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Geek Warning

Geek Warning

211 episodes — Page 4 of 5

Ep 58Not everyone can be in the cool kids club, and that’s OK

With much of the industry languishing under the post-Covid, brands are trying harder than ever to carve out a niche for themselves to stay afloat. Colnago’s new C68 Gravel bike is super premium by design, but based on their sales figures, the focus on luxury is clearly getting the job done. Campagnolo seems to be falling into the same strategy almost by accident, but is it working as well? That’s not so clear. Hunt also debuted its latest aero wheels and they look like they could be quite the performance bargain – as long as you’re ok with hookless rims – and just when you thought clipless road pedals couldn’t get any better than they already are, French brand Ekoi’s new road pedal-and-shoe system might actually move the needle.And finally, have we finally reached a stable point for road bike tire sizes? Maybe. Or maybe not.Timestamps:6:45 – Colnago’s got a fancy new gravel bike, and they’re ok if it’s out of your reach20:19 – Campagnolo’s new aero road wheels are absolutely gorgeous27:53 – Hunt’s new Sub50 Limitless Aero Disc road wheels could be an incredible performance bargain38:45 – Ekoi has a truly novel new road pedal-and-shoe system in development, and they might actually be good48:04 – Noble Wheels tools are back! Well, sort of49:55 – More musings on using candle wax to lube your chains51:39 – Vittoria’s got a new Corsa Pro Speed go-fast tire52:52 – Want to stand out from the crowd? Bossi has expanded its range of titanium gravel frames54:28 – Orange Bikes is back in business56:49 – Road tire sizes seem to have stabilized (and yes, James is getting old)

Feb 1, 20241h 10m

Ep 57Bonus Ask a Wrench ep: Disc brake fears

It’s time for another gathering of the geeks for an episode of Ask a Wrench. In this member’s bonus episode, Zach (of Boulder Gruppetto), James, and Dave answer more technical questions submitted by Escape members.This week, the geeks answer questions related to using alternative cassette options, fitting bigger cassette ranges than allowed, selecting parts for the Paris-Roubaix sportive, replacing a Cannondale Lefty, and using saddlebags with carbon saddle rails. Then the conversation continues with questions related to swapping Shimano brake components, bike packing with waxed chains, learning to bleed brakes, and torque wrench calibration testing.Our weekly Geek Warning podcast remains unchanged and open to all, we’re now providing additional bonus episodes each fortnight. Only members and paid readers of Escape Collective can access the full versions of these bonus podcasts. These bonus episodes are a mix of Ask a Wrench, deep-dives, or interviews with the people behind popular products.

Feb 1, 202420 min

Ep 56The goldilocks of cycle clothing

There’s always something going on in the world of cycling tech. This week, James and Dave discuss a bunch of news items, what their favourite clothing is for shoulder season, and a little safety warning related to new tyres.It’s been a busy week of tech news out of Europe and the UK. First up, the heritage brand of Eddy Merckx is back, but looking at the range today, it looks a lot like business as usual from when we last saw the name on downtubes.French cycling brand Look has officially released its new Keo Blade pedals. Meanwhile, the two-speed hub maker Classified has updated the rims of its carbon wheels.In the UK, Mason has a new version of the Definition aluminium dropbar bike. Plus we cover further news regarding Schwalbe, Holding, Wolf Tooth, and candles, yes, candles.Timestamps:5:25 - Eddy Merckx bikes are back11:25 – Our obligatory segment related to chain waxing16:50 - Look release its new Keo Blade pedals22:30 - Picking one, our favourite shoulder-season kit (all disciplines)34:45 - PSA on brand new tyres40:20 - Classified’s own carbon wheels get lighter and wider rims41:12 - Schwalbe consolidating its manufacturing42:39 - Mason’s new aluminium dropbar bike43:54 – Hovding files for bankruptcy45:15 - Wolf Tooth ReMote Pro now in colours

Jan 25, 202448 min

Ep 55A pit walk critiquing 2024 WorldTour setups with JP Ballard of SwissSide

The 2024 WorldTour season is under way at the Tour Down Under and Escape Collective is on the ground all week bringing you the latest news, tech, and Escape podcasts. Today we've got a combined Geek Warning and Performance Process tech special episode as Jean Paul Ballard of SwissSide joins us for the first of two podcasts with the former F1 aerodynamicist. In this episode JP takes us on a wandering roam around the Tour Down Under pit zone talking us through which teams and manufacturers are optimising and which are compromising. JP breaks down some aero myths, explains the true benefit of aero bikes, wheels, helmets, critiques some of the latest tech, and whether a "do-it-all" all rounder can really do-it-all as we discuss each team's setup.Timestamps:07:06 – SwissSide's AG2R partnership and a conflict of interest.12:12 – Bora Hansgrohe & Soudal Quickstep setups from Specailized.14:59 - Arkea's dedicated aero and do-it-all bike choices. 16:08 – UAE's Colnago V4RS, handlebars, wheel, and tyre choices.19:38 – Do wider tyre rolling resistance savings offset the increased aero drag? 21:05 – Cofidis team bikes and their "catastrophic," double digit watt penalty tyre choice.23:31 - Jayco's bikes and why rider preference isn't always best. 27:06 – Are hookless rims more aero?28:37 – Aero versus vented helmets.30:05 – The counterintuitive effect of helmet visors.31:58 - One of the best aero bikes on the market and handlebar sail effect.33:52 - Varying rim depths and tyre widths front to rear and a common mistake. 34:51 - The "detrimental for performance" design elements of the Ineos Pinarello Dogma F.37:54 - Is there an aero gain from smaller front brake rotors? 39:58 - The importance of textiles. 41:55 - The other "aero interesting" design element of the Trek Madone.

Jan 19, 202421 min

Ep 54Why so many teams are on last year’s bikes

Dave and Ronan are in thick of the Tour Down Under and have a whole lot of new (and old!) race tech to discuss. The industry has woken up from the holiday break with a flurry of new products worthy of discussion. And, as usual, the geeks cover so much more.Timestamps:3:00 – Spotting three new helmets on rider heads.11:10 – Trek working on a knit shoe.15:15 – New Look pedals, and more from Time.19:50 – Enve’s new InnerDrive hub and SES AR one-piece handlebar, including a quick tangent on measuring lever angle.27:10 – Budget smart trainers from Decathlon.31:25 – Explaining Australia’s two competing custom bike shows.34:20 – Last year’s race bikes are on our mind.39:08 – Pro mechanics making do with things from a hardware store.43:32 – Our PSA.47:55 – Rapid fire of tech news including new Fulcrum Speed 25+ wheels, OneUp’s V3 dropper seatpost, BlackHeart’s new Gravel AL bike, and Leap Components’ Blip button adapter.

Jan 18, 202453 min

Ep 53Function-over-form, our favorite gravel shoes, and we’re off to TDU!

Dave and James have lots of spy photos to discuss this week! Factor’s got a revamp of its Ostro VAM lightweight road bike about to break cover, and Specialized and Trek have some enticing new road shoes roaming about in the wild. Lazer also brings its Kineticore technology to its popular Z1, we debate the pros and cons of anti-seize vs. grease, and we chat about what we look for in our favorite gravel shoes.Timestamps:1:52 – Ostro’s new Factor VAM may be fast, but it’s not especially pretty – and it’s not alone7:03 – Lazer brings Kineticore technology to the revamped Z112:01 – Even tools aren’t immune to hacking15:27 – Blurring the lines between auto mechanics and bike mechanics18:17 – Dave (anti-)seizes the day26:12 – Pick One! Our favorite gravel shoes, and what we look for in them32:54 – PSA: dried sealant and wheel imbalance36:02 – New lightweight S-Works road shoes coming from Specialized?37:09 – Some very intriguing mid-range road shoes are definitely coming soon from Specialized37:58 – And some new flagship road shoes from Trek/Bontrager, too!38:15 – Ratio Technology is at it again with a new aluminum cable spool for SRAM DoubleTap levers38:46 – Iconic UK MTB brand Orange is in serious financial difficulty40:24 – Enve parent company Amer Sports Inc is going public41:12 – Brompton with a capital B!41:19 – 9point8 has angle-adjust headsets for IS-style frames

Jan 11, 202444 min

Ep 52Our favorite handlebar tapes, and what we look for in them

Geek Warning is back for the new year! In this week’s episode, Dave and James chat about some mysterious Boa dial failures and how some pros are using gravel bikes this cyclocross season, how 3D-printing is becoming just as much a marketing tool as a manufacturing one, and what we look for in our favorite handlebar tapes.You might also just want to head out to the shed and check your disc brake rotor thicknesses, and the story of a lost bike in Colorado may help restore your faith in humanity.Timestamps:5:01 – What’s going on with Boa dial failures this cyclocross season?11:54 – Even the pros don’t think gravel bikes are all that different from cyclocross bikes16:35 – Everything that can be 3D-printed is being 3D-printed20:40 – Pick One! Our favorite handlebar tapes, and what we look for in them35:45 – PSA: Disc brake rotors don’t last forever40:04 – A lost bike, and restoring your faith in humanity44:30 – Rotor’s got a new dual-sided power meter for Shimano crankarms45:45 – Look, ma, no ears! Kask has a mysterious new aero road helmet46:30 – Bora-Hansgrohe has officially confirmed they’re on SRAM and Hammerhead this year46:40 – Chris King has added a new Microspline freehub body option for its R45 hubs

Jan 5, 202450 min

Ep 51No angled levers for you!

Following a break for our inaugural Awards episode, Dave and Ronan return with an episode of a familiar format. There’s plenty on the minds of the geeks, plus a sprinkling of new tech to know in this final Geek Warning episode for 2023 ...The biggest news is that the UCI wants to control just how weird racers can get with the angles of brake hoods. Dave and Ronan discuss the claimed safety concerns, and what are arguably the far larger concerns, too. For a detailed report, check out our coverage of the latest tech rulings. The geeks discuss whether the term “endurance” may be holding people back from buying the best bike for them. Ronan dreams of adjustable crank length being more mainstream. Then, the conversation turns to road tyres for the Pick One segment. In other news, it looks like a new SPD-compatible powermeter pedal is on the way from Favero, although for now the Assioma Pro MX is only available in Italy. Tacx recently released a new flagship trainer, the Neo 3M, a now motion-based trainer comparable to the Wahoo KickR Move – a comparison that DCRainmaker has already made. Meanwhile, Classified now has an app for its Powershift hub, although its limited usefulness may be a better tease of what’s possibly to come. In mountain bike news, Niner is being moved out of Colorado and to the not-so-cycling-destination of Ohio. We're also seeing further examples of integrated cable routing on mountain bikes, with the Bike Ahead Composites Wonderbar being an example.Timestamps:2:05 – Biggest tech trend7:59 – Biggest surprise12:13 – The “It’s about time” award16:42 – The “most wanted” award20:00 – Our favorite bike-related purchases of the year25:46 – The “What the hell were they thinking?” award32:10 – The “problem solver” award36:20 – The “more of this, please, bike industry” award38:49 – The “meh” award43:36 – The “I am so here for this” award45:59 – The “Oops, I put my foot in my mouth” award48:04 – The most exciting new tool of the year53:57 – What products are we anticipating most in 2024?

Dec 21, 20231h 10m

Ep 50Bonus Ask a Wrench ep: Preparing for winter

The Geeks are back for another round of Ask a Wrench. In this member’s bonus episode, Zach (of Boulder Gruppetto), James, and Dave answer a bunch of technical questions submitted by Escape members. This week, our geeks discuss how to find a good mechanic, how to torque bolts when there are multiples, change of crank bolt material for easier removal, servicing of cartridge bearings, rattling saddle bags, how to prep a bike for winter use, and plenty more.

Dec 21, 202331 min

Ep 49It’s time for our annual awards!

We’re skipping the usual news this week because it’s once again time for our annual tech awards! 2023 was certainly a memorable year for a multitude of reasons, but what were the cycling tech-related things that stuck in our minds of our resident geeks, James, Dave, and Ronan? What were the biggest trends? What were our favorite products? Who was doing things right? What was the biggest flop? What was the best thing we bought this year?We’ve got all of that – and much, much more – in this don’t-miss episode of Geek Warning.Timestamps:2:05 – Biggest tech trend7:59 – Biggest surprise12:13 – The “It’s about time” award16:42 – The “most wanted” award20:00 – Our favorite bike-related purchases of the year25:46 – The “What the hell were they thinking?” award32:10 – The “problem solver” award36:20 – The “more of this, please, bike industry” award38:49 – The “meh” award43:36 – The “I am so here for this” award45:59 – The “Oops, I put my foot in my mouth” award48:04 – The most exciting new tool of the year53:57 – What products are we anticipating most in 2024?

Dec 15, 20231h 3m

Ep 48Has the bike industry reached peak gravel?

Hoo boy, it’s been a big week in tech, and our resident geeks had a lot to talk about.It was just a matter of time before Cervelo jumped into the e-bike market, and that day has finally come with the new Rouvida. The same frame is used for two road and two gravel models, but Cervelo has incorporated flip chips in the front and rear dropouts to adjust the geometry accordingly. Despite the sizable battery hidden away inside the down tube, the carbon fiber frame looks pretty good, too – not entirely unlike Cervelo’s original Soloist Carbon, in fact. All versions are powered by Fazua’s Ride60 mid-drive motor for smooth and quiet running, and James has just received a gravel test sample so stay tuned for a proper review in the weeks ahead.Looking for some marginal gains on your SRAM Transmission-equipped mountain bike? CeramicSpeed has released a new version of its OSPW oversized pulley cage assembly with 14T upper and 20T lower pulleys, smooth-running hybrid ceramic bearings, and a novel self-cleaning design. But while the eye-watering price is getting all the attention, what you might really want to think about is the lifetime warranty.Fulcrum’s new Red Zone Carbon+ mountain bike wheels tick a lot of boxes: low weight, an inventive rim design that supposedly produces perfectly even spoke tensions, a solid outer rim wall for easy and reliable tubeless setup, and low-friction adjustable angular contact hybrid ceramic bearings. The pawl-type rear hub engagement is on the slower side, though. Does that matter? Maybe – or maybe not. It depends.Gravel bikes have unquestionably been the hot segment of the bicycle market for the past several years, and the progression in the product has been astronomical. But with such a narrow gap between road/all-road bikes and XC mountain bikes to fill, how much space is there really for innovation? Not that it’s at all a bad thing to reach this level of maturity this quickly, but have we already hit peak gravel?The geeks are rarely in agreement over everything, but in our Pick One! segment this week, there’s surprisingly little debate among us when it comes to our favorite mountain bike pedals.James just received a bike he’s especially excited to test, and it’s also one of the least-expensive ones he’s tested, too: Trek’s entry-level Marlin 7 aluminum hardtail. It might not be fancy, but it’s arguably far more important than any bike that costs ten times as much.And finally, Wiggle has dramatically contracted its business, the MADE handmade bicycle show has also announced its dates for the 2024 event, Strava has launched a new direct messaging function, Campagnolo is out of the World Tour, Ag2r moves to Van Rysel bikes, TotalEnergies is now on Enve, and Bora is supposedly switching to SRAM components.Timestamps:3:24 – Cervelo’s new Rouvida e-bike looks pretty good9:40 – CeramicSpeed is coming for your Transmission rear derailleurs18:03 – Are Fulcrum’s new Red Zone Carbon+ XC mountain bike wheels fast (engaging) enough?23:09 – Has the bike industry reached peak gravel in terms of product development?31:55 – Pick One!38:12 – Cheap bikes are good42:40 – Wiggle’s mighty fall from grace44:22 – MADE is coming back for 2024!45:27 – Strava is sliding into you DMs46:33 – Pro team sponsor musical chairs

Dec 7, 202354 min

Ep 47Bonus ep: How to build out your home workshop

It's time to treat our members to another bonus episode of the Geek Warning podcast. This week, Brad Copeland – former World Cup pro mechanic and now service director at Hush Money Bikes – joins James and Dave to geek out on all things related to building a dream home workshop.In this episode, you'll learn about how to build out a tool kit, our thoughts on tool organisation, what to do if you don't have a dedicated workspace, and a whole lot more.While the weekly Geek Warning podcast remains unchanged and open to all, we’re now providing additional bonus episodes each fortnight. These bonus episodes are a mix of Ask a Wrench, deep-dives, or interviews with the people behind popular products. The Geek Warning bonus episodes are exclusively available to Escape Collective members, though select segments of certain episodes will find their way into our free feed.

Dec 7, 202326 min

Ep 46Our favorite road helmets, mega-pricey chain lubes, and cheap Pinarellos

Good chain lubes can extend the life of your drivetrain, and bad ones can shorten them – but do you know how much that might actually cost you? A new online calculator using Zero Friction Cycling’s data aims to tell you just that. Our crew of geeks also pick their favorite road helmets, Ronan has some thoughts on stock component sizes, the UCI is at it again, 3T and Bianchi have some fancy new gravel bikes, and if come across some new Pinarellos that seem way, way too cheap, there might be a reason for that.Timestamps:6:03 – The UCI has updated their penalties, but it’s probably not going to change anything10:07 – That cheap bottle of chain lube might actually cost you $5,000.17:20 – More bad news from the bike industry18:19 – Pinarello needs a better fence – and maybe a stronger door20:25 – Stock component sizes, chickens, and eggs32:54 – Our favorite road helmets47:50 – Bianchi’s new Impulso RC gravel bike actually looks really good48:21 – 3T is going really, really big with its new Extrema Italia gravel bike

Nov 30, 202349 min

Ep 45Plummeting bike prices and our favourite dropper posts

This week's regular (and free!) episode of Geek Warning has James Huang, Zach Edwards (of the Boulder Grupetto), and Dave Rome back on the mics. With only a small amount of news to discuss, much of the conversation surrounds bigger and broader-reaching topics.Seeing so many sales out of the bike industry is great for those in the market for a new bike, but it's a worrying sign of financial struggles ahead. It's obvious the boom is over, and it may be a few years for stock glut to clear.The mountain bike brand Guerrilla Gravity (GG) quietly ceased operations in September. Now fellow American company Canfield Bikes is providing aftermarket product support for owners of the thermoplastic bikes.Zwift has announced new annual pricing options for those looking to save a little with a year-long commitment.The episode then turns to what's on our minds, including Dave's recent boiling point over squealing brakes and a deeper conversation about lower-cost race bikes off the back of Caley Fretz's Trek Emonda ALR 5 review. The geeks then discuss their favourite mountain bike dropper posts.The episode wraps up with Dave Rome at a Wera Tools media event, where he interviewed employees Lutz Buchholz and Ralf Joesch about the company's increasing presence within the cycling market.Geek Warning is produced with the support of our members. Join as a monthly or annual Escape Supporter today, and pay only $1 for the first month. Not only will you receive full access to all Escape Collective content, you’ll also have access to our new exclusive podcasts. Simply head to our join page, select the monthly subscription, and enter the code PODCAST at checkout to redeem this special trial offer.Timestamps:5:03 – It’s a buyer’s market at the moment14:17 – Guerrilla Gravity is closing shop17:03 – New pricing options from Zwift19:45 – Squealing brakes are on Dave’s mind24:19 – Lower-cost alloy road race bikes used to be better36:39 – Pick One, our favourite dropper posts45:55 – a PSA related to tubeless valve stems49:30 – an interview with Wera Tools

Nov 24, 20231h 16m

Ep 44Bonus Ask a Wrench ep: Wax, grease, and degreasing

It's time for another bonus episode of The Geek Warning podcast, exclusive to our members. This week, Brad Copeland – former world cup pro mechanic and now service director at Hush Money Bikes – joins James and Dave to answer member-submitted questions.This week, the geeks answer questions related to chain waxing, degreasing, what grease goes where, removing stuck cassettes, tool tips, how we store small parts, how to solve noisy brakes, and plenty more.While the weekly Geek Warning podcast remains unchanged, we’re now providing these additional bonus episodes each fortnight. These bonus episodes will be a mix of Ask a Wrench, deep-dives, or interviews with the people behind popular products.The Geek Warning bonus episodes are exclusively available to Escape Collective members, though select segments of certain episodes will find their way into our free feed.Your membership makes this podcast possible. If you are already a member, you can follow this link to receive a unique RSS link to add the Geek Warning bonus episodes to your library in your chosen podcast app (this is very easy, promise). If you are not yet a member but want to hear, support, and enjoy the Geek Warning bonus episodes, join Escape Collective today.Join as a monthly or annual Escape Supporter today, and pay only $1 for the first month. Not only will you receive full access to all Escape Collective content, you’ll also have access to exclusive podcasts and ad-free episodes. Simply head to our join page, select the monthly subscription, and enter the code PODCAST at checkout to redeem this special trial offer!

Nov 22, 202315 min

Ep 43Shedding mud and our favourite eyewear

A quieter week in the world of tech news means Dave and Ronan have more time in this week's episode of Geek Warning to ramble about what's on their minds, their favourite eyewear, and servicing pedals. Princeton Carbon Works has released its 5th iteration of its Wake 6560 wheels. Perhaps best known as the wheel company used by Ineos over their sponsor-correct Shimano options, Princeton continues with its wavy rim design, plenty of colour options, and a whole lot of choice in hubs, too. As we discussed, the 28.2 mm external width is narrower than we thought we’d see on a new aero-focussed hoop. We chat about the saddle that’s already received too much attention. The SaddleSpur is undoubtedly a silly saddle.Well-priced and easy to install, the Asssavers Win Wing has been updated. The new version is stronger, more subtle, and now with paint-protecting stickers. As Dave and Ronan discuss, this one is likely an excellent option for keeping your kit clean, but it won’t do much for pleasing anyone riding behind you. Raleigh UK, owned by the Accell Group, has been “restructured”, or, more specifically, greatly consolidated into its parent company’s operations. It’s yet another sign of the tough times facing the bicycle industry. Sure, Black Friday is good for a deal, but we’re all for the companies using the day of consumerism to promote something more positive. Ortlieb is just one example, with its repair week offering 40% off repairs for any of its bags that fall outside of the five-year warranty period. All that and plenty more in this week's episode. Plus, we're having an introductory sale for new members. Join as a monthly or annual Escape Supporter today, and pay only $1 for the first month. Not only will you receive full access to all Escape Collective content, you’ll also have access to exclusive podcasts and ad-free episodes. Simply head to our join page, select the monthly subscription, and enter the code PODCAST at checkout to redeem this special trial offer!Timestamps:3:00 – New Princeton Carbon Works 6560 wheels11:05 – A silly silly saddle15:22 – Asssavers improves on an interesting fender22:20 – Accell Group massively downsizes its investment in the UK25:03 – Ortlieb doing Black Friday in a way we’re happy to discuss28:09 – Ronan has Tear-Offs on his mind36:23 – What we’ve been testing45:05 – Pick One, the eyewear edition53:48 – Your pedals need love, too

Nov 17, 20231h 2m

Ep 42Ask a Wrench Bonus Episode

bonus

The Geeks answer your questions.The Geek Warning podcast is growing! Today, we’ve launched our first bonus episode exclusively for Escape Collective members.While the weekly Geek Warning podcast remains unchanged, we’re now providing additional bonus episodes each fortnight. These bonus episodes will be a mix of Ask a Wrench, deep-dives, or interviews with the people behind popular products.The Geek Warning Bonus eps are exclusively available to Escape Collective members. That means this free feed only gets part of the episode. You'll need to subscribe to the members-only feed to get the full thing.If you are already a member, you can follow this link to receive a unique RSS link to add the Geek Warning Bonus Episodes to the library in your chosen podcast app (this is very easy, promise). If you are not yet a member but want to hear, support, and enjoy the Geek Warning Bonus podcast, join Escape Collective today. Your membership makes this podcast possible.

Nov 10, 20239 min

Ep 41A car collaboration we like

What do Aston Martin, Lizard Skins, Cinelli, Chris Froome, and bleed kits all have in common? We’re not entirely sure, but they’re all discussed in this week’s episode of Geek Warning!Hot on the heels of Lotus’ new bike comes an announcement from Aston Martin – they too have a new superbike. Made with 3D titanium-printed lugs and carbon tubes, this one is built in true collaboration with custom frame maker J Laverack. Aston Martin previously dabbled in bicycles with the help of Storck, but this one is on a whole new level. See more of the new Laverack Aston Martin .1R here.Iconic Italian brand Cinelli has announced that it’s bringing some frame-building back in-house, for the first time since 1981. It all makes sense once you know Cinelli and Columbus are under the one roof.Finished the Beckham documentary and have nothing to do? Geek out on this impressively detailed and playful content from Bartosz Ciechanowski. Thanks to reader Frederik Bonde for the tip on this one!In industry news, Rapha has seen “negative profitability” for a number of years, while it appears Lizard Skins’ parent company may soon come under the house of Fox Factory (the suspension company).All that and plenty more discussed in this week’s episode.Timestamps:0:50 – More high-end car collabs, this time Aston Martin and J Laverack9:28 – Cinelli brings (some) frame building back to Italy13:50 – Advanced visualisations for nerds15:50 – Rapha is in the news21:10 – Fox Factory set to buy Lizard Skins’ parent23:25 – Chris Froome’s fit is on Ronan’s mind28:06 – The one must-have feature of repair stands is on Dave’s mind33:45 – Pick one cycling computer39:55 – Our unintended PSA related to hydraulic disc brakes52:18 – There’s a new member-only bonus version of Geek Warning!

Nov 9, 202358 min

Ep 40Our favourite road pedals and Lotus’ new road bike

An unexpected stop-ride notice from SRAM, a new bike from Lotus, and thoughts on tyre widths and pedal choice gave our tech team plenty to discuss in this week’s Geek Warning podcast.Rumours of a Lotus road bike have been circling for some time, but we didn't expect it to be an aero-e-road bike. The Type 136 takes design concepts from current Lotus-designed track bikes, adding a lightweight HPS mid-drive e-bike system for a complete claimed weight of just 9.8 kg. Lotus has launched the bike with a limited edition model with just 136 available at a cool price of £20,000 / €25,000, ouch.Ratio Technology – the company best known for bringing new life to old SRAM DoubleTap shifters – have done it again. The company’s latest release is a new ratchet and pulley wheel kit for SRAM 10 and 11-speed mechanical road groupsets, allowing you to use a Shimano 12-speed cassette and chain.Speaking of SRAM, the American company has announced a stop-sale notice (for North America) related to its aftermarket 12-speed road levers. Set to become a voluntary recall, the notice applies to all SRAM 12-speed road shifters manufactured prior to July 2023 (it’s a long list). And before you run to your local store, know the issue is simply that too much thread locker is applied to the clamp bolt, meaning the levers aren’t clamping as tightly as what a torque wrench says. If you’re already riding a bike with SRAM 12-speed then this one doesn’t apply to you, but we’ll keep you updated if things change.The biggest news in the bicycle industry has been related to the loss of funding for Signa Sports United, the parent company to Wiggle, ChainReactionCycles, and countless other brands. Now, Wiggle/CRC is in administration with reports of widespread redundancies in business segments responsible for future product and growth.The first mover in producing truly great kids bikes, Isla Bikes, announced it's ceasing production. It’s a brand that James has fond memories associated with the first Isla bike he purchased, and it’s a brand that will surely be missed by many.POC Sports have launched an LED-equipped version of its Omne road helmet. Integrated lights have been done before and are often somewhat underwhelming in terms of brightness, it’ll be interesting to see how POC’s new integration goes.After the news, we get into the recurring segments of the Geek Warning. We think that SRAM’s Transmission gearing favourability seems to be largely related to geography and riding style. We discuss our preferences related to road tyre width. And then our new ‘Pick One’ segment returns, this time we each share and justify our favourite road pedals.

Nov 2, 20231h 8m

Ep 39Tire pressures are trending lower, but road racing frames are getting … stiffer?

Merida and Polygon have just announced some interesting new gravel bikes, and Campagnolo's new Hyperon road wheels are a far better value than the flagship version. But what we're really interested in this week is Focus's new Izalco Max semi-aero road racer. It's supposedly faster, stiffer, and lighter than before (naturally), but also unabashedly less comfortable. Is that a good thing?

Oct 26, 20231h 8m

Ep 38The road drivetrain market is starting to get very crowded

Who said road riding was dead? Clearly a lot of industry folks haven’t gotten the message. Lauf just introduced its first road bike, Classified and TRP are seemingly teaming up for an integrated wireless electronic road groupset with Classified’s novel two-speed rear hub, and Ingrid Components showed a prototype mechanical road lever with Shimano flippy-shifter vibes.

Oct 19, 20231h 4m

Ep 37We're listening, too

Welcome back to Geek Warning, the show that proves the world of cycling tech never stops.This week we published our vision for covering tech news. In response, many of you asked for links to see and learn more of what we discuss in the Geek Warning podcast. And just like that, we present links!Zwift has launched its Hub One smart trainer with a single cog. Ronan is working on a review, but in the meantime you can read what DCRainmaker thinks of it.The recently announced Shimano crank recall is picking up steam as other countries roll out their respective recalls. However, it appears to be getting uglier.We discuss BMC’s new all-rounder race bike, the Teammachine R. This bike left Ronan rather impressed, follow the link to find out why.The Gravel World Championships offered a glimpse at a new Merida Silex. Meanwhile, Canyon’s long-awaited Grail CF is finally here, a bike James has a full review on.We also touch on new mountain bike wheels from Princeton CarbonWork's off-shoot brand P1 Race Tech. And being a new week, there are of course, new chainrings from Wolf Tooth.Timestamps:4:58 – Zwift goes singlespeed and many tangents16:05 – Shimano crank recall is getting uglier21:50 – BMC’s new “not an aero bike” aero bike, automotive collabs, and narrow handlebars43:05 – Princeton CarbonWorks launches for mountain bikes46:50 – More new products from Wolf Tooth49:50 – New gravel bikes from World’s57:00 – How we’re thinking about covering tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 20231h 11m

Ep 36Hookless rim designs are coming after your aluminum wheels now, too

There has been a slew of wheel introductions recently, with some of the most interesting ones being from Zipp (lightweight carbon XC!), DT Swiss (“Aero for All”!), and Mavic (hookless aluminum gravel!). Wait, what? Yep, Mavic is now so progressive that its new aluminum gravel wheels feature a hookless profile, and we have some thoughts on the idea.Timestamps:1:37 – A close at DT Swiss’s new “Aero for All” aluminum wheels8:27 – This most definitely is not the Mavic of yesteryear15:04 – Zipp enters the XC wheel market (and their carbon road wheels have quietly gotten heavier)25:56 – Bontrager cozies up with Look for a new range of clipless MTB pedals32:57 – Wahoo Fitness continues to streamline its operations35:58 – Brighter days are hopefully ahead for Parlee Cycles41:35 – The indomitable and indestructible Surly Cross-Check is no more46:30 – Dave is obsessing about what spare parts and – of course – tools to carry on his new bike52:59 – James’s safety rules of the road57:52 – More power or less weight for eMTBs?1:02:08 – Choosing the right chain lube is about saving money, not watts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 5, 20231h 9m

Ep 35Snap, crackle, pop: Shimano finally deals with its broken crank problem

Roughly a decade after problems first started surfacing with its bonded aluminum road crankarms, Shimano has finally issued an official recall for certain Ultegra and Dura-Ace models – and we have some thoughts on the matter. SRAM is also making its long-awaited entry into the e-MTB scene with its new Powertrain system, Specialized wants people to start thinking about e-bike performance a little differently, X marks the spot for Pinarello, and there’s some dodgy stuff going on out there when it comes to ultralight road wheels.Timestamps:5:16 – Shimano’s bill has finally come due22:35 – SRAM is now entered the e-MTB game27:45 – How much does e-motor efficiency matter?32:05 – Pinarello’s new endurance road bikes40:31 – Canyon sure does like its CP0018 three-piece integrated cockpit46:28 – Ignore those ETRTO rim dimensions at your own peril51:50 – Introducing Ronan’s new podcast: Performance Process!55:58 – Dave has gone down the eMTB rabbit hole1:00:01 – Should MTB rims switch to Schrader valves?1:04:22 – Ronan’s view on aero gains? Testing, testing, testing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 28, 20231h 8m

Ep 34Recalls, weird brand choices, and more recalls

This week’s Geek Warning has James, Ronan, and Dave covering a broad range of topics from Fulcrum’s new road wheels, a new airless tyre, and a tyre that’s recalled for being unwantedly airless.There’s also a surprising amount of chat about e-bikes, but perhaps not for the right reasons. There’s the new Moots entering the space, but not with its expected material. Rad Power promises safer batteries, which is great, but also feels late. And yet another recall has us asking whether cheap e-bikes are a responsible product.Timestamps:4:45 – Moots takes an Express train in an unexpected direction16:00 – New mid-range performance road wheels from Fulcrum21:40 – Another attempt at the airless bicycle tyre?25:42 – A road tyre recall from Pirelli28:52 – Rad Power announces safer batteries, bit late?34:38 – And another recall, this one impacts 45,000 bikes!46:42 – Ashton Lambie gets out of a stick’y situation51:50 – High-priced wheels are on Dave’s mind56:45 – A PSA for Shimano Di2 users Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 21, 20231h 2m

Ep 33Specialized and Giant have very different takes on what makes the ideal endurance road bike

Specialized announced its latest Roubaix and Giant launched its fifth-generation Defy Advanced this week, but while they’re both “endurance road bikes”, they could hardly be more different.We’ve also got a new aero all-rounder from Ridley, fancy 3D-printed titanium derailleur hangers, new indoor developments from Wahoo and Zwift, a whole day of hour records, thoughts on the UCI’s minimum weight limit, and a word of caution to maybe not trust that little map on your GPS computer *too* much.Timestamps:6:55 - A Specialized Roubaix, but no Cable Cobbler (yet)21:45 - More endurance road bikes and Giant’s new Defy fills a gap.32:20 – Silca has derailleur hangers with holes in them38:45 - News from Wahoo with special guest, GPLama (https://gplama.com/)!52:22 - A quick mention of Zwift things54:50 - Ridley replaces the Helium SLX1:01:30 - A new testing facility at MIPS1:03:43 - There’s a day of Hour Records and Ronan is very excited1:05:50 - The UCI weight limit is on Ronan’s mind1:11:14 - A PSA that James and Dave hadn’t considered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 14, 20231h 16m

Ep 32Trek’s new Domane AL goes all-road, Bontrager goes thermoplastic, and a deep dive into Columbus Trittico

Trek has just announced its fourth-generation Domane AL, and it’s even more of a budget-friendly workhorse than before. Over on the Bontrager side, its new ProV all-road/gravel models are the latest to switch to thermoplastic construction (courtesy of CSS Composites).Also, want to know more about Columbus’s new Trittico component family for internal routing? We’ve got the scoop.Timestamps:3:22 – The skinny on Trek’s new (and very versatile) Domane AL entry-level “road” bike13:50 – Bontrager’s latest road wheels signal a possible widespread shift to thermoplastic carbon fiber rims25:35 – What the heck is a Reaver?28:58 – Supacaz is getting into eyewear37:59 – Columbus has a new turnkey internal routing system for small builders48:18 – Dave exercises a remarkable level of restraint at Harbor Freight55:25 – A dream comes true for James1:00:06 – It turns out torque wrenches need time to warm up, too Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 7, 20231h 3m

Ep 31A wrap on MADE with Rob English

Two episodes of Geek Warning in one week? Oh yes!This second episode has a more familiar format, but there’s still a twist. First, we have James and Dave chatting about what’s new this week and their thoughts from the MADE bike show.And then, you’ll hear from famed frame builder and Escape Collective contributor Rob English about the show, plus thoughts on the handmade scene.Timestamps:2:35 – A brief recap of new gravel and road groups from Shimano14:57 – Layoffs at Wahoo17:50 – James and Dave chat Made.32:18 – Hello Rob English! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 1, 20231h 14m

Ep 30A deep dive on new Shimano GRX and 105 12-speed mechanical

Welcome to a special episode, brought to you by the geeks of Escape Collective. In this deep dive, tech editor Dave Rome interviews Nick Legan and Dave Lawrence from Shimano about all that’s new (and not) in the latest GRX 12-speed mechanical groupset.At some point in the chat it’s mentioned that new 105 12-speed mechanical is also inbound, and so the conversation covers that, too.Tune in to hear about all that’s new, how HG+ works, an explainer on freehub compatibility, cable durability concerns, and a few bad (excellent) puns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 31, 202340 min

Ep 29750D wheels and questionable cockpits

E

This week’s Geek Warning episode sees James and Dave hanging out in a hotel room together with plenty to talk about and not enough sleep to do it professionally.The MADE show is on the horizon, and James and Dave touch on some of the things they expect to see. There's a good conversation about the restraints that modern road design is forcing on consumers. And of course, much more.Enjoy!Timestamps:2:35 – Driven raising equity.4:15 – Moots teases a new wheel size.9:48 – Trek’s Madone gets a slightly cheaper choice.16:13 – New things from Wolf Tooth.20:49 – Leap Components doing cool things and wobbly derailleur pivots.25:45 – Still thinking about the woes of certain internally cabled bikes, proprietary cockpits, and fit limitations.34:43 – James goes on an AliExpress shopping spree.41:59 - A PSA to keep those freehub internals fresh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 25, 202347 min

Ep 28Ask a handful of Wrenches

E

This week's Geek Warning episode is a little different. With James off racing bikes, and Dave travelling (for work), the Geeks instead gathered to answer a bucket full of tech questions from Escape Collective members. Joining James and Dave are former MTB World Cup mechanic Brad Copeland and dream bike builder Zach (of Boulder Grupetto).Don't worry, the regular weekly show will return soon! In the meantime, enjoy and please let us know what you think of this format. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 16, 20231h 1m

Ep 27Speed Sniffers, Classified things, and too much choice

E

James, Dave, and builder of dreams Zach are back and cover a broad spectrum of geeky topics. Specialized has a new iteration of the Tarmac. Ridley has a new bike with Fast in its name. Lezyne has even more products and Velocio clothing expands into mountain bike.We also summarise our thoughts on the Classified two-speed hub system. And so much more geeking.4:36 – A quick corrections corner, oops6:36 – A speed sniffing bike from Specialized23:00 – Ridley’s new TT bike and Ronan isn’t here28:49 – A torque wrench for News Tools Day31:04 – Lezyne and a lot of (too much?) choice36:15 – Velocio goes mountain39:45 – It’s Classified, but our thoughts are not55:22 – Too many logos are on Dave’s mind1:02:20 – Crazy track bikes from everyone1:03:44 – MVDP, crashing, and Boas1:08:55 – A PSA on cleats Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 11, 20231h 15m

Ep 26More MTB-like gravel bikes, a sharper Microshift, and hookless blow-offs

E

Santa Cruz has revamped its popular Stigmata gravel bike with a new MTB-inspired personality, Allied modernizes its Alfa road bike, Microshift’s new Sword gravel groupset looks extremely promising, and you’ll soon be able to track your bike with Apple’s Find My function without an AirTag. And what the heck is up with that hookless tire blow-off video that’s been going around?The Geeks have questions.1:50 — Santa Cruz has a new MTB-like Stigmata gravel bike12:31 — There’s a new Alfa road bike from Allied22:50 — Microshift’s new Sword gravel groupset looks fantastic29:57 — Got a 4iiii power meter? Track your bike without an Apple AirTag34:27 — Hookless road tires generally don’t just blow off the rim44:47 — Dave is back to his tool-buying ways45:18 — Tires are stupidly expensive48:13 — Maybe suspension stems aren’t dorky after all54:54 — The hot setup for Leadville 100 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 2, 202358 min

Ep 25Is Mavic coming back to the United States?

E

Legendary French wheel brand Mavic is rumored to be gearing up to come back to the US market – but is the US market ready for them to come back?The Geek Warning crew also had a mountain of new gear to discuss this week, including new bikes from Orbea, GT, and Polygon, stunning road wheels from Syncros, and updated cross-country suspension from RockShox. And what’s up with this giant pile of new go-fast gear the UCI just revealed? Ronan did some digging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 27, 20231h 15m

Ep 24Dissecting the Tour TT and aero advancements with Marc Graveline

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As Dave and James recover from illness and injury, Ronan sits down with EscapeCollective member Marc Graveline to make sense of Jonas Vingagaard's stage 16 time trial performance. Marc was a data engineer before early retirement allowed him the time to moving into cycling and develop the Notio Konect, the first consumer available aero sensor on the market.Marc is now a consultant to World Tour teams and counts time trial modelling and analysis among his favourite hobbies, not to mention aero testing some of the world's best riders. Finally, we wrap the conversation with a discussion on what the other World Tour teams can do to narrow the gap to Jumbo-Visma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24, 20231h 9m

Ep 23A climbing bike too light for the pros, but carbon inspection for everyone

Factor’s new O2 VAM sounds like quite the climbing bike: light, stiff, comfy, and newly aero. But is it too light for the pros? Maybe. There doesn’t seem to be any debate about wider tires at the Tour, though, as even 28 mm doesn’t seem like enough.SRAM has also brought its innovative Transmission mountain bike drivetrain technology down to the GX level, an Australian company wants to bring high-tech carbon fiber inspection to the bike shop level, and James gripes about water bottles.4:15 — A roundtable on the new Factor O2 VAM climbing bike16:25 — Even Tour racers have adopted big tires in a big way27:00 — GX is now the least expensive Transmission version, and it might be the best one35:55 — Is ultrasonic carbon fiber testing coming to bike shops?49:26 — Zach has some thoughts on ever-widening cranks59:15 — Water, water, everywhere, and too many leftover drops to drink1:01:05 — Check your chain wear, folks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 14, 20231h 10m

Ep 22Racing, schmacing: Let’s talk about tech at the Tour

The Tour de France can’t be that big of a deal. After all, they couldn’t even sign up 200 participants! But despite the low turnout, there’s quite the disproportionate amount of new tech to discover there, including a mysterious new Ridley aero all-rounder road racer, new tires and saddles from Specialized, a hint that a new SRAM Red groupset may be pending, new aero helmets, comfy-looking shoes, and upsized wheels from Campagnolo.We also discuss Pinarello and Tune recently changing hands, how everything new in the MTB world seems to be designed for e-bikes, the return of CNC machining, and why your suspension fork is probably feeling sadly neglected.3:50 — A sneak peek at Ridley’s new semi-aero all-rounder7:09 — Specialized now has road tires just for wet conditions15:50 — Yet another 3D-printed saddle model from Specialized21:16 — Is a new SRAM Red groupset coming soon?27:15 — Some funky new shoes from Q36.529:13 — Ekoi’s got a new aero road helmet30:31 — Campagnolo is going wide with its new Bora Ultra WTO 45 wheels32:31 — Mmm, built-in satellite shifters36:34 — Pinarello has a new owner42:40 — Lightweight has purchased Tune to create a German weight-weenie powerhouse45:35 — Garbaruk has a new CNC-machined road and gravel crankset49:30 — CNC machining is back in a big way56:21 — UDH isn’t coming for road bikes; it’s already here1:05:35 — MTB R&D seems mostly aimed at e-bikes these days1:13:49 – Your suspension fork probably isn’t working as well as you think it is Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 6, 20231h 19m

Ep 21The Eurobike show!

James and Ronan attended the Eurobike trade show last week, and oh boy, did they come back with a lot to talk about. E-bikes were definitely a major theme at this year’s show – again – but there was also a bunch of high-performance goodies, tons of electronic doodads, and as always, cargo bikes galore.Also: Dave secretly wants to become a firefighter.7:18 – A convenient way to measure saddle position9:10 – Ronan likes the looks of the new Look12:09 – 3T goes fully internal13:08 – An unlikely new line of bikes from Marcel Kittel and Tony Martin19:26 – So many amazing kid bikes22:58 – Who said electronic shifting has to be expensive?30:10 – Shimano’s 105 mechanical road groupset goes 12-speed33:53 – There’s a revolution in tires coming, courtesy of Schwalbe37:20 – Look, ma, no valve stems!42:15 – A truly promising rethink of the rear derailleur46:30 – Gearboxes and motors go together like peanut butter and jelly54:01 – Cargo bikes galore1:01:30 – NFCs are not the same as NFTs1:03:15 – Cheap e-bike batteries can be very, very sketchy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 29, 20231h 13m

Ep 20The next frontier of XC race tech

For this week’s Geek Warning, James and Ronan were en-route to Eurobike, and so Dave was left talking to himself. After he submitted a three-hour rambling episode about his colour-coding preferences for hex keys, the team suggested that he record a new episode with Brad Copeland.In the episode, Dave and Brad chat about a lust-worthy new tool from Abbey Bike Tools, Wolf Tooth’s new LoneWolf 1x Road chainguide, and the next frontier of XC race tech. Of course, Brad and Dave also share what’s on their mind, and there’s a PSA that’s likely relevant to many.3:38 - The biggest things at E-urobike10:03 - Abbey’s biggest tool yet19:23 – 1x chain guides for road26:30 - Bike selection and other tech at the World Cup in Leogang43:30 - What’s on Brad’s mind? Road Tubeless.51:30 - What’s on Dave’s mind? You can probably guess.57:42 – PSA to check those cables! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 22, 20231h 12m

Ep 19SRAM Apex goes wireless, Commencal gets into gravel, a big BB blowout, and Ronan’s big bike ride

SRAM’s new Apex redesign brings AXS wireless electronic shifting to the masses, but there’s also a new mechanical version, and it’s all 1x12 – and we’ve got all the details. Commencal has announced its first gravel bike that’s “not just another gravel bike” (even though it mostly is), RockShox’s Flight Attendant automatic electronic suspension is coming to XC, someone lost something in Lenzerheide, and Ronan outlines some of the tech decisions from his recent record-setting ride in Ireland. And finally, is UDH coming to road bikes now? (Hint: yes, it is).12:45 – New SRAM Apex!31:30 – Commencal gets into gravel37:33 – RockShox’s updated SID spotted in the wild43:46 – A big oops on the start line in Lenzerheide48:17 – Ronan optimizes everything for his 15-hour time trial1:02:15 – SRAM’s UDH is now coming for road bikes, too Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 15, 20231h 12m

Ep 18Shimano GRX going 12, and a flurry of new bikes

There is so much new stuff to talk about this week! Unbound Gravel was a smorgasbord of fresh gravel good, including new bikes from Canyon and Santa Cruz, and a sneak preview of Shimano’s new 12-speed GRX groupset.We’ve also recently spotted new road bikes from BMC and Factor, and Silca aims to make chain waxing (a lot!) easier. And speaking of Unbound, what was the true material cost of entry for this year’s event? Hint: It's almost certainly much, much more than most participants expected.Timestamps:6:40 – What’s this new BMC race bike?13:20 – Will the new Factor 02 VAM be even lighter?17:44 – Shimano GRX 12-speed spotted at Unbound, plus our thoughts on 1x vs 2x for gravel.28:05 – A more mountain bike-like Santa Cruz Stigmata on the way?30:05 – Canyon Grail is due to get one less handlebar.34:30 – Silca’s new Chain Stripper, the future of chain lubes, and why Caley is back on wax.45:15 – Highlights of the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia.54:12 – On your mind, and over the head of your family: Caley gives a shout-out to modern mountain bikes.58:42 – James asks whether event participants consider the true cost of entry.1:08:32 – PSA for your spare inner tube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 8, 20231h 15m

Ep 17Dropped chains, dropped thumbs, and how to buy your first handmade bike

Our trio of diehard in-house tech geeks – James, Dave, and Ronan – are on hand this week to talk about the dropped chain that nearly derailed Primož Roglič’s Giro d’Italia, Campagnolo’s new (and outrageously expensive) Super Record Wireless electronic road groupset, fancy new spokes from DT Swiss, and our new comprehensive guide to buying your first custom bike.Also, all three of us apparently have issues staying upright, Ronan has thoughts on disc brakes in road racing, and a PSA on hidden caffeine.6:58 — Roglic’s nearly disastrous chain drop20:37 — Campagnolo goes wireless and ditches the thumb buttons43:40 — New high-end MTB spokes from DT Swiss48:37 — The impending return of the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia49:59 — The return of Matt Wikstrom!52:10 — Dave fell down53:41 — James fell down54:43 — Ronan fell down55:12 — Ronan has thoughts on road racing with disc brakes1:00:03 — Seat tube angles aren’t always what they seem1:02:20 — Ronan needs to start reading the fine print Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 31, 20231h 11m

Ep 16Good entry-level aluminum bikes are rad

Lots of new stuff to chat about this week! Specialized’s Allez revamp is hardly revolutionary, but there’s a lot to be said for a no-frills and accessible bike that’s executed well. Dave has some (bad) ideas for Kask on how to market its new Elemento flagship helmet, Wahoo’s founder owns his company again, and Trek makes an interesting move with the Bontrager brand name.We also chat about Aerocoach’s latest round of rolling resistance tests, and Fairwheel Bikes’ intriguing crank stiffness tests. And finally, Dave shares some thoughts on cross-country mountain bike suspension, Zach reveals his secret love of cheap track bikes, James revisits his weight-weenie past, and we all take a leap through the Ring of Death.2:45 — Specialized Allez16:52 — Kask Elemento22:11 — Trek vs. Bontrager27:52 — Wahoo is back?30:54 — Aerocoach measures the Vittoria Corsa Pro35:16 — Which crank is stiffest?43:40 — Dave likes things saggy48:30 — Zach likes inexpensive track bikes55:08 — James slips back into weight weenieism1:02:34 — The Ring of Death, revisited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 24, 20231h 12m

Ep 15Introducing Ask a Wrench

This week’s episode of Geek Warning sees former World Cup mechanic, Brad Copeland, join the team to talk all things bike tech. With Brad onboard, it was time we kicked off the first "Ask a Wrench" segment, which answers questions from our live audience of Escape Collective members.Before the geeks get to answering questions, they discuss some of the latest tech seen at the opening round of the mountain bike World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 18, 20231h 12m

Ep 14The golden era of high-performance endurance road tires

Don't you dare call it a tire; it's "endurance engineering"!Jokes aside, Specialized and Vittoria are upping their games when it comes to high-end road tires that (supposedly) won't leave you stranded, Chris King is expanding its range of thermoplastic carbon wheels with a new aero all-road model, we debate the pros and cons of the latest crop of fancy bike care products, and Ronan outlines the UCI's latest foibles. And as always, Dave has tools on his mind.A manually curated list of time stamps:2:30 - The narrow tread of the new Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres.13:00 - “Don’t call it a tyre!” Specialized’s Mondo tyre.21:42 - Chris King brings thermoplastic rims to road29:22 - CeramicSpeed’s new Bike Care line and a discussion on wax lubes.42:57 - The growing segment of Bike Care products.46:50 - More price drops! This time it’s Salsa.47:53 - Rome gets excited about new bearing removal tools.50:37 - An update on the peculiar new UCI product registration rules coming to the TDF.56:45 - Does the UCI need a Jig for its Jig?1:02:45 - On Rome’s mind and over the head of his family.1:08:07 - News for next week’s episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 11, 20231h 10m

Ep 13XC MTB is so hot, even die-hard road brands are getting into it

Modern cross-country mountain bike racing is absolutely on fire these days. The riders are faster, more skilled, and more interesting than ever; the courses are technical and physically demanding; and the bikes are so capable they'd put the "trail bikes" of yesteryear to shame. But one has to look no further than some dyed-in-the-wool road brands to see how hot the segment is right now, because even they're getting into the game.Also, in this week's show: (some) bikes are getting cheaper, there are prototype cross-country suspension forks everywhere, and the UCI dropped a logistical bomb on teams just weeks ahead of the Tour.Episode time stamps (oh, that’s new for us!):2:35 - BMC’s TT bike and company news.13:30 - Pinarello is returning to mountain bikes.16:35 - What are P1 Race Tech mountain bike wheels?19:29 - Cervelo getting deeper into XC.21:23 - A flurry of forks and the boom of XC.30:35 - Lauf drops Seigla prices in the USA. Plus other price drops.35:30 - Will we see new UCI technical controls at the TDF?49:45 - The growth of tyre inserts.60:00 - On our minds and debating cup and cone bearing hubs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 4, 20231h 8m

Ep 12How hardtail mountain bikes are like cats

On this week's episode of Geek Warning: Specialized says its new Epic World Cup will replace hardtails for racing, and while the bike looks interesting, this isn't the first time we've heard such a thing and hardtails have proven time and again that they've got a lot of lives.Also in this week's show: Wahoo is probably for sale, but who should buy it? Might you soon be taking your e-bike to an auto mechanic for service? Why did Boyd Cycling open up an aluminum rim factory in South Carolina? And James gives a recap of the shiny new stuff – both affordable and expensive – he saw at last week's Sea Otter Classic, along with a PSA on how your DRL might not be providing the visibility you think it is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 26, 20231h 11m

Ep 11A new Tarmac and the worst bike James has ever ridden

This week on Geek Warning, James, Ronan, and Caley talk through rumors of a new Specialized Tarmac SL8, dig into the worst bike James has ever ridden, the return of Mavic (but not where you think they would be), and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 19, 20231h 11m

Ep 11The Roubaix Tech Special

Paris-Roubaix has been a better predictor of the bike tech that will be common in the future than any other pro race. It was the first with bigger tires, the first with disc brakes, the first with endurance frames. So what were teams riding this year? Ronan Mc Laughlin and Caley Fretz dive into the cutting edge of cobble-worthy bike tech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 15, 202356 min

Ep 10Two thumbs up for Campagnolo's upcoming new wireless groupsets

Lots of news in this week's live episode! Fresh patent filings have revealed Campagnolo's upcoming wireless electronic groupsets will have thumb buttons after all, we've got an intriguing new thermoplastic wheel brand as well as two more wheel intros from Roval, Garmin is chasing the sun with new solar-powered GPS computers, Trek seems to be moving away from the Bontrager label, and Q36.5 announces its latest effort to prevent road rash. James also shares his thoughts on headset-based cable routing for mountain bikes (it's dumb), and Dave offers his opinion on race-style repair stands, and we answer a bunch of from our live studio audience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 14, 20231h 21m