Nerd Alert Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Inside the company that sells carbon to bike brands Jul 21, 2020

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This week's episode is a deep dive interview with Jason Gabriel of Toray Advanced Composites, the company that provides much of the raw material to carbon bike manufacturers all over the world.

Should you tip your mechanic? And other important questions Jul 06, 2020

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This week's episode discusses new wheels from Reserve (Santa Cruz) and the return (again) of Spinergy. Then, we ask our resident pro mechanic your reader questions. Should you tip your mechanic? Should you bring a six pack of beer? What assembly compound will stop a press fit bottom bracket from creaking?

Pretty paint and SRAM's wild front derailleur patent Jun 22, 2020

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We open this week's episode with a discussion of SRAM's wild patent for a front shifting system that puts three derailleurs on the chainrings themselves, plus a look at the company's new 52-tooth cassette. Then, James speaks with the head of graphics and design at Trek. Finally, we jump back into a What Bike Should I Buy. Who will take home a coveted Podcast Point?

The future of road wheels Jun 08, 2020

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New wheels from Zipp and Roval have just hit the market, and both bring with them as many questions as answers. Roval is ditching tubeless and Zipp is requiring it. What's going on? Finally, we Ask a Mechanic about BB90, chain cleaning, and disc brakes that won't line up.

How to spot a good mechanic May 25, 2020

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There's much tech news to dissect in this week's episode, from Strava's aggressive new paywall to the new Cannondale Scalpel to which podcast host did the dumbest weightweenie things to his XC bike back in the early 2000s. Plus, we bring back Ask a Mechanic, and Zach runs through how to fix a floppy SRAM hydro shifter, the best way to wrap bars, and more.

Fixing broken carbon fiber May 12, 2020

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This week's episode is a deep dive on carbon repair. After Caley broke his mountain bike, he sent it off to be fixed. We speak with Shawn Small and Dan Steinle from Ruckus Composites about the process, what they'll fix, and what they won't. Then, James chats with Raoul Leuscher about why carbon bikes break in the first place.

The golden age of helmets Apr 28, 2020

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This week's episode opens with the latest tech news, from new POC helmets to fast lube from Silca, and then dives into helmet safety with Kali Protective's Brad Waldron.

Tires for Roubaix Apr 13, 2020

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This week's episode opens with the latest news from Pond Beaver 2020, CyclingTips' virtual trade show. We have new wheels from Fulcrum and Enve, new cranks from Rotor, and much more. Then, James calls up an engineer at Continental, who lets us in on what the company and some pro teams had planned for Paris-Roubaix. Hint: It wasn't tubular.

Does bike weight really matter? Mar 30, 2020

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We all know that it’s easier to climb on a lighter bike. What isn’t as obvious is exactly how much it matters. And as it turns out, it doesn’t matter as much as you probably think it does. Dave Rome takes a deep dive into the hard science of how mass affects performance in relation to other factors like aerodynamic efficiency and friction. How much is too much? Fair warning: If you’ve always considered yourself a weight weenie, be prepared, because you might not love what you’re about to h

Peek behind the carbon manufacturing curtain Mar 16, 2020

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This is a coronavirus-free podcast. Just a bunch of nerds sitting around talking bikes. This week's episode kicks off with a look into the somewhat shadowy world of carbon manufacturing. We speak with someone who has built bikes for big brands and small, and who provides insight into the way the whole system works. Then, we Ask A Mechanic about corroded cables, proper brake bleed technique, and more.

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