GCN fatigue

Orkneylad

Don't know about you, but GCN is really getting me down these days.

They had a purple patch (maybe Q2-Q3 2016?) but these days they just seem to be pushing sponsor merchandise & GCN branded hoohah, with the odd 'celeb bike porn' thrown in. The franchise branched out into GMBN and now the Triathlon channel, it's really all gone just a bit beige.

Plus, let's be honest, that's one boring band of boys; now with the 'tinge' of celebrity they seem to have become lost up their own collective back passage. Think the straw that broke the camel's back was the endless reminder about Dan 'used to ride for Cervelo test team' blah blah blah......too much. Matt Stevens, OK, he's still bearable, but the others are pure meh.

I know durianrider is an obnoxious A-hole, but who said cyclists needed to be liked? GCN are trying to not offend anyone & that's a fast-track to mediocrity.

gethinceri

It's very easy not to access GCN.

mouth

What exactly is GCN?

cougie

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=GCN+cycling

lincolndave

If you feel that way about them,don't watch them it's simple

PhilipPirrip

Person finds something they don't like on the internet. Do they;

A) find something else that they do like in a world of infinite possibility, or

watch that thing they don't like and then moan that they don't like it seeking validation of their dislike from strangers?

fat daddy

I like them ... it's a good balance between being a bikebore that everyone tries hard to get away from at BBQs and having that "top gear"-esq 3 lads peeing about too much.

Aiming for mid field ... ah fook it why I am even debating this ... you used to think it was purple now you think it's beige ... just stop watching it

sloppyschleckonds

Thread is useless without a Poll

Orkneylad

PhilipPirrip wrote:

Person finds something they don't like on the internet. Do they;

A) find something else that they do like in a world of infinite possibility, or

watch that thing they don't like and then moan that they don't like it seeking validation of their dislike from strangers?

hehe that's fair enough, I'm doing A but 'crossed the line' into validation-seeking . . . . my mistake!

Orkneylad

sloppyschleckonds wrote:

Thread is useless without a Poll

Yeah that would be interesting.......

navrig2

Orkneylad wrote:

sloppyschleckonds wrote:

Thread is useless without a Poll

Yeah that would be interesting.......

Is there irony in there or are you for real?

haydenm

Orkneylad wrote:

Think the straw that broke the camel's back was the endless reminder about Dan 'used to ride for Cervelo test team' blah blah blah......too much.

I think they are taking the mick out of him

mamil314

GCN simply covered most of topics and did guides on pretty much all aspects cycling related, so they are in a pretty tough spot other than keeping up with sparse innovations in biking industry and some bigger races.

burnthesheep

Orkneylad wrote:

Think the straw that broke the camel's back was the endless reminder about Dan 'used to ride for Cervelo test team' blah blah blah......

I still watch and find it more entertaining than surfing for fail videos.

I do find that annoying. A show or short video recently they made it a huge point to point out that the one guy still has an ftp of 90 to 95% of when he was a pro. But then wouldn't say what it actually was..... :roll:

Ok, who cares. I took a massive poop before work today too.

wildpig

As a new fella on the bike, I find the videos (mostly) interesting. I can see how some of the videos might become irritating, and the unboxing/sponsor pushing are my least favourites - unless it is something I'm keen on spending ££ on.

kammybear

but it's free to subscribe!

bungle73

GCN is one of my favourite YouTube Channels actually.

The whole "Dan used to ride for the Cervelo Test Team" thing is only an ongoing jokey thing, a bit like the bike that Tom Last designed himself.

I don't know why people whinge about the paid sponsorship really, as it's that sponsorship that pays for the channel to exist. It doesn't really affect the information they provide. And all their sponsors are clearly listed under every video.

As for the unboxings those never claim to be anything more than a showcase of a product(s) with the chance to win something. If you don't like those don't watch them.

And I happen to like Matt.

My 2p.

Garry H

sloppyschleckonds wrote:

Thread is useless without a Poll

Here you go:

Garry H

I like it, but they should ditch that Tom guy. Brings nothing to the party.

bungle73

Garry H wrote:

I like it, but they should ditch that Tom guy. Brings nothing to the party.

He brings SUFFERING! :twisted:

Garry H

bungle73 wrote:

Garry H wrote:

I like it, but they should ditch that Tom guy. Brings nothing to the party.

He brings SUFFERING! :twisted:

I tried watching the Tri version. Five minuttes in and I was suffering.

gabriel959

I like their how-to videos. Most of them are very good. Everything else they do is just a bit of a bore.

bungle73

gabriel959 wrote:

I like their how-to videos. Most of them are very good. Everything else they do is just a bit of a bore.

GCN Show? Ask GCN Anything? Epic Descents?

sloppyschleckonds

bungle73 wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

I like their how-to videos. Most of them are very good. Everything else they do is just a bit of a bore.

GCN Show? Ask GCN Anything? Epic Descents?

Sounds pretty dull to be fair

bungle73

sloppyschleckonds wrote:

bungle73 wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

I like their how-to videos. Most of them are very good. Everything else they do is just a bit of a bore.

GCN Show? Ask GCN Anything? Epic Descents?

Sounds pretty dull to be fair

How is that exactly? What are you expecting from a cycling-related YouTube channel?

WheelMeals

I enjoy it, guessing most of the other 1.1m subscribers do. Interesting to see how their videos have got slicker as they've grown in size. Finding new things for them to talk about must be a bit of a challenge.

Think I chanced upon them few years back when searching pretty basic cycling problem, so clearly they help out few levels of cyclist.

PS: What other bike YouTube channels would folks recommend?

bungle73

WheelMeals wrote:

I enjoy it, guessing most of the other 1.1m subscribers do. Interesting to see how their videos have got slicker as they've grown in size.

You'll find that with all the long-running and popular YT channels if you look at their early videos: as they gain experience and confidence their videos become more professional.

PS: What other bike YouTube channels would folks recommend?

BikeRadar of course!

There's also GCN's sister channel, GMBN, if you're into mountain biking.

daniellloyd

Orkneylad wrote:

Don't know about you, but GCN is really getting me down these days.

They had a purple patch (maybe Q2-Q3 2016?) but these days they just seem to be pushing sponsor merchandise & GCN branded hoohah, with the odd 'celeb bike porn' thrown in. The franchise branched out into GMBN and now the Triathlon channel, it's really all gone just a bit beige.

Plus, let's be honest, that's one boring band of boys; now with the 'tinge' of celebrity they seem to have become lost up their own collective back passage. Think the straw that broke the camel's back was the endless reminder about Dan 'used to ride for Cervelo test team' blah blah blah......too much. Matt Stevens, OK, he's still bearable, but the others are pure meh.

I know durianrider is an obnoxious A-hole, but who said cyclists needed to be liked? GCN are trying to not offend anyone & that's a fast-track to mediocrity.

Hi Orkneylad.

Sorry you feel like this. Perhaps the jokes are getting old, maybe we need to find some new ones (4 years on, haha!). I'm devastated to read that you think we're up our back passages, though - that's the one thing we've always tried to make sure we aren't.

You are right in that we try not to offend anyone - we're trying to celebrate cycling as the fun and enjoyable past-time / sport that it is, the same sport that we fell in love with and that we're lucky enough to be working in now.

Dan

leodis75

Awkward..

burnthesheep

daniellloyd wrote:

Hi Orkneylad.

Sorry you feel like this. Perhaps the jokes are getting old, maybe we need to find some new ones (4 years on, haha!). I'm devastated to read that you think we're up our back passages, though - that's the one thing we've always tried to make sure we aren't.

You are right in that we try not to offend anyone - we're trying to celebrate cycling as the fun and enjoyable past-time / sport that it is, the same sport that we fell in love with and that we're lucky enough to be working in now.

Dan

Dan, don't just tease the other hosts......if you threaten to break out naked Mario Cipollini, go ahead and break him out.

To put a positive spin on the things going well.....you must be doing something right with enough viewers to have a MTB and triathlon component as well. If I dabble in triathlon I'll definitely be trying that station out.

It's tough to fit so much into such a short video time slot. It would be neat if it was possible to have a longer episode once in a while. Do a cool episode like the season openers from Top Gear UK back in the day where they do some crazy challenge like driving a junk Soviet era car across Africa.

It would also be neat to have a hot-lap "course" for pro/amateur guests to do and have a long running leaderboard.

stueys

daniellloyd wrote:

Hi Orkneylad.

Sorry you feel like this. Perhaps the jokes are getting old, maybe we need to find some new ones (4 years on, haha!). I'm devastated to read that you think we're up our back passages, though - that's the one thing we've always tried to make sure we aren't.

You are right in that we try not to offend anyone - we're trying to celebrate cycling as the fun and enjoyable past-time / sport that it is, the same sport that we fell in love with and that we're lucky enough to be working in now.

Dan

To be honest, I don't think you do. You all come across as a bunch of mates having fun in the vids I've seen. I think it's a good resource and a good team. My only criticism is the product placement and sponsorship isn't as overtly declared as I would like.