Geek Warning

This week, Escape’s Dave Rome and Jack Duncan go a little behind the scenes of the bike industry. Dave explains how some products come to be, the value of a brand, what open mould means, and how the business of generic products works.

Later in the episode, the talk turns to new head units from Garmin and Coros, and whether some of this is merely duplicating technology we already own. Then the geeks chat about the closure of Santa Cruz’s women’s-specific brand Juliana.

That’s it for our free listeners, while those on our member feeds also get Ask a Wrench – where technical questions from our members get answered.

Time stamps:

• 02:30 - Brands and manufacturers
• 08:00 - Own design versus open mould
• 12:30 - Same factory doesn’t equal same product
• 17:00 - The value of a brand
• 23:00 - Price is not always an indicator of quality
• 26:00 - Generics explained
• 35:30 - Outsourced design
• 41:40 - Two new big head units and Dave’s hate of beeping noises
• 51:00 - Juliana becomes PON’s latest victim
• 57:00 - Ask a Wrench (Member-only content)
• 57:30 - Pedal toggle explained
• 1:07:00 - Disc brake calipers that twist upon tightening
• 1:11:00 - A follow-up to fixing a torque wrench
• 1:13:30 - Fixes for slipping shifters

Recently, Escape’s Ronan McLaughlin surfaced from a multi-month outdoor tyre testing project. That test not only sought to find which fast road race tyres were fastest, but also to study the testing itself.

All of this was only made possible with the expertise and instruments made available by John Buckley of Streamlines. As a former lead aerodynamicist at Mercedes F1, Buckley brought a unique skill set to cycling, and works with a number of professional cycling teams and national federations to find performance gains.

In this bonus episode of Geek Warning that crosses over with Performance Process, Dave Rome peels back the layers to better understand the science and methodology behind Streamlines’ approach to outdoor testing. The conversation covers topics such as why drum testing alone doesn’t provide the full story, and where there may be limitations in the Virtual Elevation method of testing (aka, the Chung method).

Happy geeking!

Every other Geek Warning episode typically ends with the geeks answering 3-4 technical questions submitted by members. This week, we’re opening up our usual Member-Only ‘Ask a Wrench’ section to everyone.

For this episode, Dave Rome is joined by US tech writer Jack Duncan and mechanic Zach Edwards of the Boulder Groupetto. The episode starts with some tech news from the week, and then gets into answering member-submitted questions.

If you like this format, please know we offer a shorter version of it every week – you just need to be on the member-only feed to see it.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:00 - Cannondale USA headquarters to close
• 00:07:00 - Reserve goes 32in
• 00:11:00 - Ohlins enters gravel
• 00:15:45 - Ask a Wrench, an extended version
• 00:16:00 - Why are there so many wheel brands?
• 00:23:00 - Is the Corsa Pro Speed causing crashes?
• 00:32:00 - Buying a budget e-bike in Australia
• 00:36:00 - What else to consider other than the Oneup EDC pump?
• 00:40:30 - Better gravel wheels for a heavier rider
• 00:47:00 - How should I store my dropper post?
• 00:49:00 - Capping open hydraulic brake hoses
• 00:55:00 - What to use for sticky SRAM D1/D2 brake lever pistons
• 01:02:00 - How to fix a torque wrench with a slipping ratchet?
• 01:07:00 - Should mechanics charge more for emergency and weekend repairs?

This week on Geek Warning, Dave chats with Ronan about his extremely comprehensive road tyre test, published a week ago. The conversation covers how the test was run and why the data is so reliable.

Then, Ronan and Dave chat about Silca’s acquisition and re-release of the analogue-watch-lookalike Omata cycling computer.

Midway, Escape's US-based tech writer Jack Duncan jumps on to discuss Colnago’s new Colnago gravel bike and a somewhat peculiar wheel release from Cadex.

Lastly, members of Escape Collective (on our exclusive member-only feeds) get access to Ask a Wrench, where we answer technical questions submitted by our members.

Time stamps:

• 2:30 - Ronan’s big and tiring project
• 25:30 - Silca acquires Omata
• 36:00 - Switching locations to Jack
• 39:00 - Colnago’s new G5-X gravel bike
• 45:00 - Cadex’s XC wheelset is a little weird
• 55:45 - Ask a Wrench with Zach Edwards (Member-Only)

A report published by http://cyclingindustries.com/ highlights an extreme shortage of skilled mechanics and the issues that presents. Dave and Ronan discuss some of the challenges behind this and what it may take to better retain skilled mechanics.

Later in the episode, Dave shares why he thinks rim brakes will return in popularity, at least a little. Ronan argues why Dave’s crystal ball is faulty.

You’ll also hear a tech tip that’s perhaps more just an excuse to treat yourself. To wrap things up, and as per usual, members of Escape Collective get our Ask a Wrench section, where Dave and Zach Edwards answer technical questions from listeners.

Happy geeking!

Time stamps:

• 02:30 - Skills shortage facing the cycling industry
• 22:15 - Yet another wheelsize that’s to cause ever more havoc
• 29:00 - Will rim brakes make a comeback on the road?
• 40:00 - Your bike is only as good as its worst part (language warning for this segment)
• 47:45 - Ask a Wrench (Members only)
• 48:00 - Yet another mystery disc brake noise
• 53:30 - Chasing a stubborn creaking pedal noise
• 59:00 - Glazed brakes and how to solve it
• 1:05:00 - A rattly RockShox XPLR dropper post
• 1:11:00 - Does the suspension linkage design matter?

Geek Warning is rarely about the chapter titles, but rather the expertise and information shared within. That sure applies this week, as the conversation covers the real story behind Pidcock’s recent wheel choice at Worlds, Ronan’s ideal rim widths for road racing, and what Dave considers to be the benchmark in SPD pedals.

There’s also a relatively new Good Thing for SRAM Transmission, a tech tip for anyone turning a spanner, and plenty more.

As usual, members of Escape Collective (on the member-only feed) get Ask a Wrench at the end of the episode. This week, Zach Edwards of the Boulder Groupetto returns to help answer tech questions from our members.

Timestamps:

• 00:01:30 - Ronan “working” at Road Worlds
• 00:04:00 - The rumoured story behind Pidcock’s wheels
• 00:11:00 - The UCI to review its Lugano Charter
• 00:19:45 - Enve’s new SES 6.7 Pro have us patting ourselves on the back
• 00:28:00 - Wolf Tooth trickles down its excellent ALT SPD pedal
• 00:34:00 - A tech tip to tighten up tool fitment
• 00:39:00 - SRAM has a Good Thing for Transmission users
• 00:45:30 - What Ronan and Dave are busy with
• 00:47:40 - Ask a Wrench (Member-only feed)
• 00:48:00 - Why don’t all tubeless rims have a solid rim bed?
• 00:55:00 - Shigura brakes?
• 01:05:45 - Reuse a plugged tyre?
• 1:10:00 - A front wheel causing brake resonance

Many brands within the bike industry often speak about higher-performing products being stiffer, lighter, more aero, and faster-rolling. And yet when it comes to off-road disciplines, it’s rare for brands to discuss smoothness as a performance metric. It’s an area many have dabbled in over the years, but it’s tough to market a product on.

Berd, makers of rope-like spokes, recently published a white paper detailing why they believe their new gravel race wheels are the fastest for the off-road discipline. A big part of that claim relates to vibration damping and impact reduction, metrics that historically haven’t been included in the performance modelling used today to calculate a road cyclists’ speed.

In its white paper, Berd proposes that vibration damping and impact reduction should be included as a component of rolling resistance. Geek Warning host Dave Rome has long shouted as much for off-road – smoother is faster – and thought that was all quite interesting. So he sat down with Berd co-founder and CEO, Charlie Spanjers, to hear more.

An edited transcript of the conversation is also available at EscapeCollective.com.

Talk of big wheels continue to dominate headlines in the cycling tech world. This past week, Trek and Scott raced production-ready 32ers at the World Cup round in Utah, while Sea Otter Europe showcased other production-ready options.

With that, Dave Rome chats with Escape’s Suvi Loponen and Alex Hunt about what they each saw in person at these respective events. For Suvi, Sea Otter Europe, with about 80,000 attendees this year, offered an opportunity for a vibe check from members of the European bicycle industry.

Members on our member-only feed will also hear Ask a Wrench, this week with Zach Edwards.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:00 - Big brand 32ers revealed
• 00:09:45 - Sea Otter Europe
• 00:14:00 - Suvi rides a 32er
• 00:18:00 - Other big things seen at Euro Sea Otter
• 00:19:00 - Tyre options are growing quickly
• 00:23:00 - Industry vibe check at Sea Otter
• 00:27:00 - On-the-ground interviews
• 00:51:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only)
• 00:53:00 - How to service a cartridge bearing
• 00:59:00 - When to measure chain wear (and our go-to tools)
• 01:08:00 - How to deal with a rusty part

Welcome back to Geek Warning. This week, Dave Rome and Ronan McLaughlin talk through Shimano’s new road pedal system, which will eventually supersede the now two-decade-old SPD-SL. Dave has been hands-on with the new pedals and offers insight into how nuanced the differences are.

Dave is then joined by Suvi Loponen to discuss the new Canyon Grail gravel bike along with a number of other standout bits of tech news from the week.

At the end of the episode, and for those listening via a member-only feed, we have an interview with Bill Alcorn of BikeFlights about how air freighting and door-to-door bike delivery have changed, and potentially how to mitigate those increased costs.

Timestamps:

• 02:00 - Shimano SPD-SLR, ridden and explained
• 18:00 - The potential performance gain of lower stack height
• 22:30 - Shimano’s three shoe widths, wide going wider.
• 25:00 - Suvi joins to discuss the new Canyon Grail gravel bike
• 37:00 - Scott’s interesting return to cable routing options
• 41:00 - Specialized goes internal routing with Future Shock
• 43:30 - Wolf Tooth gets into hubs
• 48:00 - Members-only section: Talking bike freight

This week, Caley Fretz returns to Geek Warning alongside Jack Duncan and Dave Rome. It’s been a week full of big new bike launches (all of which Escape Collective attended) and there has been some equally big industry news.

The geeks discuss new bikes from Scott, Factor, and Enve, and how each finds (or doesn't) a balance between performance and enjoyment. Plus, there’s a shift in product from WTB, some somewhat sad news out of an Australian business, and we speculate over why Specialized’s founder has returned to the helm.

As usual, members of Escape Collective have access to the exclusive member-only feeds of the podcast, and in this we answer a number of technical questions in the Ask a Wrench segment.

Happy geeking!

Time stamps:

• 00:02:00 - New bikes, new bikes everywhere
• 00:03:15 - Talking two different approaches to gravel with the Scott Addict Gravel and Factor Elara
• 00:16:30 - Adding the new Enve Melee to the conversation
• 00:20:00 - Feelings or performance. Can it be both?
• 00:29:00 - WTB doing aero wasn’t on our bingo card
• 00:38:00 - Sad news from Fumpa
• 00:44:15 - Big changes at Specialized and a fun theory from a dude
• 01:02:00 - Members-only section and Ask a Wrench
• 01:05:00 - Our thoughts on running mismatched tyres
• 01:11:20 - “Critique my chain waxing”
• 01:12:15 - Gravel handlebar recommendations that keep the levers straight

This week sees a big first for the Geek Warning podcast as the entirety of Escape Collective’s tech crew meet up in person over in Takayama, Japan. With that, we recorded live in front of a select group of Escape members!

It’s certainly been a huge week on the tech front for our entire tech team to be away riding bikes at the annual Member Summit. Not only is the Vuelta a España in its first week (where new Dura-Ace prototypes were seen), we also had the last Mountain Bike World Cup round prior to the World Championships. And if that wasn’t enough, MADE was held over in Portland, Oregon, the past weekend.

Given the special circumstances, our usual member-only ‘Ask a Wrench’ segment was replaced with an ‘Ask us anything’ from the live audience. Be sure to listen on the member-only feed for the full episode.

So with that, join the tech crew of Alex Hunt, Jack Duncan, Ronan Mc Laughlin, and Dave Rome to hear about the week in tech. And yes, Suvi Loponen was there, but sadly couldn’t jump on the recording.

Time stamps:

• 00:03:30 - New Dura-Ace R9300 breaks cover
• 00:23:00 - Leadville wasn’t the expected 32er domination, and that doesn’t matter
• 00:33:05 - Fox is seemingly returning to electronic suspension for cross-country
• 00:35:00 - Abbey Bike Tools’ new budget disc brake mount facer isn’t quite it
• 00:40:30 - Going into the member-only section with a live audience
• 00:42:00 - Ask us Anything!
• 00:44:00 - Are carbon spokes a fad?
• 00:50:00 - Silca’s entry to tires
• 00:53:00 - Can grease be too thick?
• 00:55:00 - Is there any further tech that road should expect from MTB?
• 01:03:30 - How are we addressing the spectrum of gravel?

It’s time for another bonus edition of Geek Warning. This chat is a brief opener to our upcoming coverage of Made, North America’s Custom Bicycle Show.

Held this coming weekend (21-23rd of August), the Portland-based show has grown to be a key event on the calendar for bike lovers, tech nerds, makers, and the like. A show like this also consistently serves as a crystal ball into emerging segments and tech trends.

One such trend is the emergence of custom frame builders offering pre-built options. In the USA, a number of local frame builders have reduced purchase barriers by offering set models and stock geometry options. The likes of No.22, Moots, and Stinner are all examples of this. Meanwhile, one of the most prestigious names in the titanium space has now joined the list - Mosaic.

For this chat, Dave Rome is joined by Mosaic’s founder Aaron Barcheck, along with chief vibe officer (and founder) of Made, Billy Sinkford.

A heads up that the timing of publishing this episode coincides with Mosaic’s announcement of a 32er gravel bike and its accompanying launch of its own carbon component brand – Zero. The news of this only broke after we recorded this episode and so these products aren’t discussed within. We may do a dedicated chat covering those interesting products in the future.

This week on Geek Warning, Dave is joined by Escape’s Suvi Loponen and Alex Hunt to talk about the latest in cycling tech.

Alex was on the ground at the Tour de France Femmes and came away pondering why 1x hadn’t hit the women’s field like it has the men.

Meanwhile, Suvi has spent the past couple of months riding the new Trek Domane endurance road bike. Dave and Suvi discuss why this bike is likely to be a big win for Trek.

Then, as usual, those on our member-only podcast feeds get access to Ask a Wrench. This week Dave is joined by Colin Williams to answer questions related to replicating fit dimensions between bikes, headset changes, and why high-engagement hubs aren’t more popular in road racing.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:20 - Accell group likely to be split up
• 00:08:15 - Tech trends at TDFF
• 00:17:09 - Tyres are growing, slowly
• 00:22:00 - Trek’s new Domane
• 00:33:45 - Bike prices coming down?
• 00:39:30 - The case for semi-integrated cable routing
• 00:43:00 - We’re all having a meet-up
• 00:48:15 - Ask a Wrench with Colin Williams (Members Only)
• 00:50:00 - How to match fit dimensions between bikes
• 01:01:30 - Is it ok to mismatch the headset?
• 01:06:15 - Replacing a proprietary headset
• 01:14:00 - High engagement hubs Crit racing?

This week, Dave and Jack from the Escape Collective tech team talk modern cross-country bikes and where the nuance between race and downcountry sits. Plus, Dave shares why he believes remote lockouts are a race-day product.

Meanwhile, the geeks discuss why rounded bolts are most often user error and how to avoid them (also check out Dave’s Threaded #15 article on the topic).

Like every week, members of Escape Collective (on the exclusive member-only feeds) get access to the full episode, including Ask a Wrench. This week Colin Williams is back on the mic to answer questions from our members, including tips for washing bikes with waxed chains and removing stubborn hub end caps.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:00 - Santa Cruz updates the Blur
• 00:12:00 - The difference between XC race and downcountry
• 00:16:30 - It’s in the lockouts
• 00:20:00 - Differences in spec
• 00:28:30 - A reminder why MTB tech matters to all listeners
• 00:30:00 - A little Clarifications Corner for last week’s PSA
• 00:36:30 - Rounded bolts are a you problem
• 00:43:45 - DT Swiss updates its budget 1800 wheel range
• 00:46:00 - Silca updates its saddle bags
• 00:47:45 - Giant and Liv’s new premium shoes
• 00:51:15 - Ask a Wrench (members only)
• 00:53:00 - How to wash a bike with a waxed chain
• 00:57:45 - How to remove stubborn hub end caps
• 01:06:20 - How to become a bicycle mechanic

This week we got new Shimano R9300 Dura-Ace, although not quite the release many had wished for. Escape’s senior tech editors, Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, talk through this new release, the details that are easily overlooked, and where Shimano could do more.

Ronan then shares what he saw while covering tech at the Tour de France and how perceived trends can often be false. Dave then raises the increasing problem of Large Language Models (aka, Ai answers) leading people astray in topics that have limited information available online.

There’s also a bit of interesting tech news from Silca and Tune.

As per usual, members of Escape Collective also get Ask a Wrench. This week, Zach Edwards of the Boulder Groupetto joins Dave to cover topics such as noisy drivetrains, why aero isn’t more prominent in downhill racing, and what we look for in good headset cable routing.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:21 - Shimano’s new Dura-Ace R9300, sorta
• 00:19:01 - How pro bike fit is and isn’t progressing
• 00:34:20 - PSA related to using Ai for tech help
• 00:41:15 - Silca’s new Super Secret 2.0
• 00:45:00 - Tune’s interesting approach to carbon spokes
• 00:51:00 - Ronan’s got some Record to build
• 00:52:30 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only)
• 00:53:00 - Chain noise in more extreme angles
• 01:02:45 - Where’s the aero in downhill?
• 01:11:20 - What to look for in good headset cable routing

We’re going back to basics in this week’s episode. While Geek Warning is usually for tech-obsessed cyclists, this edition covers the common conversations a bicycle mechanic would have with a client. It’s for everyone and anyone who does a little of their own bike maintenance.

Many road cyclists are still relatively new to disc brakes, so Jack Duncan and Dave Rome start the episode with a deep dive into many facets of ownership. The basics of chain lube and drivetrain wear are covered later on, as are some thoughts about tyre wear and who tubeless may be right for.

After all that, members of Escape Collective get the usual Ask a Wrench segment, this time with the return of a familiar voice.

Time stamps:

• 00:03:45 - The biggest red flag for when something is wrong
• 00:06:20 - Brakes usually shouldn’t squeak or squeal
• 00:16:00 - Disc brake pad wear
• 00:20:00 - Pad spacers and travel
• 00:24:00 - Burning brakes is questionable at best
• 00:26:15 - The importance of brake bed-in
• 00:29:20 - Why brakes need scheduled bleeding
• 00:35:00 - Shifting to chain lube basics
• 00:43:00 - How a drivetrain wears
• 00:50:30 - Tubeless is great, but not for everyone
• 00:57:30 - Don’t ignore your front tyre wear
• 1:05:00 - Ask a Wrench (members-only podcast feed)
• 1:05:30 - Welcome back to Zach Edwards
• 1:06:15 - Chasing a forward-offset seatpost
• 1:14:20 - A weird sound in older AXS front shifting
• 1:21:45 - Pedals with a top-out knock

Dave and Jack are back for another round of Geek Warning. This week, new road bikes from Cervelo and Pinarello bring the discussion to topics such as what makes a good endurance road bike, where emerging Chinese brands are seeing success, and why aero bottles are an impractical feature.

In this episode, you’ll also hear what Dave considers the best multi-tool and plenty more.

Meanwhile, listeners on our members-only podcast feed will hear "Ask a Wrench" at the end of the episode. This week, Dave Rome is joined by pro mechanic Colin Williams to answer questions about sticking Shimano dropbar levers, how to handle failed internal dropper-post routing, and a difference in SRAM chains that the company has remained silent about.

Happy geeking!

Time stamps:

• 00:02:13 - A correction’s corner related to airbags
• 00:04:00 - Pinarello’s Dogma X is a pure road bike
• 00:19:15 - Cervelo’s new Soloist is now less affordable
• 00:32:00 - Wrapping up the WheelTop EDS GeX review
• 00:42:00 - Dave’s multi-tool pick(s)
• 00:48:30 - Tern updates its compact cargo bike
• 00:53:30 - Ask a Wrench (members only feed)
• 00:54:30 - Sticking Shimano brake levers when tightened
• 00:58:45 - When internal dropper post routing fails
• 01:09:00 - SRAM T-Type versus Flat Top chains

It’s the first week of the Tour and Escape’s geeks are seemingly all down different rabbit holes. This week, Dave Rome is joined by new hire Jack Duncan to talk through the week in cycling tech, which seems to involve a handful of juicy rumours.

From rumours of new Dura-Ace to big wheels from big brands, there’s a lot to chew on. Dave and Jack also discuss airbag tech that keeps circling big budget teams. And there’s some tool talk for the wrench-enthusiasts.

The free episode wraps up with Jack jumping on a call with aero clothing expert Johannes Rom Dahl (of Fusion) to try to get an answer on whether being in Yellow (or another leader jersey) has an aero disadvantage.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:30 - New Dura-Ace 9300 rumours
• 00:07:00 - Trek 32ers are coming
• 00:13:30 - Please tell us 30.5” wheels are actually a joke
• 00:21:30 - Will airbags ever come to pro racing?
• 00:30:45 - Jack bought some new tools
• 00:38:30 - You probably need a breaker bar
• 00:42:00 - Interview: What being a leader’s jersey costs you
• 01:07:45 - Ask a Wrench (members only)
• 01:10:00 - Corrections corner
• 01:12:00 - Torque and headset preload
• 01:20:00 - A chronically creaky headset and a rant about IS52
• 01:37:30 - Picking a custom steel frame and picking a builder

It’s the week of the Tour de France Grand Départ, and with it have come a few big bike launches. Escape’s senior tech editors, Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, jump on to discuss whether Specialized’s new Tarmac hits the mark.

There’s also a new bike from Orbea. Plus Dave asks Ronan to confirm just how progressive his fit is, and as it turns out, the answer is not very. Ronan then jumps on a call with Daan Teugels from Belgian Cycling Factory to discuss how Eddy Merckx’s reduced-frame-size options can still meet racers' needs.

As always, members of Escape Collective don’t just support independent journalism; they get access to everything we have to offer. For Geek Warning, that means access to the weekly Ask a Wrench segment, where pro mechanics answer our member’s tech questions.

And apologies for the audio this week, as Dave accidentally landed on his backup microphone.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:39 - Specialized’s new SL9 is a little too familiar
• 00:19:50 - Kinky steerer tubes aren’t as naughty as they sound
• 00:23:45 - Orbea’s new Orca Aero
• 00:32:00 - How progressive is Ronan’s position?
• 00:40:00 - An aero-optimised run at the Tour Divide
• 00:45:20 - Giant’s new Revolt Advanced SL (and the Liv Devote Advanced SL)
• 00:48:50 - Campagnolo and Zipp’s new price point wheel options
• 00:53:45 - Chatting reduced frame size options with Eddy Merckx
• 01:13:15 - Back to Ronan and Dave
• 01:15:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only)
• 01:17:00 - Bearing maintenance after a big event
• 1:26:30 - Can an event like Unbound ruin a new chain?
• 1:32:00 - MTB disc brake caliper alignment woes
• 1:42:30 - A fix for leaky ProMax brakes

It's time for a Geek Warning crossover episode! Ronan Mc Laughlin and Jack Duncan join Caley Fretz ahead of this year's Tour de France to break down how bikes and gear are changing and highlight what our tech reporters think will be the most important equipment of a modern Tour.