the way an engineer thinks about bike design. Thanks for this video.
Hand built, bespoke frames. You can't beat them.🇬🇧😃👍
Scam
I had a bike custom made for me in 2014 and it was fine but I never thought I was at my best. Then I decided to splurge and buy a Specialized Roubaix Pro. OMG!!!! Night and day. I LOVE my Roubaix as it feels so good I can ride faster and much longer. I had tried 8 different bikes before settling in that one.
Interesting, where was your custom frame made?
Carbon's problem is it lasts forever. If you make it you need to deal with recycling it.
Great video.
I thought the answer would be color but I'm fine with it being ride feel, that's mellow. 😀
Can't believe I missed that key aspect!!
Really interesting.
I had no real knowledge when I bought my bike. I will be trying to get a new one past the 'fun police' soon. So great to have some better insight now:)
That bit at the end really shows Alex’s toe down riding style when coming up over the top of the stroke . Interesting
Thanks for noticing, what do you find interesting about it?
@ well for a man which copious amounts of cranks and I assume different lengths , I wonder if a more heel down style would allow you to get more forward / lower as your hip angle would be different. Not a criticism, just different .
@@Gixer750pilot Everyone's crank supply has its limits, including mine! Potentially yes, but I just find this is my style. That's not to say it's the best setup, but more a personal preference.
@ I know. It’s just an observation . I know Si is very similar . I know when I had a bike fit years ago I was the same and was told to drop my heel . To reduce the hip angle .
I believe we as consumers are "told" how a bike feels, we then go ride it with that pre-conception in our heads and our brain adapts our feeling to that of the pre-conception. It's exactly the same as a Radio DJ telling us what a hit record is. It's been going on for years! Advertising and Marketing! I hear it all the time on the social ride, lads sound biting the media when talking about how their bike feels to ride. This happens with tyres, group sets and so on. I'm a bit stubborn in that respect and will take my time to decide how my new bike feels and make my judgement. One thing is for sure though, above say £300 there are no bad bicycles anymore. Generally they're all great to ride.
As much as I agree that a lot of those explanations how a product supposedly feels or behaves is marketing speak, I think that it still highly depends who is telling this information.
There are quite reputable sources that are knowledgeable and reliable in their assertions. So this info can be very helpful with a purchasing decision.
To some extent I also count GCN (especially Tech) to this category, although I feel like you have to be more and more careful, if it's not just a video that's an ad here.
One last thought: some people really need to be told, how some product feels, because they are just too stuck up to decide by themselves if they like a thing or why they would or would not like it.
@colorona8456 absolutely! I wasn't stating my point in a negative sense. More a "it's the way it is" sense! 😊 I first realised what people were saying was media tainted when they started riding tubeless tyres and couldn't quite explain in their own words how they felt so they used sound bites from things they'd heard on TH-cam! 😂 But it goes on and on. A friend of mine tried and tried to convince me electronic groupsets are the best things since sliced bread! But everything he said literally came off the shimano advertising for the groupset he was riding! 😂 I guess you only notice these things if you watch and read a lot about bikes/cycling yourself. 😂 My new bike has electronic gears but to be honest well looked after 105 mechanical gears are fine. The benefits definitely do not out weigh the extra cost.
What's happened to Manon Lloyd?
She's gone. In July 2024 she said ''After an incredible four and a half years with Global Cycling Network, it's time for me to turn the page to the next chapter in my book.''
😂😂 here we go again
She works for Eurosport on their cycling coverage now, or at least did for the TDFF and other races around that time.
Can we also get a video taking a look at Alex’s Ferrari and why it rides so well?
Why does the Presenter (sorry Im bad with names) look so much like the beever Plush thats sat on the Pinarello frame Chainstay in the background?!! xD
at 2:44 you have left the lights on. im guessing you must feel like a millionaire after selling all of those dura ace cranks
Roadies slowly finding out MTB riders might have some valuable knowledge about bicycles :D
Has Mr. Lucas ever engineered a bike with the geometry and materials that he wanted and for some reason, that doesn't make sense, had that bike fail in its goals?
Nice AD so far.
The ‘most important aspect of bike design’ is to invent a new ‘must have’ item to flog to customers who bought last years ‘must have’ item.
Yes yes we know you’re upset and crying. Join the club of constant complainers in GCN comments. You’d think GCN owned and ran every bike brand with how much nagging goes on
Where is the orange pinarello?
They moved to a different room, my guess is pinarello wanted it back?
It's on the wall behind Cuthbert with a stuffed animal in the rear triangle
just another 22 mins long commercial :-(
I am waiting for 22 mins of interview with elite wheels and why they have great products. 🙃
Great Ride Feel in my Fairlight Secan steel frame
Grape Smugglers
ENDURANCE BIKE 😂
I love my Aeroad, but the seat stays and seat post are so stiff, it kills me on long rides. So I bought an Sworks 🤣. I still love my Aeroad though so it's not going anywhere. I'll still use it for Crits, but for longer rides and road races, it will be the SL8. It's so much more comfortable and light.
"feel... the forgotten metric no-one is talking about..." ???
What do you mean? There are many who ride solely on 'feel', who don't use power meters or head units because they're a distraction.
It's why many don't ride modern bikes that need fat tyres and low tyre pressures to mask some truly terrible riding characteristics.
And it's why rim brake bikes are held in such high esteem by those who place a premium on 'feel'.
So no, riding on 'feel' isn't forgotten, not even close.
Your ear is the center of balance. Where is the center of the bike's balance? I know, but bike designers do not.
Enjoyable video but wow those Canyon's aren't the best looking,you can't beat a classic steel road bike in terms of character and looks.
God it’s nice to hear engineers explaining physics - hopefully it should silence a few of the idiots…
Well it didn't prevent you from bleating 🤣
Ohnononono, no. The most secured secret of bike industry are investors and beneficiaries.
Round water bottle NOT aero. Head tube not aero. Fork stays not aero. Brakes not aero. Disc brakes not necessary and not aero and heavy
am i the first comment:D?
Yes! 🎉