Does It Matter Where Your Bike Is Made? | The GCN Tech Show Ep.18

It's the GCN Tech Show. On this weeks edition we discuss whether it really matters where your bike is made. We've also got new helmets, a new gravel bike and possibly the safest bike ever.

With growing carbon expertise in the Far East, unsurprisingly much of the bike industries carbon production takes place there. We discuss whether this is a good or bad thing for the cycling world.

The show includes all the regular segments, the GCN Tech wall of fame, bike of the week and the bike vault.

Let us know if you think it matters where frames are made in the comments below.👇

Watch more on GCN Tech...

Brought to you by the world’s biggest cycling channel, the Global Cycling Network (GCN), GCN Tech goes deeper into the bikes, kit and technology stories that matter.

GCN Tech is utterly obsessed with seeking out and showcasing the best in bikes, tech, products and upgrades. Everywhere. Every week. From news and rumours, first ride exclusives, how-tos, the weekly GCN Tech Show, pro bikes, set-up tips and more, we geek out over the tiny details that can make the big differences to you.

With years of racing and industry expertise, we also bring you instructive maintenance videos to hone your mechanical skills, as well as behind the scenes factory tours and in-depth analysis of kit chosen by the pro peloton to keep your finger on the pulse of cycling’s latest technological innovations.

Engage with us every week on the channel and across social media – we’re here to answer every question you’ve got on cycling tech.

[gcntech]

Do you think it matters where your bike is made? Let us know!

[dlc]

I really like that Stainless Steel bike at 24:55, super nice in my book! The background is really cool, simple and without a bunch of distracting colors and decorations. Much like the bike itself, simple and without a lot of distractions.

[peterraffin]

After an accident on a carbon bike, I ordered a custom made steel frame from an Italian frame maker. I was really excited about getting this one, had to wait two months. It arrived and I had it built up but I never really bonded with it. After a love hate relationship over a few years I finally pulled it down and built up the carbon bike again, and the joy of cycling returned. To me, I bond with a bike when it feels right and I've selected every component and screw that goes into the build. My favourite is my GT Zaskar and Cannondale Super X. I've lost count of the number of times I've built the Zaskar. These two I will never sell. My Italian frame on the other hand. is in the classifieds.

[TomsTenorHorn]

Thank you Simon and Jon for recognising the Vitus 979 and hanging it on the 'Wall of Fame'  ... mine is still going strong with it's original 'Nadex' bottom bracket since 1981!!The frame cost me £250 back then, built as a TT bike with a single 53 chain ring and 13-18 'microlite' freewheel.  Aero brake levers, drilled bars with concealed cables and weighed in at around 17lbs (7.7kg) ... way ahead of it's time ... now reconfigured as my winter bike and managed to squeeze mudguards in too ... a great bike and still attracts admiring glances ☺☺☺

[Luis]

Could you talk more about aliexpress carbon road bike frame as a main theme on the next episode?

[JasCar]

I bought a Muovasi carbon frame for my latest build which I believe is sourced from Taiwan - It only cost A$300.I haven't ever ridden any of the uber expensive frames from more well know brands to compare, but I can say it is reasonably light (about 1.1kg) and I haven't noticed any quality problems and at the time that I bought it there was no way I could afford an expensive frameset. It made such an amazing difference as I was upgrading from a steel framed bike so I could get back into cycling after some years.

[derekjirwin]

I bought a Custom FiftyOne last yer, Custom fit, custom paint.. I love it.. Its incredibly comfortable. Can't recommend it enough.

[chrispig]

I don’t know why people look down on Taiwan it’s as high tech as any where in the world

[Montenegromfg]

Pharell Williams is actually part owner of Brooklyn Machine Works, which is a bicycle company that makes steel frames in Brooklyn New York. Kind of a legendary brand in the Fixed gear community with the Gangta Track model.

[ARKINHK]

Gents. Just got my founder GCN socks in the post today. I'll be proudly wearing them on tomorrows Cafe ride.. :)

[BleuTriton]

regarding frame pump, , , , I have an electric battery operated pump into my bag : 500 gr but if I remember 150 psi max and after repair … waiting the tube to be inflated at the chosen pressure is very nice (500 gr the pump but my bike is a 12kg commuting belt drive bike) and my bike is Marin Presidio 3 made in taiwan and I love it!

[roggriffiths]

I got my Vitus 979 second hand about 30 years ago, . I ride it 3-4 times a week and it's still going strong. The only issue over all these years is the seat post grub screw thread stripped but that was easily fixed with a Helicoil. I love this bike.

[chrisfromfrome]

I own a Dekerf Implant lovingly put together by the legend that is Chris Dekerf. I also own a Cotic Escapade which I'm led to believe is designed in the UK and manufactured in the far East. Both put a massive grin on my face every time I ride them.

[robbchastain]

Thanks for the story of the Vitus bikes and frames. And in praise of mini-pumps, yesterday a lady in my apartment building asked if I would pump up her kids' bike tires--I have a standing offer to my neighbors to help out with their bikes and I was about to set off on an errand on my commuter bike--so I said, sure, I'll do it right now, I have my little pump in my backpack. And that little Blackburn pump did the job--six tires pumped up and three happy kids--and the four-year-old showed me his Big Wheel and two skateboards, too. And he thought I was the mailman because of the panniers on my bike.

[AndrewBushnell]

The Gosforth is the bike that, when it rolls up next to you on the Saturday morning group ride, looks over casually and says "don't mess with me, man."

The rest are just expensive.

[RomansFiveDotEight]

GCN; I'm such a huge fan. And I'm a huge fan of GCN Tech. So AS A FAN, can anything be done to put a bit more effort into the audio quality of the GCN tech show? It's boomy and muddy. Is using a shotgun mic across the room really the best option here? It's crazy that your audio quality out on the road in the wind and on the bikes is better than in the studio.

[joejoe]

My local Trek dealer tells me nearly half Project One Treks bike made in Wisconsin show up with defects while the ones the ones made in Taiwan, made by Giant, are flawless.

[terbennett]

Pharrell is a cyclist. I recall him riding fixed gear and BMX. In fact, he rode his fixed gear to the MTV VMA awards back in 2013. Many fixed riders are roadies, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was a roadie too. Also, I think a modern CX bike is all most cyclists need. It does almost everything.

[stephenm]

I have a bike. Carbon frame from Ali express. As are the carbon deep section wheels, aero seat post and aero bars. Groupset...legit.. 105. Assembled in the valleys of Wales and loved in Scotland. My mates call her in Frankenstein's monster. But to me, she is beautiful... all in gloss black with highlights of red spoke nipples, hubs, chainring bolts, saddle and cable end things.
She is lovely, and she's alive, twitchy, nervous and wants to go. She makes me feel like a god. Chamois dancer really is wonderful.
Unfortunately she's 5 year old now and starting to show her age so she's getting turfed out come this winter for a younger model with disc brakes and a more aero figure.

[garavonhoiwkenzoiber]

Aren't there only around 2 or 3 major CF bike factories?
So like, Trek, GT, Boardman etc will all send their specs to the same factories.