Bikerumor Podcast

Latest Episodes:

069 - What’s Crank Brothers up to after 25 years? Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

As a brand, there are few that have created such iconic products as Crank Brothers, and have weathered the ups and downs of both market conditions and brand reputation. But now, in 2022, they’re celebrating 25 years in business.

So, I sat down with CEO Gaspare Licata to talk about how the company got here, how they turned things around in the mid-2010s, how some of their more recent products came about, and where they’re headed in the future.

If you’re a fan of the brand, as I am, or just geek out on how the bike industry and product design works, you’re going to love this very candid interview.

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

068 - Scott Genius’ dual travel, hidden shock design explained Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

At the 2023 Scott Genius launch, I interviewed two of the mountain bike engineers behind the design, Etienne Chaloin and Tim Stevens. From hiding the shock inside the frame to creating a new dual-travel design with Fox, they explain why they went with the new design and how it all works.

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

067 - How to ride the Eastern Divide MTB Trail Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

With the trails and route still being defined when Eddie O'dea set out to become the first person to complete the new 6,000 mile Eastern Divide Mountain Bike Trail, it was sure to be an adventure.

And it was. But after almost three months, 6,223 miles, and 425,967 feet of climbing, he made the self-supported trip from Newfoundland, Canada, to Key West, Florida, on his mountain bike. In this interview, we talk about the experience, the bike and gear he used, and how in the world to plan something so ambitious.

You can check out the route, download details and maps, and get more info about the Eastern Divide Trail at Bikepacking.com. And check out Eddie's cycling performance services at CycleTechniques.com. If you'd like to donate to the charity he rode for, head over to GeorgiaCycling.org.

And for more pics and details on his bike and the route, check out our story about his ride, too.

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

066 - What’s up with... the SRAM UDH? Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

It may surprise you to learn that the SRAM UDH, or Universal Derailleur Hanger, is half plastic.

When we learned that it used mixed materials, I wondered what else we didn't know about this now nearly ubiquitous mountain bike component. So I called up SRAM MTB marketing manager Chris Mandell to learn more, and it's surprising just how much there is to know about this tiny part.

This is my first "What's up with..." episode, a new format where I'll be exploring parts and technologies that most of us ride every day but have secrets to tell.

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

065 - What’s the environmental impact of pro cycling races? Oct 10, 2022

Show notes

The Tour of Luxembourg is a relatively small multi-day race on the World Tour calendar, but it attracts some big teams. That combination made it the perfect test bed for measuring the environmental impact of a professional cycling race.

Which is more complex than it sounds. From hotel rooms to travel, volunteers to food service, course marking to start/finish staging, there's a LOT that goes into a major event like this.

I spoke with Tour de Lux president Andy Schleck and nZero founder Adam Kramer to see just how they went about doing it, what they learned, and how events and teams can improve. There's even lessons for all of us on how we can improve our own habits and actions, and as always, there's a lot more to this than meets the eye.

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

064 - Getting custom with the MADE Bicycle Show Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

If you've been missing the chance to see some of the bicycle world's finest builders display their work, mark your calendars for late summer 2023.

That's when the MADE Bicycle Show debuts, bringing together many of the best-known frame builders, plenty of new and smaller builders, and a curated collection of component brands to an outdoor show in Portland, Oregon.

In this interview I talk with MADE's co-founder Billy Sinkford about the event, how it'll differ from long-time fan faves like NAHBS and Philly Bike Expo, and what we can expect as both attending media and consumers. If you've been thinking about ordering a custom bike start saving up now and plan on being there to meet them all and find the builder that you connect with.

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

063 - Are Ceramic Bearings really worth it? Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

Are ceramic bearings really worth it?

How much drag do bearings really produce?

Does the type of grease matter? Or is it faster to use no grease at all? What about removing the seals?

In this episode, I interview Matt Harvey with Enduro Bearings, and he answers all of those questions…and a WHOLE LOT MORE!

This is one of my favorite episodes ever because there's a lot here that surprised me, and I learned a ton about bearings. We dive so deep about materials, what really causes friction, and why some marketing claims are very likely be too good to be true.

We also talk about how you can immediately improve the performance of any bearing on any bike, straight out of the box, even if your bike, hubs, or bottom bracket are brand new!

Get ready to take notes and set your weekend aside for tinkering!

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

062 - No22 Cycles explains 3D-printed titanium parts Sep 02, 2022

Show notes

No22 Cycles recently unveiled their gorgeous new 3D printed titanium dropouts, made for them by Silca, and they're just the beginning of what they can do with this manufacturing process.

Besides being gorgeous, there are a lot of functional and economical reasons to use additive manufacturing. In this episode, they explain:

how the parts are made
how they're made strong enough
why they're a better solution than CNC'ing

...and a whole lot more!

Check them out at 22bicycles.com, and our full story about the dropouts for more details.

WANT MORE?

Find the Bikerumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play! 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, just use this form to send us your suggestions!

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

061 - How Radial Compression works in bicycle wheels Aug 26, 2022

Show notes

Ever wondered what "radial compliance" is in a bicycle wheel?

On this episode, I'm kicking off a mini-series around technologies, products, and designs that are either misunderstood or often tossed into product launch stories without good explanations.

My first topic is radial compliance, which is when a bicycle wheel is able to deform in the vertical plane as you hit a bump or land a drop. It's not nearly as well known as lateral stiffness, which is a wheel's lack of flex from side to side under cornering loads, or even torsional stiffness, which is the wind up a wheel can get under a really hard sprint.

To be fair, lateral stiffness is the one you're going to notice the most, but radial compliance has a lot to do with how smooth a wheel feels over varied terrain. My guest is Chris Murray, owner of Elevation Wheel Company. Chris has been building custom wheels for customers, shops, and industry folks for more than a decade, then launched Elevation in 2017. He started doing it in a shop, then built production wheels for Borealis before busting out on his own. He's now built with most major rim, spoke and hub brands, and he not only shares what it means, but we discuss:

What is radial compliance in a bicycle wheel?
Which part of the wheel has the most effect on radial compliance?
Which rim materials and designs are most compliant?
How do spoke type and count affect radial compliance?
How can you tune your own wheels' radial compliance?

We talk about a few specific products and in broader terms, giving you the intel you need to decipher marketing speak and understand how different wheel designs and builds affect your ride quality.

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

060 - Inside the Pro Cycling Manager video game Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

I'm a bit of a video game fan, and obviously a cycling fan, and always a tech fan. So when all three are combined, I get really curious, and Pro Cycling Manager caught my eye. It's been around for years, updated each year with that season's teams and riders, plus a Tour de France edition that mimics that year's route.

But how do they get all of the licensing to use team kits and names, athletes, and events and courses? What's the game play like? The AI and physics and other mechanics? I interview Clement Pinget, one of the developers at Cyanide, the studio behind these games, to get all the answers...

WANT MORE?

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected