I Rode A $17,000 Bike The Length Of The Alps
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2023
- Crossing the Alps, climbing the legendary Madeleine, the Télégraphe, the Galibier, Col d'Izoard, the Col de Vars & the Cime de la Bonette! No more legendary 480km of riding & 12000m of climbing?! From Lake Annecy to Menton on the Mediterranean, Si took on the Inferno!
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Which epic rides are on your cycling bucket list? Big or small, we'd love to know 👇
That one is too big for me Si , Ive started training with the thought of maybe
its my last time to do the Etape .... 2024 might be it. When I built my bike for
my second Etape I knew the weight of every component , I even knew I could
save a few grams with some Titanium bolts. My Scot Addict was perfect,
Ultegra Di2 weighing in @ 6.8kgs ready to roll, thats how marginal I thought
my attempt would be. I would be surprised if your bike was under 7.8kgs
while sounding not much extra , over such distances and climbs it really
makes a difference.
Amazing result with a 4th finish very well done ......... Thankfully I'm far too
old to even consider that event !!!
Sella Ronda is my bucket list ride. Really want to see those Dolomite views, and the Stelvio
Hardknopp Pass just been the Lakes and walked up it and yes I need to peddle it , walked up Scalfell pike which was amazing 🤩
The Fred Whitton - I've done the first half of the route as far as Braithwaite, but need a step up in fitness (& maybe some lower gears?!?) to do the full loop.
Mauna Kea climb in Hawaii is my bucket list ride sea level to 4200m
I can't believe Si was able to squeeze those glasses through those narrow roads! 😂
This should be the comment of the week!
I have those same ones 😅
Wow u killed it
Top comment.
I need to know what brand and model these are 😍 can someone tell me please?
What a week for GCN epics!! Ollie's Tour de Stations, Mark and Hank's remotest pub ride, and now Si's Inferno. Chapeau to the camera crews for capturing all of these!
It's been epic! What and where shall we go next? 🤔
You should invite random viewers to join you on some of those adventures 👀👀😊
@@gcncome to India and do the Manali to Leh route, crossing 5 high altitude passes starting at 3 over 5,000 m and other 2 over or nearly 4,000m.
Alas, non Indians are not allowed to “Umling La” (highest motorable pass). But you can go to “Khardung La”, now the second highest motorable pass.
@@gcnPico Veleta....the highest paved road in Europe. 43km at 6.2% or 30km @ 7.8%. Tops out at 3400 metres. For real torture come in August and start at 40 Celsius in Granada City.
@@gcnThe Rockies in Colorado would make for an epic ride with any of the GCN presenters
As a disabled person then just to ride a bike again is bucket list for me. Don't take any ride for granted and enjoy every moment!
Hope that you do get to ride again !
You are so right
Seeing how much Si was suffering in this one makes Ollie´s 1000km ride in Switzerland look even more mind blowing... Well done both 👏
What is it?
Both smashed it! 💪
@@oumtaha3834 This is Ollie's epic ultra! 👉czcams.com/video/dpa9FZHOdwY/video.htmlsi=Bx4g4FWscZSgth77
Totally. There must be some serious training behind the scenes for the presenters lately.
Also, what about the woman finishing 3rd overall!? Now that is a feat!
they are all serious cyclists. most of all ex pro's...@@nluisa
Si is just the best. I love how he presents, his passion for riding and his ability to make me want to get on my bike. Well done Si, keep being epic
I bumped in to Si at the top of the Col de Galibier while he was doing the Inferno and have to say what a bloody lovely chap he was. Bearing in mind the mileage he'd ridden that morning and how tired he was, he took the time to chat with me and take an interest in my ride and explain to me what he was doing that day (and the next day) and laugh at the fact that we'd bumped into one another at the top of a mountain in France even though we both live not too far from one another in Bristol!...Also, I couldn't help noticing that his ankles don't look that fat in real life!
I can’t comprend how someone can manage to climb only one of those hills, let alone all of them, and ride for that many hours for that many days. I’m just back cycling after a 40 years break at 58 and just riding a 40k on a flat surface is a challenge. Starting 2 months ago I have 630km done with a goal of 1000km for the summer. And If I do that it would be like an ultimate goal for me turning 59. So watching you ride those hills is something out of this world for me. But I ll get better with time for sure. Thanks for the inspiration and the motivation for surpassing myself.
What a beautiful video and congrats Si for this epic accomplishment. I love these videos where we see our favourite presenters go through gruelling events seeing how they handle the mental barriers. Very inspirational for us normal humans.
It's great to hear it's inspired you, means a lot to us! 🙌
what a fantastic video. Appreciated Si 's humilty and honesty at managing the difficulties we all face during long, hard rides and the sheer enjoyment of being in such stunning terrain. Really inspiring. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it! Can you think of Si's next challenge?
GCN introduced and influenced me to do The Rift gravel race in Iceland. I said never again do a long ride like that (200K). And then this video. The Inferno will be in my top 3 next summer. Thanks, Si and GCN for your fantastic videos.
Hahahah sorry not sorry! Enjoy the ride it's an epic! 🙌
When i saw someone in full GCN kit flash past me in Annecy while I was pootling around on my little city hire bike, I didn't quite realise the significance 😅. Good job!
Hahahah spotted in the wild! 👀 - Inferno on a city bike is next year 😉
Nobody suffers like Si. Scenery - breathtaking. Hats off to the video crew and editing pros. Well done.
What can we say! Si loves to suffer 😈
Amazing ride Si. Your camera cine guys have done a superb job shooting and putting this together for GCN. Their skills are top notch.
Wondering if maybe Manon doing the BIG Gravel races in the US shamed the boys into doing some of these big races.
This year we have seen Connor do Unbound, Si do the Inferno and Ollie do the Tour des Stations.
tbf ollie was always the epic endurance monster of the main crew, and he was very clearly building up to the 1000 ever since the last TdS when he dropped a grand tour champion
We all love a big challenge here at GCN! The great thing about the presenters is they push themselves 🙌
Honestly, this might have been my favorite video from GCN. Very, very well done Si and crew. What an incredible and beautiful ride. I would like to do the exact same thing but perhaps in 3 days instead. This was also very personal because I used to live in a very mountainous area with many epic climbs which I loved. But now I live in a relatively flat area where I consider it even too dangerous to ride on the road for several reasons. To be honest, watching this made me quite sad but it also filled me with joy because I kind of got to feel that feeling again just by watching it. Especially reminding me of my treasured predawn rides up a mountain. Like you said, all of your other senses being heightened in the dark. And then the long descent as the sun came up. Those were my favorite. Thanks for doing this.
Great to hear that you enjoyed the video so much! We really enjoyed this shoot, It was a tough yet beautiful ride. You're right there is something special about riding in the mountains. Do you think you'll ever head back? 🏔
@@gcn I sure hope so. But I have my own family now and need to do what’s best for all of us. But hopefully someday.
I was really looking forward to watching the video about this. I was the motorcyclist who talked with Si and the camera guy just after the descent of the Col de la Bonette.
Brilliantly cycled Si one of the best videos I’ve seen on GCN . The sightseeing views amazing. Oh the bike was brilliant. Top ride .
I saw this film on GCN+ and signed up straight away for this year's event. Every time im on my bike now i think how far into the inferno i would be. Im not a climer, and the time cut worries me, but the film was so inspirational I just have to try.
This is fantastic, amazing work Si and team.
Absolutely smashing Si! Love these videos! So inspirational and such a beautiful ride!
Saw it all in awe and delight. Amazing!
I was fortunate enough to ride a good chunk of this route in July with a brilliant group of people with Marmot Tours.
Chapeau Si and thanks GCN for such a great video which really showcases those fantastic climbs and descents.
Thanks for sharing your journey. Just beautiful!! I hope to experience such a ride some day. Ride on!!!!
I was a few days ahead of Si on this route. The pictures took me right back to those spots on the route. I felt the same at times; spent. Thanks for making this Vid brought all the memories back in an instant. Great effort and the filming is equally inspiring.
Stunning event, stunning video. Absolutely loved it. Well done. That’s a hell of a ride.
Always enjoy your challenge rides, Si...Great effort and success on this one as well. Chapeau, YOU!! 😉
pre race day nerves have me up late enough to catch a vid post. Been loving your stuff since getting into the sport, keep it up!
Way to go Si. You are a beast. Well done.
Wow Si that was just beautiful from all points of view. 🎉
WOW, I'm so impressed by Si's results! Fantastic video.
Insane and epic ride Si! Beautiful and serene views as well.
I love to lay down on the couch, Sunday morning, grab a coffee and watch an epic ride adventure. Thank you guys!
😂😂😂
What an amazing race and great video. You definitely make it look amazing. I rode the madeleine, telegraph, galibier and izoard this year in September and October and it brought back great memories. Your description of climbing nirvana is perfect. I had all those same feelings.
Such high expectations of yourself Si you smashed it by finishing, let alone 4th!!! Fantastic achievement chapeau. This is such good content personal challenges revealing what we love about GCN presenters their genuine heart and soul passion about cycling Thanks GCN xxx
Well done! And what a great scenery!
Just wow! Epic viewing and mega well done Si! 😊👏
Well done Si phenomenal effort and great content really enjoed this.
Fantastic film. This has gone straight onto the to do list.
That last climb is great - I really enjoyed the descent off it. And its where they shot the opening scene of "The Italian Job"*
* Cockney Cain voice: "Not a lot of people know that"
🏆 for Underrated comment❤
Top man Simon great ride! fab scenery!
Bucket list for sure, well done!
I just love watching Si on a bike he's just got a such a perfect position... theirs nowt like a GCN video like this, with Simon 💪😎
There is some amazing cinematography in this film 👏 Another GCN film where I wished I started watching on the big TV rather than my phone! 🤦
PS - nice ride, Si!
Another wonderfully inspirational video guys.
GREAT STORY!!..... Compulsive viewing, loved it.
Amazing effort, wow!
Fourth place after narrating everything you went through, even the dark times. Certainly a ride I could not consider, other than via GCN. Well done m'lud chapeau.
Si never fails to deliver! Top notch effort and video blog!
Looks amazing. Top top effort so well done you. All very inspiring. 4th place very impressive! I’d stand no chance and my back doors would be left half way up the first climb!!!
That was a great result :)
loved the video too.
Great video!! A distinct motivation to climb. My weakest part of cycling. ♥️
Thanks Mike
Always love your videos. Very inspiring. Keep up the good work x
Amazing video yet again !
Amazing route amazing ride from Simon. 4th place ! Wow! The old boy still got it!😂😂😂. This is my dream ride! One day soon I'll be there! Thanks for the video! Brilliant!
Beautiful route. Beautiful bike! Immediately signed up for the newsletter for next year….
Some legendary climbs there. Great video.
Well done Si, looked awesome.
Epic video, inspirational!
Sy, this might be your best video yet. You summed up the joy and difficulty of every epic ride I've ever done. I so wanted to be pacing you up the last hill, shouting encouragements. Well done sir!
The best of all: Simon's pleasure and joy of riding. That is my north: enjoying it as much as I can. No numbers, smiles!
Loved this video, did the Col de Vars and I'zoard at the 2017 Etape du Tour (the other way round I think) and this brought back some great memories, if you are thinking about riding an Etape go for it you will not regret it.
Well done, Simon and GCN crew!
This felt like a gcn+ special, great show!
I can only thank you for making these fantastic achievements available to the likes of me that couldn’t dream of attempting them. They certainly inspire my own small triumphs (and Triumph 😅) though and that’s what counts 😊
'I'm going slow, but it doesn't matter'. This is my mantra! Beautiful film. Congrats to all involved. 👏♥️
Looks like an amazing ride ❤
That was a proper and beautiful epic!
Awesome ride … awesome locations … awesome film ….👍👍👍👍👍
Love these story pieces. It’s always fun to see tech and all of the comparisons, but the reality of these is relatable.
These rides are just getting better and better well done Si
4th! Amazing! I'd love to do this race one day but I'll be glad just to finish
Hats off on that, tremendous achievement. You had to make stops and still came 4th!. The ride looked brilliant.
Best GCN video I've watched; camera work, scenery, humour, emotion, struggle and achievement - great stuff!
Kudos to Si and the GCN crew, The Inferno organizers, and to Moots! Man, that was a very relaxing video. Hope to challenge my abilities someday like how Si did this. Cheers to all!
Thanks Si for talking about the Turini and the Cime on the way down back towards Nice. I visited there in 2022 and it was epic, came up the other way from Menton via Col de Braus and it was mind blowing. Felt like a million miles away, considering I live in California.
Love the galibier an absolute beast
I loved this video, only second to the Himalayan video !
I have an eleven year old Moots , still looks like new and rides like a dream.
I don't normally go for or follow racing, but Si, you got me hooked! This is the best: rider vs. course/mountain. It's what I love about gravel races but you did it on road. I would actually consider something like this! Amazing job Si! Thanks for digging deep and taking us with!!
It's a super cool event! You'll love it 🙌Great to hear you loved the video, will you be starting your training soon?
Amazing ride!
This was fantastic, Si is such a good presenter and rider and this event (which I’ve never heard of!) is now going straight to the top of my bucket list!
Enjoy! Make sure you get the training in early... it's a tough one 🥵
Bucket list!!! Om at a loss for words. Epic ride and Epic presenting of it!!!
But again words is not enough to give it credit!!!
Did exactly those climbs starting from Switzerland ending in Nice in 5.5 days. 18'000 m of amazing climbs and decents. Highlights were certainly descent of izoard and bonnette leading in those beautiful valleys. Turini descent just breathtaking. Hefty riding you did. Congrats!
I cycled a similar route in opposite direction in 1990: Nice -> Cime de la Bonnette -> Col de Vars -> Col d'Izoard -> Col du Galibier -> Col du Telegraphe -> Col de L'Iseran -> Col du Bonhomme -> Chamonix. Continued to Switzerland -> Austria -> Yugoslavia -> Greece -> Turkey. On a ~ $1000 Giant road bike with a 39:26 "low gear" and fork panniers and large handle bar bag.
I think this is one of your best videos. SI's honest comments mare me feel like I was going through it with him
Si, you have made me cry, returning from crossing from Thonon les bain to Menton, as a bucket list, the video has made me see from a different angle and brought back beautiful memories. And yes, descending for 45 minutes will bring your skill up ;)
We like to take people through all the emotions on GCN videos 🙌 45 mins of descending is tough work!
That was a great ride!
I love Si and, of course, the rest of the staff of this channel. Awesome video as usual, you all inspire me to ride again. I stopped for nearly 5 years and I'm back at it again.
Awesome! Thanks for the kind words 🙌 So cool to hear you are back on the bike! We did this great video that might help 👉 czcams.com/video/5x-XgZiTcyM/video.htmlsi=puI5igmpkl8tZqQ7
@@gcn awesome! Thank you for the tips on that video. I'm glad to be back cycling and I built 2 bikes specifically for gravel, but I have these 2 to go against each other to see which one I'd prefer most. I was a Roadie for over a decade but I'm done with road because my aero position risked comfort over performance so my hands and rear are done! I'm sending that bike to my cousin out of the country, so I'm testing out 2 bikes for leisurely cruising yet still have the capability to catch up quick to the young bucks. My new/used Roadie with Teravail Washburn 700c x 38c on carbon forks VS my MTB hard tail with Duro 26" x 2.1c on typical front suspension forks. The new Roadie is nice and dampens the shock from the carbon fork and slightly wider gravel tires, but nothing takes away road vibration like a front suspension with large gravel tires on an MTB. I'm leaning towards my MTB but my only issue with it is that I was spoiled by my first Roadie due to its lightweight aluminum technology. It's aluminum, but it weighs nearly like a carbon bike. Phenomenal bike. I will stick with my MTB yet still, because it's so much easier on my body, but picking it up for racking in and out on vehicle mounts after a long ride adds up physically and mentally. I'm also on a budget and don't plan on getting a high end frame so I'm sticking with it. Still, though. My love for cycling has been reignited and this channel has "channeled" that love for it again. See what I did there? Haha! Anyway, thank you for the response! That would be cool if Si himself saw my comment and responded. I hope all is well at GCN. You guys are great and yes, the camera crew does a phenomenal job filming!
When you crack, and keep going. And again. And again. That is the best (worst?), coolest thing to go through. Well done!
Definitely a bucket list ride for my next life.
Imagine if Si switched out his Crocs for Yeezy foam runners. He would be a STAR!
This was amazing loved the fact you actually got to sleep. The heat must have been so much to take on
Congratulations 🎉 Great video :)
Hearty Congrats!
More of this please. Awesome video!
Oof si that looked both beautiful and brutal. Great video, love these epic rides. I have only got to 124 miles in a day but I'm working on going further all the time. Loved your north coast 500 video. I'm wanting to work up to that for next year, maybe over 5 days tho. I've only got normal muscles. Having a daughter who has celiacs is challenging, esp when she is training and can't eat the things she would like to for optimal nutrition for training. Many people are unaware of what it is and how it affects you. Although it is a personal thing for you. It would be great to do a video for awareness and share how it affects your cycling.
What an awesome ride!
I've ridden the Cime de la Bonnete on a full sus bikepacking and it sure is a memorable one!
Luckily I didn't have to ride up that extra one before my dip in the sea!
Those climbs bring back memories. I've done 7 day Haute Route Alps 2 different years and did most of these climbs you did but at most 3 cols a day. Also climbed Mt. Ventoux 3 days in a row from all routes with first 2 days having 80+ miles 10K feet climbing. The forest climb is my favorite. The hardest days in the Alps were Col Des Saisies -> Courchevel then finish at top of Col de la Loze on day 2. Madelaine -> Glandon then Alpe D'euz top finish on day3. I dunno how you climbed all of those Cols in 2 days. Chapeau!
I loved the video! It reminded me of the Cent Cols Challenge and similar emotions one experiences over such long days. Si should give CCC a try sometime!
I really like how you told this story