We Need To Talk About UCI Gran Fondo’s | NERO Show Ep. 101

Today's episode is presented by PILLAR PERFORMANCE

We rode Amy's Gran Fondo this weekend, qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo world championships. But we wanted to deep dive into gran fondos in 2024. They are most popular road cycling events we have, but are we doing them right?

Plenty of gear chat from what we saw as well as an adhoc Tavelo vs Cervelo debate. Finally 5 tips to make your road bike descending even better.

Chapters
00:00 intro
00:30 Qualifying For UCI Gran Fondo World Champs
12:51 What's Happening To GF Courses?
21:01 Has The UCI Stuffed Up Gran Fondos?
24:35 What Did Other Riders Think?
33:58 How Much Did It Cost?
37:51 Was It Worth It?
46:21 Gear Chat From The Weekend
55:53 Tavelo vs Cervelo
1:10:01 New S5 Expectations
1:15:33 YouTube Round Up
1:19:18 5 Tips To Better Descending

Footage courtesy of
@FreshCrits
@TheCyclingTattooist
@JordanWatkinsRacing
@AmysGranFondo2024

The Nero Show is available on your favourite Podcast platform

Spotify:

Amazon:

Apple Podcasts:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTAGRAM: @chrismiller27 @nerocontinental
TWITTER: @chrismiller @nerocontinental

[Sagwagon]

No one rides as hard as Jesse at Centennial Park.

[JordanWatkinsRacing]

Thanks for the shout out guys! Just came second🥈at the national champs with this set up. Video soon coming!

[TheCyclingTattooist]

Thanks for the shoutout guys… massively appreciate it! Great show as always… 🙌

[FreshCrits]

Thanks for the love fellas!! Great to pin a number on.... I mean stick a number on ya helmet 😜

[wendysuperfan]

Thanks Chris and Jesse. This was so interesting. Well done both of you.

[Sweetskis]

Another EXCITING episode of THE Nero Show! The only cycling podcast to GAIN watts after 40, live on the podium, and be NICKNAMED Speed Sniffer in Uni!

[rk]

IMO trailbraking is extremely effective, safe and the fastest way through corners. Yes, you do most of your braking before the corner but you don't just lift your levers before turn. You trail it off until you are at the speed you can take the corner at. On decreasing radius corners, you can actually trail brakes even past the apex. In more flowing, less technical, increasing radius corners, you can let off brakes even before apex. In a perfectly round, even corner where the curve of entry matches exit, you pretty much brake until you apex then slowly release.

[Jonbsp]

Thanks for the entertainment boys- made the hospital 🚑stay a little easier. Cleaned up by a ute with a bulbar today who didn’t give way on a round about. Knees busted up and my new Rm01 BMC is a write off. But was very lucky considering. Anyway, these are always a pleasure to listen to, thank you. 🙏

[gamedevjames]

I raced the US Gran Fondo National Championship on a full kit Trek Emonda this past Sunday. I smashed BOTH my Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 wheels on pothole the Thursday before the race. I was able to go to a Trek corporate dealership, show my wheels, and they just gave me the pair of wheels ($2000), swapped over all my gearing and disc brakes, checked over the bike, tuned the shifting, all for free that Thursday and I didn't even miss my pre-ride. That's what you're paying $10k more for (my bike is actually $8000 USD so not even that). I would've missed my National Championship race without it or have been on shitty alloy wheels that I found in some cheap secondhand shop somewhere.

In fairness, in the US you can't swing a cat without hitting a Trek or Specialized dealership, and those are basically the only two brands with this type of universal accessibility within the US, but it's still worth it (plus Project One is fantastic).

[raymatos]

The technique talk at the end was super interesting and I think this would be an excellent segment going forward. You could talk about how to climb better next or sprinting 🤝😊

[anthonypanousis]

I think I’m with Jesse on the descending. On your weekend ride, crossing the white lines is dangerous for you and others following you. When your on closed roads, cut loose. Also, everyone should descend in the drops. If you hit a bump at speed you’re less likely to lose grip on the bars than if you’re on the hoods.

[parisien]

One of the best episodes yet!

Would love to see the both of you build up the same all out aero china build, something like the Bigrock Aero or Dare Aero and see a comparison bs the S5, Tavelo and if there are any differences in how you each describe the bikes.

[Bradbajc]

I agree with Jesse on descending. I am not paid to get to the bottom as fast as I can. I'd rather save my teeth haha.

[ultimatist]

Interesting descending discussion. I'm a top 1% descender in the Bay Area, with a number of road KOMs. Predictably, I have an MTB background, and also grew up on motorcycles. Half of the benefit is comfort with sliding, but the other half is comfort with quickly timing inputs to the course. When you do an Enduro or DH descent, it's like a game of GuitarHero where you need to time your dance perfectly with the track in order to stay on your bike and on your line.

[APKManagement-rgpx]

Congratulations, Chirs and Jesse, on the race.
Great show !

[_cpdchua]

Jesse: Do you like the big baguetter holder?
Chris: Oh yeah... BIGGERRRR!

Hahahahahahaha

[rexringschott]

Amy’s is a great course though (despite your take on the finish), It’s got beautiful climbs through the forest, and a stunning rolling segment along the coast.

[EddyCat]

Have basically given up travelling with disc brakes. Way too much hassle - spongey brakes, no brakes, bent rotors, realigning calipers etc. it’s the reason why I have purchased a second hand SW Tarmac rim brake bike. So much easier and great to ride after being on disc for the last 6 years

[AndyTychon]

If you can handle the long drive, there’s a lot to be said for hiring a Winnebago style campervan to make the road trip. Tons of storage space, accommodation sorted, bikes fit in the back (or mount a rack on the rear), food easily cooked in the camper, park it within a close distance to the event, no airfares, no accommodation fees, no hire car fees, no bike mechanic (hopefully 🙏) needed, lots of positives……..and there’s the priceless memories of a road trip. Split the cost and share with a buddy……it’d be interesting how it works out $$$-wise vs flying. Food for thought.

[fleurdelispens]

re travel to and from the race, it sounds like Australia really needs a good high speed and regional rail system. Imagine how much nicer it'd be to bring the bikes on the train and zooming out and back. no airport security and sardine feeling, just lovely train zoomies