Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot
This helps protect our community. Learn more

Which Bike Is Actually Best For A Beginner?

Global Cycling Network
3.4M subscribers
<__slot-el>
<__slot-el>
97K views 3 weeks ago #roadcycling #roadbike #bikelife
We all know that a road bike should be the fastest on a smooth road. But that’s easy for Conor — an ex-pro cyclist who’s spent most of his life riding bikes daily. But what about for total beginners? People without technique, efficiency, or years of experience — which bike is actually fastest for them? To find out, we’ve lined up three very different bikes: a road bike, a gravel bike, and a hardtail mountain bike. We’ve also assembled a GCN dream team, all with very different levels of cycling experience. The challenge is simple: a 5km road course with a bit of everything — a climb to start, then flat and fast to the finish. Which bike will come out on top? And maybe more importantly... which one will they actually enjoy riding the most? Let’s find out! 00:00 Which bike is actually fast for a beginner? 00:39 The Experiment: 5km route on each bike 01:31 Meet the GCN dream team 02:05 What is your cycling experience? 02:43 What do you love most ab …...more
...more
Global Cycling Network tagged products below. Learn more
Which Bike Is Actually Best For A Beginner?
4.5KLikes
97,083Views
Apr 102025
We all know that a road bike should be the fastest on a smooth road. But that’s easy for Conor — an ex-pro cyclist who’s spent most of his life riding bikes daily. But what about for total beginners? People without technique, efficiency, or years of experience — which bike is actually fastest for them? To find out, we’ve lined up three very different bikes: a road bike, a gravel bike, and a hardtail mountain bike. We’ve also assembled a GCN dream team, all with very different levels of cycling experience. The challenge is simple: a 5km road course with a bit of everything — a climb to start, then flat and fast to the finish. Which bike will come out on top? And maybe more importantly... which one will they actually enjoy riding the most? Let’s find out! 00:00 Which bike is actually fast for a beginner? 00:39 The Experiment: 5km route on each bike 01:31 Meet the GCN dream team 02:05 What is your cycling experience? 02:43 What do you love most about cycling? 03:31 What do you find the hardest about cycling? 04:37 On the way to Bannerdown 05:00 Run 1 06:48 Run 2 08:06 Break time & Impressions 08:58 Run 3 11:08 Results — Which bike was the fastest? 11:45 Rider Feedback — Which bike did you prefer? 13:33 Final Thoughts — Has Today Changed Your Mind About Cycling? Useful Links: Join this channel to get access to perks 👉 https://gcn.eu/JoinYTmemberships Subscribe so you don’t miss a thing! 👉 https://gcn.eu/subscribe Insurance: Viewers in the USA and UK can explore GCN Insurance products 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNinsurance Sign Up To The GCN Newsletter 👉 https://gcn.eu/NewsletterGCN Uploader 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnuploader Visit the GCN Shop 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnshop GCN WhatsApp Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNwhatsapp GCN Instagram Broadcast Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/instagrambroadcast Join the GCN Club on Zwift and ride with us! 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNClubRides How do you think the GCN Dream Team did today? 🤩 Let us know in the comments! And hit like if Roosa should try a long ride! 👇 Watch more on GCN... 📹 Can A Beginner Cyclist Ride 30 Miles On A Bike? 👉    • Can A Beginner Cyclist Ride 30 Miles ...   📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/editorschoice 📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 ​​https://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures 🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵 Culture Vulture - Def Lev Epicness - Daniel Fridell Glynnis - Coma Svensson Heart & Soul (Instrumental Version) - Blood Red Sun Jennie (Instrumental Version) - Parellite Just Don't Care - Sven Karlsson Knoph - Azucares Let You Go (Instrumental Version) - Sebastian Forslund On the Loose - Coma Svensson Pinkland - Young Community Poison Rain (Instrumental Version) - Suffer City #gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #beginners #beginner #fast #fun 📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling. Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more. Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races. Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling Thanks to our sponsors: Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon CamelBak: https://gcn.eu/Camelbak Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles: https://gcn.eu/VW Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift Silca: https://gcn.eu/Silca MET Helmets: https://gcn.eu/methelmets Core Body Temperature: https://gcn.eu/corebodytemp Precision Fuel & Hydration: https://gcn.eu/precisionhydration Elitewheels: https://gcn.eu/Elitewheels Watch our sister channels: GCN Tech -    / @gcntech   GCN Racing -    / @gcnracing   Global Triathlon Network -    / @gtn   GCN Italia -    / @gcnitalia   GCN en Español -    / @gcnenespanol   GCN auf Deutsch -    / @gcnaufdeutsch   GCN en Français -    / @gcnenfrancais   GCN Training -    / @gcntraining   Global Mountain Bike Network -    / @gmbn   GMBN Tech -    / @gmbntech   Electric Mountain Bike Network -    / @embn  

Follow along using the transcript.

Global Cycling Network

3.4M subscribers