Channel globalcyclingnetwork Genre Cycling | Years active 2013–present Subscribers 968,027
(March 2017) | |
Website globalcyclingnetwork.com Total views 280,985,773
(March 2017) | ||
Global Cycling Network is a cycling-related YouTube channel which was launched in 2013 by media company SHIFT Active Media (now run by spinoff company Play Sports Network). The channel is presented by former professional cyclists Daniel Lloyd, British National Road Race champion Matthew Stephens, Under-23 British National Mountain Biking champion Simon Richardson, and Tom Last. The channel is headquartered in Bath, Somerset under its parent company.
Contents
History
On January 1, 2013, Global Cycling Network was launched as part of Google's YouTube Original Channel Initiative, as part of its parent company's multi-channel network media strategy. The channel was founded by media executive Simon Wear and was created to provide free cycling content online and create a "network of quality cycling video content creators and give cycling global promotion through an official channel". The YouTube channel also provides a media channel for the promotion of the parent company's client brands.
In 2015, the channel was awarded Best Vlogger/Best Use of Video during the Cycling Media Awards 2015 awards night, which aims to recognise the best of UK cycling media.
In 2016, the parent company's multi-channel network division was spunoff to become Play Sports Media.
Content
Global Cycling Network's content tends to be predominantly road cycling-related, with regular sections consisting of instructional videos, including videos on bicycle riding, maintenance and tech news, how-to videos, and a weekly news bulletin The GCN Show. The channel also features interviews of professional cyclists and coverage of international professional cycling events, including the Tour of Beijing, Dubai Tour, and the three Grand Tour races (the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España). Occasionally, the channel also creates videos on cyclo-cross and less frequently, mountain biking (mostly covered on Global Cycling Network's sister channel, Global Mountain Bike Network).
The channel is also known for its Road Bike Party series of videos featuring former trials rider Martyn Ashton performing stunts on road bikes. It was a continuation of Ashton's independently-created first video, Road Bike Party 1. Road Bike Party 2 has received more than 13 million views on YouTube.
In 2014, British Cycling partnered with Global Cycling Network in the creation of its Racesmart campaign, which aimed to promote safe cycle racing in Great Britain.