Podcasts about road bikes

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Time to pivot to the Ardennes! By the time you listen to this, Brabantse Pijl will be wrapped up, and with it the return of Remco Evenepoel to the pro peloton. Caley and Dane are joined by Iain Treloar to put a bow on the cobbled classics and look ahead to the hilly one-days coming up. Plus Iain brings news of a new scam on the Internet. 

Welcome back to Geek Warning. It's been a big few weeks for the cycling world, with the Classics and the Sea Otter Classic sharing a weekend.Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome kick off the show chatting Roubaix tech, including some hacked derailleurs and questionable measurements. Then they chat about Colnago's latest race bike.Dave then jumps on with US tech editor Josh Weinberg to talk all things Sea Otter, including some of the bigger tech news. Plus, there's a beginner's guide to why many in the industry are seemingly obsessed with gearboxes in place of the old derailleur.All of those chats are based loosely on content already published on Escape Collective. So check out the Tech section of the website in order to see more on all of these things.The episode wraps with our usual Ask a Wrench segment with pro race mechanic Brad Copeland. As a reminder, you'll need to be a member of Escape Collective (go here) in order to access this popular segment of the podcast. Members can submit new questions here.Time stamps:1:30 - We told you so corner and Roubaix tyres6:40 - 13-speed shifting taken to 12 and what tells of SRAM road of the future17:30 - UCI is measuring things. Why?25:20 - Colnago's new V5RS33:30 - Sea Otter is a Classic39:00 - The rise of the gearbox47:30 - Upside-down suspension returns53:00 - Sea Otter big and small finds (Qvist, Continental, Vittoria, Abbey Bike Tools, Terravail, mini inflators, and much more)1:08:00 - Stromm's new aero road bike1:13:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only)1:17:00 - Upgrading bolts, where and where not1:26:00 - SRAM Transmission on a non-Boost bike1:35:00 - Wheels taking on water

Caley, Ronan and Jonny come to you live from the Roubaix velodrome to break down the action and discuss the long-term narrative implications for what was a day out on the cobbles of northern France that will live long in the memory.

The Spin Cycle crew talks Paris-Roubaix. Caley Fretz, Jonny Long, Dane Cash, Ronan Mc Laughlin, and Zac Williams discuss all the storylines and field a few member questions ahead of the big race in front of a live audience in Kortrijk, Belgium.

Welcome back to Geek Warning! The podcast that puts all the most interesting cycling tech and advice into one place.Before you tune in to the latest episode, it's worth noting that the geeks often record a few days before an episode drops. In any normal week that's no problem, but it's been far from a normal week. In this episode Ronan McLaughlin, Suvi Loponen, and Dave Rome chat about the impact of tariffs on the cycling industry - many of which have been put on hold in the time between recording and publishing. Still, some discussed themes are likely to become true.On a happier note it's the week of the Sea Otter Classic in California. Recent years have seen this event organically become the industry tradeshow for the North American market, and with that, you can bet there are always plenty of new things to see. The geeks discuss some of the bigger announcements leading into the event.Lastly, the episode wraps up with our Ask a Wrench segment featuring pro-race mechanic Brad Copeland. As a reminder, you'll need to be a member of Escape Collective (go here) in order to access this popular segment of the podcast. Members can submit new questions here.Time stamps:2:20 - Extra info corner and 40 mm road tyres5:00 - Tariff fears and a potential benefiting sector18:00 - A PSA for that bike used on an indoor trainer24:00 - Sea Otter Classic is here, and oh so much new tech25:00 - New Allied Able gravel bike26:30 - Niner ORE 9 RDO29:50 - Zwift's big updates37:20 - Wahoo's new head units and a Radar40:00 - Optis, an inflatable tyre insert42:10 - DT Swiss 350 DEG44:30 - Maxxis revamps entire gravel tyre range46:15 - Cadex joins the 3D printed saddle game48:10 - TPU Tube Sealant?!50:30 - OneUp updates its carbon bar and a short tangent54:10 - Fizik's entry into helmets57:00 - Ask a Wrench time (Member only)1:00:00 - Longevity of Campagnolo gear cables1:07:20 - Disc brake pad compounds1:14:00 - Burning off oils from disc rotors1:18:00 - Glitter and tyre sealants

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Flanders is the best of bike racing, and Sunday did not disappoint. Caley, Jonny, and Dane sit down in Oudenaarde's old square to discuss Pogačar's villain arc, Kopecky's biceps, and how there was very little anybody could do about today's outcomes. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.The crew is back in Belgium! Caley, Jonny, Dane, and special guest Nick are on the streets of Ghent and focused on De Ronde, the Tour of Flanders coming on Sunday. They break down the two key protagonists and who might upset the apple cart, plus bring a healthy dose of Belgian flavor throughout. Then, a look a the shrinking podiums in mountain bike racing and what the racers are doing about it and what Visma should have done about the strawberry in their Mustard. 

Paris-Roubaix is just around the corner and the geeks have been pondering just how wide we'll see the tyres of the pros go. Some studies have shown that 40s are fastest, but as you'll hear from Ronan, the testing he's currently in the thick of is showing otherwise.You'll also hear Dave Rome, Ronan Mc Laughlin, and Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) discuss some of the new interesting groupsets coming from Chinese manufacturers and what it may take for them to break through into the mainstream market. Plus, there's plenty of new tech to discuss, including the new RockShox Reverb AXS dropper and some interesting industry news.Finally, the episode wraps up with our Ask a Wrench segment featuring pro-race mechanic Brad Copeland. As a reminder, you'll need to be a member of Escape Collective in order to access this popular segment of the podcast.Enjoy!Time stamps:2:15 - The widest tyre we'll see at Roubaix?23:15 - Taipei Cycle Show and lower-cost drivetrain competition33:20 - refreshed eeWings from CaneCreek35:10 - RockShox Reverb AXS dropper38:15 - SRAM ‘cybersecurity' issue39:45 - Brose bicycle acquired by Yamaha41:40 - Velo gets a recycling partner in SRAM42:50 - One April Fools that got us chuckling46:00 - CyclingSpy now on Escape52:00 - Ask a Wrench - Member Only53:30 - A mystery click in the front end1:01:15 - The best cycling tool for persuasion1:05:00 - Cutting steerer tubes and the impact on resale value1:12:00 - A detailed conversation on tight XD/XDR cassette sleeves (plus related tools)

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.This week on Spin Cycle: Mathieu van der Poel got spit on, a Belgian rider got stuck in his hotel room, and Kit thinks Mads Pedersen is going to win Flanders. Plus the crew discuss E3, Gent-Wevelgem, Fabio Jakobsen's surgery, and extra team in the Ground Tours, and look ahead to Holy Week. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Tadej Pogačar is officially heading to Paris-Roubaix. What do we think? Can he win? Is it all a secret ploy to get Nils Politt across the line first? Probably not. Caley, Jonny, and Dane discuss the biggest news of the week (anything Pogačar does, obviously) and then question WTF was happening with all the crashes at Brugge de Panne, look into the extra wildcard teams that might be racing Grand Tours this season, and salute Caleb Ewan getting an early win in Ineos colors. Plus much more, of course. 

Our podcast episodes are a little like our own children, of course, we love them all. However, maybe, just maybe, some are loved a little more than others. This episode is a good one.Tune in as the regular crew of Ronan, Dave, and Zach chat about the growing world of tyre pressure calculators and whether electronic shifting has made frame designers lazy. Meanwhile, the public service announcement relates to counterfeit products and it's a big one that we're sure to return to in future.With the Taipei Cycle Show on we're seeing a flurry of new products to discuss, including a few new fun bikes.Finally, members of Escape Collective (go here) get another edition of Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland. Here, the geeks answer a few interesting questions, with a whole lot of detail related to bike setup for long gravel events.If you liked this episode, then please give it a share with some like-minded riding friends.Time stamps:1:30 - Vittoria's new tyre pressure app and wider category thoughts14:00 - On Dave's mind is frame limitation in mechanical groupset selection29:45 - a PSA to not buy your big name product from sketchy sources36:00 - Big new things from SRAM, which we've covered elsewhere37:30 - Bendy road ahead for Komoot39:00 - Bianchi celebrates 140 years41:00 - Fox's new 36 SL and where it sits42:45 - Tern updates the GSD43:30 - Giant's first bike with a recycled composite frame50:30 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (member-only from this point)54:00 - Ask a Wrench: Prepping a bike for performance at Unbound 2001:10:00 - Ask a Wrench: Chainline confusion1:17:00 - Ask a Wrench: Fixing peeling decals

Oh yes, we're in the thick of product launch season, and we're keeping focused on the most interesting stuff. SRAM has just overhauled its more budget-conscious mountain bike drivetrains, and they share much in common with the premium Transmission AXS. Except, they have a cable.Plus, at least on the mountain bike side, SRAM has gone all-in on mineral oil brakes. It's a huge change for a company that's spent more than 15 years promoting the benefits of DOT fluid.To hear and learn all about the product, SRAM lent us a few of its product managers and engineers without the public relation adults in the room.Of course, we have full and detailed write-ups on Escape Collective. There's some overlap between this podcast and the writing, but you'll find plenty of unique information in each.It's also worth reminding that Escape Collective is wholly funded by its members, and so this isn't paid for, sponsored, or partnership content. It's just a geeky chat that felt appropriate for the Geek Warning podcast. Those on the Escape Collective member feeds will get a bonus section at the end with Dave and Josh covering a few elements that SRAM didn't want to discuss, along with some early ride thoughts.Enjoy!Time stamps:1:00 - Meet the guests4:00 - An intro to Eagle 70 and 909:00 - Was SRAM all-in on electronic at a point?11:20 - Cross-compatibility in Transmission and why mechanical is only a price point option18:00 - Set up26:00 - Cable routing basics37:30 - What about bikes without a UDH?39:00 - Shift speed things46:30 - A fully rebuildable derailleur50:00 - Time for brakes and a move to mineral oil58:30 - Explaining the new brake range1:03:00 - The Motive brake1:07:30 - Are there tuning guides for these brakes?1:10:00 - Brake set up tips1:20:00 - Josh and Dave share their thoughts of Eagle 90 (member-only)1:34:00 - Thoughts on the Motive brakes and a crystal ball moment (member-only) 

He's Ganna Poel up the Pog-gio! And other Milan-San Remo puns. How good was that weekend of bike racing? This week's Spin Cycle kicks off looking at Pogačar's team tactics in light of a behind-the-scenes video that dropped after the race. Things seemed to go mostly to plan, but did they? Then, why can't cycling have more races like MSR? How do you build proper launchpads? We have some ideas. Plus, Mads Pedersen's gut is not a place you want to be,  the UCI Track Champions League bit the dust, Marc Madiot thinks France is best, and Vingegaard is back riding again. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Two Milan-San Remos for the price of one? Sign us up. This week's Spin Cycle previews the best 15 minutes in bike racing, the finale of Milan-San Remo, and makes some guesses about the return of the women's MSR for the first time in 20 years. But first, we dive headlong into the UCI's hatred of nipples, some strange man management at Cofidis, the Tours de France coming back to the UK, and the potential for a new stage race in Colorado. 

Why do so many road bikes with endurance geometry have unique selling added features that wouldn't fly in more performance-oriented bikes? That's the big question that Ronan, Dave, and Zach discuss in this week's episode of Geek Warning.Plus, you'll hear a useful PSA for those who use newer road pedals. Dave then rings up new Escape recruit Josh Weinberg to discuss the latest in road, gravel, and cross-country mountain bike tech – including Fox's new 34 SL fork release (something we've also covered in writing).The episode closes with the usual answering of member-submitted technical questions. However, for this last section, you will need to be a member of Escape Collective and either logged into the member-only podcast feed or via our Podcast page (again, logged in members only).Thanks for listening! And if you like it, please consider sending it to a fellow tech-loving cyclist.Time stamps:1:40 - Corrections Corner2:45 - On Our Minds: Unique selling features that actually don't help sell bikes22:00 - PSA: Composite-bodied road pedals are a wear item25:00 - Introducing Josh and chatting Mid-South gravel tech28:30 - Teravail has a whole wheel-system31:20 - Chris King launches its own alloy wheelset34:00 - Fox releases the new 34 SL fork39:00 - Fox's new all-in-one remote lever41:55 - LiteSpeed's new impressively lightweight road frame45:25 - Ask a Wrench (member-feed only)47:00 - A mystery and isolated leaking brake lever (member-feed only)54:00 - Good and bad of solid polymer bearings (member-feed only)1:01:00 - How to deal with a stuck tubeless valve (member-feed only)

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.This week on Spin Cycle: Caley, Jonny, and Kit dive into Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, discussing Sunday's dominant American duo, big boys who are good at climbing, and Ineos' new lease on life. Plus a bit of transfer speculation (Ayuso to Movistar anyone?) and the things on Patrick Lefevere's banned list. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.We're in the thick of it. Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, rain, snow, riders warming hands on motorcycle exhaust manifolds, Jonas Vingegaard falling down. Caley, Jonny, and Dane break it all down on this week's Spin Cycle. Plus, is David Gaudu the baddie? 

What do matching bike fits and cordless air tools have in common? Truthfully, very little, but you'll hear them both discussed in this week's episode of Geek Warning.Join Ronan Mc Laughlin, Dave Rome, and Zach Edwards as they discuss these topics on their minds, plus share the latest in tech.Listeners on our free feed will get a whole hour, meanwhile members of Escape Collective get treated to an extra geeky 30 minutes with Dave Rome and pro race mechanic Brad Copeland answering listener questions.Time stamps:3:30 - Our methods, tips, and tools for matching fit between bikes25:00 - On our mind: Air powered tools versus an air compressor39:40 - PSA: Don't forget your computer mount42:00 - Cannondale's new Topstone45:20 - Vittoria has a 29 mm road tyre just for wide rims50:10 - Specialized has a busy week of new tyres51:45 - Ari's new Signal Peak 3.0 cross-country bike53:30 - State Bicycle's budget Carbon All-Road59:39 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland1:03:00 - Repairing bikes for friends (member-only)1:10:30 - Do jockey pulley wheels have a direction? (member-only)1:18:15 - Is there a benefit to warming a chain? (member-only)1:25:30 - Tips for removing frayed cables from shifters (member-only)

It was an idea teased in a previous episode of the Geek Warning podcast, and we've finally done it! Welcome to a pilot episode of In for Review – a special and approximately-monthly edition of Geek Warning that chats about some of the bikes and products we're actively testing, the things on our minds related to those products, and the tangents that follow.This episode is entirely free for all to hear, but the upcoming content that we discuss will largely be exclusive to members of Escape Collective.This was a first draft, and we already have ideas for making it better. Still, we're all ears if you have ideas, praise, or criticism.Time stamps:1:20 - The new Scott Addict Ultimate and Schwalbe Aerothan tyres10:20 - Another Scott as Ronan is wrapping up the Foil15:00 - Testing the Enve MOG through a Scottish winter21:00 - Tangent into swapping between dropbar shifter brands24:00 - Swapping between bikes27:30 - Suvi is down the Rear Radar rabbit hole37:40 - Fizik's custom 3D printed saddle49:15 - Ronan is trying to find a shoe he actually likes53:00 - Just a pure shameless plug from Ronan58:30 - Dave's heaviest delivery in recent memory

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Ineos might get a co-sponsor? Yep. Reporter Chris Marshall Bell brings us an exclusive - TotalEnergies, which currently sponsors a French Pro Team, is in talks with the British squad to come on as a co-title sponsor. Negotiations have been ongoing for months, and while not confirmed, it could mean TotalEnergies invests 10 to 15 million euros into Ineos. Read about it here. Then, of course, we have to dive into Strade Bianche. How did Tadej Pogačar's expensive watch fare in his crash? Does Caley have some news about Pogi's Roubaix participation? (Yes). Finally, the crew discuss Bradley Wiggin's comments on Dave Brailsford, the Saudi PIF and its sponsorship of the Giro d'Italia, and the latest on how to watch pro cycling (or not, as it were) in the UK. 

Tadej Pogačar is going to Roubaix? Maybe for real this time? We can only dream. On this Strade Bianche Eve, the Spin Cycle crew cheers the news that the Tour de France Femmes may be headed to Yorkshire and discusses how Mathieu van der Poel toyed with the peloton before taking a moment to thoroughly enjoy Peter Sagan dancing on TV. Plus, everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's Strade Bianche and a look at the two stage races, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, kicking off this week. 

It's a geek-packed episode as senior tech editors Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, plus Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) discuss the week in tech.Ronan ponders the real highs and lows of Lidl-Trek experimenting with SRAM XPLR 1x13 drivetrains in road races. There's a skeptical point of view to integrated pressure sensors in tubeless wheels. And the geeks discuss the importance of Trail figures in geometry, and why it's oddly not provided by all brands – a topic Ronan was inspired to put into writing, too (coming soon).It had been a few weeks since the last PSA, and Dave has one related to common noises. And we've got a wrap of some fresh product news.As per usual, the episode ends with our Ask a Wrench segment that sees pro race mechanic Brad Copeland and Dave Rome answer a few member-submitted tech questions. It's something you'll need to logged into our member-feed of the podcast to hear.Time stamps:1:40 - Lidl-Trek using a 1x gravel groupset13:00 - Zipp playing with integrated pressure sensors21:10 - Where are all the trail figures and fork rakes?30:50 - PSA on easily solved bike noises31:10 - Continental's new Gran Prix TR tyre42:00 - OneUp's little pedal fumble43:30 - Industry9's new Hydra2 hub47:50 - Velocio's new high-riding hydration pack49:35 - Hammerhead Karoo gets its own “native extension” library plus a tangent on computers.58:30 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (members-only)1:00:00 - A further tip for comparing chain wear between riding disciplines (members-only)1:01:05 - Plugs and repairing tubeless tyres (members-only)1:06:10 - Speeding up the drying process of drip wax (members-only)1:10:00 - A complement for a previous answer - the advice worked (members-only)1:12:30 - Squealing Shimano brakes strike again (members-only)

Welcome back to Spin Cycle! We kick things off by diving headfirst into the opening weekend of the classics: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.First up, Omloop. What a weird day of racing, especially from the women's peloton. How and why did FDJ and SD Worx let the break get 15 minutes? It was a game of chicken where everyone ended up as a chicken. In the men's race, the surprise came in the finale as small groups came back together, which they don't usually do, resulting in a bigger bunch sprint than we've seen in years. At least a lovely old lady got her Arnaud de Lie moment. At Kuurne, Kaden Groves got a yellow card and Jasper Philipsen was fastest. Is Caley's Jonathan Milan draft pick already looking foolish? At Tour du Rwanda, the final stage was cancelled due to bad conditions. Not a great sign ahead of the planned World Championships later this year.Finally, we like to end the show on a high note, so last up is the news that the 2027 Tour de France might start in the UK. Jonny is ecstatic. 

This week's Spin Cycle podcast opens with the news that Rabobank is returning as a sponsor for Visma-Lease a Bike, like a salmon returning a once-polluted river. Rabobank's history in the sport is long and somewhat sordid, and their departure due to doping scandals felt final. Well, now they're back. What does that mean? Then Caley, Jonny, and Dane preview the upcoming Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne races, analyzing route changes, potential contenders like Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock, and the "Omloop curse." We touch on UAE's classics team and possible favorites for the races. Finally, we head into corrections corner. 

In this special episode, we chat with Ultra-Distance specialist Kevin Benky Benkenstein on his bike and gear selections for a recent race across the Moroccan Atlas Mountain Range. That big ride is the Atlas Mountain Race (AMR), a beast of a ride that covers some 1,300 km with 23,000 m of elevation. It covers every surface imaginable, and both rider and bike are tested thoroughly in the little over four days that it took him to complete (good enough for a tied third-place finish in the men's).Designed to accompany an article that Kevin wrote for Escape Collective, this chat covers why a full-suspension frame ended up being the pick, why such trail-focussed tyres were selected, drivetrain choices, and plenty of geeky insight.Enjoy! Oh, and don't forget to check out escapecollective.com for the full write-up (or at least to see some photos).

Why don't you see much wind tunnel-based testing on Escape Collective? It's something the geeks are forever discussing internally, and in this week's episode, they discuss some of the difficulties in getting such testing to provide truly useful results.You'll also hear Ronan McLaughlin, Dave Rome, and Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) cover the latest news in the world of cycling tech, including a recent high-profile wheel failure, Canyon's new customisation program, and BMC's latest recall.Members of Escape Collective get an extra 20 minutes in the form of Ask a Wrench. This week the geeks answer questions about converting a bike for triathlon, why chains wear more rapidly on mountain bikes, and silencing a certan type of creaky seatpost.Enjoy!Time stamps:4:20 - Chris Froome's wheel failure9:15 - Canyon's new customisation program15:55 - On Ronan's Mind: Quantitative testing making bikes worse33:20 - BMC recalls the Kaius gravel bike39:30 - Nukeproof returns41:45 - Ask a Wrench: a first triathlon (member-only)48:55 - Rapid chain wear on MTB (member-only)53:25 - Fixing a creaking Canyon/Ergon seatpost and our thoughts on carbon pastes (member-only)

It's a massive Spin Cycle show this week because we have something special: our 2025 Men's Pro Cycling Draft! Your favorite Spin Cycle podders, plus one member standing in for all the rest of you, pick their teams for the coming season. The first part of the show is your standard fare - discussion of the two best GC riders in the world and how they fared at their respective early-season stage races, plus an unfortunate trip to Crash Courtyard, where Chris Froome is waiting. 

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.Today on Spin Cycle: Caley, Jonny, and Dane dive into the Algarve Poop Show, alternative race endings, and the curious case of Mou. Then, we head back to Ratcliffe Row with the help of a very handy compass.

The derailleur looks set to continue ruling the roost, but the increased attention to gearboxes is one to watch. In this week's shorter-than-usual episode, the geeks chat about Fox Factory's recently approved patent in the space.You'll also hear some early speculation about Fizik's entry into helmets, some new EU-based helmets standard inbound, and what our go-to tubeless tyre sealants are.Tech reporter Alex Hunt just wrapped up a big feature on big shoes, and the geeks give a basic overview of that.Finally, members of Escape Collective (if on the member-only feeds) will be privy to the Ask a Wrench segment that, this week, chats tyre width selection for crit racing and how to best switch disc brake pad compounds.All that and more in this week's Geek Warning. Enjoy!Time stamps:1:55 - Fizik is getting into helmets4:22 - Explaining why things are a bit quiet on the tech front5:20 - Fox Factory gets a patent approved for a gearbox9:50 - On our minds is shoe width18:00 - Silca's new Ultimate tyre sealant, plus our picks24:00 - A farewell to Matt Opperman25:30 - New helmet standards inbound in Europe29:00 - Ask a Wrench: picking a width of new road race tyres35:40 - Ask a Wrench: Brake pad compound switching

PFAS – also known as “forever chemicals” – are in everything from waterproof jackets to chain lubes and electronics. They're praised for their stain, friction, and water resistant properties but notorious for their environmental and health risks. These chemicals never break down, accumulating in water, soil, and even our bodies.As regulations restricting the use of PFAS roll in, the cycling industry is facing a dilemma: how can brands replace the chemicals that have been used in nearly every part of the supply chain? Is something called “PFAS-free” even possible to achieve? And is the performance going to downgrade as a result?In this episode, we cover the challenges of going PFAS-free, the trade-offs in performance, what the upcoming regulations mean and why some brands are moving faster than others to eliminate the forever chemicals.

The Spanish Strade Bianche, Clásica Jaén, needs a premium Sunday time slot. The race has only been around since 2022 but is already one of our favourites, and a rider favourite too. This week on the show, Caley, Kit, and Jonny discuss how to create new races properly, how not to set up a sprint (maybe no speed bumps), and Geraint Thomas' unsurprising announcement that this will be his last season. Plus, Alejandro Valverde's refusal to stop racing. And lots more, of course. 

This week, Caley, Dane, and Jonny discuss Netflix Unchained's cancellation, the troubles of Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS sports empire, and sprinters going head-to-head in the Middle East. Did Unchained work? Is Jim Ratcliffe bad at sports? He is in legal disputes, has pulled sponsorships, and cut jobs. The INEOS group was downgraded due to high debt. Things are bad. What's up at the Tour of Oman, where jerseys are being zipped and others unzipped? Finally, we discuss the UAE Tour, which will feature top sprinters. Tadej Pogačar will be there too. Excitement brims. 

It's a new week and that means a new episode of the Geek Warning podcast. This week you'll hear Suvi Loponen and Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) join Dave Rome in covering the big tech topics of the week.You'll get a beginner's guide to PFAS (forever chemicals) and why you should care. Thoughts are shared on the new Cannondale SuperX gravel race bike. And a widespread leak teases new full wireless from Shimano.There's something silly on Dave's mind, and then the geeks wrap up the remaining tech news of the week.Finally, and as usual, the episode wraps with Brad Copeland, Zach, and Dave answering mechanic-related questions from Escape's members – including a tangent into our favourite shift cables. As a reminder, Ask a Wrench is now exclusively available on our members-only podcast feed. Head to escapecollective.com/member in order to hear the full episode.Time stamps:2:00 - PFAS' and why you should be aware13:55 - Cannondale's SuperX returns, now more gravel23:45 - Next generation of Di2 appears to be truly wireless27:05 - Dave thinks the white off-road shoe trend won't last32:00 - iceBike, a trade show from a single distributor36:35 - TrainerRoad training programs now work in Zwift3730 - A new tool from Enduro Bearings38:40 - Berd collabs with HED on a road wheel41;30 - Garbaruk teases its entry into wheels43:50 - Pivot joins the lifetime bearing replacement policy club48:00 - Removing dried tyre sealant from inside of a tyre (member-only feed)53:05 - Diagnosing SRAM AXS battery and derailleur issues (member-only feed)59:00 - Cable routing for Shimano mechanical 11-speed and our favourite cables

Ok, ok, Pogačar is probably not going to Paris-Roubaix. But what if he is? WHAT IF?! Wouldn't it be glorious? This week's Spin Cycle tackles this cobbled hypothetical, discusses the use of time trial helmets in road race, and has a look at how the sprinters are doing so far this season. Plus lots more, of course. 

In this week's episode of Spin Cycle, Jonny Long breaks down his plan for the future of pro road cycling. National teams, a Classics Cup, a draft, and more. It's big, it's bold, it's almost certainly impossible, but it's a lot of fun to talk about.Plus, Thibau Nys and Mathieu van der Poel are going skiing, teams have to go to more races, and Tom Pidcock is a bit cheap. 

This week on The Geek Warning podcast, join Ronan McLaughlin, Zach Edwards, and Dave Rome as they discuss the latest happenings in the world of cycling tech.The geeks cover what is believed to be the first win for tubeless in a cyclocross World Championship. There's a UCI rider survey circling that strongly points to a few technical changes being considered. An approved patent and many rumours point to new SRAM Transmission mechanical coming soon. And there's a new headset that claims to solve for cable routing woes, but we're not so sure.Plus, there's something mechanic-related on Ronan's mind, a few little bits of news, and of course, Ask a Wrench (now with the addition of Zach, joining Brad Copeland).As a reminder, Ask a Wrench is now exclusively available on our members-only podcast feed. Head to escapecollective.com/member in order to hear the full episodes.Time stamps:1:20 - Corrections Corner on Shimano CUES2:11 - Zoe Backstedt's CX win on tubeless10:20 - UCI's new “Safer Group” rider survey19:30 - SRAM Transmission looks to be going mechanical26:20 - Easy Bike Parts' solution (or is it?) to headset cable routing30:15 - On our minds are angry mechanics on social media39:40 - US government changes mean you should hold off on some overseas orders43:25 - MADE Bike Shows, dated announced43:50 - Welcoming Josh Weinberg to Escape Collective44:48 - Bianchi's new TT bike47:50 - Ask a Wrench (member-only) about storing tyres53:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only), more about bottom bracket plastic top-hats1:01:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only), switching chain lubes for cleaning running

The world's fastest bike might have just been made by a brand you have never heard about. Crazy increases to the price of watching pro sports and we fight about endurance bikes.

Head to Escapecollective.com/member to sign up today.On this week's Spin Cycle: Carbon monoxide inhalation has been banned, a beef with another podcast (these two are related), cyclocross worlds happened, and Lenny Martinez may have made a mistake. Plus lots more besides. 

We just want to watch cycling on TV for a reasonable price. Is that too much to ask? Caley, Jonny, and Dane kick off the show with a discussion of the new unfortunate and expensive reality for anybody trying to watch bike racing in the UK. How exactly do these rights work and what do major players like ASO think about it all? Should we start doing VPN affiliate links? Then, back to Pidcock Paddock, which is already filling with new silverware. Plus, Ritchey lost its rainbows and Rigoberto Uran still can't play ball sports. 

Oh hi, welcome back to Geek Warning!There are some things to tell this week. We've had a number of changes to the pod over the past few months (sorry!), and we've got a few more to share.Ask a Wrench, which sits at the end of our episodes, is now members-only. That means you'll need to be on our member podcast feed to hear that extra part of the podcast. Meanwhile, the first hour of goodness is free for all.Additionally, you'll still hear from UK-based tech writers Suvi Loponen and Alex Hunt on occasion, just not every episode. Suvi will soon begin on a new podcast series that investigates industry-related topics. Meanwhile, you'll also hear Alex and Suvi on an upcoming and recurring special episode where we'll catch up on the bikes and gear we've been testing.With all that said, jump on in to hear Dave Rome, Ronan McLaughlin, and the return of Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto). Also, Brad Copeland is present at the end to answer some of your Ask a Wrench questions.The episode itself is jam-packed. The geeks offer their opinions on what the UCI's relaxed equipment ruling from four years ago are doing to bikes of today and tomorrow. They cover the details of new Shimano CUES. And talk about the realities in the durability of modern road pedals. Plus a whole lot more…Time stamps:0:00 - Changes are happening2:30 - The impact of the UCI's relaxed rules from 202119:45 - New Shimano CUES and ESSA for dropbar bikes31:00 - On our mind: Pedals should be serviceable41:35 - Ritchey ditches the World Champ rainbow46:20 - QO cranks, from the founders of Rotor48:05 - Wolf Tooth's EnCase mini pump line49:10 - A bad week for smartwatch users52:20 - CeramicSpeed has a new tool for (DUB) crank removal55:20 - State's new 4130 All-Road is very cheap57:42 - Biggest tech news for the week comes from Chris King (spoiler, it's a coffee tamper).59:22 - Tangent into our favourite tool-related bottle openers1:01:00 - Switch to the Member-Only feed if you want Ask a Wrench!1:05:00 - Modern drivetrain compatibility leading to road and MTB gravel (recorded a week before the CUES announcement, oops)1:11:00 - Sweating tubeless tyres and what to do about it.1:17:00 - Disc brake performance and bed-in when using multiple wheelsets, plus a dive into bed-in procedure.

Is the pro cycling calendar an all-you-can-eat buffet? Jonny Long thinks so. Caley Fretz just wants to go to a normal restaurant, and will certainly avoid the bucket of shrimps. This week's episode kicks off with an update on the various new and interesting ways Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have managed to trip over themselves. Then, Kit Nicholson provides the penultimate sincere cyclocross update of the year. Plus, Caley and Jonny have apologies to issue and there's Tour Down Under to discuss. 

At the 2024 edition of the Tour Down Under, Ronan Mc Laughlin was joined by aerodynamicist JP Ballard as they walked through the pits to talk about the aero hits and misses within the latest bikes of the WorldTour. For 2025 we're back with something of a similar theme.This time Dave Rome is joined by the Head of Aerodynamics at South Australian Sports Institute (SASI), John Pitman.Now, with access to a wind tunnel he oversees (a story we aim to share soon), Pitman takes a stroll through the pits, talking about general aero themes, the effectiveness of design flourishes, and other random things seen.Normally, this type of episode would be exclusive to members of Escape Collective, but instead, we're keeping things open to give you a taste of the sort of content you may be missing out on. If you like this episode, and if you haven't already, then please consider becoming a member of Escape Collective. Similarly, please share it with a friend who may enjoy it.

Sign up for Escape Collective today at escapecollective.comThis week's Spin Cycle podcast kicks off with Caleb Ewan's transfer to Ineos Grenadiers after mysteriously disappearing from Jayco's website weeks ago. Then we discuss Danny Van Poppel's yellow card for blocking at the Tour Down Under, and consider whether the yellow card system adequately penalizes dangerous riding. New feed zone rules are in effect, will we see more hunger knocks? In other news, Mark Cavendish has posted a very detailed photo of his lip, Rigoberto Uran is probably not going to be a pro soccer player, and Akrea-B&B might be in trouble. 

Hey Geeks! With the 2025 WorldTour kicking off in Australia, this episode dives straight into the bikes (and bits of tech) that caught our eyes, whether for the right or wrong reasons.The cast of Dave, Suvi, Ronan, and Alex discuss the recently leaked SRAM Force update and the ethical dilemma in covering such an unreleased product. And of course, there's plenty more new things discussed, too.Toward the end you'll find the usual Ask a Wrench where Dave is joined by pro race mechanic Brad Copeland to answer member-submitted questions. All this and more in this week's episode.Also, keep an eye out for a bonus episode of the Geek Warning podcast, where Dave Rome goes for a walk through the mechanic pits at the Tour Down Under with aerodynamics expert John Pitman. Unlike most of our bonus episodes, this one will be free to all. Please give it a share if you like it.Timestamps:1:16 - On Our Minds: Winners and Losers of the 2025 World Tour Peloton Bikes38:00 - SRAM Force leak and its impact on the bike market44:08 - Lapierre recalls some road models45:00 - Rouvy Acquires Fulgaz47:50 - Classified releases a crank and expands cassette options for SRAM50:40 - Formula Cura road calipers52:12 - Pashley's all-road bikes54:36 - 4iiii factory expansion55:00 - Ask a Wrench: Getting better longevity from an oil-based lube1:02:00 - Ask a Wrench: Slipping D-shaped seatpost woes1:07:50 - Ask a Wrench: Shimano GRX 12-speed braking and compatibility1:17:21 - Escapecollective.com content highlights1:21:19 - Outro

Ronan, Kit, and Abby join Jonny to discuss Jonas Vingegaard's recent, slightly explosive comments that other teams are using carbon monoxide for performance gains (if only someone else had reported that could be a possibility ey, Ronan) while Visma-Lease a Bike also officially decommission its Control Van.Elsewhere, Abby talks us through a surprising women's edition of the Tour Down Under, while Matt is on the ground for us in Adelaide at both TDUs to set the scene for us.Finally, we react to the news Ineos Grenadiers are looking for another sponsor in January, which doesn't seem to bode too well for the British team, and there's something funny going on with the Paris Olympics' medals.

Sign up for Escape Collective today at escapecollective.comWelcome back to Spin Cycle, your twice-weekly dose of the biggest stories in cycling. Now on Fridays too!In this episode, we dive into the swirling rumors around the Tour de France potentially incorporating the iconic Montmartre climb into the final stage. Could this shake up the iconic Champs-Élysées sprint finish? Or would it just be window dressing? Next, Richard Plugge has responded to criticism of his One Cycling project. We dissect his arguments, examine the potential impact on traditional races, and discuss whether this radical new format could truly revolutionize the sport.Also in the show: Rigoberto Uran's surprising foray into professional football, the bizarre Giro d'Italia route presentation, and RCS's demands for star riders in exchange for wildcard entries. Tune in for all the latest news, analysis, and, as always, our signature dose of Friday vibes.

In this week's Geek Warning, the tech team — Dave Rome, Alex Hunt, Ronan McLaughlin, and Suvi Loponen — explore AI's role in cycling tech, from training and design to marketing, while questioning even is truly “AI” and what's just advanced machine learning – or marketing. Whether we're all sick of hearing about it or think it has a place in some applications, you'll find out.As the off-season is over (and keeps Dave busy at TDU), it seems we're starting to see more and more new tech drops. This week, the geeks talk through new pedals from OneUp, short cranks from RaceFace, as well as new bikes from Giant and Liv, Stinner, Basso, and Chapter2. There's also chat about some more industry headwinds that have affected REI and Raleigh.And as usual, Brad Copeland joins the pod to answer a few wrenching questions from Escape members with Dave.Maybe it's the Christmas break effect still and we've got a lot of chat in us, but like last week, this episode is longer than usual, but we hope you enjoy it nevertheless.Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.Time stamps:2:40 – On Our Minds: What is AI anyway – and is it being unleashed in the cycling tech?23:50 – Not a Pick One but info on a new Collective Favourites series24:55 – Cycling industry news from REI and Raleigh28:15 – OneUp clip pedal31:15 – New 160mm cranks from RaceFace32:15 – Wolf Tooth tyre pressure app update34:12 – The Cool Bottle36:45 – New Giant Trinity and Liv Avow TT/triathlon bikes42:15 – New Basso SV45:46 – Chapter2 Rira bike47:25 – Stinner Refugio Select adventure bike49:30 – Ask a Wrench with Dave & Brad01:19:00 – Outro

Sign up for Escape Collective today at escapecollective.comSpin Cycle, now earlier in the week! This episode dives into the Australian Nationals, focusing on the win by Luke Durbridge and the strategic role of Luke Plapp. Caley, Jonny, and Kit examine the unusual situation surrounding Caleb Ewan's contract with Jayco Alula and what we hear is going on behind the scenes.Also on the docket: Upcoming races like the Tour Down Under, Jonas Vingegaard's potential participation in the World Championships in Rwanda, the retirement of some notable riders, and another trip to Pidcock Paddock. Finally, the episode touches upon Peter Sagan's foray into Slovakian reality television and Tom Dumoulin's impressive half-marathon times.

This episode of Spin Cycle kicks off with a discussion of One Cycling, a controversial proposal to restructure professional cycling with financial backing from Saudi Arabia. The hosts and guest reporter Chris Marshall Bell debate the project, considering the perspectives of teams, fans, and race organizers like ASO.Then, Kit and Jonny provide cyclocross updates of varying earnestness. And finally, Ronan bats back some of the recent proposals to make cycling safer. 

Tadej Pogačar wins Roubaix? Demi Vollering wins two Grand Tours? Aero bikes will come back with a Vengeance? (See what we did there?) The Spin Cycle crew sit down to make some bold predictions for 2025. Who will be most wrong?