Has Si Richardson’s obsession with speed actually made him miss out on the small pleasures of cycling? Maybe! In this video, he reflects on why he feels he should slow down on the bike and how he plans on really doing that.
โฑ๏ธ Timestamps: โฑ๏ธ
00:00 Do I need to slow down?
01:02 Si’s epiphany
03:31 “Movement” & benefits of sitting upright on the bike
04:32 Cycling & mental clarity
05:19 What can I do about it?
07:42 Can I really change?
08:34 Choosing long & varied routes
Useful Links:
Join this channel to get access to perks ๐
https://gcn.eu/JoinYTmemberships
Subscribe so you donโt miss a thing! ๐ https://gcn.eu/subscribe
Insurance: Viewers in the USA and UK can explore GCN Insurance products ๐ https://gcn.eu/GCNinsurance
Sign Up To The GCN Newsletter ๐ https://gcn.eu/Newsletter
GCN Uploader ๐ https://gcn.eu/gcnuploader
Visit the GCN Shop ๐ https://gcn.eu/gcnshop
GCN WhatsApp Channel ๐ https://gcn.eu/GCNwhatsapp
GCN Instagram Broadcast Channel ๐ https://gcn.eu/instagrambroadcast
Join the GCN Club on Zwift and ride with us! ๐ https://gcn.eu/GCNClubRides
What do you think about this? ๐ดโโ๏ธ๐จ Have you had a similar epiphany, or is speed still always king? ๐
Watch more on GCN…
๐น I Got Smoked By An Illegal E-bike – Does It Matter? | GCN Show Ep. 628 ๐ https://youtu.be/lnJIWYh6HtY?si=ZDjnR5Y_whGIfw6R
๐น Watch our Editorโs Choice Playlist ๐ https://gcn.eu/editorschoice
๐น Or why not check out our Features Playlist ๐ โโhttps://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures
๐ต Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound ๐ต
Antique, Uniflex II, Shutter Speed, Setting 10 – Epidemic Sound
Bluetts and Barley – Anna Landstrom
Boon – Twelwe
Dansa Med Mig (Instrumental Version) – Mansa
Day by Day (Instrumental Version) – Mindme
Diggin Deeper – Will Harrison
Electric Blue – Torii Wolf
J. S. Bach_ Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 III. Courante – Laura Metcalf
mind obsession – baegel
Nordic Mountain Reel – Victor Lundberg
Organic, Wind, Interior Howl, Long – Epidemic Sound
Popping Sounds With Mouth – Epidemic Sound
Sumimasen – Lofive
Vinyl, Music, Rewind 03 – Epidemic Sound
#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #speed #aero #cyclingvlog #cyclinglife
๐ธ Photos – ยฉ Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & ยฉ 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 thatโs 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 itโs fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans โ 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
Precision Fuel & Hydration: https://gcn.eu/precisionhydration
Elitewheels: https://gcn.eu/Elitewheels
Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntech
GCN Racing – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network – https://www.youtube.com/@gtn
GCN Italia – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnitalia
GCN en Espaรฑol – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Franรงais – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenfrancais
GCN Training – https://www.youtube.com/@GCNTraining
Global Mountain Bike Network – https://youtube.com/@gmbn
GMBN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network – https://www.youtube.com/@embn
46 Comments
What do you think about this? ๐ดโโ๐จ Have you had a similar epiphany, or will speed always be king? ๐
There is nothing like doing a 5 hour century in 6 hours LOL
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. I trained for a 1/2 marathon this year and due to overtraining when I was younger I had given myself a pretty serious injury that persisted for a long time after. I didn't think I would be able to manage a 1/2 marathon but I trained anyway with the mantra of "Run Slow." I'm happy to report that I finished my race and I did it faster than I had anticipated and without injury. As I get older I have learned that it's not always about speed but more so the journey. Glad to see this concept getting traction on GCN as I'm sure many others are like me and just need to slow it down a little.
Beautiful topic.
I don't think that speed/effort is a major factor for eyperiencing "flow state". It has more to do with the noise in your head that you carry around on your bike.. something very dificult to control even if you're pedaling regularly โน๏ธ
Bought a new gravel bike last year and whilst riding up the Cornish coast to st ives suddenly thought Iโve missed so many views
Need to slow down (age is helping!) & actually enjoy cycling even more
Thank you for the book recommendation… I will get a copy later. My 2 pence contribution… during my cycle the month for a charity a year or two back as I set a ridiculous distance. So to achieve it I took the long way home after work. Getting lost quite a lot even with a satnag on and it was kind of flow punctuated with expletives sometimes. In particular while trying off road short cuts on a road bicycle. It becomes a different adventure to just heads down commuting home I guess. The Brompton is my Dutch style steed of choice, plus if I did go further out to make it by glass slipper to pumpkin hour back indoors, then I can public or cab homewards with it folded.up.
Moreso from an edict pushed on me from Father Time, than a choice, this is my new cycling mode. Going slower does allow you to view more of your surroundings, including watching out for those pesky b*stards that are oblivious to our presence…. Tom
My lovly travel speed is betwin 20-25km/h โค on gravelbike/roadbike and mountainbike ride betwin 13-18km/h โค
Zone 1.. highly recommended with a friend or two on a Sunday
Keep going fast Si, when you get to my age (63) you will naturally slow down anyway, enjoy the view then ๐
Slow trip into the country with picknick, enjoying landscape, architecture, historyโฆ Nothing can beat that feeling
Brompton set up for Aero? hahahaha yeah, you need to relax dude.
the term "just riding around' is a good one. sometimes there should be little to no goal and just get outside and enjoy whatever scene you are in.
I'm not a racer, but I like speed. I find this "flow" state of mind only when riding alone. Even slow group rides on Zwift have me thinking more of riding than ruminating of nothingness while moving.
Same here. Having 3 kids and a fulltime job leaves little time for relaxed cruising.
So, I rush through the ugly part of the ride, mostly heavy traffic inside Munich and take time for riding slow and even including a photo stop for an epic sunrise or else.
When I get time for a ride on the weekend I ride veeery slow on the uphills (mostly owed to my lack of fitness ๐), making a pause for a Kaiserschmarrn at a wonderful Alm on a mountain peak, followed by a fast or gnarly downhill. Ending with a coffee stop short before home.
Most important: I don't promise to be home at a certain point of time – so I won't be late and no one would be disappointed. ๐
Going fast is a hard habit to break. I chose a daily incremental change which took a few years. But in my mid-30s my lower back issues became severe that I was forced to take time off for a year and walked with my dogs instead. I also learned how to ride a recumbent bike (good core workout) which helped with recovery.
Nothing strange about riding with dogs. Used to do that with two very fit, young Border Terriers. Good engines on them, back in the day. A very enjoyable way to exercise man and his best friends.
Well done! Love your honesty and you sharing your thoughts on so many years of cycling. This sounds like the next chapter of your passion for many others their passion and reason for getting out in the green. It's been recorded that Einstein had many groundbreaking ideas regarding physics on his bicycle.
At the turn of the year I made a pledge to halve the amount of cycling I do in 2025. Only a few weeks in to this and I feel infinitely more alert, happier and less irritable. I deleted Strava and now only ride for fun, sportive cancelled and I donโt remotely regret it
I started doing a route last year which, whilst the most direct route, was on a lot of very slow bike paths shared with pedestrians. I feared that might be frustrating, but actually having a route where going fast was the last thing on my mind was incredibly refreshing and fun.
If I want to ride fast I just join a pace bot on zwift๐
I have been forced to go slow suffering from heart failure so I look for consistency in speed and distance- with occasional epics capitalizing on available energy. Itโs taken me a couple of years to find my balance but the flow is there to be experienced and appreciated away from the madding crowd
I'm turning 65 this year, and I find myself less interested in going fast and more interested in going far. To me, that kind of "going" should involve seeing what I pass as I go. I don't need upright bars for that; I can still see what's around me on the hoods.
Never been interested in balls out riding. I cycle to get out in the fresh air and the enjoyment of the surroundings. Really nice to hear you say that there is benefits in the more sedate form of cycling.
yaa
Not sure about slow riding, but any vid with Siโs dogs in ๐
Now imagine trying to do it all on a single bike. 90s mountain bikes were so versatile that I use one for literally everything. Light trail rides (obviously not a downhill kamikaze), touring, long road rides, city errands, commuting and cargo hauling. The versatile 3x chainring on the front gives me acceptable road speed (max speed is around 35 km/h) on pavement and the small chainring gives good climbing gears. I have fenders and a rear rack and baskets. I usually haul 20+ kg groceries with it on a 2×10 km ride through wilderness. I can't imagine having separate bikes for different road conditions. One must rule them all! ๐๐
What an amazing topic to cover. I never thought it until now but going self-employed in my 30's the bike was my release, 40mins on my already old 5 speed Raleigh ranked in order, all the problems and I came back fighting. Now in my 60's semi retired on my Bianchi racer for 5 years. I have swapped over back to the Raleigh, mainly because of the pot holes (wide tyres) but love it more than ever. Thank for explain why.
I feel like I just can not go slowly on my bike, the feeling of freedom, fun and love for riding makes me wanna go fast. But because it's a single speed bike and I mostly ride in the city, what feels fast to me is probably quite slow, so I can still enjoy what I pass by. It's a win win ๐
<watching this at 1.5 speed> ๐คฃ
If I go out for a training and forget my music I really can start thinking and get in the โflowโ but even with music but then it is more a good riding flow and not a mental one. But just being out really releases stress I find after a long day at school or many hours of โstudyingโ going for a ride is all I need to get my energy back up.
Can you put the dogs on a cargo bike and then just ride the trails a bit slower?
Did the bike not first grant us sll newfound freedom as kids? Not all but many started wandering and exploring by bike. But then we found hills and speed!!! And man can we move on bikes. Personally, I enjoy both. Both are thrilling.
Go bike in the Netherlands for a couple of days on an upright bike
Si: I need to slow down
Also Si: Stick a 1x chainring for aero gains
Anyone who's not a Pro, and says "Zone 2" is a w@nker
I took off my computer two decades ago. No longer care how fast or far I go. I'm enjoying riding a whole lot more.
Although I have always had lightweight endurance/race type road bikes Cycling has never been about speed for me, I donโt even display my current speed on my head unit itโs always been about the freedom & discovery for me of where you may end up & what you might see on along the way. I use cycling as my way of getting off the never ending treadmill of work, sleep, repeat & I absolutely love it. It never fails to reset me mentally, I just wish I had more free time to get out there more often
I just turned 60. I have a few bikes for road, gravel, hard tail and full sus mtb. I still love riding as fast as i can as much as i ever did. The burn in my legs and lungs as i come out of the woods up a local bridleway is my fave release. It flushes my blood and makes me feel like I'm whole. Accept who you are ๐
Iโd echo the former Pro likes speed going to probably colour oneโs views etc, I often take the parks way to work as itโs just nicer, itโs a bit slower but itโs less faff!
And to be honest my Gravel rides as old MTBer at heart and a group are likely to need to tone it down a bit or lot for group rides, and equally riding off road I find get different paces, I went to photograph some old bridges etc in the woods and play โpooh sticksโ with roadies as one of said bridges crosses a busy climb, so a fairly relaxed approach, but other sections following trails rather more focused on the task at hand!
Studying and living in a small city at the Baltic Sea where it's raining a lot, salty air is damaging your bike and theft is a big problem, I bought a 10โฌ bike just to get to Uni with it. I put one hour of work into it and never really did anything more. I let it sit in the rain and don't have to care about it. But the best things are: It has a really relaxed sitting position, a dynamo so I never forget my light and only one gear – which is quite low. Ever since I use this bike – and I ride it way more often than all my other bikes together – I fell really decelerated and it's great! I also take this rusty and rather bad bike to day trips with my "non-cyclist" friends because when I ride my other bikes I feel like the others are always to slow and I can't enjoy the tour. This bike was such a game changer for me!
Ride slow and take it all in!
I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere, I'm retired. For me it depends which bike I'm riding. When on my "grocery getter" (I'm more upright) I just ride around the neighborhood looking at the variety of architectural design changes that have been done to a house rebuild in the area. I don't think about how far I've ridden. When on my road bike, although I'm not trying for a track record, I do ride faster, sometimes I come across a youngin' who then starts pedaling faster, & so do I the same as he can't show up the old man (did I mention I'm 70?). I also wear a jersey that says "Angry Old Man's Bicycling Club" where age & treachery will beat youth & speed. ๐. I surprise myself that I either keep up or drop him.
Happy trails.
Good luck with your endeavours Si. Thanks for the video. Whatever speed to improve your well- being. At slower speeds the implications of injuries due to accidents is less- theoretically?! ๐ณ Trying to convince my wife to do the East Coast cycle path – 400 Kimโs in S Korea on a Canyon Roadlite n Tailfin panniers – a good start.
Hammerheads Unite! ๐
When Iโm doing my normal weekly rides I would focus on speed/cadence/HR because thatโs my fitness regimen. However I also travel quite a bit with my bike and those rides are much less about fitness and more about slowing down, exploring and taking in the new surroundings. Lots of photos and videos for fond memories of my cycling travels.