VeloNews Podcasts

Shimano's *mostly* new GRX Di2 12-speed group is the Japanese giant's first single-ring drivetrain for gravel, and it borrows tech from the mountain bike world to make it happen. Senior tech editor Alvin Holbrook has unboxed, installed, and ridden GRX Di2, and this week's episode sees the crew dive into his early impressions on shift speed, gear range, and how it compares to SRAM's wireless offerings. BMC had also just released a new, lighter and even more climbing-focused Teammachine SLR ahead of the Tour de France, while Orbea launched the revamped Terra Race gravel bike. We've ridden both bikes and Josh, Alvin, and Levy break down how they perform and who they best suit. For your consideration: First Ride: The Orbea Terra Race Is an Aero Road Bike in Gravel Disguise Classified Can Now Be Controlled Directly by Shimano Di2 Shifters First Look: The Canyon Endurace AllRoad Checks All the Boxes For Under $1,500 First Ride: Shimano GRX Di2 1x Is the Fastest-Shifting Wireless Gravel Drivetrain I've Used S-Works Torch Remco Is Uber Light and Ultra Expensive

TRP's new Vistar drivetrain combines a 12-speed cassette with a Classified internally geared hub to give you the benefits of a front derailleur without the hassle and complication, but does it work in the real world? Senior Tech Editor Josh Ross has spent months using it and explains the benefits, drawbacks, and how the hybrid 1X system compares to a traditional drivetrain. Josh has also been riding the new SRAM Force and Rival drivetrains that aim to bring the performance of Red down to a lower price point; he describes the differences between each group and tells Levy why Force is the answer. Cervelo also just released their Aspero-5 gravel race bike that trades tire clearance and comfort for pure aero-focused speed, which is the opposite approach that we're seeing with most new designs. Alvin has been testing the fresh Aspero and explains why this new "gravel bike" might be the ideal all-road machine for many riders. Lastly, the crew debates the UCI's strange new tech mandates that limit handlebar width, fork leg geometry, rim height, and aero helmets, all of which are intended to slow racers down and increase safety. But are yet more rules really the answer, and how do the UCI's decisions affect what consumers can purchase?  For your consideration: TRP Vistar with Classified Stacks up to the Big Groupset Players, but There's a Catch SRAM Force AXS First Ride: RED Gets a Discount SRAM Rival AXS XPLR First Ride: 13-Speed Gets Cheaper First Ride: Cervelo Áspero-5 Is a Fast Gravel Bike That Might Just Replace Your Road Bike New UCI Gear Rules Incoming: Rim Height Limits, Minimum Bar Widths, and a Tech Fraud Crackdown

New Zealander Cam Jones talks to Mike Levy about escaping early with an eager partner, how they built an 8-minute gap on the field, and the importance of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They also get into the time Cam lived in a U-Haul truck while racing in America, his lifelong love of good adventures, and how he plans to tackle the Leadville Trail 100. For your consideration: Power Analysis: The Watts Behind the Fastest Ever Unbound Gravel 200 Unbound Bike Check: Elite Men's 200 Winner Cameron Jones' Scott Addict Gravel Unbound Gravel 200 Men's Results: Kiwi Cameron Jones Kicks Late for the Win Unbound Is the New Launch Pad to a Pro Career

Unbound gave us some incredible racing and smashed previous course records, but it wasn't without controversy. With higher speeds, larger fields, and more competition than ever before, the Unbound pit zones were hectic and dangerous, especially with pros and amateurs alike taking a free-for-all approach. Should Unbound add more rules to keep racers safe, or should they move to a fully unsupported format without pit zones? Alvin, Josh, and Levy also dig into all the new prototypes, including the unreleased Cervelo, something that sure looks like a new Specialized Diverge, and Factor's wild-looking aero machine that takes its DNA from their track bike. Alvin has also been riding DT Swiss' new F132 ONE gravel suspension fork and it sounds like he's a believer. 

Fresh off his record-breaking win at the 350-mile Unbound Gravel XL race, Rob Britton chats with Levy about his strategy, how he fuels for an ultra, and why an aero bar and suspension fork make so much sense. They also get into stopping for pee breaks, those low moments before being reborn with the sunrise, and how he mentally recovers from such a massive effort.

Unbound has become the epicenter for not just the latest gravel bike tech but also some of the most interesting equipment choices of the year. Alvin Holbrook spent the week in Emporia, Kansas, tracking the race and also tracking down prototype bikes from Orbea, Pinarello, and Specialized. He also found Lachlan Morton's Cannondale Topstone with its water-carrying Tailfin rack and custom front bag, some unreleased rubber from Pirelli, and what most of us would consider a reverse tire set-up that ended up winning the race. 

Today's show takes a deep dive into two new bikes at opposite ends of all the spectrums: State's no-fuss 4130 All-Road sells for under $1,000 USD, and Cannondale's Topstone Lefty Gravel bike that employs a single-sided suspension fork and 30mm of rear-wheel-travel via a clever system combining built-in frame flex with a single pivot. Alvin, Josh, and Levy also dissect Zwift's new outdoor ride-tracking feature that may (or may not) eventually challenge Strava as many people's go-to app, and Alvin reports back on how using shorter cranks for the last five months has propelled him to new heights and watts... or maybe not? 

This week's episode sees us go behind the scenes with Amy Charity, SBT GRVL co-founder and retired professional racer, to find out what it takes to organize one of North America's premier gravel races. Did you know that you can never have too many outhouses? Levy and Will take notes on how to find four hundred volunteers, and how to deal with permits, police, and politics while putting on an event that's both fun and safe. Additionally, we dig into the changes made to SBT, what the future of gravel racing looks like, and more Topics covered: Too Many Races, Too Few Weekends: Gravel Racing's Crowded Calendar is Headed Toward Collision APPRVD! SBT GRVL Secures Green Light for 2025 Velo Podcast: $16K Cannondales, Thoughts From The Traka, and DT Swiss's Not-So-Secret Weapon

New Tech Alert: A speedy all-road bike with all the tire clearance, an unreleased (and still embargoed) gravel bike, and a clever gravel suspension fork from DT Swiss make this a gear-focused show.  Senior Tech Editor Alvin Holbrook chats with Levy about riding Cannondale's completely redesigned Synapse that offers massive tire clearance, a best-in-class storage box, and integrated lighting that (might) finally make sense. Further, he explains how one battery powers all of it and the AXS derailleur. The price? $16,499.  He's also spent some time on a new gravel suspension fork from DT Swiss that features integrated brake hose routing and aero-ish shaping, and even got to use one while racing a very wet Traka 100 in Spain just a few days ago.  Topics covered: First Ride: The New Cannondale Synapse Road Bike Gets Gravel Tire Clearance and Integrated Lights Canyon's Unreleased Gravel Suspension Fork Surfaces Again at The Traka The Bikes of the 2025 Traka Gravel Race

This week's show sees Alvin, Josh, and Levy step into a parallel timeline where they have the power to create the bike of their dreams without those pesky engineering limits we have to put up with here. Impossibly good tire clearance, ultra-light aero everything, more frame storage than a steamer trunk, and gravel bike geometry that's not trying to kill you is all too much to ask for in the real world, but it's entirely possible in today's podcast.  The crew also talks about riding Kona's MTB-influenced Ouroboros Carbon, the pros and cons of the new Coros Dura computer, and what should be done to the "fan" who rode alongside the race leaders at last weekend's Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes. 

Beware: this episode of Velo Podcast is a packed one. Amstel Gold has to be one of the best races of the year, and this year was no exception. While everyone thought Tadej Pogačar was gone, he sat up and started to soft pedal. And instead of blowing it all up at the last climb, Amstel Gold ended up being decided in a three-person sprint. The first two names–Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel–are to be expected. But Mattias Skjelmose? He seemed surprised to even be there, much less that he won. In this latest episode of the Velo Podcast, we talk about Skjelmose winning Amstel Gold, Mischa Bredewold taking the win at Women's Amstel Gold. They also preview Liège-Bastogne-Liège and discuss Remco's 100-percent win record at The Old Lady; two starts, two victories! Can he do it again against the likes of Pidcock, Pogi, and Van der Poel? Levy is a believer, whereas Hoody has his money on a certain Slovenian. And in the tech world, Levy and Tech Editor Alvin Holbrook talk about the newly-released Factor Monza aero bike, his latest gravel bike in for test, and Silca's Tariff-Limited Electronic Pump. We told you it would be a packed one! Topics of discussion: ‘Terrible Cold' at Flèche Wallonne Reminds Peloton That Mother Nature Is Racing's Toughest Rival Pogačar and Vollering vs. the Pack: Can Anyone Stop Another Rout at Liège-Bastogne-Liège? Giant-Killer Mattias Skjelmose Stuns Pogačar and Evenepoel to Win Amstel Gold Race The Factor Monza Road Bike Promises Pro-Level Aero and Stiffness at a (More) Accessible Pricepoint This Week In Tech: Silca's Tariff-Limited Electronic Pump, Strava's Strike on Fake KOMs, and Smart Kids Bikes Cannondale Revives The SuperX Name for Its New Go-Fast Gravel Bike 5 Trends and Takeaways from the 2025 Sea Otter Classic

Josh, Alvin, and Levy unpack a massive week in tech that includes self-inflating tires winning Paris-Roubaix under a mountain biker, Pogačar's fresh V5RS, and an aero road bike that promises forward thrust in any wind conditions. The guys also dig into Allied's new Able that combines speed and tire clearance, the smart geometry of Norco's redesigned Search, and why (or why not) drop-bar mountain bikes make sense.

There isn't anything else like the Queen of the Classics and, if this season so far is anything to go by, we've got an exciting weekend of racing in front of us. The women's field will face the thirty cobbled sectors under the sun on Saturday, while there's a chance of rain and mud for the men on Sunday as Tadej Pogačar aims to be the first reigning Tour de France champion to win the Hell of the North in decades. Velo's Andrew Hood, Jim Cotton, and Mike Levy sat down to chat about how to ride the cobbles like a pro, Roubaix bike setup, favorites and wildcards, the chances of anyone beating Kopecky in the velodrome (slim), and how van Aert, Pedersen, Ganna, and Van der Poel could tag team Pogi.

This week's Velo Podcast brings Mike Levy and tech editor Alvin Holbrook together to talk about our favorite trade show: the Taipei Cycle Show. Velo had Jessie-May Morgan, Shoddy Dave Everett, Alvin, and a video team there to wander all four floors and never-ending aisles that are always packed full of everything from the interesting, exciting, exotic, and maybe even useful to the just plain questionable, and a bunch of stuff in between. This week, we're talking about some crazy carbon fiber wheels with Mother of Pearl finish on them, whether we should be considering aero crankarms for the gainz, or what about a different crankset that claims to add 50 percent more power to your pedal stroke? Also up for discussion included some wild new bikes that may or may not exist, and we need to know if the relatively inexpensive Wheeltop and L-Twoo wireless drivetrains from China have finally gotten good enough to consider buying. If you care about seeing what the future of the bike industry looks like–and what bikes, components, and accessories from Asia look like–you won't want to miss this one. Topics of discussion 5 Interesting Wheelsets from Taipei Cycle Show Wheeltop's Budget Wireless Gravel Groupset Looks Ready to Challenge SRAM and Shimano Randoms, Part 1 Taipei Cycle Show on video, including those cranks claiming 50 percent increased power We Got Our Hands On the Chinese Bike That's Sponsoring a WorldTour Team Overfast Brought a Wild New Aero Crankset and a Sub-1000-Gram Road Wheelset Forbidden Fruit: Tech Finds at Taipei Cycle Show That Could Rival the Industry's Best Why This Carbon Fiber Kids' Bike Signals the Future of Bike Tech  

Can a $600 pair of shoes really be worth the price? Surely not... but also maybe, depending on who you ask. Today's show sees tech editor Josh Ross and Mike Levy talk about Specialized's new S-Works Ares 2 shoe, as well as how to test expensive bikes and gear, and how relevant that pricey equipment may — or may not — be for many riders who have different priorities. 

Here's a burning question we've had for quite some time: should your bike complement your strengths or shore up your weaknesses? Wait, hear us out! We thought about the best bikes we've ridden, and there's always something in common: they make us feel superhuman. But what about that that bike makes you feel that way? Is it how it makes up for your weaknesses on the descents, or is it how it only amplifies what you're the best at? We have a bit of an argument here, with some of us believing a bike needs to focus on rider weaknesses, while others would rather their bikes help them feel better about what they're doing. Along the way, we talk about Litespeed's new titanium road bike, which they claim is the lightest titanium frame yet. Then, we get nostalgic about old Cannondales as we talk about the latest Topstone Carbon ahead of its launch Ah, and as we should, we talk about a big crash that happened while filming our first-ever Velo Field Test. Don't tell us we don't make sacrifices for this job! Listen to the latest episode of the Velo Podcast below.

Bike racing is back! With the UAE Tour and Volta in the rearview mirror, it's time to jump feet first into what looks to be an epic Classics season that kicked off with Omloop and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Then, it was off to the rolling white roads of Italy's Chianti region for the Strade Bianche, where the women's race climaxed with a duel between Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen up the steep final wall better known as Via Santa Caterina. And if you were watching the men's race and waiting to see if Tadej Pogačar could best last year's 80km solo breakaway for victory, he did exactly that but in a very different way, overcoming what looked like a serious crash to notch up his third Strade victory.  Today's podcast sees Mike Levy chat with Andrew Hood and Jim Cotton about what makes the Classics so special, how Pogačar could win Milano-Sanremo, and why more people need to think like Tom Pidcock.

Some of the Velo team is in the midst of gearing up for a field test, where we're testing all-road bikes and comparing them against a traditional racey road bike and a gravel bike. Between all the testing and riding we're doing, it's got us wondering what the heck is an all-road bike, anyway? Yeah, yeah, all-road bikes are supposed to bridge the gap between the race road bikes and the performance gravel bikes. They tend to offer more upright body positioning, handling that skews toward safe rather than agile, and often include some sort of feature that promises to dampen road vibrations. But where did the all-road name even come from? How did we lose the phrase 'endurance road bike' along the way? And perhaps most importantly, is a gravel bike the right bike if you're looking for an all-road bike? Along the way, we chat about Jim Cotton's excellent story on how breathing sensors are poised to blow up bike racing and why a breathing sensor is a much more reliable indicator of effort and output. We also dig into why Lidl-Trek raced on a SRAM gravel groupset at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. We dug in on this latest episode of the Velo Podcast, and we hope you enjoy digging in, too. See the latest in cycling on Velo: velo.outsideonline.com  

Today's bikes are really, really good. That doesn't mean we don't have major pet peeves, however. Proprietary seat posts and stems, are an easy one, as are companies cheaping out on bolts and bearings. But we went further, talking about the bike industry's propensity to push bikes on us that don't help riders address their weaknesses, and perhaps most importantly, how we wish the bike industry solved these issues.  Look, we said the bikes are good. We didn't say they were perfect! In the news, we talk about Devinci's latest Hatchet Pro gravel bike that is a whole lot more racey than we'd expect. Is Hope Tech's new carbon gravel crank with a foam core going to be any good? And we talk about why Josh isn't going to stop waxing his chain any time soon. All that and more in the latest Velo Podcast. See more: velo.outsideonline.com/featured

If you grew up or currently live and ride bikes in a town with any sort of population, we bet there's either a group ride of some sort that just happened or will be happening in a few days. Maybe it starts from the local bike shop, or maybe it starts from the go-to coffee shop. Some rides are a chill Sunday spin that's gone on uninterrupted for the past two decades, while others are the three-hour World Championship ride with 50 of the local meatheads. We do our best to define these group tries, describe what motivates these rides, and how to find your ideal group ride, even if that means starting one yourself. Of course, we also dig into the news. That means talking about how the UCI handed out a last-minute ban on a Kask helmet visor that the Ineos Grenadiers have used for years, and talking to the team to find out what happened. Then came the sealant conversation. Silca is so certain of its sealant working headache-free that the brand has promised to pay a $500 Bad Day Bonus to its sponsored athletes who get punctures that don't seal. We dove into why it is so confident in its new Ultimate Sealant. All of that and more in the latest podcast! See more from Velo: https://velo.outsideonline.com/featured

Host Mike Levy has a hot take — or is it Senior Tech Editor Josh Ross who has the hot take? Find out this week as we debate the merits of aero road bikes. And first, we take a closer look at Classified's patent on a self charging shifting system that could make the burgeoning alternative drivetrain maker's offering a whole lot simpler to live with.

Mike Levy sits down with Dan Sommer, owner of Jack's Cycle, to talk about the realities of running a bike shop.

If you're listening to this, there's a pretty good chance that you love to ride your bike. That can manifest itself in all sorts of different ways. Some of you like to do shuttle runs with your buddies on the weekend or go to the bike park. Some of you like to pedal up the hill. Some of you like to go down the hill. Some of you like to race your bike for a few hours. And some of you… Well, some of you like to race your bike for over 4,000 kilometers through sand, snow, hopefully, more than a little bit of sun, and everything else in between. Today, Mike Levy talks to Meaghan Hackinen. Meaghan won the 2024 Tour Divide, and she's also a two-time 24-hour world time trial champion, which sounds absolutely insane. We're going to talk about those things, and we're also going to get to sleeping alone in grizzly country, waking up to a scorpion, strategies for doing these ultra-distance events by yourself, and I might have even slipped in a UFO question or two. Meaghan Hackinen isn't just an adventure seeker; she's a heck of a writer, too. Find her latest work here: meaghanhackinen.com Read an abbreviated transcript and see a whole bunch of photos here: velo.outsideonline.com/gravel/gravel-culture/velo-podcast-meaghan-hackinen/ See more on Velo: velo.outsideonline.com/featured

In this latest podcast, we're talking about winter riding from two different perspectives: the tips and tricks we've learned to stay warm during those cold rides, but also how to make your indoor riding suck the least amount possible on those days when you say, “Nah, I'll just stay inside.” Besides that, we also get into the news. We dive into the latest 2024 UCI Crash Statistics report and some low-hanging fruit solutions to make road racing safer. Alvin talks about why CES 2025 matters if you're a bike nerd, even if they call it 'personal transportation.' Then there's a breakdown of what the latest SRAM Force AXS leak could mean in the near future, and all of our latest gear on test. Stories we reference: ‘35% Rider Error': UCI Issues Intriguing Crash Statistics, Presses Pause on Gear Restrictions, Airbags - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/35-rider-error-uci-issues-intriguing-crash-statistics/ Vaporware or Gamechanger? The Bike Tech from the CES Show 2025 - https://velo.outsideonline.com/news/vaporware-or-gamechanger-the-bike-tech-from-the-ces-show-2025/ Spotted: Is an Updated SRAM Force AXS Groupset Coming Soon? - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-gear/spotted-updated-sram-force-axs-groupset/ See the latest from Velo: https://velo.outsideonline.com/featured

Will checks in from Australia at the Tour Down Under to fill us in on what has been going on in the women's race as well as the latest tech.

Will is on a plane going to the Tour Down Under, so it makes perfect sense that we have Senior Tech Editor Josh Ross in to talk all about marsupial pouches on bikes... right? Today's conversation was all about our worst rides of 2024. Alvin got a series of unfortunate flat tires. Josh went to bonktown and back. And Levy? He had some serious GI issues that forced him into a hotel room. We also talk about the untimely death of the NCL (National Cycling League), our experiences with AI coaching on the bike, a new carbon adventure gravel fork from No. 6, and a whole lot more. This one's a bit longer than normal, but we had a lot of fun with it, and we hope you will too! Visit Velo here - https://velo.outsideonline.com/featured How a LinkedIn post spelled demise for the NCL - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/the-national-cycling-league-is-officially-dead/ Our experiences with an AI coach - https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-gear/review-coachcat-ai-cycling-coach/ All about that new carbon gravel fork - https://velo.outsideonline.com/gravel/gravel-gear/no-6s-new-carbon-adventure-fork-hits-the-sweet-spot/

This week on the Velo Podcast, host Mike Levy is back with Alvin Holbrook and Will Tracy for the first official video podcast of 2025, and this week it's all about reflecting on our favorite rides of the past year.  A favorite ride doesn't have to be the longest, hardest, or have any certain superlative attached to it — it just has to be memorable in one way or another. But before recounting our favorite rides, which range from dream routes in far-flung locations to an overnight solo expedition, we discuss some news. Are AI coaching tools coming for the jobs of cycling coaches? We discuss Jim Cotton's story about Team UAE's new AI tool called Anna, and the implications it may have on training and race strategies.  In the world of cyclocross racing, the defending world champion Mathieu van der Poel is still out with a bruised rib, while Wout van Aert is back to his winning ways. How are things shaping up weeks out from the world championship? And Betsy Welch has a story about politics in bike lanes in Toronto. A premier wants to take away bike lanes — but a video game designer is fighting back. Alvin also fills us in on what's in the test pipeline for him: including an inflatable helmet and a gravel Brompton.

This week on the Velo Podcast, we have something a little different for you as former Pinkbike editor extraordinaire Mike Levy joins the show to talk gravel and road bikes. Some of you are no doubt asking yourself right now: “Wait, isn't he the mountain bike guy?” Right you are. He's a multi-faceted person though who has spent the last year exclusively riding road and gravel bikes and has fallen in love with the drop-bar world, taking on some monster rides along the way and learning what a carb is. In this special episode of the podcast, Levy is joined by yours truly Will Tracy, and tech editor Alvin Holbrook to discuss the pressing issues of our times in gravel and road biking. We start out with a discussion of some of the latest news, including what a possible SRAM smart trainer means for the market, the transition of Astana to Chinese manufacturer XDS bikes, and Alvin's review of the Factor Ostro VAM. Other topics include the emergence of carbon spokes and their impact on performance, as well as the unique features of the Kona Ouroboros and Santa Cruz Stigmata gravel bikes that the team has been riding recently. Finally, we get to the main segment: reflections on personal cycling experiences and the lessons learned throughout the year. We learned a lot on the bike in 2024 (or so we like to think) including knowing when to quit or solider on and how to maintain and in some cases rekindle the joy of cycling, as well as the importance of proper nutrition and fueling and the supportive community found in cycling.

Colnago has unveiled its first aero model in a long time, and it's turning heads. Called the Y1Rs, it's claimed to be the fastest bike in the pro peloton in part due to taking advantage of recently relaxed UCI rules on bike design. It's sure to provide an advantage to the likes of Tadej Pogačar this upcoming road season. Our tech team talked to Colnago about the new design and is here to break down this futuristic, and polarizing, design. Later on the episode, Alvin Holbrook shares his thoughts on a road bike he just reviewed that he describes as the antithesis of Colnago's new aero bike, and our tech editors preview their upcoming articles.

This week on the Velo Podcast, host Will Tracy is joined by European correspondent Andrew Hood and retired pro Bobby Julich to discuss the best races, athletes, and moments of the 2024 pro road cycling season. What were the best grand tours and classics? Who had a standout year or reached that next level? Who had the grittiest performance? And of course, who were the best riders of the year? We bring our top picks as we look back on another great season of road cycling. Then, we cap things off with a discussion of our favorite heavy handed UCI moments of the year. We also start with a discussion of some top news stories of the week, including Tadej Pogačar's record setting new contract and the rider setting Strava KOMs who's searching for a pro contract.

 Samuele Bressan might be the global marketing manager for Pirelli's cycling division, but his experience goes beyond that, as product manager for the likes of Pirelli, Bianchi, Vittoria, and others. While we could go in a number of directions with regard to road and gravel bike tires with a brand as storied and prominent as Pirelli, we focused on what seems to be on everyone's minds: tubeless tire safety, security, and testing. Among other things, Bressan seems confident in a future where setting up a tubeless road tire is never a question of whether or not it is compatible with your chosen wheelset, much less a question of whether you should even be running tubeless road tires. The same goes for gravel tires, as he calls the gravel tire segment slightly behind that of road and gravel. Tires are often more complicated than they appear to be, so we sat down with Bressan to take a peek into what makes a safe but high-performance tire. There are a lot of interesting tidbits here–including the potential for a future Pirelli aero-focused tire–in here. See more here: https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-gear/interview-pirelli-tubeless-tire-safety-future Timestamps: 0:01 Intro 3:01 What does Pirelli's testing tire and rim compatibility testing look like? 10:12 Car tires have virtually zero errors. Why don't bicycle tires do the same? For road and gravel alike 21:48 Could cyber tires come to your next bike tire? 25:55 Rim deflection, testing within ETRTO and ISO, and what parts are still undefined 36:15 Is Pirelli developing tires in conjunction with other brands? It's complicated 42:46 Samuele's personal wheel and tire buying recommendations. Hooked vs hookless?

Ahead of Big Sugar Gravel, Betsy Welch sat down with Keegan Swenson to reflect on his season in the Life Time Grand Prix, his world championship aspirations, his affinity for going to metal and punk concerts when possible, and maybe most importantly, when the wedding is.

The UCI Gravel World Championships took place this past weekend in Belgium and showcased cycling's latest, hottest discipline. But for many gravel fans in the US, where the sport was born, worlds was far removed from real gravel racing.  Velo's off-road reporter Betsy Welch and roaming videographer Shoddy Dave, who was on the ground at gravel worlds, join the show this week to debate the merits of the UCI's take on gravel. We take on the great divide between two continents' approaches to gravel racing. Betsy fills us in on the reasons many top American riders skipped the UCI event, and the differences in race culture and organization between the two regions. The conversation also touches on the safety of gravel races, fan interest, and the future of gravel racing as it continues to evolve across the world.

Everybody loves to be hyperbolic about gravel, but we're only being slightly dramatic when we ask: Is gravel racing as we know it over? SBT GRVL organizers have been hit with difficult new requirements from law enforcement that will force major changes to the event, including cutting the field size by 40 percent, and not letting it be a race with prize money — so long as it's not on closed roads. Betsy Welch broke the story earlier this week and is here on the podcast to break down all the ramifications of SBT GRVL's problems and what this could mean for other gravel and cycling events around the country, whether negative or positive. This could be a positive inflection point for gravel, giving it a new format for pros separate from everyone else, or it could sink many events just as this discipline is taking off. Fast forward to 16:18 for the discussion on SBT GRVL and the future of gravel racing. Tech editor Alvin Holbrook, who was raced SBT multiple times, is on the episode as well, and gives us some updates on the latest tech and what he would do with $3,000 instead of buying the 20th anniversary edition CermaicSpeed pulley. Betsy also fills us in on Marathon MTB Worlds, and Will Tracy provides an udpate on road worlds.

This week, Velo's resident gravel expert Betsy Welch sits down with SBT GRVL co-founder Amy Charity for a discussion on the rapid growth of gravel events, the challenges that come with it, and what the future holds for cycling's hottest discipline. Charity's SBT GRVL event was a hit right off the bat when it debuted in 2019, and has managed to keep up the buzz ever since with the event selling out in a matter of minutes. Running the event hasn't been without its challenges though. Local residents had complaints about the event, forcing major changes for the 2024 edition that took place last month. And as gravel has matured in the last half decade, controversies over race tactics and debate over whether there should be separate starts for elite men and women have forced her race to adapt. Charity talks us through those challenges and why she holds some views that are contrary to what other gravel events are doing. At the same time, she and her team are also learning from rider feedback and implementing that into the event. Charity has branched out to several events around the world beyond the original marquee event in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She discusses where she thinks gravel events as a whole may be heading, and what's next for the category.

With the conclusion of the Vuelta a España, grand tour season is officially over for 2024. Velo Podcast host Hannah Knapp breaks it all down with former pro cyclist Bobby Julich and Velo European correspondent Andrew Hood. How did the race stack up against other grand tours this season? We analyze key performances, including Ben O'Connor's breakthrough podium finish and Primož Roglič's slow and steady chipping away at the red jersey. We also discuss the impact of missing superstars like Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, and the overall entertainment value of a race without the sport's biggest stars. The conversation also touches on the performance of UAE, the struggles of Team Visma-Lease a Bike, and the surprising success of Kern-Pharma as well as other great moments from the race. To finish off, we discuss potential changes to future Vueltas to contend with the hot weather that dogged large portions of this year's edition.

This week on the Velo Podcast, Andrew Hood checks in from reporting on the Vuelta a España to catch us up on all the latest from the season's final grand tour. It's turning into an unpredictable race with major GC swings, and the next four stages will prove critical.  Joining Hoody for the discussion is retired professional cyclist Bobby Julich who raced the Vuelta a few times during his career.  The team also discusses Wout van Aert's return to the top with a slew of stage wins, and how the Americans in the race are faring.  In the second half of the episode, we throw it over to Velo senior tech editor Josh Ross and tech editor Alvin Holbrook for a discussion about the 2024 MADE Show in Portland, Oregon. Josh attended the handmade bike show last weekend and found a number of fascinating bikes to talk about, including an aerodynamic 3D-printed titanium bike from No. 22, and perhaps the coolest kids bike you have ever seen.  As always, you can catch all the latest professional racing and bicycle tech news at velo.outsideonline.com.

This week we discuss the Tour de France Femmes and break down all the action from the closest edition of the Tour ever recorded. Then, we hear from Velo European correspondent Andrew Hood who is following the Vuelta a España in Spain.

The Olympics are winding down, with only track events remaining, and it's been quite an exciting period of racing. Velo Podcast host Hannah Knapp is joined by Velo European correspondent and former Olympic medalist Bobby Julich to discuss this Paris Games to remember. In the road races, American Kristen Faulkner secured an unexpected victory, while Remco Evenepoel reminded everyone how strong he is by winning the men's race, a week after also winning the time trial.  The Olympics is more than road racing, though, and we dive into track racing as well and the impressive team pursuit title the American women secured on Wednesday. Then we preview the remaining events for the Americans. The Olympics wrap up this weekend, but the summer of cycling rolls on Monday with the Tour de France Femmes. We preview the eight-stage race and riders to watch. Stay tuned to Velo for all the latest updates from the Olympics and Tour de France Femmes.

The Olympics are in full swing in Paris, and we've already been treated to some incredible racing in the time trial and cross country mountain biking. On this week's episode of the Velo Podcast, former Olympic medalist in the time trial Bobby Julich and Velo European Correspondent Andrew Hood, currently in Paris for the Games, take us through all the racing, and preview what's to come in the road race and track events. We've already had some great performances from the American athletes, with Haley Batten and Riley Amos getting the best ever results in Olympic mountain biking for Team USA. And in the time trial, Chloe Dygert took home a bronze while Brandon McNulty powered home to fifth. The conversation transitions to the upcoming road races and track cycling events, discussing the favorites and potential dark horses for each event. The road race is shaping up to be a monster day on the order of a monument. Also on this episode, Bobby discusses how different being part of the Olympic atmosphere is for cyclists compared to the rest of the season, as well as how different the strategies are between the Olympics and and a regular pro road race.

Tour 2024 Tour de France is wrapped, and now it's time to ease the post-Tour hangover. This week's episode of the Velo Podcast is all about looking back at the 2024 Tour de France. What were the best moments? Who were the big winners and losers? Where does it rank all time? All this and much more on the latest episode of the Velo Podcast.

We've reached another rest day of the Tour de France, which means it's time to look back on all the excitement from the second week, and ahead to the third and final week, all on the Velo Podcast. Tadej Pogacar's dominance in the Pyrénées has been mind-blowing this past weekend as he took two mountain stages in a row. And the second week at the Tour has been fast and aggressive, with breakaways struggling to stay clear. UAE Team Emirates has shown impressive tactics and teamwork, while Visma-Lease a Bike has fought hard but struggled to match an untouchable Pogačar.  Host Hannah Knapp, Velo European Correspondent Andrew Hood, and former pro cyclist Bobby Julich take us through a full discussion of the latest from the Tour, including: Can Pogačar play defense now that he has a comfortable lead? Where Visma-Lease a Bike goes from here. Remco Evenepoel's excellent showing so far. Can Primož Roglič ever win the Tour? What to expect from the sprint stage on Tuesday. A look ahead at the mountain stages. Covid in the 2024 Tour de France. A quick check in on the American riders, including Matteo Jorgenson.

Any pre-race fears of a boring Tour de France have been put to bed in the first week. We've reached the first rest day of the 2024 Tour, and it's been non-stop excitement for nine stages. We discuss it all in this rest day episode of the Velo Podcast. Velo social media manager Hannah Knapp hosts the discussion with Velo European correspondent Andrew Hood, who's following the race on the ground in France, and Velo contributor and former pro cyclist Bobby Julich, who raced the Tour nine times and once finished in third place.  We kick things off with a discussion of the much talked about gravel stage, stage 9. Does this parcours have a place in grand tour racing? Then we discuss the GC standings. Pogačar is in first, but doesn't have the margin he would hope after a week of attacking.  Then we shift to Mark Cavendish's record setting 35th stage win, and Biniam Girmay's excellent Tour, with two stage wins and the green jersey. On the flip side, Jasper Philipsen is having a frustrating Tour with second places and a relegation.  The show also covers the incredible Tour that small teams and French teams and riders have been having, and then looks ahead to the second week of racing and what everyone is excited to watch. 

It's once again the most important time of the year for road cycling. On Saturday, the 111th Tour de France rolls out from Florence, Italy, and it's time to get ready for the racing. Velo Pod host Hannah Knapp is joined by former pro cyclist Bobby Julich and Velo European Correspondent Andrew Hood to discuss the upcoming 2024 Tour de France. The discussion begins with the GC contenders and the excitement surrounding Tadej Pogacar who is fresh off a commanding Giro d'Italia victory and looking to complete the elusive Giro-Tour double. For all the hype of the “Big Four” of Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel, and Roglič does anyone else besides Pogi stand a chance at the yellow jersey after injury riddles seasons?  The conversation then moves on to the must watch stages, with a focus on the grueling hilly opening stage that features seven consecutive climbs, and the challenging mountain stages and the final stage time trial in Nice.  When the race finally wraps up, will Mark Cavendish leave as the sole owner of the Tour de France stage win record? He needs one more to best Eddy Merckx, but any win in the Tour de France is a tall order, especially at Cavendish's age.  We also discuss the absence of American rider Sepp Kuss, the loyal lieutenant to Vingegaard and the reigning Vuelta champion, and the impact it will have on the race. Things then move on to a discussion about other American riders to watch, including Matteo Jorgensen and Nielson Powless. And of course there's Sean Quinn representing in his brand new national champion's jersey. Finally, Hoody and Bobby fill us in on what has them excited for the 2024 Tour de France beyond the GC race, including top riders to watch. Listen in wherever you stream podcasts for the full discussion, and tune in to Velo for Tour coverage all race long. 

Unbound Gravel reaches new heights each year in terms of racing quality and excitement. 2024 was no exception as the elite women finally got the staggered start time they wanted, resulting in a thrilling nine-up sprint. Meanwhile, the People's Champ Lachlan Morton went for a memorable victory in a men's race marked by negative racing. Velo senior editor Betsy Welch was on the ground in Emporia, Kansas, along with social media manager Hannah Knapp. They're joined by Will Tracy for a discussion of the race, the drama, or lack thereof, the latest tech that leaked at the race, and our favorite story of the event, involving $198 beach cruisers.

This week's episode is sponsored by Whoop. This year, Whoop is providing rider data from the race, including heart rate data during the stages and sleep data after them. Hugh Carthy (EF Education-EastPost), for instance, only got 5.5 hours of sleep on the big transfer day from Hungary to Sicily, according to Whoop. The Giro d'Italia is reaching its mountainous conclusion, and team Ineos looks primed to win the Maglia Rosa with Richard Carapaz. A victory would bring Ineos its fourth Giro win in five years. Why does the team and its "Froome train" strategy still work in Italy, while it falters in France and Spain? On today's episode we dive into this big question, and explore what a top Giro finish would mean for the three men in the hunt for the final podium: Carapaz, Jai Hindley, and Mikel Landa. Then, the U.S. cycling scene is still reeling from the murder of gravel star Moriah Wilson. We discuss the gravity of this story, and why it now occupies its own tragic realm in the history of pro bike racing.

U.S. track cycling phenom Ashton Lambie has traded in the velodrome for dirt. Lambie, 31, is embarking on his first full campaign in gravel and mountain-bike racing in 2022, and he's racing the Life Time Grand Prix events and other off-road races. Lambie shares his opinions with Ben Delaney on what it's like to return to 100-mile gravel events after spending years spinning circles around a velodrome. How does the four-minute effort of the individual pursuit compare to a daylong race? What are the biggest tech differences between an aero bike and a gravel rig? Lambie takes us inside his experiences in this wide-ranging interview. This week's episode is sponsored by Whoop. This year, Whoop is providing rider data from the race, including heart rate data during the stages and sleep data after them. Hugh Carthy (EF Education-EastPost), for instance, only got 5.5 hours of sleep on the big transfer day from Hungary to Sicily, according to Whoop.

The Giro d'Italia kicked off this year with three stages in Hungary, followed by a big travel day down to Sicily for a stout mountain stage up Mount Etna. How does all this travel affect the racing? Riders often say different things, depending on who they are speaking to — or whether it's on the record. This year, fitness wearable company Whoop is providing rider data from the race, including heart rate data during the stages and sleep data after them. Hugh Carthy (EF Education-EastPost), for instance, only got 5.5 hours of sleep on the big transfer day from Hungary to Sicily, according to Whoop. U.S. national time trial champion Lawson Craddock is racing the Giro in support of Simon Yates, who won the time trial in Budapest. Andrew Hood spoke with Craddock about racing in Hungary for an Italian stage race, as well as his thoughts on the long road ahead at the Giro. Host Ben Delaney chats with Hood from the press room on Mount Etna.

The racing was high-intensity and high-drama around the world last week, from Belgian Waffle Ride to the Tour de Romandie. What did we learn from covering these races? Ben Delaney, Betsy Welch, and Daniel Benson talk through the hot spots. Watching Lauren De Crescenzo win a stage by five minutes and the overall at the Tour of Gila while Mo Wilson won BWR by 25 minutes has us looking forward to a showdown between these two powerhouses at Unbound Gravel early next month. Speaking of Unbound, can anybody beat Keegan Swenson? Daniel was in Switzerland for Romandie, where Aleksandr Vlasov executed a TT-to-road bike swap in the final time trial, and blew past jersey-wearer Rohan Dennis to capture the overall. Are these type of stages gimmicks or legitimate racing? Dan and Ben discuss. And why was Ben hanging out of a car window at BWR? Tune in to this week's episode of the VeloNews Podcast.

Amy Charity is the driving force behind SBT GRVL, one of VeloNews' five Monuments of Gravel that exploded onto the scene in 2019 and now sells out its 3,000 spots within minutes. SBT GRVL was invited to join the UCI's new Gravel World Series, but Charity declined. On this episode of the VeloNews Podcast, Charity and host Ben Delaney discuss a variety of things, including the intersection of pro racing and recreational gravel riding, why she is happy to have SBT GRVL as an independent entity, the community of gravel race promoters, and that time she and Life Time vice president Kimo Seymour worked together racing at Unbound Gravel 200.

It was a hell of a weekend in France with Paris-Roubaix Femmes and Paris-Roubaix, and Ben Delaney and Jim Cotton discuss the highlights and lowlights of both the men's and women's races and the gear that was used to varying degrees of success. What is your favorite type of Roubaix? A wet and muddy edition, or a dry and dusty version? Ben and Jim argue about that, too.