Geek Warning

Plus why modern bikes require more frequent headset inspections, Ridley’s new gravel bike, and a tonne more.It’s a big episode this week as the geeks, Dave and Brad, cover a whole lot of ground including the latest new products, a rant on silly-priced items, a little on chain wear, why headset inspections matter more than ever, and there’s an in-depth chat with a true geek of the wheel building world.That opening chat related to chains comes off a recent Threaded article about chain wear.Meanwhile, Dave jumps on a call with wheel build extraordinaire Tristan Thomas of WheelWorks to answer a multi-part Ask a Wrench question. It quickly gets detailed and geeky, but we figured that’s exactly what you’re here for.As a reminder, the Geek Warning podcast is only made possible through members of Escape Collective. We intentionally don’t have any advertising, affiliate links, or sponsored content, so if you love this podcast, please support it (and then enjoy all the member-exclusive content you've been missing out on).Time stamps:5:30 - Chain wear, for those that missed it13:00 - Ridley’s new Astr gravel race bike and thoughts on BB8624:00 - The Pro’s Closet is shutting shop31:40 - On Dave’s mind are silly-priced “limited” pulley wheels44:00 - a PSA on the increased importance of headset inspection58:10 - Ask a Wrench, all about wheel building with Tristan of WheelWorks1:25:00 - Bosch’s new Performance Line CX e-bike system1:26:50 - PNW releases silver anodised dropper posts

Plus why tyres are likely to keep getting wider.With the road season soon to come to a close, the events in the tech world are unsurprisingly more focused on the dirt. In this week’s episode of Geek Warning, you’ll hear Brad and Dave cover the latest in tech across road, gravel, and mountain bike.Amongst a number of new things, the geeks discuss a future of electronic suspension and what that could spell for the gravel world. Why tyres are likely to continue trending wider in cross-country racing (among other disciplines). And with Specialized announcing free full suspension frame bearings for the lifetime of its mountain bikes, we discuss new ways to sell bikes in tough times. All this and plenty more!Time stamps:1:25 - BMC’s new Teammachine R Masterpiece7:30 - Sad passing of Bob Parlee8:50 - Bontrager goes up to 29 mm rim width for gravel12:40 - Lauf’s first mountain bike raises questions on the future of big tyres24:40 - BH has an interesting new short-travel XC bike29:25 - Fox joins the wirelessly-controlled electronic suspension game36:22 - New ways to sell the bikes that aren’t selling?47:20 - Ask a Wrench: career mechanic woes55:25 - Ask a Wrench: storing Di2 for winter59:10 - Ask a Wrench: keeping alloy rims black

It’s new bike day for Lauf Cycles as the Icelandic bike company launches its first mountain bike. In this bonus episode of Geek Warning, you’ll hear from two key people of the company about the design decisions behind the bike, how Lauf seemingly keeps finding itself ahead of emerging trends, and what allows Lauf to hit some impressive price points. To read and see more of this bike, head to Escape Collective.Non-members of Escape Collective can still tune in and listen to approximately half of this episode. Meanwhile, the full version is found in our exclusive member feed, something you’ll gain access to through signing up.

This week’s episode is shorter than usual, but no less geeky. Join Dave and Brad as they discuss some of the bigger tech news.Within, the geeks discuss Mavic’s new US$999 Cosmic S 42 Disc carbon road wheels. Pivot has wholly overhauled its Vault gravel bike. Wolf Tooth has a new free app for dialling in off-road tyre pressures. The iconic folding bike company Brompton goes gravel. And of course, there’s a quick discussion of that new RAF1 backpack thing.You’ll also hear Dave and Brad share some tips and their favourite bike cases for when flying with a bike. And then, the episode wraps with two member-submitted Ask a Wrench questions.Time stamps:4:24 - Mavic’s US$999 carbon road wheels8:25 - Pivot’s new Vault gravel bike12:30 - Wolf Tooth introduces a free tyre pressure app for off-road purposes14:45 - Brompton goes gravel17:15 - An aero backpack to burn with fire20:00 - On our mind and picking one: travel cases29:50 - Ask a Wrench: Why isn’t 650B more popular in gravel?34:50 - Ask a Wrench: Storing tubeless tyres through the winter

In this week's Geek Warning, Brad, Ronan, and Caley delve into a project that wants to answer all our compatibility questions, forever. Plus, a bit of Campagnolo news, some thoughts on the unreleased bike Lachlan Morton is riding around Australia, and Brad's suggestions for Caley's brake and suspension fork woes.

Tyres tyres tyres! Aero tyres, big fat gravel tyres - in this episode has a lot of tyres in it.We have a bit of a shakeup this week. Dave Rome is on a well-deserved holiday so Caley and Ronan are joined by pro mechanic Zach Edwards to talk through Parcours' latest tyre testing and what the data can teach us about optimising for various road courses. Then we discuss the trend toward 50mm+ rubber at the pointy end of gravel races, some updates from Zwift, and Caley's new cross-country bike.

In a member's only Geek Warning episode, Dave Rome and framebuilding expert Rob English discuss some of the highlights from the 2024 Made handmade bike show. We have made a shortened version of the ep available here on the free Geek Warning feed, but to get the full show, you'll need to head on over to escapecollective.com/member to sign up!

It’s the end of the week and that means the geeks are back with another geeky episode. Join Dave and Brad as they discuss the latest in the world of cycling tech.The first topic of discussion is Hunt’s new 40 Gravel Race wheels with H_Cyclo, a new technology that aims to bring recyclability into a thermoset carbon fibre product. The resin-based technology appears to come from Taiwanese company Swancore (unconfirmed by Hunt), and dare we say, this won’t be the last time the geeks discuss it (perhaps expect a full feature on the tech in the future, too).Brad and Dave then cover their favourite Presta-type pump heads and offer a PSA on basic drivetrain maintenance. Finally, a few members pose mechanical questions to the geeks in the Ask a Wrench segment.Plus, keep an ear out for a bonus episode of the Geek Warning podcast with framebuilder Rob English and chatting all things related to the recent MADE Bike show.Time stamps:2:20 - Hunt’s H-Cyclo tech allows recycling of thermoset carbon10:30 - Wolf Tooth’s new Internal-External headset16:55 - Picking One Presta pump head26:30 - a PSA applicable to all forms of chain lube34:20 - Ask a Wrench (AaW) about bigger chainrings on SRAM Force AXS41:50 - Smelly chains (AaW)44:15 - Handlebar width for women’s XC racing (AaW)53:20 - Getting more range from SRAM XPLR AXS 12-speed (AaW)

It’s never a boring week when you’re a bike geek. Join Brad and Dave as they discuss the latest from the last week of tech, including interesting developments in wax options from Silca, why gravel tyre trends have caught the bike industry by surprise, plus the latest from Fox and Ratio Technology.The geeks also share thoughts on a few round seatposts to consider and answer three member-submitted Ask a Wrench questions.Time stamps:3:10 - Save some fresh tech for the TDF Femmes6:35 - Silca’s new Speed and Endurance chips11:25 - Trek’s CheckMate and rapidly changing tyre width trends23:45 - Picking one seatpost (well, at least the things to consider)38:55 - Ask a Wrench: mixing and matching SRAM AXS and Shimano 1245:05 - Ask a Wrench: pedals and install torque51:10 - Ask a Wrench: servicing Shimano pedals59:00 - Fox’s Neo Wireless dropper post1:08:20 - Ratio Technology turns AXS Road into XPLR

What do dropbars on mountain bikes, our love for electric tyre inflators, and a random chirping noise have in common? Very little, but it’s all covered in this week’s jam-packed Geek Warning!Join Dave and Brad as they discuss emerging trends in gravel bikes, which are increasingly getting rowdy. The recent Leadville race and the new BMC URS both offer discussion points for this.This week, Dave is thinking about battery-powered tyre inflators, which will be covered in this week’s edition of Threaded. The geeks then discuss their favourite bartapes and why they like them.You’ll then hear three member questions answered in the recently returned “Ask a Wrench” segment. From chain lube for Cross to solving a mystery chirping noise, and the geek’s most embarrassing/costly mistakes.Finally the episode wraps up with a few new tech bites from around the cycling industry. There are new shorter-length ShockStop suspension stems from Redshift. Forge+Bond brings its theromplastic technology to a handlebar. There are more bad e-bikes from the automotive world. And a heads-up of two custom bike shows coming this month.Enjoy!Time stamps:4:45 - Leadville showing bike trends or just one-offs for a specific event?15:48 - BMC has updated its URS gravel bike23:05 - Electric tyre inflators are all the buzz28:50 - Pick One: Bartapes34:25 - Ask a Wrench1:02:40 - Ford's new bad e-bikes1:06:05 - Forge+Bond has a handlebar1:09:05 - Redshift adds 55 and 70 mm versions of the ShockStop stem1:12:20 - MADE is nearly here

It’s time for a bonus episode of Geek Warning. Usually, we keep such bonus episodes for members of Escape Collective, but it simply wouldn’t be right to limit this one. It’s a conversation about what is arguably the most impactful bicycle-centric not-for-profit in the world. Indeed, we’re talking about World Bicycle Relief, aka, WBR.In this episode, Escape’s Dave Rome chats with Dave Neiswander, the CEO of World Bicycle Relief and the organisation’s Lead Product Designer, Andy Samways.Within you’ll learn about World Bicycle Relief and how the humble bicycle is used to change lives and benefit communities. Of course we also chat about the interesting tech behind the new Buffalo Utility S2 bike.You can learn more and donate at worldbicyclerelief.org.

It’s 2024 and yet we have a new high-end rim brake Colnago to discuss. We certainly didn’t expect to write that sentence.Also in this week’s Geek Warning, you’ll hear Brad, Ronan, and Dave discuss some broad aero themes seen at the Olympic Games. There’s some chit-chat about Cervelo’s minor update to the Caledonia 5. And Ronan shares a Garmin-related PSA that he had to learn the hard way.Perhaps the biggest news is that Ask a Wrench has returned. Members of Escape Collective can now submit a recorded question for use in future episodes (please introduce yourself at the beginning).The episode wraps with some recall-related news out of the USA. And lastly, Dave and Brad discuss Madrone Cycles, a small company focussed on bringing beaten SRAM Eagle derailleurs back to life.Time stamps:1:00 - Tech at the Olympic Track17:40 - Colnago’s novel new braking system26:50 - Cervelo updates the Caledonia 5, but only a little33:30 - Ronan’s PSA for Garmin users36:15 - Ask a Wrench returns!57:00 - CPSC rules Amazon is liable for recalls59:10 - Brompton recalls 2024 T-line bikes1:00:00 - Madrone repairs SRAM Eagle derailleurs

With no time for chit-chat, the geeks are excited about the first few bits of tech seen at the Olympics, chatting a few notable elements from the road Time Trials, and then chatting why some of the tech seen in the mountain bike races are likely relevant to all.Then you’ll hear a summary of the latest gravel-going groupset from SRAM, and the matching ultra-wide wheels from Zipp. For more on these products, certainly check out Dave’s extensive write-ups on the SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset and Zipp 303 XPLR wheels. If you’ve got a modern bike with thru-axles then you may be intrigued to hear that your thru-axles may in fact wear out. In this week’s PSA you’ll hear how to make those axles happy and why you shouldn’t ignore early signs of issue.Finally, there’s a couple of bits of tech news to wrap things up. Enjoy!Time stamps:1:30 - Straight into Olympic tech, so far21:45 - New Red XPLR AXS, 13-speed on a 12-speed chain27:30 - Zipp has a matching suite of XPLR products45:50 - a PSA that your thru-axles may experience wear56:30 - Ritchey’s comfortable-looking Montebello57:40 - Shimano is helping to fund some trails

Welcome back for another episode of Geek Warning. This week, Dave Rome and Brad Copeland discuss the latest topics in the bike world. They ponder whether all-road and gravel bikes are now the same thing. And the conversation does cover Dave’s poor financial control.Three new bikes are discussed. There’s Canyon’s new Aeroad road race bike, a bike that Ronan Mc Laughlin wrote about last week. Meanwhile, USA-based Otso Cycles and State Bicycle Co have both released new all-road/gravel bikes with prices starting from just US$2,500 – the Otso Cycles Warakin and State Titanium All-Road (yes, a budget titanium bike).On Dave’s mind is the gravel bike he couldn’t bring himself to return, a Santa Cruz Stigmata that he just wrapped up reviewing.You'll also hear a PSA about servicing freehub bodies, and the episode wraps up (in under an hour!) with a quick bite of news from Kask.Timestamps:4:35 - Canyon’s new Aeroad goes all-in on T2516:30 - Defining All Road21:00 - Otso Cycles’ new Warakin Steel27:55 - State launches a budget titanium bike33:20 - Reviewing bikes can get expensive40:00 - PSA on freehub body servicing50:35 - Kask unveils the Nirvana aero road helmet

For the first time in a long time the bike industry is taking a breather on new product drops. With that, Dave Rome and Brad Copeland catch up to discuss what’s on their minds.There’s a nostalgic chat about Brad and Dave’s dream bikes as awkward teens. Dave raises his frustrations around integrated shifter and brake clamp systems on mountain bikes. And the geeks discuss what spares they carry on local rides.There’s a small amount of worthy tech news at the end, including factory-waxed chains from KMC and Wippermann, plus a chat about Wolf Tooth’s updated dropper and how it compares.Timestamps:2:50 - Corrections Corner related to OneUp hubs5:50 - Dream bikes in our teens, plus a tangent21:00 - Why can’t MatchMaker make our match?34:05 - Pick One Returns! Our spares50:00 - A quick repeat of a PSA52:10 - Waxed chains straight from the factory are here!59:10 - Wolf Tooth’s Revolve Rev2 shows how Right to Repair should be1:02:50 - Wolf Tooth’s news presents another Pick One segment

Eurobike is now in the rearview mirror and the buzz of the Tour continues to grow. In this week’s Geek Warning episode you’ll hear (without sound issues, horray!) a wrap-up from Eurobike, learn about Schwalbe’s intriguing new Clik Valve, Canyon’s Tempr shoes bring them into a new product category, and some bold claims from Parcours for the gravel race scene.Brad and Dave also discuss the latest Trek Top Fuel mountain bike and Dangerholm’s incredible 5.89 kg (12.99 lb) hardtail. Plus you’ll hear about the latest from Feedback Sports, DT Swiss, Manitou, and Shimano.The big conversation for this episode is all about the generally poor quality control of flat-mount brake mounts, and it warrants a language warning as Dave feels his anger grow. Seriously, a message to bike manufacturers and brands, it shouldn’t be up to the local shop to fix this stuff!Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/join to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Time stamps:1:48 - Parcours’ FKT aero gravel race wheelset10:00 - Canyon enters the high-end shoe market18:40 - Ronan’s experience at Eurobike25:55 - Schwalbe Clik Valve - a new valve we may just like30:15 - Trek’s fourth-gen Top Fuel37:30 - Dangerholm’s latest ‘lightest hardtail’43:05 - Dave gets a little sweary: flat mount should be flat!55:10 - Feedback Sports enters the electric stand market1:00:20 - It’s DT Swiss’ 30th anniversary1:02:00 - Manitou releases its R8 cross-country fork1:04:45 - Shimano’s new second-tier S-Phyre RC7 shoes, plus the case for spending more on certain things

It’s the week of all weeks for cycling tech. The Tour de France has kicked off, the world’s largest cycling tradeshow – Eurobike – is on, and we’ve seen many smaller handmade bike shows, too. With that, Dave Rome, Brad Copeland, and Ronan Mc Laughlin have plenty of things to geek out over.The geeks discuss the new Classified and TRP drivetrain collab, plus new budget groupset options from Microshift and SRAM. Ronan gives a brief overview of Continental’s new aero tyres, while there’s also chat of a new fancy chain waxing tool seen at the Tour.There’s a chat about how to keep a check on your brake tracks. And then to finish things off, you’ll hear Brad and Dave discuss new hubs from OneUp, a new gravel bike from Giant, some question marks about Ohlins suspension, and the entrance of drone-experts DJI into bicycles (wait, what?). And lastly, the new Buffalo bike for World Bicycle Relief is discussed.And once again, we apologise for the sound quality on this one. This time, it was Brad with the technical issues, sounding a little distant on the backup audio we had to use.Time stamps:3:50 - Classified and TRP collaborate on a groupset14:45 - The Aero111 tyre from DT Swiss, Swiss Side, and Continental21:40 - SRAM’s new S-1000 Transmission27:05 - Microshift Sword Black, even cheaper and 9-speed31:35 - Cyclowax teases on-bike chain waxing38:25 - Handmade bikes everywhere!43:40 - PSA: saying it once more, measure those brake tracks!54:45 - A workforce reduction at Ohlins57:40 - Oneup enters the hub market1:01:58 - KOM’s Xeno hub has us intrigued1:05:00 - We drone on about DJI’s entrance into e-bikes1:08:20 - Giant’s new Revolt Advanced gravel bike1:11:15 - The new Buffalo bike

If you managed to take a look at some of the bikes from Spoken, you’ll quickly realise there’s a whole lot of tech to talk about. For this member’s special bonus episode of Geek Warning, Dave Rome sits down with a number of exhibitors while at the show. In this episode you’ll hear interviews with builders such as Feather Cycles and Woods Bicycle Co. Dave chats with Silca’s owner Josh Poertner about the future of chain waxing and 3D titanium printing. You’ll learn about the latest from Melbourne-based Curve Cycling and Project Flock. Plus, discussion on bike fit with RiderFit.CC and the future of the Spoken show with event co-founder Nathan Lorkin.Only members of Escape Collective can listen to the full version of this episode, however, this shorter version is available here for free (and hopefully to once again, encourage you to join).Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.Time stamps:1:00 - Feather Cycles and the launch of WKNDR9:40 - Woods Bicycle Co on hidden cable routing19:30 - Josh Poertner on 3D titanium printing and the next-generation of chain waxing40:00 - Project Flock44:30 - Curve Cycling and going higher-end49:00 - Stewart Morton of RiderFit56:30 - The future of Spoken?

In this week’s episode of Geek Warning, Escape Collective's tech editors Dave Rome and Ronan McLaughlin get lost in thought and go well over the magic hour. Hit play to hear whether Trek’s move to turn two race bikes into one is a decision based on performance or business, whether lateral chain wear is a measurement we should be considering, what we look for in bib shorts, and what possessed Ronan to do a nearly 20-hour-long ride.Of course, the geeks also talk about other new products just released, including Wolf Tooth’s entry into mini pumps, Wahoo’s new heart rate strap, and Willier’s latest road bike. Enjoy!Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.Time stamps3:00 - Trek goes all-in on the new Madone21:30 - Wilier’s new climbing bike31:30 - Abbey Bike Tools introduces a less thought way of measuring chain wear44:20 - RIP Jurgen Falke45:10 - Ronan’s big ride is on Dave’s mind55:30 - Picking one bib-short1:02:30 - Wahoo’s new heart rate strap, will this one last?1:09:40 - Wolf Tooth gets into mini pumps with internal storage1:13:30 - Bossi’s new Grit titanium gravel bike1:14:20 - MADE Australia is this weekend, while Ronan is heading to the Tour and Eurobike

It’s time to geek out. This week Brad Copeland, Ronan McLaughlin, and Dave Rome are on the pod to talk all the major news in the world of tech and what’s on their minds.There’s a new road bike from Pinarello, and a new head unit that promises to be self-sustaining, and a more affordable full suspension race bike from Specialized. Plus Dave and Brad share some things on their minds.Forward warning and an apology as the sound quality on this one doesn’t meet our usual standard. Dave was already under the weather, and if that weren’t enough, he then had mic issues. The information is there, it’s just Dave sounds like virus-riddled bot!Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.Time stamps:2:24 - New Pinarello Dogma11:50 - Coros’ entry into head units22:05 - More new alloy from Specialized, this time the Chisel FS28:33 - Spoken has been run, a bonus episode is incoming29:25 - Spare seatpost length is on Brad’s mind33:30 - Dave explains why he’s a reformed chain waxer43:50 - Quick tech bite in the form of Giant’s new kids bike50:05 - Brad shares a tip for getting tips

The tech never stops. This episode Brad Copeland and Dave Rome discuss a handful of new dropbar bikes, a recall, common mistakes with fitting chains, and their favourite… grease. Oh yes, it’s Geek Warning!Those new bikes include the fascinatingly simple Specialized Crux DSW, a refreshed Bianchi Arcadex gravel bike, and OBED’s entry into the endurance road space. Meanwhile the geeks discuss Ellsworth’s recent return and entry into gravel.Following a repair during the week, on Brad’s mind is how chain direction matters and it spurs a larger conversation about other common chain-related mistakes. Then Dave asks the hard hitting questions, asking Brad to pick a single grease of choice.The episode wraps with a recall from Kuat and a tease for the upcoming Spoken Show (formerly Handmade Bicycle Show Australia) in Melbourne, Australia.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.Time stamps:5:25 - Specialized’s new alloy bike and why simple wins20:00 - Bianchi new Arcadex and why UDH is now the common feature in gravel26:48 - Ellsworth returns to the dropbar world33:00 - OBED RVR is another option with a taller stack height39:25 - Chain direction is on Brad’s mind46:40 - Pick one: Grease. Yes, grease.53:50 - Roval releases a Team version of its Rapide CLX II road wheels58:32 - Kuat has a recall that impacts 86,000 racks1:01:30 - High-fives await in Melbourne

A €9,000 frame, a €27k build, and €22K spent on developing the bottle alone… Wilier has a new TT bike.Escape Collective had exclusive access to the development of this new bike in a seemingly impossible time frame. Leading the design project was Marco Genovese, Head of Design at Wilier Triestina. With 14 years of experience in developing over 100 frames, Genovese knows a thing or two about carbon frame design. Escape Tech Editor Ronan Mc Laughlin sat down with Genovese to deep dive on all things frame design to discuss everything from brainwaves in the shower to initial concepts and from modern design tools to made-up UCI rules.The Supersonica may be a time trial bike, but this bonus episode of the Geek Warning podcast is for anyone who has ever wondered how bikes are designed.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.

A lot has happened in the world of cycling tech over the past week. The Dauphine has teased new bikes getting dialled in for the Tour. While Unbound has shown that gravel tech is still progressing at a rapid rate, including wider tyres, new 1x drivetrains, and aero-shaped suspension.There’s a full cast of geeks to chat about it, with Ronan Mc Laughlin tuning in to discuss what’s new in the road space, while Dave Rome and new-old voice Brad Copeland discuss the rest.Of course the geeks discuss something on their mind which should prove helpful for anyone with a stuck crank. The episode closes with tech news including Fulcrum’s new Sharq wheels, a new gravel race handlebar from Pro, a well-priced mountain bike shifter upgrade from SRAM, and more.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Also, we'd love to get your feedback on this show and our other shows. Share your thoughts at escapecollective.com/podcast-survey.Time stamps:4:26 - A swarm of new road bikes are coming from Canyon, Willier, Pinarello, and more24:00 - A corrections corner24:51 - New tech seen at Unbound Gravel, including things from SRAM, wider wheels, aero Fox suspension, and new bikes42:20 - On our mind: stubborn crank bolts and methods for overcoming them55:00 – Bianchi’s ribbon-cutting ceremony has us giggling58:20 – Fulcrum’s new wavy-shaped Sharq wheels1:02:40 – Pro Bike Gear’s new Discover Aero Carbon handlebar for better GRX integration1:08:10 - SRAM’s new Pod Rocker upgrade for AXS

It's time for another bonus episode of Geek Warning.Typically, we keep these bonus episodes for subscribers and members of Escape Collective, however, this one is being left open to all as a teaser for the type of stuff you’re missing by not being a member. If you like this and want more, sign up here. This episode is about gravel tire selection and trends in the thinking that bigger is better. It all came about through an Instagram post by former WorldTour pro-turned Gravel Pro Alex Howes, who had shared just how much he had been obsessing over tire selection for the 2024 edition of Unbound Gravel. And what makes this conversation all the more interesting is that Howes isn’t sponsored by a single tire brand, but rather an online retailer that sells all the brands - biketiresdirect.Dave Rome and Howes cover a lot of ground in this one, including chatting slicks versus treads, picking the biggest volume possible, inserts or not, what to carry on a self-supported race like Unbound, and why white bar tape.If you don’t care about why, where, when, or how, and assuming the weather holds, Howes plans to race on Vittoria Terreno Zero tyres, in a 50 mm width up front and a 47 mm rear with inserts. He expects to start the day with approximately 19 psi in the front, and 24 psi rear. Still, if you find these details interesting, you’ll surely appreciate the conversation. Enjoy!

Welcome back to Geek Warning, a podcast by the Escape Collective, that covers everything to know in the world of bicycle tech. James Huang said farewell in our past episode, and with that, Dave is joined by a new voice that knows a thing or two about bicycle-related things – Brad Copeland.With a mountain bike World Cup race at Nové Město freshly finished, Dave and Brad discuss things in use by the winners, technical problems by a race favourite, and trends in tyre tech.The geeks share their favourite tubeless tyre sealants and a PSA applicable to all.It’s a relatively light week in terms of tech news, still, Brad and Dave share their thoughts on DT Swiss’ new premium gravel wheelsets, new well-priced carbon wheels from Easton, and a new gravel race jersey with its own sweat-patch.Time stamps:4:10 – Pre-Olympic tech spotted in use by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Tom Pidcock10:55 – Speculating about Victor Koretzky’s tech woes15:20 – Are wider tyres always better for gravel and MTB? What does that mean for the future of tyre inserts?37:25 - Pick one: tubeless tyre sealant50:05 - PSA: test your spares!57:10 - New DT Swiss GRC 1100 and 1400 Dicut gravel wheels1:08:00 - Easton’s new EC90 ALX gravel and all-road hoops1:10:40 - Castelli adds a hydration bladder to an aero jersey, so gravel

Ever feel like you’d like a lighter bike? Now imagine what your current bike would feel like if it was half of your body weight. For all too many kids who are learning to ride bikes, that’s exactly what it feels like to them. Premium kids’ bikes are a relatively new category, but also one that’s rapidly growing with more brands, models, sizes, and genres than ever before. Are they expensive? As compared to what you’d find in a big-box store, sure. But when you really think about what your kid might get out of a nicer bike, what actually goes into them, and even what you might get out of them once they’ve outgrown them, the numbers become easier to justify.Fair warning: The full episode is only available to Escape Collective members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.

It’s just a regular week in May, but you can bet the bike industry is its usual buzz of activity. James Huang and Dave Rome offer some strong thoughts related to Shimano’s latest release of GRX Di2. There’s chat about Felt clawing its way back into the spotlight. Of course the geeks can't ignore the return of Kona Bikes. And there are rumblings that the old Interbike tradeshow may be coming back, too.We’ve got custom bikes on our minds. We fail at picking one saddle. And there’s a PSA for all. The episode wraps with a round-up of new wheel-related things from Reynolds, Zipp, Roval, Chris King, and Hunt.And then James shares his own news. Indeed this is the last episode you’ll hear James’ voice as he hangs up his digital gauge.Time stamps:2:00 - Shimano GRX 12-speed Di216:40 - Felt’s new VR endurance road bike20:25 - Kona is back!25:45 - Is the Interbike tradeshow coming back?30:40 - On our mind: would we buy our own fully custom bike?43:25 - Pick one: saddles56:45 - You get accustomed to things being crummy1:01:10 - Talking new wheel-related things from Reynolds, Zipp, Hunt, Roval, and Chris King1:11:30 - James’ heart sinking news (tear emoji)

Not surprisingly given the big product launch this week, Dave and James have a lot to dive into with SRAM’s new Red AXS wireless road groupset: what’s different about it, what’s not so different, what’s been improved, and what’s stayed the same – and the thing everyone will invariably ask us, whether we’d choose that or the latest Shimano Dura-Ace. We also chat about the neat features embedded into the new Hammerhead Karoo GPS computer, and the significance of the new tire partnership between Zipp and Goodyear, Dave gets his thoughts about road bike cockpit reach off his chest, we choose our favorite tubeless plug kits, and we’re still worried about loose headsets.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Timestamps:2:05 – A neat detail about Chris King’s new hubs we overlooked3:51 – A clarification on our position regarding road hookless tubeless wheels and tires6:04 – The lowdown on SRAM’s new Red AXS road groupset12:22 – Do we like it?16:19 – SRAM Red AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace Di2?21:15 – Don’t call it the Hammerhead Karoo 325:45 – Goodyear’s new tires are Zipp-specific, but we’re not entirely sure why30:02 – Effective reach is an overlooked fit dimension36:50 – Pick One! Our favorite tubeless plug kits47:20 – We’re still worried about loose headsets53:08 – Ratio Technology has a neat cage option for SRAM Transmission rear derailleurs55:53 – Pirelli has gotten even more Italian

Much leaked and recently teased, SRAM has now officially unveiled the latest iteration of its Red AXS road groupset. This top-tier offering introduces a new approach to shifter ergonomics and braking, along with a number of other smaller changes.Shile at the product launch, tech editor Dave Rome sat down with a few key members of SRAM’s road product and engineering team to discuss what’s new, what isn’t, and why. Following the chat about new SRAM things, Dave then sat down with the team from Hammerhead to discuss the equally new Karoo computer.You can also read our thoughts (and see photos) of these new products over at escapecollective.com.This deep dive is a bonus episode of Geek Warning podcast. Full access to such bonus episodes are typically limited to Escape Collective members, however, this one is free for all to access. If you enjoyed this content then please consider supporting our mission of being a wholly member-funded and independent media outlet. You can join at escapecollective.com/member.

We know, we know, it’s been ages since we did our last Ask a Wrench episode – late January, in fact. Guilty as charged. Better late than never? But as a nice bonus, our panel of geeks had an extra-long list of repair and maintenance questions to answer this time around, like why bedding in your new brakes is important, what not to do with your fancy digital torque wrench, how to diagnose a curious front-end clunk, how to protect your fancy new bike for the long haul, the best way to fix a paint chip, and much more.Fair warning: The full episode is only available to Escape Collective members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.

Welcome back to Geek Warning! This week, James and Dave have a varied conversation covering tech related to road, gravel, and mountain bike.The Giro has begun and Tadej Pogačar took a little tumble that many were quick to blame the equipment for. James and Dave discuss that such finger pointing was not warranted this time.At the opposite end of UCI disciplines, the conversation then turns to aero gains returning to professional downhill mountain bike racing.In the tech new front, the geeks praise Chris King’s new Gen 4 hubs and discuss why Forge+Bond entry into the road market may not be hugely successful. Plus there’s discussion of a new Bike Yoke dropper, Zwift’s price rises, and more.Meanwhile, a new Shimano Di2 patent has surfaced teasing wireless 13-speed shifting. Dave got Terry of BetterShifting.com on the phone to discuss the discovered patent and what it may mean.Our pick one this week is perhaps better described as a buyer’s guide to selecting a wheelset for gravel. From rim choices, to spoke choices, to hub choices, you’ll hear what our geeks prefer for their own bikes.Please jump into the comments section on our website for any feedback or questions related to the episode.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Time stamps:4:00 - Hookless now getting undeserved blame..9:25 - Downhill mountain bike racing getting aero?16:30 - Chris King’s new Gen 4 hubs21:45 - Forge+Bond brings its thermoplastic rims to road28:40 - Chatting with Terry of BetterShifting.com about a certain Di2 patent36:07 - e-Cargo bikes being covered by car media is on James’ mind40:50 - Picking one gravel wheelset, or at least, what we look for52:00 - A member-submitted PSA56:15 - 3T’s Strada Italia, made in Italy57:15 - Bike Yoke’s Revive V3 dropper looks great59:20 - Wolf Tooth updates its chainguides1:00:25 - Zwift price increases1:04:20 – A gimmicky indoor stationary bike on Kickstarter

The Sea Otter Classic just wrapped up literally a few days ago, but clearly someone forgot to turn off the tap of new bikes and gear. Cervelo just announced a redesign of its ultra-popular Aspero gravel bike, and clearly put a lot of thought into what needed to change – and perhaps more importantly, what didn’t. Colnago also just dropped a new gravel bike of its own, the G4X, and Giant finally revamped its Trinity TT bike – no more rim brakes! Dave and James also chat about the eight billion tubeless valve stems out on the market, our favorite mountain bike computer mounts, and some of the latest happenings on the industry side.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/join to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Timestamps:3:17 – Cervelo’s ultra-popular Aspero gravel bike gets a careful redesign10:50 – Zwift has added a whole bunch of new features, and some of them sound pretty sweet15:15 – What’s up with seemingly everyone having their own high-flow tubeless valves now?28:11 – Pick one! Our favorite mountain bike computer mounts38:54 – A dirty cassette can easily turn into a skipping chain43:22 – Colnago announces its new G4X gravel race bike58:54 – The last holdout of rim brakes in the pro peloton is no more59:30 – Enve Composites has been sold1:01:07 – What the heck is going on at Rapha?1:06:29 – More industry layoffs, this time at Cannondale

In this episode of Geek Warning, James is just back from the Sea Otter Classic and Dave is still thinking about chain lube and tools.On the Sea Otter front, James and Dave discuss new eco-friendlier tyres from Vittoria, new metal bikes from Ritchey and Digit, parts from 5Dev and Xpedo, along with new tools from PrestaCycle and Stan’s NoTubes. Check out James’ Sea Otter Classic galleries for visuals of what was discussed (and so so so much more).The conversation then turns to larger questions around Stages Cycling and Kona who were both missing-in-action at America’s largest trade show and cycling event.On Dave’s mind is a better way to apply chain lube following a recent video from Josh Poertner of Silca. Our PSA is less of a public service announcement and more a basic guide into figuring out where noises may be coming from in order to silence them. And then the geeks bring back the Pick One segment to discuss floor pumps.The episode finishes up with a new crank-related recall from FSA.All this and more in this week’s episode of Geek Warning – a podcast created for and funded by the members of Escape Collective.Time stamps:3:00 - Sea Otter highlights, including things from Vittoria, Ritchey, Digit, PrestaCycle, 5Dev, Xpedo, and more.26:00 - Unknowns ahead for Stages Cycling and Kona Bikes36:00 - Circling back to the HighBar helmet strap as seen at Sea Otter39:20 - A better way to apply chain lube?45:15 - Chasing down those noises52:40 - Picking one floor pump1:02:30 - An explainer on Time’s revamped pedal range1:06:00 - FSA recalls some its AGX+ gravel cranks

In this jam-packed episode, James and Dave discuss a handful of new gravel and road bikes that caught their attention during the week. Trek enters the rear Radar game to compete with Garmin, yet James’ early impressions of the CarBack raises more questions than answers.DT Swiss has just released a new mountain bike rear hub with a wholly new ratchet system, you can read about the new 240 DEG hub at escapecollective.com, and a bonus episode of Geek Warning with DT Swiss is also available, too. Meanwhile the coverage of new products from EVT, Fox, RockShox, and more continues at the end of the episode.On our mind and over the heads of the geek's families is the topic of gravel suspension. The geeks discuss who it’s for (and who it’s not), and why it’s proving to be more than a gimmick.Plus there’s a PSA, which is likely a repeat on something previously discussed, but that only makes it more important.Time stamps:3:00 - Kona’s new gravel bike for mountain bikers6:30 - FiftyOne’s new Sika road bike11:55 - Parlee’s new and unexpectedly-European-made Ouray road bike15:40 - Trek enters the rear radar game with its CarBack23:15 - DT Swiss’ 240 Ratchet DEG hub26:30 - Chatting all things gravel suspension (including Cane Creek’s Inverted answer to the space)43:25 - PSA: Your dropper needs love47:50 - Classified adds Enve to its partners list49:25 - New RockShox things50:40 - Fox overhauls its Transfer dropper53:00 - EVT enters the portable repair stand game55:10 - OnGaurd’s new RockSolid angle-grinder-resistant lock

It’s time for another bonus episode of the Geek Warning podcast. Typically only Escape Collective members have access to the full versions of these, but this week we’re feeling generous.This episode coincides with the release of DT Swiss’ Ratchet DEG system (link to review), effectively an oversized 90T version of the famous Star Ratchet design. Here, tech editor Dave Rome interviews Friso Lorscheider and Brandon Wold from DT Swiss about this new mountain bike rear hub and how it fits into the company’s modern line-up.The discussion then turns to new spokes, how to choose spokes, and an explainer on understanding DT Swiss’ wheel range names. Geek Warning, indeed.A special thank you to our members for helping to fund deep dives like this. If you're not already a member, then joining Escape Collective will help us to create more good things and provide you with access to experience it.

The 2024 Sea Otter Classic hasn’t even kicked off yet, but the Geek Warning crew has already got a ton of new bikes and gear to talk about this week. All-road/endurance road bikes are clearly enjoying a moment in the sun with the launch of the new BMC Roadmachine and Enve Fray, and Liv has another fresh full-suspension mountain bike landing in shops. Fox has also completely revamped its range of suspension forks for MY2025, Dave and James chat about why they’re big fans of Project321’s third-generation hubs, and James makes a desperate plea for folks to properly wash their water bottles – because mold isn’t an energy drink. Also: more product news from Chris King, Fizik, Castelli, and a neat little photo stick (you know, for the ‘gram).Timestamps:2:42 - BMC’s new RoadMachine gets more endurance’y5:43 – Another endurance/all-road bike, but this time from Enve11:52 – Another new bike from Liv that’s yet to be released by Giant15:20 – Fox revamps its entire premium fork line-up for 2025 25:00 – New hubs from Project 321 are on our mind36:05 – a PSA related to drinking germs40:25 – Chris King expands its range of internal headsets (which will fit many existing bikes)41:45 - Velcro remains Fizik’s lightest option43:20 – New Castelli Gabba for soggy days44:30 – The most niche of products: a bike photo stick

Whew, so much new product news to discuss today, and Sea Otter is still two weeks away! Shimano looks to strengthen its stranglehold on the entry-level market with a new range called Essa, while some updates to the CUES collection may provide some hints at higher-end bits to come, too. Campagnolo finally announces a power meter to go along with the Super Record Wireless groupset launched last year, there’s turmoil at Scott Sports, and some hooked wheel companies are out for blood. Dave and James also discuss the pros and cons of on-bike tool storage along with a PSA that’ll hopefully save you from being awkwardly stuck to your bike, and there’s a whole bunch of new stuff on the way from Rene Herse, Vittoria, Gore Wear, Enve, Hutchinson, Feedback Sports, and Robert Axle.Timestamps:1:15 – Dave has some thoughts on T475:42 – Shimano is smart to not ignore the entry level market17:00 – Campagnolo finally announces its Super Record power meter22:47 – Scott Sports’ CEO is out – or is he? Depends on who you ask.26:35 – Hooked road wheel companies smell blood in the water31:16 – On-bike tool storage is a trend we can get behind38:13 – Check your cleat bolts!43:50 – Rene Herse now has TPU inner tubes – and they have metal valve stems!44:30 – Vittoria is getting into running45:34 – Gore Wear is stepping up its clothing game46:48 – Enve’s new race day road tires are “like crack”48:06 – Hutchinson is hoping its new Blackbird road tire can take flight50:38 – Feedback Sports is almost old enough to buy alcohol in the US53:10 – Want a nicer Universal Derailleur Hanger? Robert Axle has got you

Bridge Bike Works is an upstart brand that's trying to make a go at building premium carbon fiber bikes in Canada. It's not just a geographic thing or a point of national pride here, though. Bridge says it's obviously proud of making bikes in its own backyard, but it's also striving to make better product, period, by keeping the entire process – from R&D to lay-up and curing to paint – under a single unobtrusive industrial roof in Cervelo's old stomping grounds. In this Geek Warning episode, James sits down with Bridge co-founders Frank Gairdner and Mike Yakubowicz to see just what makes the company tick, why it might be smart to start asking about hobbies the next time you interview someone for a job, and how the quest to build its own fork nearly broke them.

Welcome back to Geek Warning! In this week’s edition of the regular show, Ronan and Dave discuss why current road bikes may not be ready for emerging trends in seated positions. Later Ronan shares a PSA related to multi-tools that turns out to be more of a Pick One and a rant.On the news side, the geeks discuss the new Cannondale Scalpel cross-country race bike. Pinarello has finally officially revealed its Bolide F HR that Italy will race on the track in Paris. There’s more 3D-printed tech to discuss in the hubs of Scope’s new and impressively light Artech wheels. And Dave gets excited at the chance to talk about Feedback Sports’ new Pliers Wrench tool.As usual, the end of the episode is kept for a quick discussion of other interesting new things. There you’ll hear about Wahoo’s firmware update, another new Mirror saddle (the comfy 3D-printed type) from Specialized, and CeramicSpeed’s new OSPW RS derailleur cages.Happy geeking!Time stamps:4:25 - Cannondale’s new Scalpel is yet another 120 mm cross-country bike option9:10 - Pinarello’s 3D-printed Bolide F HR track bike is now official15:10 - More 3D-printed tech with Scope’s new Artech wheels23:40 - Feedback Sports release a Pliers Wrench28:00 - The limitations of modern road bike geometry is on Ronan’s mind40:45 - A non-PSA that unexpectedly into a wider topic and Pick One about multi-tools53:40 – A firmware update to Wahoo head units55:15 – Specialized brings S-Works Mirror technology to the Phenom saddle56:04 - Our thoughts on CeramicSpeed’s new OSPW RS1:01:00 - Where much of the Escape Collective team will be next week

Four weeks on from Thomas De Gendt's now infamous crash, Zipp has released its findings and explanation, but many questions still remain.In this podcast, Ronan is joined by David Morse and Nathan Schickel from Zipp as he seeks the answers to the questions many have been asking.

There’s certainly been a lot of outrage over the price of bikes in recent years, and for sure, when the price of a new bike falls inline with a new Ducati, it’s bound to give people pause. There are more ultra-expensive flagship bikes than ever before, but are mainstream bikes more expensive in general? Not really. And in fact, you can pretty easily make the argument they’re not only more affordable, but also a lot better, and the real problem might not be with bike prices, but how the bike industry markets itself.Yeti is also back in the XC game with the resurrection of its storied ASR nameplate, and while it sounds like a heck of a bike, it also raises some questions about the direction of mountain bike suspension in general. Do more e-bikes equal more bikes sold? Salsa sure hopes so with a recent pivot in its product range. And if you haven’t removed your crankset in a while, one listen to our PSA this week might have you heading into the garage.Timestamps:0:56 – Dave makes his case for why you should buy a 3D printer4:28 – Yeti’s back in the XC race bike scene!22:25 – Salsa is jumping into the e-bike market, and at a very enticing price point32:17 – Bikes aren’t really more expensive than they used to be, but the bike industry sure seems hell-bent on convincing you they are45:25 – We hate to break it to you, but your frame is anything but waterproof51:44 – DT Swiss has some ultralight carbon fiber XC race wheels on the way53:06 – WTB has brought back the Solano name, this time for a new short-nosed saddle54:29 – SRAM’s wireless Blips can now be used on their own for more flexible cockpit setups56:15 – Finish Line is cooking up a new range of hot wax and drip wax chain lubes58:38 – Strava has some new features for cyclists

Why are bikes so expensive? In this episode, Factor's Rob Gitelis speaks openly, providing an insight deep into the world of premium bicycle manufacturing and breaking down the costs of making a modern high-end bike. More broadly, Gitelis talks us through some of the inner workings of the manufacturing facilities brands employ, staffing models and transient workforces, and his fears that a repeat of the Covid boom and bust is just around the corner.

So many new bikes to talk about this week! Giant’s new TCR is a meaningful evolution of the previous one, but should it have been a revolution instead? Meanwhile, the new Liv Pique offers a preview of the next-generation Giant Anthem, and Specialized’s new Epic and Epic Evo genuinely push the envelope of what XC bikes are supposed to be. And do electronics belong on bicycle suspension? Why does Trek offer seven colors in one model of Emonda? And what the heck does “Ari” mean? All of that and more in this week’s episode of Geek Warning.Timestamps:3:04 – Giant’s got a new TCR road racing bike, but is it all it could (or should) have been?14:04 – Liv’s new Pique Advanced mountain offers a sneak preview of what’s to come in the new Giant Anthem16:35 – The new Specialized Epic ticks an awful lot – maybe all? – of the boxes.26:33 – RockShox’s Flight Attendant electronic terrain-sensing suspension finally comes to XC34:33 – Trek is “right-sizing” in a big, big way41:01 – US-based consumer-direct brand Fezzari finally addresses the elephant in the room46:24 – Not everyone wants to know how the sausage is made52:50 – The suckiest addition to any home workshop

Framework Bicycles isn’t afraid to say it’s making its frames a little differently from usual. In fact, the Canadian company is not only extremely proud of that, but feels its unusual methods are also integral to what makes its frames what they are. In this week’s members-only episode, James sits down with Framework founder – and one-person fabricator – Jonathan Kennedy for an ultra-deep dive on his philosophy behind what makes a good bike.

Geek Warning is back, with Dave and Ronan on hand to discuss the latest happenings from the world of cycling tech. James is currently roaming the halls of the Taipei show, so this week, you get two-thirds of our geeky Geek Warning trio discussing the Fraser Group's acquisition of whatever is left at Wiggle-CRC after another round of layoffs and the latest questions as the hookless conversation rages on following what appears to be another failure.There's also news of Look's new Keo Blade and X-Track power meter pedals and Rapha's latest aero jersey that might save you 7 watts, four watts, or both; we're not sure. Later in the episode, the conversation changes to Ronan's concerns we may be headed for an automotive industry-style "approved service centre only" model for our bike's servicing and maintenance needs. While the conversation throws up some potential positives from such a move, worryingly, Dave suggests we are already there. Finally, Dave has another reason to buy more tools dressed up as a PSA. Time stamps:5:20 - Frasers Group's Wiggle-CRC takeover10:00 - Hooked on hookless 16:50 - New Giant TCR21:55 - Stupid helmets everywhere28:10 - Look's new power meter pedals32:50 -Rapha's new Pro Team Jersey37:40 - On Your Mind - "Approved service centre only" 48:00 - A PSA from Dan Bigham's mechanic

The time has come for the geeks to share their strong opinions on road tubeless and the movement toward hookless rims. In this episode, and off the back of a high-profile failure, James, Ronan, and Dave dive into the growing concerns related to the many caveats around hookless road rims.Later in the episode, the conversation changes to fancier ways to hide cables through smaller headsets and the problems this may present. Then there’s a polarising PSA many probably won’t want to hear.In many ways, this episode is just our geeks ranting about the issues of modern bikes, but hopefully, it proves useful!Time stamps:3:15 - Digging into the big topic of road tubeless tyres blowing off hookless rims36:00 - A little promo of a podcast series not to miss37:12 - Baum and slotted steerer tubes are on Dave’s mind43:55 - The only good fix for contaminated brake pads47:10 - New things from Cadex48:05 - A new endurance road tyre from Vittoria

Silca’s new StripChip claims to take (most) of the hassle out of properly immersion-waxing your chain, but while it sounds promising, Dave’s got his doubts. Favero unveiled its long-awaited SPD-compatible power meter pedals for MTB and gravel, and although they tick a lot of boxes, pedals in general may not be the best power meter format for everyone.In big-brand component news, we read the tea leaves on Campagnolo’s new Ekar GT midrange gravel groupset to see what it might indicate for the Ekar family in general, and SRAM’s new Maven mountain bike hydraulic disc brakes could signal a sea change.

Colnago recently debuted its latest C68 model – the C68 Gravel – and while it seems like a pretty nice gravel bike in its own right, what’s more interesting is understanding more about what that new bike means for Colnago’s strategy in general moving forward, particularly since being bought by a UAE-based investment group in 2020. In this members-only episode, James sits down with Colnago CEO Nicola Rosin and Colnago’s head of marketing, Manolo Bertocchi, to get the scoop on how things have been going there (shockingly well), where Colnago wants to be (“the most desirable”), and who the brand sees as its customer base in the years ahead (hint: probably not you).

It’s time for another episode of Geek Warning. Dave and Ronan are back to discuss the latest happenings in the world of cycling tech and what’s on their minds.Ritchey and Factor have new bike (frame) releases that sit near polar opposites of the road market. Ritchey has brought back its well-loved Road Logic frames, while Factor’s Ostro VAM, a bike we’ve looked at before, is now officially official.There are new shoes from Trek and Specialized, with the former leaving Ronan a little confused over what size his feet are. And Dave shares what’s on his mind (hint, tools), and then there’s a quick wrap of other interesting tech and industry news.Timestamps:5:03 - Ritchey Logic brings back its rim brake road frames8:03 - Factor’s new Ostro VAM is now official and Ronan has built one23:43 - Black Inc’s 1,270 g aero wheels26:45 - Specialized’s new mid-price helmet and shoes28:45 - Trek’s many new shoes, many new fits41:45 - On Dave’s mind46:58 - 4iiii’s new Pro 3+ dual-sided powermeter50:40 - KMC gets into cassettes52:05 - F+B Shift wheels bring thermoplastic carbon to a lower price point54:52 - Giant Bicycles to be sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods

Welcome back to Geek Warning. In this episode, Dave and Ronan talk through a bunch of the biggest tech news in the cycling world and cover a few test products at the top of their minds.It’s hard to find a new racing product today that doesn’t at least tease the “aero” word, however, TuboLight may just be the first to make such a claim for a product that goes inside the tyre.The recently seen shoe and pedal system from Ekoi caught unwanted attention from the UCI, but them’s the rules. One that is UCI-certified for racing is Ridley’s new X-Night RS cyclocross machine.SRAM has officially issued a recall related to all aftermarket 12-speed dropbar levers, but the fix is one you can likely do yourself. Another you could probably do yourself is convert an existing Specialized Crux or Roubaix to run SRAM’s 1x Transmission (typically requires a UDH-frame); it’s a new product offered by 5Dev.The conversation then turns to the weirdly named premium thermal skinsuit that Ronan is testing from Q36.5. And Dave has a little rant related to the new Trek Domane AL just reviewed.All that, and more, on this week's Geek Warning.Timestamps:3:55 - Tubolite gets aero, inside the tyre11:35 - Ekoi pedals and UCI rulings21:08 - Ridley’s new X-Night RS, aero(ish) meets cyclocross28:49 - A DIY recall related to SRAM’s brake lever33:07 - 5Dev’s adapter to install SRAM Transmission on a Specialized Crux or Roubaix.36:53 - Ronan is testing a £808 thermal skinsuit from Q36.543:05 - What Dave is testing and a rant on entry-level bikes53:35 - A PSA related to dropbar levers, and another related to crockpots58:30 - A quick wrap of other news, including Amer Sports, Curve’s carbon Walmer handlebar, and BeSpoked to be held in Manchester.