Geek Warning

Latest Episodes:

SRAM Apex goes wireless, Commencal gets into gravel, a big BB blowout, and Ronan’s big bike ride Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

SRAM’s new Apex redesign brings AXS wireless electronic shifting to the masses, but there’s also a new mechanical version, and it’s all 1x12 – and we’ve got all the details. Commencal has announced its first gravel bike that’s “not just another gravel bike” (even though it mostly is), RockShox’s Flight Attendant automatic electronic suspension is coming to XC, someone lost something in Lenzerheide, and Ronan outlines some of the tech decisions from his recent record-setting ride in Ireland. And finally, is UDH coming to road bikes now? (Hint: yes, it is).

12:45 – New SRAM Apex!

31:30 – Commencal gets into gravel

37:33 – RockShox’s updated SID spotted in the wild

43:46 – A big oops on the start line in Lenzerheide

48:17 – Ronan optimizes everything for his 15-hour time trial

1:02:15 – SRAM’s UDH is now coming for road bikes, too

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shimano GRX going 12, and a flurry of new bikes Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

There is so much new stuff to talk about this week! Unbound Gravel was a smorgasbord of fresh gravel good, including new bikes from Canyon and Santa Cruz, and a sneak preview of Shimano’s new 12-speed GRX groupset.

We’ve also recently spotted new road bikes from BMC and Factor, and Silca aims to make chain waxing (a lot!) easier. And speaking of Unbound, what was the true material cost of entry for this year’s event? Hint: It's almost certainly much, much more than most participants expected.

Timestamps:

6:40 – What’s this new BMC race bike?

13:20 – Will the new Factor 02 VAM be even lighter?

17:44 – Shimano GRX 12-speed spotted at Unbound, plus our thoughts on 1x vs 2x for gravel.

28:05 – A more mountain bike-like Santa Cruz Stigmata on the way?

30:05 – Canyon Grail is due to get one less handlebar.

34:30 – Silca’s new Chain Stripper, the future of chain lubes, and why Caley is back on wax.

45:15 – Highlights of the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia.

54:12 – On your mind, and over the head of your family: Caley gives a shout-out to modern mountain bikes.

58:42 – James asks whether event participants consider the true cost of entry.

1:08:32 – PSA for your spare inner tube.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dropped chains, dropped thumbs, and how to buy your first handmade bike May 31, 2023

Show notes

Our trio of diehard in-house tech geeks – James, Dave, and Ronan – are on hand this week to talk about the dropped chain that nearly derailed Primož Roglič’s Giro d’Italia, Campagnolo’s new (and outrageously expensive) Super Record Wireless electronic road groupset, fancy new spokes from DT Swiss, and our new comprehensive guide to buying your first custom bike.

Also, all three of us apparently have issues staying upright, Ronan has thoughts on disc brakes in road racing, and a PSA on hidden caffeine.

6:58 — Roglic’s nearly disastrous chain drop

20:37 — Campagnolo goes wireless and ditches the thumb buttons

43:40 — New high-end MTB spokes from DT Swiss

48:37 — The impending return of the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia

49:59 — The return of Matt Wikstrom!

52:10 — Dave fell down

53:41 — James fell down

54:43 — Ronan fell down

55:12 — Ronan has thoughts on road racing with disc brakes

1:00:03 — Seat tube angles aren’t always what they seem

1:02:20 — Ronan needs to start reading the fine print

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good entry-level aluminum bikes are rad May 24, 2023

Show notes

Lots of new stuff to chat about this week! Specialized’s Allez revamp is hardly revolutionary, but there’s a lot to be said for a no-frills and accessible bike that’s executed well. Dave has some (bad) ideas for Kask on how to market its new Elemento flagship helmet, Wahoo’s founder owns his company again, and Trek makes an interesting move with the Bontrager brand name.

We also chat about Aerocoach’s latest round of rolling resistance tests, and Fairwheel Bikes’ intriguing crank stiffness tests. And finally, Dave shares some thoughts on cross-country mountain bike suspension, Zach reveals his secret love of cheap track bikes, James revisits his weight-weenie past, and we all take a leap through the Ring of Death.

2:45 — Specialized Allez

16:52 — Kask Elemento

22:11 — Trek vs. Bontrager

27:52 — Wahoo is back?

30:54 — Aerocoach measures the Vittoria Corsa Pro

35:16 — Which crank is stiffest?

43:40 — Dave likes things saggy

48:30 — Zach likes inexpensive track bikes

55:08 — James slips back into weight weenieism

1:02:34 — The Ring of Death, revisited

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Ask a Wrench May 18, 2023

Show notes

This week’s episode of Geek Warning sees former World Cup mechanic, Brad Copeland, join the team to talk all things bike tech. With Brad onboard, it was time we kicked off the first "Ask a Wrench" segment, which answers questions from our live audience of Escape Collective members.

Before the geeks get to answering questions, they discuss some of the latest tech seen at the opening round of the mountain bike World Cup.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The golden era of high-performance endurance road tires May 11, 2023

Show notes

Don't you dare call it a tire; it's "endurance engineering"!

Jokes aside, Specialized and Vittoria are upping their games when it comes to high-end road tires that (supposedly) won't leave you stranded, Chris King is expanding its range of thermoplastic carbon wheels with a new aero all-road model, we debate the pros and cons of the latest crop of fancy bike care products, and Ronan outlines the UCI's latest foibles. And as always, Dave has tools on his mind.

A manually curated list of time stamps:

2:30 - The narrow tread of the new Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres.

13:00 - “Don’t call it a tyre!” Specialized’s Mondo tyre.

21:42 - Chris King brings thermoplastic rims to road

29:22 - CeramicSpeed’s new Bike Care line and a discussion on wax lubes.

42:57 - The growing segment of Bike Care products.

46:50 - More price drops! This time it’s Salsa.

47:53 - Rome gets excited about new bearing removal tools.

50:37 - An update on the peculiar new UCI product registration rules coming to the TDF.

56:45 - Does the UCI need a Jig for its Jig?

1:02:45 - On Rome’s mind and over the head of his family.

1:08:07 - News for next week’s episode!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

XC MTB is so hot, even die-hard road brands are getting into it May 04, 2023

Show notes

Modern cross-country mountain bike racing is absolutely on fire these days. The riders are faster, more skilled, and more interesting than ever; the courses are technical and physically demanding; and the bikes are so capable they'd put the "trail bikes" of yesteryear to shame. But one has to look no further than some dyed-in-the-wool road brands to see how hot the segment is right now, because even they're getting into the game.

Also, in this week's show: (some) bikes are getting cheaper, there are prototype cross-country suspension forks everywhere, and the UCI dropped a logistical bomb on teams just weeks ahead of the Tour.

Episode time stamps (oh, that’s new for us!):

2:35 - BMC’s TT bike and company news.

13:30 - Pinarello is returning to mountain bikes.

16:35 - What are P1 Race Tech mountain bike wheels?

19:29 - Cervelo getting deeper into XC.

21:23 - A flurry of forks and the boom of XC.

30:35 - Lauf drops Seigla prices in the USA. Plus other price drops.

35:30 - Will we see new UCI technical controls at the TDF?

49:45 - The growth of tyre inserts.

60:00 - On our minds and debating cup and cone bearing hubs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How hardtail mountain bikes are like cats Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode of Geek Warning: Specialized says its new Epic World Cup will replace hardtails for racing, and while the bike looks interesting, this isn't the first time we've heard such a thing and hardtails have proven time and again that they've got a lot of lives.

Also in this week's show: Wahoo is probably for sale, but who should buy it? Might you soon be taking your e-bike to an auto mechanic for service? Why did Boyd Cycling open up an aluminum rim factory in South Carolina? And James gives a recap of the shiny new stuff – both affordable and expensive – he saw at last week's Sea Otter Classic, along with a PSA on how your DRL might not be providing the visibility you think it is.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new Tarmac and the worst bike James has ever ridden Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Roubaix Tech Special Apr 15, 2023

Show notes

Paris-Roubaix has been a better predictor of the bike tech that will be common in the future than any other pro race. It was the first with bigger tires, the first with disc brakes, the first with endurance frames.

So what were teams riding this year? Ronan Mc Laughlin and Caley Fretz dive into the cutting edge of cobble-worthy bike tech.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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