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Noticed today that Martyn Ashton is leaving/has left GMBN.
With Blake going not long back and Neil going over to EMBN whose left?
Is it just Rich, Curly (can't remember his name - the Tech guy...) and the last new bloke they had?
As you can guess I haven't watched much of their content lately....
This was the last thing I watched, which was 5 months ago:
I can't imagine there are many new ideas left for them to do features on, to be honest.
Martyn will be a huge loss to the channel - huge. He always seemed like the glue that held everything together. Always liked their big race / epic ride type features but honestly the Ard Rock episode with the two new guys this time just didn't land too well for me.
Maybe I just enjoyed it more when it was Martin, Blake and Richard doing stuff like that either together or individually.
Most of their other stuff has been recycled content brought up to date for a while.
They have had a couple of new presenters recently. One in the shed and one in tech
Martyn will definitely be a loss but good presenters have left before. Owen has been a great replacement for Doddy
I quite like the mix of content, I don't watch all of it but there is usually something interesting. Plenty of easy watching stuff.
I think Adam is doing a good job on Tech, there's always going to be staff turnover as with any employer
I got into GMBN when I restarted MTB in 2020ish, until maybe 2023.
Blake, Neil, Henry, Doddy, Martyn
The heydays.
Blake, Neil, Henry, Doddy, Martyn
If you’ve not come across it, Henry’s new venture on YouTube “Quarter HP” is pretty bloody good.
Rich Payne is still ok. Not really warmed to any of the new presenters yet, including Owen. I far preferred Anna Cipullo and Doddy. Mebbes the new peeps will show their personalities soon, but Martyn leaving is a big loss. His sense of fun and silliness made the channel watchable.
He did say he wasn't fully going. His new project is promoting accessibility in biking and he said he expects to back on gmbn fairly regularly
Henry’s new venture on YouTube “Quarter HP
Thanks, left PinkBike I see.
Components from control brands (who are sponsors), for fair testing of frames.
Martyn leaving is massive, for me he's the face of GMBN. I only really watch the first 5mins of the GMBN show if he's on it.
I've watched less and less of their content over the years, as other YT channels have risen. Rich is good at presenter and Owen is good on the tech show, but I've really not warmed to any of the others and only watch the content if it's something interesting.
I used to really enjoy GMBN way back, especially the brief Ashton and Warner dirt shed shows, always liked Doddy's tech stuff. Watched less and less of it over the years but still like some of their epic stuff. I probably watch more GCN videos than GMBN these days and I have very little interest in road riding, but I like Simon and Dan.
Neil going over to EMBN
I saw a short clip of him saying the problem with all ebikes is that they are restricted to 20km/h. What a great example to be on that channel. Hey everyone get your bikes chipped and run them illegally. Tit
Martyn will be a huge loss to the channel - huge. He always seemed like the glue that held everything together.
Totally agree. I only occasionally listen to the podcast version of their shows, and then it's to hear Martyn's take on a particular topic or him doing an interview with someone interesting.
He's such a natural presenter/broadcaster. I'm honestly surprised he hasn't been tapped up to move into mainstream media, I could see him doing well on something like Countryfile.
I prefer steve jones by far on emtb
I've not got much interest in eebs, but sometimes I watch emtb videos just because it's Jonesy (from Dirt) and I like hearing him talk about bikes. He's strangely calming.
Can I own up to not really caring if they fold/shed presenters?
GMBN is really the "MBUK of YouTube" mostly an industry advertorial outlet to help nudge people towards spending money on MTB toys.
Mostly the same recycled "Expensive Vs Cheap" or "Old bikes Vs New Bikes" videos over and over... I'm really not bothered by their output.
The issue with content farms is if there's not much variety the viewers drift away and when there's a production company, Staff and 'talent' to pay if it's not getting the clicks then it dies off...
We Did bump into Blake at BPW last year when he was out trying his DIY suspension bike, it looked like a sweet gig TBH, piss about for an hour on the novelty bike for the content, then jump on your actual bike and have a proper ride without the cameras on you (He had an Orbea with him as well IIRC). He put up with some gentle piss taking from us muggles, seems a genuinely nice guy, I just don't know that the YT meeja engine is really there to support the level of production and investment needed a channel like that should justify...
I prefer steve jones by far on emtb
Each to their own, but isn't "EMBN" just a spin off of GMBN/GCN anyway? it's a bit like saying you prefer BBC2 over BBC1, I never found Jonesy to be the smoothest communicator, whether in print or in front of a Camera, he's enthusiastic but then so is everyone else in the bicycle Meeja sphere...
"he's enthusiastic but then so is everyone else in the bicycle Meeja sphere... "
You do know that that's how works right? Like, it would be pretty weird if a presenter (of any ilk) came across as not giving a sh*t, no?
You do know that that's how works right? Like, it would be pretty weird if a presenter (of any ilk) came across as not giving a sh*t, no?
Thanks for reiterating my point… 🙄
Rich is the only watchable presenter left on there - generally only watch their adventure episodes where they go off to do something to inspire me to turn it off & get out & pedal.
I saw a short clip of him saying the problem with all ebikes is that they are restricted to 20km/h. What a great example to be on that channel
Wow someone who sees the issue with e-bike, and saying it like it actually is, which is actually what I want to watch. Can you point to where he actually says altering your bike to go over the speed limiter is what we should be doing? Or are you just being the ass in assuming?
never understood why embn and gmbn aren't the same. most of us with ebikes arent exclusively ebikers
never understood why embn and gmbn aren't the same. most of us with ebikes arent exclusively ebikers
I suspect it is for the opposite situation. Lots of "normal" bikers don't like getting lumped in with e-bikers. Similar probably applies to gravel too.
One of the benefits of YouTube is you can watch whatever you like so you can basically make a custom TV channel just for you.
EMBN is separate because there's a huge global audience specifically for eeb content, and having a channel branded around it makes it much easier to capture viewers' attention and subscriptions.
And they sell a fair bit of merch too, from what I see out on the trails.
(And what nick said about grumpy MTBers, as you can see from the Pinkbike comments whenever they review an eeb.)
I am much more likely to watch GCN than GMBN or EMBN even though I haven't owned a road bike for over 20 years, but own several mountain and e-bikes. The presenters just come across much more friendly and relatable.
I never got the love in with Martyn Ashton, I just found his whole "over enthusiastic children's TV presenter" persona a bit off putting.
Neil going over to EMBN
I saw a short clip of him saying the problem with all ebikes is that they are restricted to 20km/h. What a great example to be on that channel. Hey everyone get your bikes chipped and run them illegally. Tit
But the UK limit is 25km/h so he’s been reviewing below spec bikes and has a point about their 20km/h limits 😉
I can't imagine there are many new ideas left for them to do features on, to be honest.
I think that ship sailed years ago.
The presenters just come across much more friendly and relatable.
I've been thinking about this a bit recently. I reckon most of what I watch on YouTube features people I'd be happy spending an evening in the pub with over the main subject of the channel. e.g. always watch a new The Bearded Mechanic post, even though I've not got a motorbike, or even a licence to ride one.
I haven't watched for a while but having just watched Ferg at the Urban DH race and James trying to ride an XC bike down Les Gets DH track after the race has been through they both seem genuinely nice and enthusiastic when given a silly/tricky challenge to do and I think that's when you actually see some of their personality.
Dropping them straight into "How to change a tyre, but this time it's with our new tyre sponsor" type videos is never going to get people engaged with them/build any sort of viewer relationship but the challenge videos do, so hopefully more of those on the horizon!
I suspect it is for the opposite situation. Lots of "normal" bikers don't like getting lumped in with e-bikers. Similar probably applies to gravel too.
This.
It's one of the reasons I don't subscribe to the mag. I don't care for ebikes and am not going to spend money on supporting them.
If you’ve not come across it, Henry’s new venture on YouTube “Quarter HP” is pretty bloody good.
I didn't make it through a video yet. Could really do with a serious dose of brevity.
Watched a couple of their videos with the new presenter, Isaac Mundy. I think he's got potential.
Watched a couple of their videos with the new presenter, Isaac Mundy. I think he's got potential.
He already left the channel. Enjoyed watching him though and have since noticed he has lot of KOMs in the Surrey Hills