Confidence and Road Safety. A good cheap bike and basic bike fit to begin, then a PROPER bike fit before you spend silly money on a super bike thinking you are Peter Sagan.
Fair play to both of them, especially Harriet as a complete beginner. Loved her comment "sorry to everyone that would love to ride a Pinarelli thingy" 😂
So great to see "real people" on these bikes! I love Harriet's reaction at the end. I work on bikes as a sideline, and I always tell people there's no shame in riding a bike that is less than "pro." The best bike is the one you'll ride!
"My" 13 yr old got a new bike for her birthday (she could pick one within a set budget at a local bike store), and you should have seen the faces in the bike store when she asked them if they could remove the "high end" groupset and put the same low end stuff she had on her old bike on the expensive bike she picked. She rides a lot in all sorts of weather, and she just ran the numbers for a bit, and realized that replacing parts would get really costly, and she prefers using that money for eating at local places when she's out on a trip, or to take the train to go somewhere completely different and ride there, and she doesn't want to have to worry about it breaking. So now she's out there riding what's basically an almost 3k (euro's) bike with mostly tourney level parts on there in a 3x7 setup, just like her old bike. Personally I never really pay attention to what groupsets people are riding, but apparently a lot of people do as she gets quite a few surprised (but mostly positive) comments about it on rides. 😂 While it feels like a bit of a waste in some ways at least the bike will be ready for more high-end parts when she is.
@michael yeakey agree no shame. some people don't realize that pro bikes are often prohibitively advanced. many have to graduate to tougher gearing, stiffer ride, narrower bars, and minimalist saddles
@@esenel92 I had a alloy bike, claris group set. upgraded because I fell for the hype! to a full carbon with ultegra 8000 it's lovely and I love it.. was it worth it? hell no! there are improvements for sure. but, not worth the £1000 extra that I spent! Marginal gains is an expensive hobby!
I agree 100%, 16% made me cringe when I heard it and I guarantee I'd be struggling on 16% and I consider myself a hill climber. I think they deserve a big shoutout for heart and effort. No shame in walking, if you haven't walked you haven't pushed yourself past your limit. =)
I can cycle for hours at a decent speed, but as soon as the gradient hits 12%+ I'm done for. 16% for someone who barely ever cycles is just... setting them up to fail
More of these guys, they are the perfect people to do a whole series on from total beginner to getting into road cycling, assuming they would want to. You could cover all the questions that people ask that maybe considered silly to ask or just don't ask out of embarrassment. Great video, loved it.
@@gcn skies the limit really but having two willing newbie volunteers (1 being female which is great as most cycling content is aimed at men), maybe get them road bike fits as they seem very open to talk about how they are feeling and what's comfortable and probably never had one before - gives you a nice springboard into frame sizing, saddle choices, positions, pedal systems and just the natural progression we all go through but done the right way.
@@gcn a longer group ride with the other presenters; using cycling shoes (Harriet); stand up and pedal (I still can't do that very well!); more hills! 😄
There's something beautiful about a top-line Dogma with flat pedals. It's like seeing a Lamborghini with an Ikea lamp sticking out the roof. Good video, and good efforts.
in my area there is some dude that rides bianchi oltre (some old model with rim brakes but campagnolo wheels and group set) with flat pedals, plain clothes (sweatpants and casual shirt) it amaze me everytime I see him
@@alexseguin5245 I think the commenter is talking about convenience or efficiency, it's more so that the pedals looks so out of place for a top of the line dogma road bike
Massive respect to both! Harriet's attitude on hill was extremely impressive - being on road bike for a first time on such a hill is massive! Thanks for the vid :)
Actually, a good video might be showing them move to a flatbar roadbike or fitness/hybrid, something like a Trex FX or Specialized Sirrus. That’s a pretty common progression from the bikes they’re on.
@@gcn a bit more focus on average cyclist groupsets and kit. Ultegra and Dura Ace are nice but out of the average cyclists reach. More coverage of average cyclists events, road and gravel. The TDF is exciting to watch but seeing everyday folk competing would be good. Better coverage of the TCR and Trans Am in the US. Some of those cyclists would destroy TDF riders. Kraig Pauli, Evan Deutsche, Lael Wilcox and the other winners of the Trans Am are absolute beasts on bikes, and they are NOT "pros".
Harriet needs a full time spot at GCN! She was more relatable and I applaud her effort!!! Would love to see her progression and view points on cycling. What a fresh perspective and one that we've all had but probably forgotten. I thoroughly enjoyed this video!!!
Mistaking a phone box for a letter box shows how knackered poor Harriet was on her ‘Pinerelli or whatever it’s called’. But she totally redeems herself with the “it’s the most expensive thing I’ll ever sit on” comment 😂 Brilliant. Great to see proper beginners in this video - thanks and well done to all. Oh and by the by, Manon was fantastic on the TdFF coverage 😃
Yup, I was honestly worried she would have an accident at some point. It shows how fitness can affect your decision making when riding. Don't ride too hard in traffic, it can be dangerous, but not for the reason you think.
Love Manon as a presenter. Can we get a series called "Manon and the gang" where she takes a group of complete cycling newbies and just follows them for a year through their first milestones? From their first 10km ride all the way up to a 100+ km ride. It'd be a great journey watching the process and the learning that happens. I can't think of a better host for it than Manon. She's so positive and encouraging.
I love this! This is pretty much exactly how I got into road cycling. One day my brother brought home a shiny new-to-him road bike and let me try it out. The acceleration completely blew me away! After mere 2 minutes on the bike, I was addicted. Couldn't think about anything else for weeks. After many restless nights I finally bit the bullet and bought a road bike of my own and it was probably the best decision I've ever made. It improved not only my physical health, but also mental health dramatically.
Harriet has a good sense of humour and she is a natural comedian, so you guys definitely should make her a presenter 😂 Sure that everyone will have lots of fun.
Seriously. Harriet would be a great candidate for a "beginner to seasoned veteran", "beginner to century" or "how good can she get in a year" series, if she's willing. She's got a great attitude and is excellent on camera.
i smiled throughout the whole video. brilliantly made. the excitement of the two riders and the vivaciousness of Harriet's reactions. lovely vulnerability of both of them not wanting to crash their bikes.just special.
I am 39 years old and I got back to cycling just four months ago after 27 long years of not doing it and this channel along with the spanish versión have been immesurable, worthy, helpful absolutely love your content. The mechanical videos have saved me quite a lot of money learning doing stuff myself. You Mannon, Hank, Ollie and the rest I could be missing their names you are absolutely amazing. I can't tell you how grateful I am with you all And I totally loved Harriet 😄cheers from Costa Rica
4:39 I felt bad when she said "I'm so unfit" - not unfit, just not used to cycling uphill. If you don't usually cycle, it's natural to struggle on a hill. When I first started cycling, I also struggled uphill but would easily run an entire football match - just using yet untrained muscles.
Probably not as fit as many off us that ride like 4 times a week and also do some sessions on zwift. And also she has 0% experience with a racebike. That does a lot too.
Absolutely. 16% is one hell of a climb, I'd consider myself rather fit and would possibly be out of breath for 2 days after that climb , so she did absolutely fantastic for someone with little to no experience!
These two are great characters. The woman really does classify as beginner, as her knowledge is simply climb on and pedal. The man seems to have more insight and probably has an inner competitive self waiting to jump out. I look forward to seeing those two again 👍🏾
Glad someone mentioned it he definitely has a bit of knowledge about the sport and about the benefits good gear can provide while realizing gear doesn’t make the rider.
Love this video, I would like to see a video series where GCN shows riders like Harriet how to go from beginners to proficient. She has the enthusiasm to do it! Id love to see her reaction as she rides up that hill after a few months of training.
I remember the huge difference switching from a crappy city bike to a classic racing bike made - I was completely surprised and slightly intimidated. It definitely takes a good amount of practice to be able to make full use of all the advantages road bikes have to offer…
They're so different in the steering and balance. Even now after years of riding both it takes me a minute to get used to the differences when I switch between my granny bike and road bike
It took me a number of rides to get used to mine after coming from riding an entry-level hardtail, mainly due to its higher gearing and handling dynamics. Before I tore down my hardtail, I tried riding it one more time, now I can't ride that bike as well as I initially did.
We want more Harriet !! 🤣🤣 They both were great, fun to see how little it takes to get into riding. Also it just shows the simple joy of a mechanical well working bike.
Great job from both of them (and Manon of course). I loved how Harriet while struggling her way up the hill was still talking to the camera and even making jokes. If they're not completely scared away from cycling after that hill, I really wouldn't mind seeing them return in more video's as each of them represent 2 big groups of people out there. (Those who used to be active but haven't been into it for a while, and true beginners)
I thought the same thing. Because I don't understand it how she couldn't get up that 1 hill. And I see it also direct she has 0% experience on a racebike.
@@darkiee69 Yes indeed. At least they should have her get some practice beforehand on a normal racebike. How could she enjoy that bike when it's your first time on a racebike and never used clippless pedals before. Because yeah she couldn't ride with them that was weird too see for me on such a bike just normal pedals.
@@Sidowse I have enough with my 105-R7000 11speed. Great for hills (LBL hills so Belgium Ardennes where I live ) or even harder climbs. But yeah I also am overweight like another 23kg (well actually more like 20kg but I want to get 25kg off) it was during the pandemic my depression about chronic disease (Spondylitis Ankylosans) hit hard, and I drank and drank and drank until I was a blown up miserable person. I got 14-15kg weight loss now in like 2 months. Am under a 100kg (98kg) also and I want to weigh 75kg. So just keeping busy and in a few months a see back on this with a smile.
Somehow I've turned 71, and for the past 6 years I had a generic folding bike that I rode a total of under 400 miles. Maybe under 300 miles. I'd never ridden over 5 in one ride in my life. A few months ago, I had the amazing good fortune of being given a brand new Cannondale Bad Boy 3 that seems well suited for urban riding. Everything changed... Almost overnight, I've built up to 25 miles a ride and have ridden well over 300 miles in 10 weeks. I know, this wouldn't be much for the average young rider. But considering that I really hadn't ridden much for over 40 years, it's big for me. This change in bicycles worked out far better than it did for the riders in the video. Mine isn't a superbike, but it weighs about 8 lbs less than my old folding bike. The balance, control, and especially the gearing for hills is considerably better. I've increased my goals to doing a 100 mile ride by late next spring, something that now seems - for the first time - within reach. So yeah, maybe a super bike is not what we all need, but we all do need a good bike. [Full disclosure: I underwent major surgery for cancer in early February, my 3rd in 15 months. So beginning to ride in June was a big step for me, considering my circumstances. I understand this would not be, for most of you, a big deal. I'm not bragging - it's just an incredibly good feeling! No matter whether I've beaten this or not, I'm flying on 2 wheels.]
We need more content like this, content just about cycling in general. There is too much focus on times and power. Many of us have great bikes and are fast, but don't give a toss about strava or power meters.
I feel sorry for these guys… its like being on a game show and the host reveals what you could have won, and then takes the prizes back at the end! Fantastic video again guys! Huge kudos to the pair for stepping/pedalling out of their comfort zones and bringing some more GCN Guinea Pig content for us! What’s next? Descents vs Pidcock?!
Bruno and Harriet are great at demonstrating that speed isn't everything, and that their comfort in what they're used to, and ease of handling, counts for a lot. I was 43 before I ended up (not by choice at the time!) with a drop handlebar - hated it at first! Same with clip-ins - what a faff! 5 years later, I have adjusted and couldn't imagine things different now, but getting over that initial discomfort is such a big psychological barrier.
This is one of your best videos gcn. It goes over what a normal rider does compared to a more seasoned one. As a road cyclist this is great to see commuters do on our road. A+
Definitely a very realistic experience I was the same my first time with clipless pedals and the steering for me became extremely twitchy when I switched to narrower handlebars. Thankfully I’ve adjusted but definitely brought back memories
What good sports! Huge respect for being Manon's guinea pigs. Love how excited they got going fast on the flat; the smiles tell the story. "The most expensive thing I've ever sat on." Comment of the decade! I see a new bike in Harriet's future for sure.
I started riding about 8 years ago. Began on a steel road bike and "upgraded" to a $550 2017 Fuji Sportif 2.5. It's a nice medium between where they are and where more expensive, competitive bikes are. I'd love to see what GCN thinks of that tier of bike (maybe even that bike) versus the Euro bike and an Ortega. Loved the video and the couple.
5:20 no stress on struggling to clip in Bruno. That sight was once a staple on this channel! Sigma seem to have acquired the rights to in now. Good effort folks
@@edmondthompson7525 Thats ok. In my experience, 1 foot is always better at it than the other. But when it comes to ununclipping at a junction, I can never remember which foot that is.
Proper beginners at last, Harriet looked absolutely terrified but clearly enjoying it... Give her a regular spot. Would love to see how she improved given the help of you guys. Couch to 50k
The experience is the most important thing for a beginner; that and the realization of fitness level. I would love to see them tackle a cross country experience next, maybe on gravel bikes.
I feel like this girl was on the edge in this challenge, she was super close to fall couple of times on hill section with the superbike so make sure to give her some time to get used to riding a road bike before you have her doing more challenges, thumbs up for both of them! 😁
Really nice to see ordinary people for once in a video on this channel. I was welling up watching Harriet cycle up that hill, you could see how little she cycles. We need more videos like this please, most of your viewership are not pros.
Quality video! I remember just over 10 years ago going from a mountain bike to my first Trek fx hybrid and my mind being completely blown at how much faster it was. Fast forward to today and I'm now on an all-carbon, electronic-shifting road bike. Once that cycling bug bites...
Harriet struggling with the direct handling in the beginning is exactly me with my first roadbike a few years ago when i picked up "actual" cycling after a lifetime of commuting on sluggish cheap mountainbikes you usually find in hardware stores haha.
I know just how this feels. When I started riding a bike as an adult, I rode a Diamondback hybrid. Rode that nearly every day until I was doing rides up to 60 and even 70 miles (which would take all day). The first time I got on a proper road bike, it was like going from a family van to a Ferrari. It would turn on a dime, every little move of the handlebars would quickly turn the bike, something I had to get used to. The one thing I did get used to very quickly was how much faster it was. That made me smile. But the handling of a road bike compared to a hybrid or cruiser type bike is night and day.
Pretty much the same way I felt when I got my first proper road race bike in 2013. It felt like a Ferrari compared to my old slow bikes. Puts a smile on my face every time I go flying past people and other bikes on the road.
This is great. The participants were really good sports. I do find it funny that those are probably the cheapest pedals that have ever been on that Pinarello.
I have immense respect for people who ride bicycles in the UK. From what I've seen and heard it is not an easy place to ride, with narrow roads, lots of traffic in cities, and lack of extensive bicycle lanes. Kudos to these folks for giving it a go. If only they could ride the Pinarello and Orbea in a more user friendly environment, though.
Awesome video! Great work Harriet, Bruno and Manon! One of the things I noticed was the beginner's cadence, or lack thereof. It certainly has to be learned, and I'd be super interested in seeing a pro explain it to a beginner, I know I've got a lot to learn myself about selecting the right cadence!
Love this type of content! I started riding in 2016 on a mountain bike and discovered GCN. The channel (and Tech channel), have taught me pretty much everything I know about bikes and I have progressed to now owning a Dogma of my own, joining a cycling club and regularly participating in cycling events and sportives. Ive even been to Mallorca twice with GCN and ridden with Hank and Dan. More more more please!! -Yeatsy x
Bruno you got downgraded. Keep the supple bike with Jones bars :) Don’t fall for the roadie conversion therapy. There is more than one right way to ride a bike.
Both of these riders are absolute champions. I think this kind of video for total beginners is really good of GCN to do, as these will be potential GCN viewers of the future if they get into it more and buy a half decent Road/Endurance or Gravel bike. Doesn't need to be a superbike though!
4:11 if this is such a steep, tough climb...who is cruising up that climb in the background on a commuter bike with bags on like there was no effort at all? 😅🤣 It could be electric I guess 🤣😅
Really enjoyed Harriet's random name drops of GCN presenters through the video. It's always nice to see average people on these videos. Loved their attitudes, seems like Harriet is slowly getting bit by the cycling bug. Please more videos like this one
I would like to see these two before and after a bike fit, if they were to get road bikes. Would need a bit more time but comfort and position can make a big difference as shown in other great GCN videos
The first two challenges shows nicely how higher end road bikes are geared to allow well trained athletes to go very fast, and not for normal folks to do real world transportation riding. Gear inches matter.
This was such a fun watch! I officially returned to riding my bike again just yesterday, after not touching it for over 2 years, and even then I did not ride it that much, but at least did a leisurely cycle nearly everyday. It’s nice to see content that includes beginners and inexperienced cyclists, especially when they feature again in other videos and you can see how they’ve grown and built confidence. I was rooting for Harriet when she was on the hill, at the same time I could see that she would have stopped…I don’t blame her, I would have stopped too!!
I bought a used, but pristine Trek Madone 5.5. I’ve ridden 150 miles in two weeks! On my first ride, I could only manage 12 miles. I doubled that distance now and do it four times/week.
I think the most important thing for a beginner cyclist is to have experienced cyclists lead the way, just like Manon did! Reminded me of my experienced cyclist friends because they helped me every step of the way to build confidence and to become a roadie! I hope Harriet gets a road bike and enjoys the sport even more! I would love to see her progress if she decides to go for it!
I once was a young lad on a cheap workhorse of a bike, hammering past fat old blokes who could afford nice shiny expensive bikes. Lets just say I now have a nice shiny expensive bike.....
🙌🏼😍 Probably the most charming, down-to-earth everyday riders you could have found! Listening to them and Manon was so fun and adorable - for sure I'd like to watch you taking these lovelies on a bikepacking trip! 😃
With the cyclists being so "beginner" the lactic buildup is quite likely a fair portion of Bruno's 18s slower. I would like to have seen it if the commuter bikes were done while fresh and the superbikes after a bit of lactic buildup.
One of the best, most relatable videos you've put together - this was absolutely brilliant. Would love to see these two on entry-level road bikes building confidence and going for increased distance. Can they ride further than they ever have before?
Very entertaining. Bought back some of the trials of my first road bike adventures. Maybe a future challenge to see how they manage on a longer distance ride? Was definitely one of my biggest challenges when starting out.
@@gcn even 15-20 miles, that would be fun. Especially if Connor joins so they can stop and smell the roses.... and take pictures (like is his 100 mile ride in Ireland) 😅
I like this topic, we need more of this "basic" videos as many cyclists (myself included) need to revist the core fundamentals of our favorite hobby/exercise!
You have to love it. You can love the journey of improvement or the feeling your daily commute has for your health or the look and feel of your super bike race day. I love riding my trainer in my garage watching my metrics improve. It really is a sport for everyone.
What about a video where a 55 year old bloke who rides a 2007 vintage, entry level but slightly upgraded Trek, gets to test a Superbike over his local roads? Will it make me, ahem, him, any faster and will he have an even bigger smile than normal?
@@fredbecker607 Thanks Fred! Doing one for the slightly older generation would be great! I'm a bit delusional though as I still think I'm late 20's, but the mirror tells me otherwise!
Fantastic! Nice people doing something new and letting us watch. A lot of people would have been embarrassed. Thanks, Harriet and Bruno, for showing us great efforts and good hearts.
“That’s probably the most expensive thing I’ll ever sit on!” 🤣 That cracked me up proper! Anyway, I would like to see these beginners hosting GCN as the next project. 🤔 Yea, that would be a start! Or they can scour the countryside on a gravel bike and compare traversing on their own bikes upon the same terrain. That would be proper as their own bikes have wider tyres suited for such terrain.
Very similar to my experience when I bought a 1,000 € cyclocross ten years ago with no previous experience beyond fairly ordinary city bikes. Well done!
This videos bring smile n memories back to me.. it is definitely what i once encounter when switching from a normal social cyclist to a complete competitive cyclist.. it’s fun n very lovely 😊👍🏻
Great video, very interesting indeed! They both did really well and very funny :) Thing is unless you are young, super fit and very flexible then a superbike isn't going to be that great for any length of time. I remember the first time i rode a road bike after being a mountain biker for years, the difference is night and day. Maybe next for them, Velodrome beginner course?
Great job by both Bruno and Harriet! Harriet's excitement over the sprint challenge was great, and it would have been neat to see how much faster she could have gone using the big ring ;)
This was such a great video! Please more Harriett videos, loved her enthusiasm and real reactions, her reaction on the sprint reminded me of my first velodrome experience - the adrenaline and joy and surprise of not dying 😂 Bruno was superb too, loving the difference between his normal bike and the speed machine.. I’d be scared to crash or damage them too! Please do more of these videos. I love the normal GCN videos, but can relate far more to this one and would love to follow along on their journey trying out different bike skills. Manon is s great presenter too, and really encouraging and kind. Bravo!
I think the best all round value bike is around 2/2.5k mark a big improvement over 1/1.5 bike in components frame wheels and a 2k bike isn't that much slower then something 5x more for non professional
Decently grippy flat pedals on a fast road bike with treaded tyres instead of semi-slicks is probably the best compromise for 99% of people most of the time. The ability to get on and off quickly and use the bike on poor/wet surfaces trumps the last 5% of speed. Not to mention not having to wear cycling shoes and clack clack clack clack around You can dress normally.
I use the Adidas VeloSambas. I can walk in them like regular shoes but they have SPD cleats so I can clip in and go faster. People can install the have flat and have SPD pedals but I find SPDs easy to get in and out of
What do you think is the most important thing for a beginner cyclist? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!👇
Get a middle of the road spec bike, with compact groupset.
Learn from the experienced people you know. My go to were roddy and Kenny riddle.
Ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike.
Persistance - don't give up. I came back to cycling in 2018 and managed to halve my bodyweight in 18 months (and stay there)
Confidence and Road Safety. A good cheap bike and basic bike fit to begin, then a PROPER bike fit before you spend silly money on a super bike thinking you are Peter Sagan.
Fair play to both of them, especially Harriet as a complete beginner. Loved her comment "sorry to everyone that would love to ride a Pinarelli thingy" 😂
""Pinarelli thingy" 😀😀😀😀😀😀
Oh, for certain. I would have given up further down the hill than she did and still not bothered to get to the phone box. 😝
I’d love to ride a Pinarelli thingy, tbh 🤣
@@Rocky4719 Me too😛🤣
I have never felt as represented as I have by watching Harriet on that climb.
So great to see "real people" on these bikes! I love Harriet's reaction at the end. I work on bikes as a sideline, and I always tell people there's no shame in riding a bike that is less than "pro." The best bike is the one you'll ride!
I'm stealing that quote @Michael Yeakey. I love it.
Thanks Michael - glad you enjoyed it!
"My" 13 yr old got a new bike for her birthday (she could pick one within a set budget at a local bike store), and you should have seen the faces in the bike store when she asked them if they could remove the "high end" groupset and put the same low end stuff she had on her old bike on the expensive bike she picked. She rides a lot in all sorts of weather, and she just ran the numbers for a bit, and realized that replacing parts would get really costly, and she prefers using that money for eating at local places when she's out on a trip, or to take the train to go somewhere completely different and ride there, and she doesn't want to have to worry about it breaking. So now she's out there riding what's basically an almost 3k (euro's) bike with mostly tourney level parts on there in a 3x7 setup, just like her old bike.
Personally I never really pay attention to what groupsets people are riding, but apparently a lot of people do as she gets quite a few surprised (but mostly positive) comments about it on rides. 😂
While it feels like a bit of a waste in some ways at least the bike will be ready for more high-end parts when she is.
@michael yeakey agree no shame. some people don't realize that pro bikes are often prohibitively advanced. many have to graduate to tougher gearing, stiffer ride, narrower bars, and minimalist saddles
@@esenel92 I had a alloy bike, claris group set. upgraded because I fell for the hype! to a full carbon with ultegra 8000 it's lovely and I love it.. was it worth it? hell no! there are improvements for sure. but, not worth the £1000 extra that I spent! Marginal gains is an expensive hobby!
To be fair to these guys. Throwing a 16% Climb at them on the first challenge on a superbike for the first time is a little rough 🤣😈😈
Especially for a girl that never rode a racebike before.
I agree 100%, 16% made me cringe when I heard it and I guarantee I'd be struggling on 16% and I consider myself a hill climber. I think they deserve a big shoutout for heart and effort. No shame in walking, if you haven't walked you haven't pushed yourself past your limit. =)
I can cycle for hours at a decent speed, but as soon as the gradient hits 12%+ I'm done for. 16% for someone who barely ever cycles is just... setting them up to fail
Yup! It only goes to show how pros make it look so easy!
Agreed.even as some with years of experience 16 percent while not the worst I've ridden,is still kinda scary
More of these guys, they are the perfect people to do a whole series on from total beginner to getting into road cycling, assuming they would want to. You could cover all the questions that people ask that maybe considered silly to ask or just don't ask out of embarrassment. Great video, loved it.
Thanks Jake - what challenges should they take on next? 🚴♀
@@gcn skies the limit really but having two willing newbie volunteers (1 being female which is great as most cycling content is aimed at men), maybe get them road bike fits as they seem very open to talk about how they are feeling and what's comfortable and probably never had one before - gives you a nice springboard into frame sizing, saddle choices, positions, pedal systems and just the natural progression we all go through but done the right way.
@@gcn a longer group ride with the other presenters; using cycling shoes (Harriet); stand up and pedal (I still can't do that very well!); more hills! 😄
Yes,this comment right here!!
The first longer rides, 10 or 20 miles maybe.
There's something beautiful about a top-line Dogma with flat pedals. It's like seeing a Lamborghini with an Ikea lamp sticking out the roof. Good video, and good efforts.
🤣🤣
Like going to McDonald's and ordering a salad - or getting an escort just for a cuddle!
Not sure clip pedals make much of a difference to be honest. They're just less convenient.
in my area there is some dude that rides bianchi oltre (some old model with rim brakes but campagnolo wheels and group set) with flat pedals, plain clothes (sweatpants and casual shirt) it amaze me everytime I see him
@@alexseguin5245 I think the commenter is talking about convenience or efficiency, it's more so that the pedals looks so out of place for a top of the line dogma road bike
Massive respect to both!
Harriet's attitude on hill was extremely impressive - being on road bike for a first time on such a hill is massive!
Thanks for the vid :)
Most welcome!
That hill looks fun:).
Agree with this post! (*♡∀♡)
More videos like this GCN. Not everyone is a pro level. There are alot of beginner/ intermediate riders that are also out there.
Thanks very much - do you have any videos you'd like to see us take on in the future?
@@gcn shifting videos! The struggle is real for beginners 🤣
@@gcn Beginner cyclist's process of purchasing and riding their first road bike. Most likely won't be using the £10,000 super bike.
@@gcn Teaching somebody like Harriet how to handle a road bike, what size to buy, how to maintain it would be a nice video or videos
Actually, a good video might be showing them move to a flatbar roadbike or fitness/hybrid, something like a Trex FX or Specialized Sirrus. That’s a pretty common progression from the bikes they’re on.
Watching Bruno clip in gave me flash backs to the days of Matt Stephens
One of the best GCN videos! More ordinary people and less about power meter numbers. As for advice for new riders. Ride. Ride. Ride.
That stamina will improve the more you ride. Great advice 👍🏾
Wow - glad you think so Tracy! What would you like to see us do next?
@@gcn a bit more focus on average cyclist groupsets and kit. Ultegra and Dura Ace are nice but out of the average cyclists reach. More coverage of average cyclists events, road and gravel. The TDF is exciting to watch but seeing everyday folk competing would be good. Better coverage of the TCR and Trans Am in the US. Some of those cyclists would destroy TDF riders. Kraig Pauli, Evan Deutsche, Lael Wilcox and the other winners of the Trans Am are absolute beasts on bikes, and they are NOT "pros".
@@gcn how about some road sense? Bet all the other traffic was going WTF guessing what was happening next
Harriet needs a full time spot at GCN! She was more relatable and I applaud her effort!!! Would love to see her progression and view points on cycling. What a fresh perspective and one that we've all had but probably forgotten. I thoroughly enjoyed this video!!!
Totally agree!
Mistaking a phone box for a letter box shows how knackered poor Harriet was on her ‘Pinerelli or whatever it’s called’. But she totally redeems herself with the “it’s the most expensive thing I’ll ever sit on” comment 😂 Brilliant. Great to see proper beginners in this video - thanks and well done to all. Oh and by the by, Manon was fantastic on the TdFF coverage 😃
Yup, I was honestly worried she would have an accident at some point. It shows how fitness can affect your decision making when riding. Don't ride too hard in traffic, it can be dangerous, but not for the reason you think.
Love Manon as a presenter. Can we get a series called "Manon and the gang" where she takes a group of complete cycling newbies and just follows them for a year through their first milestones? From their first 10km ride all the way up to a 100+ km ride. It'd be a great journey watching the process and the learning that happens. I can't think of a better host for it than Manon. She's so positive and encouraging.
just bought my first endurance road bike... i would be a decent guniea pig xD
Ollie is a better presenter, it should be Ollie and gang. Don’t get me wrong tho, Manon is great too
Manon is, unequivocally, the best. GCN is lucky to have her.
@@petergarner as much as i like to simp for her... ollie can be dropped... thats for sure an asset.
It doesn't take a year to go to a 100km+ with the proper training.
I love this! This is pretty much exactly how I got into road cycling. One day my brother brought home a shiny new-to-him road bike and let me try it out. The acceleration completely blew me away! After mere 2 minutes on the bike, I was addicted. Couldn't think about anything else for weeks. After many restless nights I finally bit the bullet and bought a road bike of my own and it was probably the best decision I've ever made. It improved not only my physical health, but also mental health dramatically.
Bruno and Harriet are great! Entertaining and game to at least try the brave new world of high end bicycles. Great!
They really did and we're very proud of them! 🥰
@@gcn they can take over from Freddie as the new amateurs, since Freddie got kinda fast
Harriet has a good sense of humour and she is a natural comedian, so you guys definitely should make her a presenter 😂 Sure that everyone will have lots of fun.
Seriously. Harriet would be a great candidate for a "beginner to seasoned veteran", "beginner to century" or "how good can she get in a year" series, if she's willing.
She's got a great attitude and is excellent on camera.
Harriet, you're a legend. Could this be the beginning of a new "beginners" series?? Probably my favorite content.
i smiled throughout the whole video. brilliantly made. the excitement of the two riders and the vivaciousness of Harriet's reactions.
lovely vulnerability of both of them not wanting to crash their bikes.just special.
What a great vid well done to Manon who a great GCN presenter and well done to the others this was a great watch😊
I am 39 years old and I got back to cycling just four months ago after 27 long years of not doing it and this channel along with the spanish versión have been immesurable, worthy, helpful absolutely love your content.
The mechanical videos have saved me quite a lot of money learning doing stuff myself.
You Mannon, Hank, Ollie and the rest I could be missing their names you are absolutely amazing.
I can't tell you how grateful I am with you all
And I totally loved Harriet 😄cheers from Costa Rica
Not watched to the end yet, but this is damn brilliant! And a stark reminder we all begin at the same place no matter the bike 🙂
Glad you think so - we had a lot of fun making this one so we hope this reflects 😂
Credit to Harriet, she gave it a go, I was a little concerned she just might drop it though. Great video, we need more of these.
4:39 I felt bad when she said "I'm so unfit" - not unfit, just not used to cycling uphill. If you don't usually cycle, it's natural to struggle on a hill.
When I first started cycling, I also struggled uphill but would easily run an entire football match - just using yet untrained muscles.
Not just that, but also knowing your body enough on those situations to pace yourself properly.
Probably not as fit as many off us that ride like 4 times a week and also do some sessions on zwift. And also she has 0% experience with a racebike. That does a lot too.
Absolutely. 16% is one hell of a climb, I'd consider myself rather fit and would possibly be out of breath for 2 days after that climb , so she did absolutely fantastic for someone with little to no experience!
I would love to see more of this type of content. Harriet is a natural! Can't wait to see her doing her first Fondo and race.
No pressure then, Harriet!
These two are great characters. The woman really does classify as beginner, as her knowledge is simply climb on and pedal.
The man seems to have more insight and probably has an inner competitive self waiting to jump out.
I look forward to seeing those two again 👍🏾
Glad someone mentioned it he definitely has a bit of knowledge about the sport and about the benefits good gear can provide while realizing gear doesn’t make the rider.
So they don't know how to shift?
@@gold.2948It takes experience to know which gear is the best in which situation.
Love this video, I would like to see a video series where GCN shows riders like Harriet how to go from beginners to proficient. She has the enthusiasm to do it! Id love to see her reaction as she rides up that hill after a few months of training.
Couch to crit!!!
That actually would be really cool if she’d be up for it!
That would be epic. I would definitely love to see that.
I remember the huge difference switching from a crappy city bike to a classic racing bike made - I was completely surprised and slightly intimidated. It definitely takes a good amount of practice to be able to make full use of all the advantages road bikes have to offer…
They're so different in the steering and balance. Even now after years of riding both it takes me a minute to get used to the differences when I switch between my granny bike and road bike
It took me a number of rides to get used to mine after coming from riding an entry-level hardtail, mainly due to its higher gearing and handling dynamics.
Before I tore down my hardtail, I tried riding it one more time, now I can't ride that bike as well as I initially did.
The best training bike you could ever get is a Walmart bike they are heavy and it gets you some good training
I felt I was FLYING when I switched to a road bike! I absolutely loved it! ❤
@@gulfcitynd But why not go faster and farther on a good bike? Never understood the fat wheeled bikes.
We want more Harriet !! 🤣🤣 They both were great, fun to see how little it takes to get into riding. Also it just shows the simple joy of a mechanical well working bike.
Great job from both of them (and Manon of course).
I loved how Harriet while struggling her way up the hill was still talking to the camera and even making jokes. If they're not completely scared away from cycling after that hill, I really wouldn't mind seeing them return in more video's as each of them represent 2 big groups of people out there. (Those who used to be active but haven't been into it for a while, and true beginners)
Harriet’s hill climb and facial expressions are the best cycling I’ve seen this year 👍👍
The “hole in the saddle” comment from Harriet got me!!! Great jobs, guys!!!
Harriet is such a sweetie. Just wish someone taught her how to change gears.
I thought the same thing. Because I don't understand it how she couldn't get up that 1 hill. And I see it also direct she has 0% experience on a racebike.
@@Kvs-vf9nt And she was really spinning on the TT.
@@darkiee69 Yes indeed. At least they should have her get some practice beforehand on a normal racebike. How could she enjoy that bike when it's your first time on a racebike and never used clippless pedals before. Because yeah she couldn't ride with them that was weird too see for me on such a bike just normal pedals.
@@Sidowse I have enough with my 105-R7000 11speed. Great for hills (LBL hills so Belgium Ardennes where I live ) or even harder climbs. But yeah I also am overweight like another 23kg (well actually more like 20kg but I want to get 25kg off) it was during the pandemic my depression about chronic disease (Spondylitis Ankylosans) hit hard, and I drank and drank and drank until I was a blown up miserable person. I got 14-15kg weight loss now in like 2 months. Am under a 100kg (98kg) also and I want to weigh 75kg. So just keeping busy and in a few months a see back on this with a smile.
10 grand and only 18 seconds slower!!! well done both of you, lovely people. you both inspire us all:)
Somehow I've turned 71, and for the past 6 years I had a generic folding bike that I rode a total of under 400 miles. Maybe under 300 miles. I'd never ridden over 5 in one ride in my life. A few months ago, I had the amazing good fortune of being given a brand new Cannondale Bad Boy 3 that seems well suited for urban riding. Everything changed...
Almost overnight, I've built up to 25 miles a ride and have ridden well over 300 miles in 10 weeks. I know, this wouldn't be much for the average young rider. But considering that I really hadn't ridden much for over 40 years, it's big for me.
This change in bicycles worked out far better than it did for the riders in the video. Mine isn't a superbike, but it weighs about 8 lbs less than my old folding bike. The balance, control, and especially the gearing for hills is considerably better. I've increased my goals to doing a 100 mile ride by late next spring, something that now seems - for the first time - within reach.
So yeah, maybe a super bike is not what we all need, but we all do need a good bike. [Full disclosure: I underwent major surgery for cancer in early February, my 3rd in 15 months. So beginning to ride in June was a big step for me, considering my circumstances. I understand this would not be, for most of you, a big deal. I'm not bragging - it's just an incredibly good feeling! No matter whether I've beaten this or not, I'm flying on 2 wheels.]
We need more content like this, content just about cycling in general. There is too much focus on times and power. Many of us have great bikes and are fast, but don't give a toss about strava or power meters.
Both of them were such good sports, and I actually love Bruno's bike. That's a thoughtful and practical setup he's got there.
I feel sorry for these guys… its like being on a game show and the host reveals what you could have won, and then takes the prizes back at the end! Fantastic video again guys! Huge kudos to the pair for stepping/pedalling out of their comfort zones and bringing some more GCN Guinea Pig content for us! What’s next? Descents vs Pidcock?!
Bruno and Harriet are great at demonstrating that speed isn't everything, and that their comfort in what they're used to, and ease of handling, counts for a lot. I was 43 before I ended up (not by choice at the time!) with a drop handlebar - hated it at first! Same with clip-ins - what a faff! 5 years later, I have adjusted and couldn't imagine things different now, but getting over that initial discomfort is such a big psychological barrier.
This is one of your best videos gcn. It goes over what a normal rider does compared to a more seasoned one. As a road cyclist this is great to see commuters do on our road. A+
High praise - thank you very much 🙌
This might be the most enjoyable GCN video I have ever seen. Poor Harriet on that hill!
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it! More?
No Harriet was harmed in the making of this video.
@@gcnOf course!
Definitely a very realistic experience I was the same my first time with clipless pedals and the steering for me became extremely twitchy when I switched to narrower handlebars. Thankfully I’ve adjusted but definitely brought back memories
What good sports! Huge respect for being Manon's guinea pigs. Love how excited they got going fast on the flat; the smiles tell the story. "The most expensive thing I've ever sat on." Comment of the decade! I see a new bike in Harriet's future for sure.
Congrats to Harriet and Bruno for doing this !!!
It was amazing to see !!!
I started riding about 8 years ago. Began on a steel road bike and "upgraded" to a $550 2017 Fuji Sportif 2.5. It's a nice medium between where they are and where more expensive, competitive bikes are. I'd love to see what GCN thinks of that tier of bike (maybe even that bike) versus the Euro bike and an Ortega. Loved the video and the couple.
5:20 no stress on struggling to clip in Bruno. That sight was once a staple on this channel! Sigma seem to have acquired the rights to in now.
Good effort folks
I just started riding on the road a month ago and that is me taking of at every stop. I can never find the darn pedal!
@@edmondthompson7525 Thats ok. In my experience, 1 foot is always better at it than the other. But when it comes to ununclipping at a junction, I can never remember which foot that is.
Proper beginners at last, Harriet looked absolutely terrified but clearly enjoying it... Give her a regular spot. Would love to see how she improved given the help of you guys. Couch to 50k
The experience is the most important thing for a beginner; that and the realization of fitness level. I would love to see them tackle a cross country experience next, maybe on gravel bikes.
We'll add this to the ideas pot - thanks!
Maybe even some MTB riding too, have them spend the day with Blake
They look so happy on those superbikes smiles galore, it is what cycling is all about.
I feel like this girl was on the edge in this challenge, she was super close to fall couple of times on hill section with the superbike so make sure to give her some time to get used to riding a road bike before you have her doing more challenges, thumbs up for both of them! 😁
Especially with all the cars around, give them a practice run somewhere safe first!
This was lovely - one of the best GCN episodes you've all made! Hoping this inspires many people to take their cycling to the next level!
Really hope Harriet gets into cycling properly and became a presenter on the channel - witty and funny!
Really nice to see ordinary people for once in a video on this channel. I was welling up watching Harriet cycle up that hill, you could see how little she cycles. We need more videos like this please, most of your viewership are not pros.
"Sorry to everyone who would kill to ride a Pinarelli or whatever this is called" 🤣🤣
Now I can say I wouldn't, but the 2013 me would say otherwise. Pinarellos no longer impress me.
Quality video! I remember just over 10 years ago going from a mountain bike to my first Trek fx hybrid and my mind being completely blown at how much faster it was.
Fast forward to today and I'm now on an all-carbon, electronic-shifting road bike.
Once that cycling bug bites...
I want a GCN bike check of Bruno's personal bike. It looks like a fun and practical city/touring bike.
Jones H-Bar, it looks like!
Totally agree!
Harriet struggling with the direct handling in the beginning is exactly me with my first roadbike a few years ago when i picked up "actual" cycling after a lifetime of commuting on sluggish cheap mountainbikes you usually find in hardware stores haha.
I know just how this feels. When I started riding a bike as an adult, I rode a Diamondback hybrid. Rode that nearly every day until I was doing rides up to 60 and even 70 miles (which would take all day). The first time I got on a proper road bike, it was like going from a family van to a Ferrari. It would turn on a dime, every little move of the handlebars would quickly turn the bike, something I had to get used to. The one thing I did get used to very quickly was how much faster it was. That made me smile. But the handling of a road bike compared to a hybrid or cruiser type bike is night and day.
Pretty much the same way I felt when I got my first proper road race bike in 2013. It felt like a Ferrari compared to my old slow bikes. Puts a smile on my face every time I go flying past people and other bikes on the road.
I will say that I love Harriet…good humor and so genuine. Would love to see her again.
This is great. The participants were really good sports. I do find it funny that those are probably the cheapest pedals that have ever been on that Pinarello.
Don't be fooled by the looks of the pedals. They have diamond bearings with unobtainium grease.
Probably? I think we can be as certain of that as we are that we need oxygen to survive. 🙂
I have immense respect for people who ride bicycles in the UK. From what I've seen and heard it is not an easy place to ride, with narrow roads, lots of traffic in cities, and lack of extensive bicycle lanes. Kudos to these folks for giving it a go. If only they could ride the Pinarello and Orbea in a more user friendly environment, though.
Awesome video! Great work Harriet, Bruno and Manon! One of the things I noticed was the beginner's cadence, or lack thereof. It certainly has to be learned, and I'd be super interested in seeing a pro explain it to a beginner, I know I've got a lot to learn myself about selecting the right cadence!
As someone who has gotten back into bicycling after many, many years, I can totally relate to these two people.
Great effort on both of them. 👍
Get Harriet on the GCN Team. She has good Music Choice!
Don't you mean...Muse-ic choice?
I'll show myself out.
Love this type of content! I started riding in 2016 on a mountain bike and discovered GCN. The channel (and Tech channel), have taught me pretty much everything I know about bikes and I have progressed to now owning a Dogma of my own, joining a cycling club and regularly participating in cycling events and sportives. Ive even been to Mallorca twice with GCN and ridden with Hank and Dan. More more more please!! -Yeatsy x
Harriet was absolutely brilliant, fair play to the girl 👌.
Next GCN female presenter in the making there, fantastic.
4:26 "i'm fast as f*ck boyyyyy" had me in tears 😂 Harriet, passionate Mario Cart player and Muse fan really has her meme game on point 😂😂 👌👌
Bruno you got downgraded. Keep the supple bike with Jones bars :) Don’t fall for the roadie conversion therapy. There is more than one right way to ride a bike.
Both of these riders are absolute champions. I think this kind of video for total beginners is really good of GCN to do, as these will be potential GCN viewers of the future if they get into it more and buy a half decent Road/Endurance or Gravel bike. Doesn't need to be a superbike though!
4:11 if this is such a steep, tough climb...who is cruising up that climb in the background on a commuter bike with bags on like there was no effort at all? 😅🤣
It could be electric I guess 🤣😅
Really enjoyed Harriet's random name drops of GCN presenters through the video. It's always nice to see average people on these videos. Loved their attitudes, seems like Harriet is slowly getting bit by the cycling bug. Please more videos like this one
I would like to see these two before and after a bike fit, if they were to get road bikes. Would need a bit more time but comfort and position can make a big difference as shown in other great GCN videos
Sure - we'll see what we can do!
Loved how Harriet went from the initial little cheat on the climb to all out proper enthusiasm by the end. Great to see somebody catch the bug.
The first two challenges shows nicely how higher end road bikes are geared to allow well trained athletes to go very fast, and not for normal folks to do real world transportation riding.
Gear inches matter.
This was such a fun watch! I officially returned to riding my bike again just yesterday, after not touching it for over 2 years, and even then I did not ride it that much, but at least did a leisurely cycle nearly everyday. It’s nice to see content that includes beginners and inexperienced cyclists, especially when they feature again in other videos and you can see how they’ve grown and built confidence. I was rooting for Harriet when she was on the hill, at the same time I could see that she would have stopped…I don’t blame her, I would have stopped too!!
"I'm sorry to everyone who would kill to ride a Pinarelli" hahaha
Yep we enjoyed that one 🤣
"Si Richardson, eat your heart out." :D Love this line from the intro!!! Totally knew this was going to be an awesome video with that line.
Thanks Chris, glad you enjoyed it!
Nice video - more content like this with Bruno and Harriet
I bought a used, but pristine Trek Madone 5.5. I’ve ridden 150 miles in two weeks! On my first ride, I could only manage 12 miles. I doubled that distance now and do it four times/week.
Bruno's commuter looks pretty neat!
I think the most important thing for a beginner cyclist is to have experienced cyclists lead the way, just like Manon did! Reminded me of my experienced cyclist friends because they helped me every step of the way to build confidence and to become a roadie! I hope Harriet gets a road bike and enjoys the sport even more! I would love to see her progress if she decides to go for it!
I once was a young lad on a cheap workhorse of a bike, hammering past fat old blokes who could afford nice shiny expensive bikes.
Lets just say I now have a nice shiny expensive bike.....
And why not.👍
🙌🏼😍 Probably the most charming, down-to-earth everyday riders you could have found! Listening to them and Manon was so fun and adorable - for sure I'd like to watch you taking these lovelies on a bikepacking trip!
😃
With the cyclists being so "beginner" the lactic buildup is quite likely a fair portion of Bruno's 18s slower. I would like to have seen it if the commuter bikes were done while fresh and the superbikes after a bit of lactic buildup.
Another video needed? 🤔
One of the best, most relatable videos you've put together - this was absolutely brilliant. Would love to see these two on entry-level road bikes building confidence and going for increased distance. Can they ride further than they ever have before?
Very entertaining. Bought back some of the trials of my first road bike adventures. Maybe a future challenge to see how they manage on a longer distance ride? Was definitely one of my biggest challenges when starting out.
It would be mean...but it could be fun 🤔😅
Typically i find newer cyclist tend to fall of so hard after 2hours
@@gcn even 15-20 miles, that would be fun. Especially if Connor joins so they can stop and smell the roses.... and take pictures (like is his 100 mile ride in Ireland) 😅
I like this topic, we need more of this "basic" videos as many cyclists (myself included) need to revist the core fundamentals of our favorite hobby/exercise!
2:51: "Have you ever done a hill climb before?"....."Not on purpose!" LMAO!
You have to love it. You can love the journey of improvement or the feeling your daily commute has for your health or the look and feel of your super bike race day. I love riding my trainer in my garage watching my metrics improve. It really is a sport for everyone.
What about a video where a 55 year old bloke who rides a 2007 vintage, entry level but slightly upgraded Trek, gets to test a Superbike over his local roads? Will it make me, ahem, him, any faster and will he have an even bigger smile than normal?
As a 65 year old fat bloke riding a twenty year old bike, I would love to WATCH YOU do that.
@@fredbecker607 Thanks Fred! Doing one for the slightly older generation would be great! I'm a bit delusional though as I still think I'm late 20's, but the mirror tells me otherwise!
Yes! @GCN We need a video comparing entry level competition road bike from 10 years ago to today’s entry level competition road bike.
Fantastic! Nice people doing something new and letting us watch. A lot of people would have been embarrassed. Thanks, Harriet and Bruno, for showing us great efforts and good hearts.
“That’s probably the most expensive thing I’ll ever sit on!” 🤣 That cracked me up proper! Anyway, I would like to see these beginners hosting GCN as the next project. 🤔 Yea, that would be a start! Or they can scour the countryside on a gravel bike and compare traversing on their own bikes upon the same terrain. That would be proper as their own bikes have wider tyres suited for such terrain.
Very similar to my experience when I bought a 1,000 € cyclocross ten years ago with no previous experience beyond fairly ordinary city bikes. Well done!
Why is no one talking about what a sweet city bike that dude has?? Who cares about a racing machine when you've got a workhorse like that
This videos bring smile n memories back to me.. it is definitely what i once encounter when switching from a normal social cyclist to a complete competitive cyclist.. it’s fun n very lovely 😊👍🏻
Great video, very interesting indeed! They both did really well and very funny :) Thing is unless you are young, super fit and very flexible then a superbike isn't going to be that great for any length of time.
I remember the first time i rode a road bike after being a mountain biker for years, the difference is night and day.
Maybe next for them, Velodrome beginner course?
Noted - we'll see what we can do!
Great job by both Bruno and Harriet! Harriet's excitement over the sprint challenge was great, and it would have been neat to see how much faster she could have gone using the big ring ;)
Be awesome to see how these guys progress under the GCN wings as a series.
This was such a great video! Please more Harriett videos, loved her enthusiasm and real reactions, her reaction on the sprint reminded me of my first velodrome experience - the adrenaline and joy and surprise of not dying 😂 Bruno was superb too, loving the difference between his normal bike and the speed machine.. I’d be scared to crash or damage them too! Please do more of these videos. I love the normal GCN videos, but can relate far more to this one and would love to follow along on their journey trying out different bike skills. Manon is s great presenter too, and really encouraging and kind. Bravo!
That's right. That's what's all about.. riding a bike.
It doesn't matter what bike you ride, as long as you're riding it!
I think the best all round value bike is around 2/2.5k mark a big improvement over 1/1.5 bike in components frame wheels and a 2k bike isn't that much slower then something 5x more for non professional
Decently grippy flat pedals on a fast road bike with treaded tyres instead of semi-slicks is probably the best compromise for 99% of people most of the time. The ability to get on and off quickly and use the bike on poor/wet surfaces trumps the last 5% of speed.
Not to mention not having to wear cycling shoes and clack clack clack clack around You can dress normally.
I use the Adidas VeloSambas. I can walk in them like regular shoes but they have SPD cleats so I can clip in and go faster. People can install the have flat and have SPD pedals but I find SPDs easy to get in and out of
SPD pedals and mountain-bike shoes that look like trainers work well for commuting.