Following on from the first ever mechanical doping case, we thought we should find out how a bike with a hidden motor actually rides.
Subscribe to GCN: http://gcn.eu/SubscribeToGCN
Get exclusive GCN gear in the GCN store! http://gcn.eu/BuyGCNKit_
Sign up to the GCN newsletter: http://gcn.eu/gcnnewsletter
Hidden motors are big news in cycling. We now know that they have been used in at least one race. And, we suspect that they offer a huge advantage to those riders who use them. We got our hands on one to find out how feasible it is to use one, what the bike actually feels like, and, finally, whether they can turn a donkey (2016 Dan) into a racehorse (2011 Dan).
SHARE this video and comment down below with your thoughts.
You might be wondering where we got the bike from… Huge thanks to Steve at Electric Mountain Bikes for loaning us the Electric Goat Bike: http://www.goatbikes.com & http://www.electricmountainbikes.com
Watch more on GCN…
What is motorised doping? ▶︎ http://gcn.eu/1VAa25I
We race up the Col de la Madone on electric bikes ▶︎ http://gcn.eu/1TYlzNF
The latest GCN Show ▶︎ http://gcn.eu/1fxCYMt
Buy GCN winter kit, casual wear and accessories in the GCN Shop: http://gcn.eu/TheGCNShop
Buy GCN Santini kit – USA: http://gcn.eu/GCNkitUSA
Rest of World: http://gcn.eu/gcncyclingkit
If you want to contribute captions and video info in your language, here’s the link to help out 👍 : http://gcn.eu/6U
Music:
Andrew Britton, David Goldsmith, Mikey Rowe – Chasing Shadows
Matthew Corbett, Mike Wilkie – Hip Hoppers
Matthew Corbett, Mike Wilkie -Phat Funker
Andrew Britton, David Goldsmith, Mikey Rowe – Adrenaline Dive
Photos: © Bettiniphoto / http://www.bettiniphoto.net/ & ©Tim De Waele / http://www.tdwsport.com
About GCN:
The Global Cycling Network puts you in the centre of the action: from the iconic climbs of Alpe D’Huez and Mont Ventoux to the cobbles of Flanders, everywhere there is road or pavé, world-class racing and pro riders, we will be there bringing you action, analysis and unparalleled access every week, every month, and every year. We show you how to be a better cyclist with our bike maintenance videos, tips for improving your cycling, cycling top tens, and not forgetting the weekly GCN Show. Join us on YouTube’s biggest and best cycling channel to get closer to the action and improve your riding!
Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside cycling
Thanks to our sponsors:
Santini cycling kit: http://gcn.eu/BuyGCNKitYT
Kask helmets: http://gcn.eu/1FrbcHK
fi’zi:k shoes and saddles: http://gcn.eu/1tsXI7S and http://gcn.eu/1KxBGd5
SCOTT bikes: http://gcn.eu/1Btx0Bj
Ridley bikes: http://gcn.eu/1EDbfPy
Topeak tools: http://gcn.eu/1Lc4HAj
Canyon bikes: http://gcn.eu/1Oge4gz
Muc-Off: http://gcn.eu/1XlT5Og
Science in Sport: http://gcn.eu/1GrXo6n
Ass Savers: http://gcn.eu/1XlTmkm
Orbea bikes: http://gcn.eu/1oks6GH
YouTube Channel – http://gcn.eu/gcnYT
Facebook – http://gcn.eu/gcnFb
Google+ – http://gcn.eu/gcnGPlus
Twitter – http://gcn.eu/gcnTW
GCN newsletter – http://gcn.eu/gcnnewsletter
Leave us a comment below!
45 Comments
It’s only going uphill I usually have to make an effort these days cos I’m not racing or training and ride on my own. I mean I’ll freewheel downhill and just tap along on the flat. I quite like riding up hills as long as I have low enough gears and then I’ll get off and walk. The trouble I have with e bikes is I’m still a bit competitive and even though I know the rider has an advantage it still hurts to get beaten😢
This is a life saver when you need one the most!
Asking a former pro cyclist ‘do pros cheat’ is like asking a Conservative MP ‘are you a corrupt Twat’ of course they’ll say no !
Should of interviewed Alberto Contador…. Cheating bastard.
I’m a runner and I had my first taste of cycling in wales 40 miles 4000 ft I absolutely loved it but cheating is cheating ya never had ya bike
Spent about 500 miles on it and so far so good. https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA Pros:1. Very light2. Solid quality build3. Fast delivery: It arrived 5 weeks earlier than expected.4. Easy assemblyJust a few cons but nothing major:1. Cheap tin tubes and had flat on first day… but not a big deal. I replaced the tubes.2. Seat is a bit uncomfortable but that's pretty much the same situation with most bikes.3. Seat post is a bit long/high for a smaller size 48 bike – had to saw 2 inch off to fit properly. The lowest setting is too high. The post locking system does not seem to hold well (perhaps because I saw 2 inch off).4. wheels are not tubeless compatible (from what I can tell)
I know this one is old, but I was passed by a younger rider on an e-bike today on a non-vehicular path. I was close to 20 mph and he was going much faster. I don't like this for safety reasons as he could hit a cyclist miving left to avoid a road obstruction, pedestrian, or animal.
lance armstrong anyone ??? Hahahahaaaaa
tutto questo, incluso il doping, fa parte dello spettacolo circense organizzato come sempre dalla oligarchia per distrarci continuando cosi a mantenere i loro privilegi
Can I get one of those for Zwifting? 😉
Where can I buy the same one?
how much is that motor assist with battery sir? and can you ship it to philipines? Im so interested to have one.
As an older guy who still rides my road bike specialized Roubaix I decided to get an e-bike mtb to go riding with my 33 year old son. Even with a big battery (trek fuel EXe ) it doesn’t give that much for that long. But I guess pros can use anything they can get
You can’t hide that wire coming out of the bottle.
This experiment merely proves that Dan was cheating when he originally set the KOM.
Would he now like to come clean about how he did it?
This could only be used for cheating as the motor is only big enough to provide assistance during a climb. Pinion gears are not generally used for high torque applications. The motor is depending on your input for the system to work unlike an ebike. In this setup its only purpose could be to reduce fatigue on the rider during a climb and thats exactly what it does. Watch the video and pay attention to the person on the standard road bike. He’s struggling to keep pace whilst the host is talking and pedaling very moderately.
We are 8 years on, and still not a single case of motor doping in the pro peloton. In fact there has never been a case of a bike being ridden in a race and found with a motor. Femke Van den Driessche was not caught actively racing on a motor assisted bike, it was parked up in the pits, never actually used.
Why would anyone care to get a hidden motor bike if you’re not behind to device? Just a regular motor would work
This is about as dumb as having one shot of EPO and then proving the effects would not have won the race. Real cheating is far more sophisticated than that…
do these road ebikes still have to stick to the 15mph limit or what ever is? The only downside to my mountain e-bike is it's slower on flats than my regular mountainbike because the motor cuts out at the limit and then the bike is really heavy to pedal
The Chris Froome model?
why dont you try a 62 crank with a 14 or 18 gear ?
Im curious how much a Mechanical advantage would work (without a motor)
The electric motor assists are ok, but you haven't lived until you've tried the diesel powered models.
If you're riding "socially" why does a motor need to be hidden? And why do you have to dress like you're in the tour de France? Just get an overtly electric bike and have fun, dressed for the weather.
Coming back to this video after the normalization of electric bikes and I'm curious what Si and Dan would have to say now.
Seems like Si is competing with an unfair advantage down his pants. I wish there was a level playing field in that regard.
Ha! Was half way in before I realised it was 8 years old. Would be interesting to see the best "hidden motor" bike now.
Cheating is bad, m'kay?
Cyclist have been using drugs to cheat for years.
Today's tour races have so many motor……
Are they still scanning bikes for this in the pro tour?
where can i buy to that kind of motors i am not for racing
Loved the ghost in the machine podcast! Thanks !
It rides on the wrong side of the road.
Is that a legal eBike in a UK context? If so, assistance is meant to cut off at 25 kph. Some use up hills of course, but it won't help on the flats. I don't suppose anybody who used it for cheating would care much for the niceties of the law, but that particular set up is very easy to detect.
if you have a have wife/girlfriend or teenage boy or girl , let them cycle on a good road bike and you use a mountain bike, that should even things out nicely
cheating is riding in a peleton, or a pace line or drafting, to get a KOM or a better time/PR
Pros are running 60 and 62 tooth chain rings in time trials — and likely using motors. And Many now think Cavendick used one to win his 35th in the tdf. That's why he stopped to change wheels when he didn't have a flat.
Has anything happened in the 8 years since that vid was posted? Are cheating riders still motorising or what?
Ask Jonas Vindegaard – he won the Tour last year on TT bike that went uphill like a moped.
Chris Froome Special
Foolishness. Test it now with the motor and without
Ask froome how he won 😂 why extreme dope when you can use engine…..
What about the law? In Sweden that type is illegal. Only allowed to help up to 25kmh. Over 25kmh it has to be registered as a motorcycle in 2016 it was the same in UK….. so you recommend people to commit crimes? My recommendation is bikes that can cycle(with or wothout engine) over 20kmh should be regulated with mc drivers licence. I have mc licence. So many bad cyclists out there that is dangerous for pedestrians, cars, kids, babies etc. Yes I'm a cyclist too and car driver and mc rider and pedestrian. 0 accidents over
1 000 000km in traffic…. in 20+ countries. Top speed on autobhan 400kmh+
All the fancy riding apparel just to tell you e-bikes are faster.