The Cycle Show on ITV: what did you think?

My lasting conclusion was that Nigel Mansell dyes his hair and Graham Obree is wound very, very tight.

I agree with mrdescarga about trying to cram too much in to the half hour slot. They've got 8 shows so why not spread 8 disciplines out over those weeks. As cyclists each of us probably only do one or two types of riding so the other six shows would give us an insight into other aspects of our sport while non cyclists could watch all eight learning about each discipline and hopefully find one they fancy trying.
For example, Obree could have been a guest for the show about track cycling, look at the bikes, some clips of his battles with Boardman before moving onto todays Olympic champions, you could then do the same for commuting, mountain biking etc.

The best thing we can do though is keep watching to up the viewing figures, then if they don't quite get it right this series hopefully they'll get another.

The first series of Only Fools and Horses was pretty toilet and look how that turned out

I wrote the presenter off as an idiot when he asked Nigel Mansell if he wanted to take his reasonably successful - but third tier - cycling team to the Tour one day. I think Nigel did too.

Was the helmet Wayne Hemingway was wearing a Met Camaleonte Executive? You know, the one Which? don't like - http://road.cc/content/news/62272-which-stirs-helmet-debate-product-test

i thought it was just a vehicle for product placement which i found off-putting. Regarding the content it's impossible to please everyone which was what they were trying to do which ended up pleasing no-one by the sound of it.

I thought the 1st show was disappointing but they were never going to get it right straight from the off. They need to cut the background noise down it was quiet obvious that Graham Obree Gary Fisher & Nigel Mansell were struggling to here the questions they were being asked. I think they also tried to cram to much into the 30 minutes. Having said that I hope it sticks around & I'm sure it will get better.

If you are going to have characters like Obree and Fisher on, it would be nice to do a quick biography of each (showing some 'best of' clips).

You can't expect everyone will know who they are, that is elitist, and if you are trying to get cycling, or at least the show, mainstream, you may have to educate your viewers.

I don't know whether it was the intended production style but it seemed to be thrown together. As for articles, the show tried to be something for everybody so it had no clear direction.

I hope the show improves, but I'm not going to keep a reminder for now; especially if they continue to use that cafe for interviews.

BTW, in case anyone's interested, Gary Fisher on San Fransisco's "Bikescape" podcast;

http://bikescape.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/interview-with-gary-fisher.html

Carlton Reid / Gary Fisher chat;
http://quickrelease.tv/?p=824

Graeme Obree on Veloclub Don Logan (bit of bad language here, sensitive types);
http://veloclubdonlogan.co.uk/2011/02/16/vcdl-episode-9-%E2%80%93-obree/

Should be like a hard print Mag, each edition prioritize mainstream interests followed by niche items, a bit like Road. cycling UK, simples !

I have to say I was disappointed and that the producers have missed a great chance to level the playing field by trying too many new things all at once and having Obree and Fisher as guests on the first show probably did more damage than good.

If you are preaching to a knowing audience then they were ideal as they will know who they are and what they have achieved, they will also be ready for Obree's inability to express himself and Fisher's apparently OTT mannerisms, but they are not.

The target audience is the 95% of the population who don't ride bikes but have suddenly been made aware of a new hero they can exploit until the football season starts again.

Having said that the Top Gear analogy could be closer than you think. The first couple of shows of the current format were pretty lame until they got the mix right and maybe having cycling related 'tossers' might help the format

All in all I thought the program was a bit lame: good concept but poor execution.

Although a little disappointed, I'm sure that I'm not as disappointed as CRC who have chosen to plough their profits into a lame duck......

It's great to see a cycling magazine show on TV.

Despite the production issues that is!

Fantastic at least that theres an attempt to get a show about cycling on TV, long overdue.
However, i thought a live setting in such a noisy location was distracting, and the guests took up too much time chattering about not a great deal at all, or complimenting each other.

Id agree that it appeared that a target audience had not really been defined, would existing experienced cyclists be interested in beginnner commuting tips, especially being told the best tip is "looking wobbly"...and if the target audience was indeed beginners, then would they have appreciated (or known) the guest choices.

Scrub the live cafe setting, get individual guests in for a specific reason and go for quality not quantity in a 30 minute show with an ad break...

At least its a start though and congratulations to all those involved for at least having a go...a "winning" cycling programme within the next 5 years ...such dreams arent possible, are they?

It was ok.

Having Fisher and Obree was a mistake. Two eccentrics together never goes well.

Agree about the location but seeing as it seemed to filmed on Sunday afternoon at the end of the TDF it would be noisey.

It was nowhere near long enough, and went on far too long.

Each subject should be given more time and looked at seriously and intelligently. Why always assume your viewers are intellectually challenged newcomers to cycling?

Interviewing guests more or less "live"on the sofa is always going to make for painful viewing. The "star in a car" interview spot on Top Gear is the weakest, and often the most excruciating part of the whole show.

I thought the silly roller-race with the village fete display wheel behind it, had some potential.

That Gary Fisher is a bit mental isn't he?

It was right up there with that english anthem effort on sunday

That show had a producer? Really?

I have to say poor. As mentioned above in 30 minutes if you try to cover all sorts of stories you'll do none of them any good.

And I appreciate that Nigel Mansell was once a "star", spoke more TV friendly language than Mr Obree, and has his fingers in a cycle team but far too much on him when there were 2 genuine "stars" of cycling there.

Either make a program for cyclists or make an OK TV magazine that just happens to involve cycling.

As for threatening to make no more - well to be honest if you can't improve on that then TBH I'd rather you didn't. A program of that quality is only going to reinforce the negative impression of cyclists that it seems a lot of the general public have.

I wonder how long after BW took the Maillot Jeune that this series got commissioned?

"Like Top Gear without the tossers."

Excellent. Someone mentioned lack of promotion. They should have just had a few ads with that as the summary.

I'm not sure I like Sharon Fuller's tone. Smells a bit like 'Get behind this or else, if you don't like it then we won't make any more'. Doesn't sound like someone willing to listen to viewer feedback.

All the background noise of crockery being 'chinked' and constant chatter in the cafe did my head in. If they don't change the format for the interviews I don't think I'll be bothering for too much longer.

That said - I did find the section about how to put my helmet on my head rather than being worn on the back of my neck quite informative... I'd never thought of that before.

Tuned in more in hope than expectation. Still, very disappointed.

I don't think they even have a sense of who this show is for... Is it for people who are already committed cyclists – and know who Gary Fisher and Graeme Obree are? Or is it aimed at the (presumably) large numbers who may have been excited and inspired by Brit success at the Tour and want to know more?

I think the latter group would get nothing from it but confusion. Fisher and Obree are great originals and innovators but it felt like they were communicating on their own planet.

Apart from getting a vague impression that Box Hill really is a hill – and not much of that because half of that segment was wasted on shots of faces and bits of bike – I don't think anyone would have learned anything from the show.

And the café setting was a big mistake. Just because it's cheap doesn't make it a good idea.

Poor location in a cafe full of "Gringos", Obree is bonkers as is Gary Fisher, but as other people have said, give it time, at least it's here.

I didn't know it was on, which just about sums up the promotion it's had.