I would. And guess what? I'd bring some food with me and I'd advance check the weather forecast. 😅 Well done Alex! @GCN you need to send Alex on more Tours.
For the company, support and food, I'd absolutely do it that way. It also looks to be a good price when compared with the Haute Route rides. They've kept it in the range of what most are willing to pay to ride it with friends, which matters because the value is in the ethos when it comes to gravel.
100% yes! This looks like how MTB marathons used to be when I was racing. Nice people not going after every second, having a chat. Great race. Could be a goal for next year.
This looks like fun but when Laurence said the 160 Kms was plenty tough enough to Alex before the start I think someone may have had a subconscious change of plan 🤔🤔🤔🤪
I always appreciate the advertisers who help fund special trips and vids like this, and I cheer that Canyon has released an aluminum Grizl for riders who want a new gravel bike with less cash outlay than for a carbon model, no knock on the pricier bikes.
Alex, I can't believe that you actually got paid to ride an event like this. It looks like you had a wonderful time. Great riding, great countryside, great food, great people. I'm totally jealous.
That was lovely! I enjoyed your enjoyment...especially how much you seemed to enjoy meeting various people along the way. (I don't think I've ever seen such anticipation for the mid-day burger! Good tip for keeping the coupon safe.)
Great ride Alex. Gravel riding is my favourite type of riding. Glad to see this content on GCN. Getting a bit cold here in Canada, so plans for some gravel rides next year are definitely in the works. Hoping for a new gravel bike as well. Thanks GCN for the excellent video. Would love to see more of this type of rides. Well done Alex.
Thank you Alex...for sharing that , and showing your , uh , route corrections . I used to run a lot and have had similar experiences , unfamiliar roads , and crashed an office picnic once ! Peace
I would have ridden Flanders Gravel, but I already rode the 136Km "We Ride Flanders" event only a few weeks previously (COVID meant that even though RVV was in April the sportive was on 18 September) so I wasn't ready for another load of Bergs just yet... But this was a great video and I'll certainly sign up for FG next year rather than We Ride Flanders!
You probably enjoyed it more doing the shorter route. As I am aging... much older than you Alex, I have gone to the medio routes instead of the long ones... I finish without feeling like crap and enjoy it more. Gravel is great...just starting doing those rides in the US where I live... Great video Alex... you are a naturally nice guy who is enjoyable to watch.
Let's think about this In a country where I don't know the route or terrain, I'd be inclined to download the route onto the head-unit. Maybe next time . . . But then again this is Belgium so I would not over think it, the head-unit might be useful to find the quickest route to finish sooner and sample their beers.
All spares in a bottle and into the bottle holder. Never thought of this before. Thank you GCN! Just finished a 600 BRM four days ago, hands still numb. Can we have a video on tips to prevent such discomforts?
Wanted to do it, but took my Grail (perfect cobbles bike) to the Roubaix Challenge a week before. Will have to do it next time, looks like an awesome event! Cobbles, bergs AND gravel, what more could you ask for!
the tour looks nice. The cobble seems not too bad, considering where I do my normal food delivery riding in Leipzig. Cobbles here are terrible, I sometimes laugh about the "brutal" Roubaix Gravel that always gets talked about
Looks like a great time, even enough time to stop for a picnic. That's my kind of race. The only bike I have to do it on is my Felt F65X cyclocross bike, maybe someday I'll fit it with a GRX groupset.
We can sort you out some cobbles (Alston) and a 160km route (take the elite course) if you do the Haydon Hundred Sportive on June 11th 2022. Oh, yeah... there's also five of the six biggest cols in England, some of which always feature on the Tour of Britain. Just be thankful we don't include Great Dun Fell as well 'cos it's a one way road up to the weather station. It's all on road, the views are truly spectacular, and entries open New Year's Day. No copping off 40 km short though...
This was great, really enjoyed it. Nice to see an event for fun versus racing. The "accidental cake" segment made me think it was a good thing Alex did this ride instead of Hank!. Wish I could ride events like this.
Oh Alex! I can't believe you drove there and didn't take some breakfast things. We always took rolled oats when travelling globally to Ironman races. You can find milk and sugar or water and salt anywhere. Guaranteed good carb fuelling. I was to have ridden in Oudenaarde in June 2020 but we all know what happened then! Soon, soon.
Alex, great video and perspective. Sadly I would have been annoyed by your cheery disposition and doughboy smile while slogging though for my fastest time. LOL!
My experience is every bike ride is a race even if it is a Sunday morning club ride. But not for Alex. He enjoyed himself. That is the sort of riding that looks very attractive to me. I wish my mates would slow down and just have a good time.
How long was Alex off-course when he realized he was doing a shortcut? Surely he could have turn back to correct his course. No more beer for you, Alex. Lol
@@apm9507 That's actually a good race concept I'd like to participate, not that we're not doing it with our regular cafe rides, minus the beer, the beer comes last.
I tried to open the links from Komoot but it tells me the tours are private. Will this change in the near future, because what else is the point of linking them?
Interesting... Alex's initial mistake only shaved 20 km off the ride, so apparently he also accidentally missed the other two splits to make it 120 km... Btw, I love this video. I thought I knew the Flemish Ardennes like the back of my hand, but didn't know half of those gravel roads
Would you ride the gravel Tour of Flanders? Let us know in the comments! 👇
Its funny that you do all kinds of "How to eat properly" videos an then you start such a race with such a breakfast :D
I would. And guess what? I'd bring some food with me and I'd advance check the weather forecast. 😅 Well done Alex! @GCN you need to send Alex on more Tours.
For the company, support and food, I'd absolutely do it that way. It also looks to be a good price when compared with the Haute Route rides. They've kept it in the range of what most are willing to pay to ride it with friends, which matters because the value is in the ethos when it comes to gravel.
@@MrAndi1281 The burger for lunch would have killed me. No chance of continuing.
The routes on Komoot, they are Private ... :-(
Alex “accidentally” gate-crashing a family picnic in pursuit of cake was just incredible 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Coincidence or conspiracy, I suspect conspiracy 😀😃🤘.
It was Cake. We all would have done it.
And accidentally cutting the ride short 😝
100% yes! This looks like how MTB marathons used to be when I was racing. Nice people not going after every second, having a chat. Great race. Could be a goal for next year.
This looks like fun but when Laurence said the 160 Kms was plenty tough enough to Alex before the start I think someone may have had a subconscious change of plan 🤔🤔🤔🤪
Now I know what this Canyon bar is for. Thank you Alex for finally explaining this to us.
18:14 - thats Jasper Verkuijl. He used that exact image on Strava.
elite rider.. one of the best
I always appreciate the advertisers who help fund special trips and vids like this, and I cheer that Canyon has released an aluminum Grizl for riders who want a new gravel bike with less cash outlay than for a carbon model, no knock on the pricier bikes.
Thanks for taking me along - I loved the content particularly as I cycled in Flanders for 7 years covering similar trials every weekend - fabulous!
I've never previously thought of gate-crashing other people's picnics whilst out on a ride, but if GCN can do it! I will too 🤣🍰
Alex, I can't believe that you actually got paid to ride an event like this. It looks like you had a wonderful time. Great riding, great countryside, great food, great people. I'm totally jealous.
We all were too here at GCN Mega-Base!
Superb performance, Alex. Congratulations!!! 🍻🍻🍻
That was lovely! I enjoyed your enjoyment...especially how much you seemed to enjoy meeting various people along the way. (I don't think I've ever seen such anticipation for the mid-day burger! Good tip for keeping the coupon safe.)
Great video Alex. Definitely presented a realistic view of how most people experience a sportive. Look forward to more like this from you 🙂
Thanks David, Glad you enjoyed it!
Great ride Alex. Gravel riding is my favourite type of riding. Glad to see this content on GCN. Getting a bit cold here in Canada, so plans for some gravel rides next year are definitely in the works. Hoping for a new gravel bike as well. Thanks GCN for the excellent video. Would love to see more of this type of rides. Well done Alex.
Well done GCN! Alex is genuine fun, he fits in with us cyclist that love riding and don’t take ourselves too serious.
Thank you Alex...for sharing that , and showing your , uh , route corrections . I used to run a lot and have had similar experiences , unfamiliar roads , and crashed an office picnic once ! Peace
I would have ridden Flanders Gravel, but I already rode the 136Km "We Ride Flanders" event only a few weeks previously (COVID meant that even though RVV was in April the sportive was on 18 September) so I wasn't ready for another load of Bergs just yet... But this was a great video and I'll certainly sign up for FG next year rather than We Ride Flanders!
I would love to ride there one day.
Our favorite cycling fanatic Jasper at 18:14!
Jasper spotted 18:15 🤙🏻
You probably enjoyed it more doing the shorter route. As I am aging... much older than you Alex, I have gone to the medio routes instead of the long ones... I finish without feeling like crap and enjoy it more. Gravel is great...just starting doing those rides in the US where I live... Great video Alex... you are a naturally nice guy who is enjoyable to watch.
This has just reminded me how much I miss cycling in Flanders. Can’t wait to go back next year.
Congratulations Alex! Thank you for giving us a great video to watch!
Riding for fun..Alex, I like this king of ride. You can push a lot or having fun and take time for great looking view. 👏👏👏
Calmly lopping 40km off the distance is the sort of thing that I would be guilty of.
Let's think about this In a country where I don't know the route or terrain, I'd be inclined to download the route onto the head-unit. Maybe next time . . .
But then again this is Belgium so I would not over think it, the head-unit might be useful to find the quickest route to finish sooner and sample their beers.
Yes. This plus his cake smash and grab were two class moments.
Excellent video. Anytime GCN goes to Flanders I love them.
Also, you add in in LTD and the Lotto boys. BONUS! Great vid Alex.
As a Canadian with Flemish origins, I really enjoyed this, thanks. I think I'll bring the gravel bike with me next time I visit the family.
Missing turns through chatting, nicking peoples picnics....That's our Alex!
after months of talking smack about ollie getting dropping, alex finds himself getting dropped out of an entire CATEGORY by himself
Alex, your best presentation yet, right up your alley.
Very fun to watch. Looks like a great event.
Nice job Alex, relaxed racing attitude. thumbs up.
Enjoyed the whole thing. It looked like great fun as well as an interesting ride.
7:45: are those cob webs coming off the top tube of the Canyon? Did Flanders have a silk worm problem?
Trust me it’s better making the mistake that way around (speaking from painful experience) Great video. You’re a natural.
Beautiful. I never realized the Flandrian countryside was so beautiful. I
All spares in a bottle and into the bottle holder. Never thought of this before. Thank you GCN!
Just finished a 600 BRM four days ago, hands still numb. Can we have a video on tips to prevent such discomforts?
Finally! The true reason for Canyon's awkward handlebar design revealed! Thanks, Alex!
Great video Alex, very informative , looks like a stunning event.
Lovely to recognize all these places and streets as a Flandrien ;)
Taking it easy, enjoying myself.... OOoo, Lotto riders to chase.
That looked like a lot of fun. Excellent video, well done.
Looks like a blast. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Right when I thought GCN content couldn't get better, it gets better.
This sure looks like fun, might be there next time
Wanted to do it, but took my Grail (perfect cobbles bike) to the Roubaix Challenge a week before. Will have to do it next time, looks like an awesome event! Cobbles, bergs AND gravel, what more could you ask for!
Wow, what a ride 👍
As for the "autotuner used as an instrument" effect on some of the stock music 17:08 . Please! That is the sound of triathlon 😜
Well done Alex that was great !
the tour looks nice. The cobble seems not too bad, considering where I do my normal food delivery riding in Leipzig. Cobbles here are terrible, I sometimes laugh about the "brutal" Roubaix Gravel that always gets talked about
Looks like a great time, even enough time to stop for a picnic. That's my kind of race. The only bike I have to do it on is my Felt F65X cyclocross bike, maybe someday I'll fit it with a GRX groupset.
18:13 ma guy Jasper looking clean there 🤙🤙
Looked like a beautiful ride and enjoying it at a fun pace is how I'd go.
18:13 That's Mr Jasper Verkuijl. In a GCN video! I wonder when will he release his own video about the event.
What's up Cycling Fanatics! 😃
@@jasonboring6429 What's up guys, What's up cycling ffffffffffffffffffffffffanatics!
Awesome video and Alex might be the most natural presenter on GCN imho
Wonderful way to enjoy the Flandrian experience
Awesome video I loved it, but FYI the Komoot routes are set to private and unavailable.
We can sort you out some cobbles (Alston) and a 160km route (take the elite course) if you do the Haydon Hundred Sportive on June 11th 2022. Oh, yeah... there's also five of the six biggest cols in England, some of which always feature on the Tour of Britain. Just be thankful we don't include Great Dun Fell as well 'cos it's a one way road up to the weather station. It's all on road, the views are truly spectacular, and entries open New Year's Day. No copping off 40 km short though...
Absolutely. This looks sick af! Thank you for sharing.
Glad you like it!
ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO TRY THIS BUT on my school steel bike ,set up for gravel of course :) not the fancy kit you got but l m sure what l got will do !!
This was great, really enjoyed it. Nice to see an event for fun versus racing. The "accidental cake" segment made me think it was a good thing Alex did this ride instead of Hank!. Wish I could ride events like this.
Oh Alex! I can't believe you drove there and didn't take some breakfast things. We always took rolled oats when travelling globally to Ironman races. You can find milk and sugar or water and salt anywhere. Guaranteed good carb fuelling. I was to have ridden in Oudenaarde in June 2020 but we all know what happened then! Soon, soon.
Alex, great video and perspective. Sadly I would have been annoyed by your cheery disposition and doughboy smile while slogging though for my fastest time. LOL!
Haha the picnic was so funny how nice of them to give you cake
My experience is every bike ride is a race even if it is a Sunday morning club ride. But not for Alex. He enjoyed himself. That is the sort of riding that looks very attractive to me. I wish my mates would slow down and just have a good time.
I love that Alex just abandoned the plan and rode for the vibes instead ahahah. That’s how I approach life and sometimes there’s free cake involved
Loved the video!
Ah cool Alex, you visited my colleagues of the Shimano Experience center in Valkenburg. well worth a trip ;)
You guys are fantastic all the way around🥳🥳🥳🥳🤩🤩🤩😃😃😃😃
The link to the routes are marked as private. Is there something wrong? Great video by the way.
Nice one Alex. You missed the turn for the Lon bourse, but not the sniff of cake. Beware picnickers of Bath 😂
How long was Alex off-course when he realized he was doing a shortcut? Surely he could have turn back to correct his course. No more beer for you, Alex. Lol
Maybe more beer would help? I would love to watch a gravel bike race from brewery to brewery while sampling local foods.
@@apm9507 That's actually a good race concept I'd like to participate, not that we're not doing it with our regular cafe rides, minus the beer, the beer comes last.
Closeup shot of the chain in action looked like the clutch wasn’t engaged.
How did you get the orange color Canyon???
Komoot routes are set to private, any chance they can be shared so I can obsess over them?
Thanks for pointing this out, we'll get that sorted!
I rode the parcours today and I have to say that some parts are not made for a gravel bike. Some parts have loads of mud or big gaps in the surface.
16:40 .. Alex doing a piece to camera about how hard the final climb was , in the background are 2 people pushing prams up it
“I’ve just climbed out of bed” 😂
Favourite part of the ride was when you “accidentally” lopped off 40km’s. Looked like a beautiful and fun ride, cheers
I tried to open the links from Komoot but it tells me the tours are private. Will this change in the near future, because what else is the point of linking them?
Pub piece of this would be fun. Worrying about doing a face plant in gravel not fun. I just can't get used to riding gravel/uneven surfaces like that.
This event is my idea of heaven. Gravel and cobbles 😍😍
Hi, i think you guys forgot to make the komoot tours public...
I could not access them.
Nice ride!!!
16:27 The camera cut away on the Koppenberg just before Alex was passed by a woman pushing a baby stroller.
Nice video!
What computer mount is that?
It does not look like Canyons model.
Wishing we had more events like this in Texas, USA
Interesting... Alex's initial mistake only shaved 20 km off the ride, so apparently he also accidentally missed the other two splits to make it 120 km... Btw, I love this video. I thought I knew the Flemish Ardennes like the back of my hand, but didn't know half of those gravel roads
A really great and inspiring video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Send Alex back next year to do 160 km race.
Cheers Alex!
Hey, the komoot tours linked are marked private. Can you please unlock them? :)
hey! if you could be bothered to respond... What's the storage container you showed back in the beginning of the video before the race started??
I most certainly can be bothered to reply, its a Topeak storage bottle, one of my fav accessories
@@GCNalex thank you!!
Gravel ride with epic cobble climbs...perfect.
Hopefully next year 👍👍
Looks like a great event
10:30 now in the US that would have been an F-250 dually spewing diesel smoke 🇺🇸🙂.
Is it me or the music choice is not right? Awesome ride. Laurens and Florian!
Did you guys see the older ladies at 15:52? They're probably out there perving on all the in-shape dudes on bikes. 😅😅
Cobbles, Cake, Gravel, to the level of your smile.
What is the slevless top O was wearing
That was a lot longer than Alex’s usual one hour rides 🤣🤣🤣