The Biggest Road Bike Tech Flops Of All Time | GCN Tech Show Ep. 99

Cycling is a sport driven by innovation, but not all technological advances actually made any positive progress. Jon and Ollie take a look at the bikes and tech that flopped after their release. We've also got some new gravel bikes, some secret aero tech from Australia and an incredible wooden bike.

This week's Bike Vault

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Which bit of cycling tech do you think has been the biggest disappointment?

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Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound:
The Thief in Marrakesh - Arc De Soleil
Marsh - [ocean jams]

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[gcntech]

Which bit of cycling tech do you think has been the biggest disappointment?

[ajchaskar]

The chemistry between these men makes the video very much entertaining 😂 Absolutely love the sense of humor of Si, Ollie, Jon and how can we miss Matt!
I've been learning a lot about bikes from GCN, thanks for putting up such great informative and entertaining content 🙌🏼 Much love from India ♥️

[Paddyhudson]

When are we going to see a "GCN: Meet the Presenters" on Jon Cannings? How did he become such a bike nerd? Why doesn't he ride in videos more often? What is his story?? so many questions.

[OslerWannabe]

Ollie — you have a FUD (Ph.D) in something, so I'm sure you remember that almost anything can be made explosive if it's first powdered and then the dust suspended in air. I think it was 1976 that a lumber mill in Anderson, CA exploded in one of the most violent industrial accidents in American history. The air had been thick with sawdust, and one spark set it off. Leveled several acres. As I recall 35 people were killed, and many were so badly burned and pulverized that even dental remains weren't helpful. Flour and almost any metal will explode if aerosolized. Sodium and magnesium don't even need to be powdered, they're so reactive. So I'll skip the magnesium frame, and go straight to a Semtex frame — apparently very light and lively.

[MandoLarian]

I like that GCN dude with the red sweat shirt. Dude looks cool and so laid back while presenting and looking like he got cold and just woke up out of bed--all at the same time.

[Billhatestheinternet]

Actually, magnesium is one of the lead reasons the wreck at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans was so horrible. The Mercedes SLR 300 that crashed into the stands was made almost of magnesium alloy (unheard of at the time). The car caught fire upon crashing (the bonnet/hood launched into the crowd like a bloody guillotine). The fire brigade had no idea of what they were dealing with, let alone the equipment to deal with it. The fire burned for over 6 hours. Motor racing of all forms was banned in Europe until safety measures were implemented (for the most part, 1956). It is still to this day banned in Switzerland expressly due to this race.

[larifari_das]

when even a wood bike is lighter than my aluminum bike ...

[jonburnell]

Cant wait for GCN Tech After Dark to drop 🤗

[paulloovis]

Love you guys! I happen to own a couple of neoprene bottle covers, but I use them to keep water cold, not hot. In fact, if you soak the outside with water, the evaporation will make warm water cold.

[peterbaskind]

The lawyer in me was amused by the obviously after-thought insert about Allight frames. Someone was trying to avoid a lawsuit.

[SRSR]

I feel sorry for the guy with the gravel bike. He's done such an amazing job and any other week he would win surely, but so far it seems he's got no chance this week.

[danl]

The owner of the 1st bike must have been heartbroken when hannes bike appeared. Great effort but hes not going to beat that wooden bike.

[timbobalot]

Why would anyone bother to watch half an hour of this and then give it the thumbs down? One people have no taste I’m off to have a bust of myself made!

[Quevallyn]

Christmas chemistry lesson in the 80s. Teacher: What do want to do for a fun lesson? Class: Burn magnesium tape in the Bunsen burner, Sir. Love it when Jon and Oli get properly nerdy.

[nightsfalling]

John's face at 17:36 "Six Months!" 😂😂😂

[ravennexusmh]

Your bike vault insistance on cranks at 3 o'clock is breaking "THE RULES" never at 90 or 180 degrees.
Acceptable practice is to use the frame tubes to hide the crank arms
So front crank inline with the down tube which should hide the rear crank arm with the rear wheel.
Or
Rear cank arm inline with the chainstay to hide it (which would put the front crank arm at the 3:30 position which was criticized)

[Garadom]

Just liking because of Ollie's knowledge of the Erasmusbrug!

[JadenFeddock]

Totally agree that in retrospect it seems so clear why these things should never work... (e.g. those brakes?? 😳) but I love that these companies keep on trying to bring cycling into the future! ;) You can’t ever get enough of cutting-edge technology! 😉

[SarahHgn]

My Stubby Holders work fine in the outback for cold beers : )

[BmwM]

You guys are hilarious !  " Hans !!! "  Great video ! Keep up the great work !