Bikerumor Podcast

Latest Episodes:

089 - Parlee Cycles is back! Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

A little while back, Parlee Cycles filed for bankruptcy protection and seemed like another big brand suffering the consequences of the pandemic boom and bust.

But now they're back, with a new owner, new ideas, and fresh funding. My guest today is John Harrison, a long-time Parlee fan and tech turnaround guy that saw an opportunity to breathe new life into the legendary drop bar brand.

We talk about what led to Parlee's bankruptcy, what they learned from it, and more importantly where the brand is headed and what new bikes are on the horizon!

It's a great chat, and if you're a fan of the brand like I am, it's definitely a big sigh of relief to see that they're building a company that's focused on smart growth and continuing their heritage of premium bikes and forward-thinking designs.

Get the full story here:
https://www.bikerumor.com/parlee-cycles-is-back-w-new-owner-same-advanced-vision/

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088 - Moots Express carbon e-gravel bike explained Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

You may have noticed something weird that launched, something unexpected. Moots, long known for their high-end titanium bicycles surprised everyone with a carbon fiber gravel e-bike, using a frame material they've never used before, and adding a motor for the first time in their history.

I talk to Nate Bradley, Moots' president and one of the key people behind the new model, about how it came to be, why they did it, and what's next for the brand.

And, of course, we talk about those wild oversized 750D gravel wheels and tires they showed off at SBT and the MADE show.

Check out the full tech story for more photos here:
https://bikerumor.com/moots-express-carbon-e-gravel-bike/

And the 750D wheels story here:
https://bikerumor.com/new-bicycle-wheel-size-moots-prototype-750d-wheels-tires-wtb/

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087 - Shimano explains the new GRX 12-Speed Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

While at the new Shimano GRX 12-speed gravel bike group launch, we sat down with two team members responsible for helping bring it to life to talk about what's changed, what didn't (and why), and how the group has evolved to fit the needs of modern gravel riders.

We also discuss the global gravel scene's evolution, how Shimano fits into it, and plenty of tech geekery and little details.

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086 - Chris Canfield explains multi-link suspension designs Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

If you think mountain bike suspension is a mystery, you're not alone.

From kinematics to anti-squat to compression ratios, there's a lot of terminology piled on top of designs like VPP, Horst Link, CVA, DW Link.

Add CBF to that list and you have the suspension design and philosophy of Chris Canfield. He's my guest today and had been designing full suspension mountain bikes for almost 25 years.

We talk about how things work, why multi-linkage bikes work well (as well as why some maybe don't work as well as others), and we try, really hard, to explain brake jack and why braking forces negatively affect suspension performance.

And after all that, we talk about not one, but TWO new suspension patents he's working on that are truly wild, and he explains them publicly for the very first time, right here.

WANT MORE?

Find the Bikerumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Can't find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! And let us know who you want us to interview. Click that PODCAST link in the menu and send in your suggestions!

Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride!

FOLLOW BIKERUMOR

Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

FOLLOW TYLER

Like us? Love us? Follow your host, Tyler Benedict, on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

085 - How Jess Cerra launched JoJé Bar & The Last Best Ride Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

If you've ever thought you could make your own energy bar, or sports drink, or any other kind of athletic food, it's always good to hear how others have done it.

My guest today is Jess Cerra, founder of JoJe Bar, a gluten free, real food energy bar designed for endurance athletes.

She shares her startup story, telling the unlikely series of events that led to launching, building, and ultimately selling a sports nutrition brand.

We also talk a little about how her upbringing and support throughout her racing career came full circle to putting on her own event that helps fund scholarships for other girls in her community.

It's a fun story that, as a fellow entrepreneur, I love sharing to inspire you to follow your own dreams and see where they take you.

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084 - How Jenny Graham set an around-the-world record Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

A couple episodes ago, Lachlan Morton shared his plans for an around the world record attempt.

In this episode, I'm talking to someone who's actually done it.

In 2018, Jenny Graham set the women's speed record for riding 18,000 miles around the world in 124 days and 11 hours.

And she did it unsupported, without, well…we'll get to that, because the extent of her minimalism is pretty remarkable and I want you to hear it in her words.

Her story is captured in a new book called Coffee First, Then The World, and we talk about her experience documenting the ride, how she planned for it, the equipment and challenges of keeping a bike going day in and day out, overcoming the physical challenges of such an undertaking, the opportunities it's created for her, and so much more.

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083 - Parcours on aerodynamics of wide rims, gravel tires & more! Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

If you've ever wondered how tire size and rim profiles affect aerodynamics, this episode is for you!

My guest is Dov Tate, founder of Parcours Wheels, a UK brand that's been pushing the envelope on wider rims optimized around wider tires.

The story of how he got to that point, from putting 360º wind sensors low on the bike to intentionally doing wind tunnel tests without a bike frame attached to the wheels, is really cool.

We dive pretty deep on leading edge, trailing edge, optimizing for gravel tires, and a whole lot more, with stories about how he's built his company mixed in for the entrepreneurial minded among us.

There's even talk about some new wheels and where they might be headed with future product development.

WANT MORE?

Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride!

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Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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082 - Lachlan Morton is just enjoying the ride Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

If you've ever found yourself focusing so much on the outcome of a ride or race rather than the experience of the ride itself, I think you'll enjoy this conversation with Lachlan Morton.

As one of the top ultra endurance riders in the world, Lachlan's had some grand adventures, from riding the entire 2021 Tour de France route, including transfers, solo and unsupported…and beating the peloton into Paris…to racing events like Cape Epic and Unbound.

Sure, he's sponsored, and they're making content around his rides, but at the core of all of it is just enjoying the experience.

His next big adventure is an attempt to race around the world and set a new record, and we talk about all of that and more before wrapping up with some advice for anyone looking to tackle their own ultra-distance or multi-day ride.

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Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride!

FOLLOW BIKERUMOR

Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

FOLLOW TYLER

Like us? Love us? Follow your host, Tyler Benedict, on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

081 - Enduro explains Bottom Bracket bearings May 29, 2023

Show notes

I'm back with Matt Harvey from Enduro Bearings for Round Two, all about Bottom Brackets!

If you haven't listened to our first chat, I recommend it as we go so deep down the rabbit hole of bearings that it'll give you a lot to think about as you're trying to optimize your bike.

In this episode, we focus on Bottom Brackets because Enduro recently released a report that shows the results of years of testing many popular brands of BBs, but the numbers need some explaining. You'll find the charts and some interesting data below, along with a summary explanation to accompany the deeper dive in this interview.

For pics, charts, graphs, and more, check out the full show notes here:
https://www.bikerumor.com/podcast-081-enduro-explains-bottom-bracket-bearings/

WANT MORE?

Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride!

FOLLOW BIKERUMOR

Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

FOLLOW TYLER

Like us? Love us? Follow your host, Tyler Benedict, on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

080 - Alexey Vermeulen on life, gravel & riding with Willie May 18, 2023

Show notes

Alexey Vermeulen is a former pro roadie, having ridden for the BMC development team and then Lotto NL Jumbo before switching gears to gravel, where he now rides for Jukebox Print, ENVE and Shimano, among others

But you might know him better as "that guy that rides with the dog on his back".

I met Alexey at Sea Otter this year and, as I was going through the photos of his new custom ENVE MOG, I thought 'ya know, I bet he'd be a fun guy to have a conversation with'.

So here we are. We came into this interview with no agenda, but I asked him to have a story ready to start things off, and it turned out to be a great catalyst for talking about everything from why pros aren't great at teaching amateurs, finding motivation to ride or race, and some great life lessons about, well, life.

And, of course, we talk about Willie the Weiner Dog and why he started riding with his girlfriend's dog in a backpack.

WANT MORE?

Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride!

FOLLOW BIKERUMOR

Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

FOLLOW TYLER

Like us? Love us? Follow your host, Tyler Benedict, on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

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