One of my favourite videos of 2023 from GCN. Andrew is such a legend and such an amazing guy. I hope one day I'll have the opportunity to buy him a jam sandwich
Hats off to Andrew. He was so not into this challenge yet he did it anyway, and with a smile on his face. Great, fun in the end. Cheers to Si for being a humble winner.
Watching Feather in this challenge, his pedal stroke even had the look of a climber trying to force his legs to work on a flat road. Still, huge respect for him giving his best while out of his comfort zone.
This was actually an interesting one, also Si's hypothesis was spot on. Cycling is position as much as it is to get the raw numbers. The fact that Feather didn't even bother to have his drops wrapped for his TT because he wasn't using them anyway is testament to that. Funny enough that I'm trying to do the same thing, I just feel stronger on climbs and have done some hillclimbs but want to try a TT next year, albeit 6 hours instead of 12 minutes. Doing the workouts for it, I can instantly feel the difference getting my threshold power down on the hoods vs a a more aero position. Takes some getting used to....
Nice video. Anecdotal, not statistically significant, but very confirming of my own anecdotal experience. My riding buddy and I live and cycle mostly in the flat lands along the south shore of Lake Erie in the USA. Once a year we traveled south to Columbus, Ohio for the Columbus Fall Challenge, an out & back two day ride through the hilliest country Ohio has to offer. 106 miles with 3000 meters of climbing. String bean riders from the ride area would drop my buddy and me on the steeper climbs like we were sitting still. On one (shortish) section of the ride, along a riverbank, we found ourselves flying by the string beans. We were so astonished we slowed to ask if they were all right. They said they were fine and glared at us as we sped away, only to zoom past us on the next climb. As your little time trial showed, you do best what you train.
Some years ago I read an magazine article written by a pro/semi pro cyclist who moved from Cornwall to the Cambridgeshire Fens, as flat as a f&£t, and found the cycling harder here than in the Cornish hills. In the Fens there is no escape or hiding from the wind and there is no downhills to try and relax a bit. Good on ya Andrew, awesome rider but honest enough to share the agony you went through. Chapeau.
If I’m not mistaken, Si had ridden that route in 12min48sec in 1vs2 or 1vs3 on a TT bike, but now he managed to do it in 12min6sec on a road bike. Great result!
I found a World KOM Hunters list. While Andrew is not the one with the most KOMs on this planet, a man name Daniel Lloyd shows up there just on the last place with 727 KOMs!
Si & Feather racing a local route of mine, love to see it!! I’ve taken on that stretch dozens of times & absolutely nowhere near those numbers🤣🤣Great vid fellas, as always
A real champion dares to leave his comfort zone. Andrew is such a person, respect! Especially when you have to compete against Si. Someone who still has a powerful engine. Great video!
This is such a good video. I'm 165cm 50kg rider with a decent power to weight ratio who can climb fairly well but i always struggle on flats. Pushing hard on climbs and pushing hard on flats are really different than eachother. Climbs almost helps you to put big power in order to move forward. But on flats you have to reach and sustain that power. Such a helpful video for those who thinks why this is happening.
To Be Honest, That is crazy he kind of explained it, out of the saddle has different muscle engagement VS seated on the drops. I would have though they power would have transitioned better. Crack on Si and Andrew. :)
I took up cycling during lockdown and trained on nothing but uphill. Completed 3 Everestings and became a reasonable climber. I was utterly awful on the flat and couldn't find the same power. I've always held Si's hypothesis and it's rather nice to see this video backing that up!
The flat specialist Vs climbing specialist discussion is an interesting one, and one I've been thinking about with my own riding. Being in Norfolk I'm not blessed with hills but being both roadie and MTB I find my training has led me (MTB initially) to be better suited to hills where I feel I get a constant / harder resistance to drive against than on the flat. Unfortunately at 87kg I'll never make a hill climber but those strep MTB assents and road bike sprints, that's another thing. For those who are interested 😅
Thanks Si and Andrew for a great challenge, this felt like one of the old school GCN videos, going back to basics with great craic, an interesting challenge and even some ‘science’!! Loved it 👍🏼 As for what next, what does Andrew want to do?? We’ve seen a couple of vids now where he’s doing something that’s clearly not his preference, so how about letting him choose his own challenge? It’ll be interesting to see what he would like to have a crack at.
Feather is such a good sport! What a guy, really. He laid it all out on the flat road for an effort he knew he wouldn't enjoy and during off-season, too. Very inspiring, on and off the slopes. Also, good going, Si! That was impressive as well. Top effort by both.
What I take away from this most is how absolutely incredible it is that they are a select few riders who excel at both. I have newfound respect for a Demi Vollering or a Jonas Vingegard. Generally, I'm still amazed by all because they only place where I can put some kind of effort in is off-road where it's not about consciously putting an effort in but just not slipping out, getting through the sand.
The Next Challenge for Andrew? Maybe an indoor stationary cycling one.... Maybe a century race like the one featured in Tucson, Arizona in another video recently....
I'd like to see the "short sharp shock" challenge -- Hardknott -- and the long drawn-out marathon challenge -- Haleakala in Hawaii. Pretty sure we've not seen Feather on either. "From Hardknott to Haleakala" has a ring to it.
Thumbs up and a big thank you to Andrew! (there were biscuits involved, though... I'd definitely come out of hibernation if there were biscuits involved)
Loved this episode, just shows even the best enjoy some aspects of cycling over others. Let's all just love riding our bikes and be the best we can be 😊
Great video. Andrew is an amazing rider and good sport. Si is without doubt my favourite GCN presenter with his relaxed engaging style since Matt left…😮..and Tom went to the back office😢
I’m sure someone else has mentioned in the comments but it wasn’t covered in the video. Luckington Lump KOM = 0:28. Andrew’s time? 0:42. Si’s time on this ride? 0:39. Si’s PR? 0:37
You should come to Norfolk if you want flat. In the fens some places are even below sea level and there is literally nothing but fields for about 10 miles in every direction, not even a hedge in some places. You could do a 40 mile route with less than about 500ft of climbing.
I think this was good for Andrew, he got his Achilles pinpointed. If there are some semiflat parts in his hillclimbs, he might improve a second or two if he rehearses some aeroposition riding.
I have to admit I was completely surprised 😲 I really thought it would be a little closer 😅 …..lol What a sport Andrew ….thank you for the awesome video and your still the Man by the way and congrats to Si for the victory 👏
I'd be intrigued about a full TT setup... would being further forward on the frame feel a smidge more "normal" for unlocking his climbing W on El Flats... ? True, is still seated though. Ooohhh... how quirky a setup would he need to to get his climbing squat for the flats (a reverse Conor's bike from a couple of weeks ago)?
Hats off to The Goat Andrew Feather. Still a very respectable effort even in off season with Biscuits eaten by SI😂. Great video though. Such a great sport. More of the same please
Now that I've slept on it. I think it was a fair challenge. Si was also a good sport when he acknowledged the importance of keeping concentration. I think if both cyclists were off the line at the same time, with average power having been close enough and this time with Feather having the benefit of seeing the benchmark, the best climber in the world would dig deeper than Si on the flat.
I found it fascinating to see Andrew wrestling his bike on the flat. It illustrated once again the gulf between being a very very talented climber to having the all round game to be a world tour rider. Very play to Andrew for venturing outside his comfort zone, and obviously Si for being almost embarrassed at beating Andrew. Would Andrew think about getting in the GCN presenter chain gang?
Andrew, you should come to Australia for GCN and do the Peaks Challenge in Victoria, see if you can smash the current record. 235km, 4,000m climbing and 13 hours cutoff...on in March 2024. Current record is just over 7 hours
Maybe we could get Andrew doing something multi day Stage race. Show what difference the cumulative affect makes on a climb that he’s done before with just a warm up.
What challenge would you like to see Andrew Feather attempt next? 🪶
Milano-Sanremo Ollie vs. Andrew
his rivals' suggestion: BASE jumping.
Andrew doing an enduro gravel race In a really arid desert. Call it Feather Dusting!
Towing a bike trailer up a good climb. Increase the trailer weight until he cracks.
What goes up must come down....if he's climbing all these mountains he must be a deft hand at descending too, no? Hank vs. Feather on a descent.
Gotta say - Andrew is such a nice humble guy. Super individual.
do you know him
He's great to have around! What challenge should he do next?
hes one of only a few people id actually like to meet
One of my favourite videos of 2023 from GCN. Andrew is such a legend and such an amazing guy. I hope one day I'll have the opportunity to buy him a jam sandwich
If I lost 100 watts on my performance, children would be passing me on tricycles.
Hats off to Andrew. He was so not into this challenge yet he did it anyway, and with a smile on his face. Great, fun in the end. Cheers to Si for being a humble winner.
Come on man. Obviously he was paid for it.
@@trdi True😂
Cycling is all about enjoying it and with a smile! Winning is just an added bonus😉
Watching Feather in this challenge, his pedal stroke even had the look of a climber trying to force his legs to work on a flat road. Still, huge respect for him giving his best while out of his comfort zone.
Do you think if we trained him, he could become a champion Time trialist?
@@gcn I’m sure he could be great at it but not without diminishing some climbing ability. He can’t be perfect at everything.
He averaged 40kph. That’s not bad is it?
@@andymccann8763 for someone with his ftp and power it actually is horrible..he has pro level power and a pro can go 45kph for a WHILE
This was actually an interesting one, also Si's hypothesis was spot on. Cycling is position as much as it is to get the raw numbers. The fact that Feather didn't even bother to have his drops wrapped for his TT because he wasn't using them anyway is testament to that. Funny enough that I'm trying to do the same thing, I just feel stronger on climbs and have done some hillclimbs but want to try a TT next year, albeit 6 hours instead of 12 minutes. Doing the workouts for it, I can instantly feel the difference getting my threshold power down on the hoods vs a a more aero position. Takes some getting used to....
Great hypothesis from Si wasn't it! We could train Andrew to become a champion in the TT?
@@gcn Yeah but he'll need a custom frame so that he can ride TTs standing... the Superman bike. 😁
The joy Si gets when competing (and winning) is infectious! These are my favorite type of episodes.
This GCN team really puts their money where their mouth is! No desk jockey types!
He had a spring in his step at GCN HQ this week!
Brilliant video , and definitely hats off to Mr Feather ….. kudos to Si too, got to hand it to you …. Chapeau
Nice video. Anecdotal, not statistically significant, but very confirming of my own anecdotal experience. My riding buddy and I live and cycle mostly in the flat lands along the south shore of Lake Erie in the USA. Once a year we traveled south to Columbus, Ohio for the Columbus Fall Challenge, an out & back two day ride through the hilliest country Ohio has to offer. 106 miles with 3000 meters of climbing. String bean riders from the ride area would drop my buddy and me on the steeper climbs like we were sitting still. On one (shortish) section of the ride, along a riverbank, we found ourselves flying by the string beans. We were so astonished we slowed to ask if they were all right. They said they were fine and glared at us as we sped away, only to zoom past us on the next climb. As your little time trial showed, you do best what you train.
Big thanks to Andrew! Of course you both doubled the power I can manage. Well done!
Such a great sportsman, always up for a challenge and entrataining. Humble Champion!
He's one of a kind! 🙌 Were you surprised with the results?
Enough about Si, what about Andrew? 😅
Some years ago I read an magazine article written by a pro/semi pro cyclist who moved from Cornwall to the Cambridgeshire Fens, as flat as a f&£t, and found the cycling harder here than in the Cornish hills. In the Fens there is no escape or hiding from the wind and there is no downhills to try and relax a bit. Good on ya Andrew, awesome rider but honest enough to share the agony you went through. Chapeau.
If I’m not mistaken, Si had ridden that route in 12min48sec in 1vs2 or 1vs3 on a TT bike, but now he managed to do it in 12min6sec on a road bike. Great result!
Less traffic and more tailwind. Everyday is different.
Getting quicker all the time😉
Slightly different route. We avoided the wet muddy lane for Andrew’s benefit!
Si = funniest GCN commentator, and one of the most humble (there are a few). Champion bloke!!
Don't let Hank hear that😂
I found a World KOM Hunters list. While Andrew is not the one with the most KOMs on this planet, a man name Daniel Lloyd shows up there just on the last place with 727 KOMs!
Is that a standard GCN chamois Si (early part of video from the front) or was it made to measure? 🤣🤣
Si & Feather racing a local route of mine, love to see it!!
I’ve taken on that stretch dozens of times & absolutely nowhere near those numbers🤣🤣Great vid fellas, as always
Nice case of good sportsmanship to notice Andrew's lack of aerodynamic and put a massive wind-catching glass stuff on Si's face to level the field.
A real champion dares to leave his comfort zone. Andrew is such a person, respect! Especially when you have to compete against Si. Someone who still has a powerful engine. Great video!
You said it! Si's engine is still turning out the miles 💪
Such a modesty. Mr. Feather should be a roll model for all riders around the world.
This is such a good video. I'm 165cm 50kg rider with a decent power to weight ratio who can climb fairly well but i always struggle on flats. Pushing hard on climbs and pushing hard on flats are really different than eachother. Climbs almost helps you to put big power in order to move forward. But on flats you have to reach and sustain that power. Such a helpful video for those who thinks why this is happening.
To Be Honest, That is crazy he kind of explained it, out of the saddle has different muscle engagement VS seated on the drops. I would have though they power would have transitioned better. Crack on Si and Andrew. :)
Andrew is a great guy to do something so far out of his comfort zone for the video.
We think we could push him further... feather goes bikepacking? 👀
Someone needs to tell feather his socks are on the wrong foot 4:07 , that’s got to be worth a couple of watts .
Great ending too! It makes sense. Sometimes we forget to train our strengths as much as our weaknesses.
Andrew is as brilliant
as brilliant as how Simon has demonstrated the specialty aspect of cycling
I took up cycling during lockdown and trained on nothing but uphill. Completed 3 Everestings and became a reasonable climber. I was utterly awful on the flat and couldn't find the same power. I've always held Si's hypothesis and it's rather nice to see this video backing that up!
3 Everestings!! You deserve a medal!
The flat specialist Vs climbing specialist discussion is an interesting one, and one I've been thinking about with my own riding. Being in Norfolk I'm not blessed with hills but being both roadie and MTB I find my training has led me (MTB initially) to be better suited to hills where I feel I get a constant / harder resistance to drive against than on the flat.
Unfortunately at 87kg I'll never make a hill climber but those strep MTB assents and road bike sprints, that's another thing.
For those who are interested 😅
Thanks Si and Andrew for a great challenge, this felt like one of the old school GCN videos, going back to basics with great craic, an interesting challenge and even some ‘science’!! Loved it 👍🏼
As for what next, what does Andrew want to do?? We’ve seen a couple of vids now where he’s doing something that’s clearly not his preference, so how about letting him choose his own challenge? It’ll be interesting to see what he would like to have a crack at.
Feather is such a good sport! What a guy, really. He laid it all out on the flat road for an effort he knew he wouldn't enjoy and during off-season, too. Very inspiring, on and off the slopes. Also, good going, Si! That was impressive as well. Top effort by both.
Brilliant. Always wondered about this. Classic gcn. Thanks
Great piece this! Respect to both of you in an off season !
Got 'em Si!! Fair play to Andrew for going out against his comfort zone. Great video
He may have won the battle but we're sure Feather will come out fighting in the war 🥊
I want to see more Andrew Feather videos. He's an awesome athlete.
Andrew is such a good guy doing what he does is a specialty for sure.
What about Andrew vs Phil Gaimon on a couple of hills
That'd be sick
Oooo now that is a battle! If there are cookies we'll come 👀
Andrew the goat! Come to Gran Canaria with @GCN. The dreamland for any climber
Nice interview. Always good to get a bit more info from Andrew.
Great episode, fair play to both of you. I think Si position and his bike made a good difference on that one.
What I take away from this most is how absolutely incredible it is that they are a select few riders who excel at both. I have newfound respect for a Demi Vollering or a Jonas Vingegard. Generally, I'm still amazed by all because they only place where I can put some kind of effort in is off-road where it's not about consciously putting an effort in but just not slipping out, getting through the sand.
For Andrew - How about a Gravel race in the USA? Some of them have lots of climbing. Thanks for the video, Si.
Be interesting to see him do this again actually during training for hill climb season and on an aero bike.
Great video. Thanks Andrew. What a humble legend.
Congrats, Si! You're a model and an inspiration.
This experiment was absolutely fascinating.
Huge thumbs up for Andrew! Thank you for a great video!
Two superb individuals, so much joy to watch
Well done Andrew Feather, my cycling specialty is the coffee stop, will definitely focus more on it.
Hahahah yes! Have you ever got a coffee shop KOM?
The Next Challenge for Andrew? Maybe an indoor stationary cycling one.... Maybe a century race like the one featured in Tucson, Arizona in another video recently....
Hats off to Andrew, and nice work Simon..... I just wish I had an ounce of either of their talent!!
I'd like to see the "short sharp shock" challenge -- Hardknott -- and the long drawn-out marathon challenge -- Haleakala in Hawaii. Pretty sure we've not seen Feather on either. "From Hardknott to Haleakala" has a ring to it.
Andrew Feather, such a nice bloke, always a winner
Thanks Andrew! Free diving would be a nice thing to do next. :)
Andrew - king of the mountains. What a guy!👌
Thumbs up and a big thank you to Andrew! (there were biscuits involved, though... I'd definitely come out of hibernation if there were biscuits involved)
Awesome job both of you fellas. Great video, not because Andrew lost; but for finding his limitations. Keep it up team!
"Bip bip beep... don't mind if I do" 4:18 I hope those biscuits were Gluten Free, Si!
That was great - well done Simon 😊. Always good to have the 🪶 Feather on.
Nice job to both Si and Andrew. Si got a win. A win is a win. But, Andrew Feather's demeanor and effort gets a big 👍!
Loved this episode, just shows even the best enjoy some aspects of cycling over others. Let's all just love riding our bikes and be the best we can be 😊
Great video. Andrew is an amazing rider and good sport. Si is without doubt my favourite GCN presenter with his relaxed engaging style
since Matt left…😮..and Tom went to the back office😢
I’m sure someone else has mentioned in the comments but it wasn’t covered in the video. Luckington Lump KOM = 0:28. Andrew’s time? 0:42. Si’s time on this ride? 0:39. Si’s PR? 0:37
You should come to Norfolk if you want flat. In the fens some places are even below sea level and there is literally nothing but fields for about 10 miles in every direction, not even a hedge in some places. You could do a 40 mile route with less than about 500ft of climbing.
I think this was good for Andrew, he got his Achilles pinpointed. If there are some semiflat parts in his hillclimbs, he might improve a second or two if he rehearses some aeroposition riding.
This is fascinating to see. What was the stava de-breif info as you did not talk about it?
Yes. Thank you Andrew and Si. That made for quite an interesting conclusion.
I have to admit I was completely surprised 😲 I really thought it would be a little closer 😅 …..lol
What a sport Andrew ….thank you for the awesome video and your still the Man by the way and congrats to Si for the victory 👏
Put Andrew up against Ed Lavarak on the flat challenge, cracking video
Another cool video guys - DANKE, love and support from Germany
Beautiful video with lots of lessons 🫶🏾🫡
Fair play to Andrew for having a go and being a good sport. Impressive power Si!
Great video and Andrew is a great sport. Still, this seems to be a Feather in Si’s cap!
Underrated comment!
More Andrew on the channel, please. He's such a good cyclist and presenter.
Kudos to GCN for tricking Andrew into training to be more aero, he will be faster next season, take that Ventoux KOM
Mwahahaha are we evil for doing this? 😈
Great message from Si in the e d.
Great video but now would like to see Ollie v Si , would be interesting one
I'd be intrigued about a full TT setup... would being further forward on the frame feel a smidge more "normal" for unlocking his climbing W on El Flats... ?
True, is still seated though.
Ooohhh... how quirky a setup would he need to to get his climbing squat for the flats (a reverse Conor's bike from a couple of weeks ago)?
Thanks, Andrew!
Andrew is the hill climbing Weapon!! Leave him in his element !!!🙂(There are a few little hills he could KOM in Essex to add to his tally :-) )
Well done Andrew for being such a good sport.
Great video and concept!
Si that was great to see!! You beat the man on the flats. You're my favorite rider
Nice challenge! Now I would like to see Andrew Feather against Rowan Barrett! 😁
This once more puts in perspective what special beasts GC riders are.
I wish I could go that fast outside of my comfort zone! Nice efforts to both guys -- very impressive.
Give Andrew an aero bike and some time in a wind tunnel! It would be interesting to see what he could do on a flat route!!
Was rewatching Si's intro to the Cotswolds, he made it sound like a barren Western frontier. 😅
Thanks Andrew !!!
🙌🏼
Hats off to The Goat Andrew Feather. Still a very respectable effort even in off season with Biscuits eaten by SI😂. Great video though. Such a great sport. More of the same please
Very interesting video - thank you!
Great video, well played guys
Thanks Si. I love that...
-You do you- point ❤
Now that I've slept on it. I think it was a fair challenge. Si was also a good sport when he acknowledged the importance of keeping concentration. I think if both cyclists were off the line at the same time, with average power having been close enough and this time with Feather having the benefit of seeing the benchmark, the best climber in the world would dig deeper than Si on the flat.
Love watching Andrew, such a chill guy..
But you won by a biscuit Si!
A ginger biscuit to be precise!
I found it fascinating to see Andrew wrestling his bike on the flat. It illustrated once again the gulf between being a very very talented climber to having the all round game to be a world tour rider. Very play to Andrew for venturing outside his comfort zone, and obviously Si for being almost embarrassed at beating Andrew. Would Andrew think about getting in the GCN presenter chain gang?
Huge respect for Andrew! 👍👍👍👍
Very fun video and challenge! I do wonder how Andrew would have performed on an aero bike setup?
Love any video Feather is in.
Andrew, you should come to Australia for GCN and do the Peaks Challenge in Victoria, see if you can smash the current record. 235km, 4,000m climbing and 13 hours cutoff...on in March 2024. Current record is just over 7 hours
Maybe we could get Andrew doing something multi day Stage race. Show what difference the cumulative affect makes on a climb that he’s done before with just a warm up.