Geek Warning

Latest Episodes:

The barriers to entry-level road race bikes Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ronan and Dave ponder how they would equip an entry-level road bike, and while chatting, realise that maybe the industry has backed itself into a costly corner.

Of course, there’s a PSA and a bunch of tech news to discuss. Meanwhile, members of Escape Collective get access to Ask a Wrench, where this week Dave and Zach Edwards answer four member-submitted technical questions.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:

3:15 - How would we spec an entry-level road race bike
22:30 - A PSA to grease your axles
27:20 - Cervelo’s new R5
30:40 - Castelli’s PFAS-free poor weather jacket
37:00 - SRAM’s 1987 Limited Edition Silver group
38:00 - What’s coming up, plus Escape gets a much-wanted feature
42:00 - Ask a Wrench (member’s only)
44:00 - Suspension service intervals and not riding
50:00 - Breaking chainring bolts
56:00 - Using a shorter fork on a modern XC bike
1:01:30 - Why are aero wheels not a thing in fast MTB races?

Riding a 32in and Ronan is now a mountain biker Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

An Irish road cyclist walks into the R&D department of an international bike brand and rides a prototype mountain bike. That’s the joke.

In this episode, Dave and Ronan discuss 32-inch-wheeled mountain bikes and whether Ronan is now a mountain biker.

There’s a detailed chat about the torque required when working with UDH hangers or SRAM Full Mount derailleurs, along with some buying advice for an appropriate torque wrench.

There are new road bikes from Pinarello and Scott worth talking about, while Shimano’s new cleats are equally worthy of discussion.

The free-version of the episode wraps with a quick chat about Dave’s recent counterfeit chain article, while the Member-only version offers some more detailed answers on this matter. Then it’s time for Ask a Wrench, where Dave is joined by mechanic Zach Edwards in answering a handful of member-submitted technical questions.

Happy geeking!

As requested by a few members, we're now offering episode chapters – hope it works as expected! And a language warning for around the 9-minute mark, as Ronan is a potty mouth.

Time stamps:

1:23 - Corrections Corner for another podcast
3:55 - Ronan is now a mountain biker?
20:00 - PSA - Torque that UDH and Full Mount, plus a tangent on torque wrench choice
33:28 - Shimano's new cleats
42:26 - Explaining Pinarello's Dogma F-Series
50:12 - Scott's interesting new Addict endurance road bike
58:42 - Counterfeit versus Fake Chains
1:14:18 - Ask a Wrench: Chain waxing in hot conditions (member only)
1:20:50 - Ask a Wrench: Wheels with creaking spokes (member only)
1:28:00 - Ask a Wrench: Setting up a kids bike for better shifting (member only)

'There are no new ideas left in cycling' Aug 29, 2025

Show notes

The Portland-based Made show has wrapped up for another year, and our website has been buzzing with coverage from the handmade bike event.

This week’s Geek Warning is a bit different from the usual format, with the conversation focused mainly on what was seen at Made. Here, Dave Rome chats with Escape’s US tech editor Josh Weinberg along with famed framebuilder (and Escape contributor!) Rob English.

Within you’ll hear about emerging trends from the custom bike world, why Rob believes there are no new ideas left for bicycles, and some of Rob and Josh’s top picks.

As usual, the episode wraps with our regular Ask a Wrench segment, where Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) and Dave Rome answer technical questions from Escape members. You’ll need to be on the Escape member podcast feed to listen to this section.

See all the coverage from Made 2025 here.

Time stamps:

2:40 - Explaining Made and industry vibes
10:00 - Trends in the handmade scene
18:30 - Josh and Rob’s favourite bikes of Made
31:30 - Rob’s absolute favourite - a bike from 1979
36:00 - A little Aero bike
38:30 - Favourite small parts of Made
55:45 - Ask a Wrench (Members only)
57:00 - A corrections corner related to impact wrenches
58:40 - Bottom bracket torque settings
1:03:15 - Solving a worn dropout
1:09:00 - Sticky cables, sticky drink mix

The spares we carry Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

It’s a shorter episode this week as Escape’s Suvi Loponen and Dave Rome catch up to discuss the spares they carry and how to ensure they work when you need them most.

On the news front, they discuss the latest developments regarding the ongoing Shimano crank recall and an unexpected (and hopefully short-lived) issue affecting older Wahoo Bolt and Roam head units.

Finally, Zach Edwards of the Boulder Grupetto returns to Ask a Wrench to answer a number of member-submitted questions.

Time stamps:

2:00 - Shimano crank recall update
11:20 - Older Wahoo devices living in 2006
15:00 - a PSA to check your spares
20:00 - The specific spares we carry
35:00 - Made is coming up!
37:45 - Ask a Wrench (Member Only)
39:25 - Impact wrenches around e-bikes
45:20 - Sprockets versus Cogs
48:00 - Slipping SPD cleats on carbon shoes
53:00 - Hanging up modern bikes

Progress creates opportunity in the backfill Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

It’s time to geek out. This week, Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome discuss how as bikes progress, market opportunity is often created in what those bikes previously provided. Through this conversation, Ronan and Dave come to an agreement on a specific style of bike that’s obviously missing today.

You’ll hear a PSA relevant to any modern bike, along with a few quick updates that provide a couple of brief tangents.

The episode wraps with Ronan and Dave discussing a fancy type of hex key (the topic of Dave’s Threaded article this week). We love our members, and so those on the member-only feed of the podcast get a little extra bonus chat before the regular 'Ask a Wrench' segment kicks in.

Happy geeking!

Time Stamps:

4:45 - There is always an opportunity to backfill
23:00 - PSA: Don’t ignore worn bearings
27:30 - No.6’s new gravel suspension corrected rigid fork
30:15 - Fara’s new GR4 gravel bike and a tangent on claimed frame weights
38:00 - Dave has sliding T-handle hex keys on his mind (again)
42:15 - The best sliding T-handle hex key (Member’s only)
49:30 - Ask a Wrench (Member’s only)
50:00 - Can a chain wear out even when it doesn’t measure as worn?
57:15 - The best spoke wrench to avoid nipple damage
1:02:00 - How should you clean a disc brake? How often?

The UCI approval sticker is overrated Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

A mix of rumours circling and the recently reviewed FiftyOne Sika road bike have Ronan and Dave pondering whether the UCI frame sticker is relevant to many of us. Spoiler, it’s not.

The episode was recorded a few days before we know for sure, but the social media profiles of athletes strongly point toward some interesting drop-bar-converted mountain bikes for the Leadville 100 race ahead.

Ronan and Dave discuss a PSA for themselves, and of course, members of Escape Collective get access to the Ask a Wrench segment with Brad Copeland, where this week a handful of drivetrain-related questions are answered, including one about measuring for lateral chain wear.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:

2:20 - The UCI approval sticker overrated
16:50 - Wild bikes expected at Leadville
31:30 - PSA for those with an air compressor
40:00 - Standert’s new Keiswerk
44:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Members Only)
45:30 - Chasing noises that only occur under high load
54:00 - Upgrading an old MTB drivetrain that’s locked to an HG freehub
1:03:00 - All about lateral chain wear

Brakes, brakes, and brakes on big wheels Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

What in the upside-down world is this? Ronan Mc Laughlin has been investigating rumours around the UCI getting involved with the new 32 in wheelsize, and in this episode of Geek Warning, you’ll hear the crew discuss what it may spell.

Additionally, you’ll hear the geeks (Ronan, Dave, and Alex) talk about some products that have left them a little underwhelmed as of late. New SRAM centerlock lockrings are on Dave’s mind. And there’s a PSA related to disc brake bed-in.

Members of Escape Collective also get access to our popular Ask a Wrench segment, where Dave and pro race mechanic (with Specialized Off-Racing Racing) Brad Copeland answer a number of member-submitted questions with helpful tips for all.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:

1:00 - Products that leave us wanting more
9:45 - UCI looking to ban 32in wheels and will it matter?
28:00 - SRAM finally has centerlock lockrings
33:00 - PSA: Brake bed-in is skipped far too much
39:30 - DT Swiss’ and Swiss Side’s recall
43:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Escape members only)
45:00 - A call to action for the industry in regards to manuals
51:00 - Best chain lube for indoor cycling
58:15 - Stubborn tubeless tyre installs
1:09:00 - Dehumidifiers and tubeless sealant longevity

Finished with unfinished products in the market Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

Recorded just after watching Tadej and Jonas summit Ventoux on aero bikes, this episode sees Ronan McLaughlin, Dave Rome, and Suvi Loponen discuss whether the latest and lightest road bikes are now designed for consumers, while aero bikes are for the pros.

Also within this week’s Geek Warning, you’ll hear Dave discuss why he thinks too many products are being released in an unfinished state. Of course, there’s a useful PSA, one that’s useful for anyone running disc brakes. And you’ll hear the geeks discuss some of the latest industry news.

The episode wraps with the Ask a Wrench segment. Here, Dave chats with pro race mechanic Brad Copeland in answering a number of member-submitted questions, including whether premium bottom brackets are less likely to make noises, a deep dive on SRAM’s newest ThreadMount power meters and the cross-compatibility available.

As usual, you’ll need to be a member of Escape Collective in order to listen the Ask a Wrench segment. You can sign up here and gain access to everything that Escape Collective has to offer.

Time stamps:

5:05 - Are aero bikes now climbing bikes?
14:25 - Unfinished products are on Dave’s mind
25:00 - PSA to check your rotors
30:00 - Rapha and EF-Education to part ways
35:30 - YT Industries’ “restructuring”
40:00 - Rouvy acquires BKool
48:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Member Only)
53:00 - Are premium bottom brackets less likely to make noise?
1:07:40 - Schwalbe, pronounced
1:08:40 - SRAM ThreadMount power meter compatibility
1:16:30 - Mixing Shimano wheels and SRAM 12-speed drivetrains

Big wheels, TT saddles, and Five Stars Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

We’re in thick of race season and there’s plenty to discuss on the tech front. The mountain bike world is rubbing their eyes at the sight of a 32-inch-wheeled full suspension. Meanwhile, on the road, it’s the Time Trial that continues to tease future tech trends. Join Ronan Mc Laughlin, Dave Rome, and Alex Hunt as they discuss these new sightings.

Outside of racing, you’ll also hear the geeks talk about a revised scoring system from the helmet test lab of Virginia Tech. Meanwhile, Dave has a PSA closely related to the latest edition of his Threaded workshop series. Plus there’s chat about news from DT Swiss, Pinarello, and Lightweight.

Members of Escape Collective get access to the popular Ask a Wrench segment at the end of the episode. This week, pro race mechanic Brad Copeland joins Dave Rome in answering questions related to narrowing down choices in buying a gravel wheelset, how to go about converting a certain suspension fork for use with dropbars, and whether there’s a difference between Shimano GRX and Ultegra brakes.

Time stamps:

2:00 - BMC’s big wheel testing
13:40 - Tour Time Trial tech
23:40 - Virginia Tech updates its helmet star ratings
32:00 - a PSA that every part is safety critical
41:00 - Lightweight’s big update
47:40 - Pinarello’s new gravel bikes
49:20 - DT Swiss’ stop ride notice
52:30 - Alex’s new bike day
53:30 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (member only)
54:45 - Thoughts on upgrading gravel bike wheels
1:10:00 - Converting a MTB to dropbar with a remote lockout suspension
1:20:00 - Shimano Ultegra versus GRX brakes

Tour Tech Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

It’s Tour time and tech editor Ronan McLaughlin has been on the ground capturing all the latest little tricks and tidbits. In this week’s Geek Warning, Dave Rome, and Ronan get together to talk through some of the bigger tech stories and finds coming from the biggest race.

Within you’ll hear about new bikes from Merida and Cervelo, some behind-the-scenes sponsorship movements, how front derailleurs are becoming less common, and why the UCI’s handlebar width ruling is likely set to change (again).

In Ask a Wrench, members of Escape Collective will hear pro race mechanic Brad Copeland and Dave Rome answer questions related to rust-proofing steel frames, solving for a drooping chain, and how to solve the dreaded disc brake turkey gobble. As an added bonus, you’ll hear Brad’s impression of a turkey.

Time stamps:

2:00 - Merida’s unreleased Reacto
5:50 - Cervelo’s new S5 and Ronan’s early impressions
14:20 - Cervelo has a new R5 coming, too
18:30 - Musical Saddles of Sponsorships
26:00 - Updates inbound for the UCI’s handlebar width change?
37:45 - 1x gearing is on the rise
47:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (members only)
48:30 - Rust-protecting a steel frame
52:30 - Chain droop when riding in smaller cassette cogs
1:03:00 - Fixing the SRAM brake turkey gobble

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected