Explore every episode of the podcast Geek Warning

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 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. 

The tech crew at Escape Collective have been paying close attention to the progression toward 32in wheels in gravel and mountain bike, and while the conversation has come up a few times, it felt time to dedicate some real time to the topic.

This week, Escape tech staffers Dave Rome, Ronan Mc Laughlin, and Alex Hunt chat about 32ers in the news, whether the UCI’s potential involvement will slow things, and if a new wheel size is of positive net gain for the wider industry. 

In addition to big wheels, the geeks also talk about some other new products. Meanwhile, members of Escape Collective get Ask a Wrench, the weekly segment where our members’ technical questions get answered.

Time stamps: 

• 00:02:15 - 32ers in the news 
• 00:03:00 - Thömus gets the first World Cup podium 
• 00:07:00 - Canyon’s Lux Era concept 
• 00:10:20 - A few big wheels at Spoken 
• 00:12:30 - The UCI’s involvement 
• 00:23:00 - Brands preparing for the next big thing
• 00:28:30 - Complications in 32er suspension 
• 00:36:00 - It’s a high-risk time for more stock 
• 00:39:30 - Cheaper bikes will be worse 
• 00:42:00 - Why didn’t it start with gravel bikes? 
• 00:49:00 - Wolf Tooth’s lower cost range of products 
• 00:51:50 - Black Inc’s new Hyper wheels. So many carbon spokes
• 00:59:00 - Ask a Wrench with Colin Williams (members only) 
• 01:01:00 - Should you service new suspension and talking bushing clearances 
• 01:14:24 - Fighting stuck tubeless tyres. How to deal with them on the trail? 
• 01:26:00 - A recall-related question 

This week, Dave, Ronan, and new guy Jack chat about Eddy Merckx’s new bike and why it’s surprised Ronan. The bike provides good fodder for diving into more serviceable cockpits and for understanding why only fashion may limit the uptake of progressive road geometry. 

There’s good news for those who prefer cable-actuated shifting, as Shimano has updated its mountain bike offerings. Dave has other things on his mind, too, including Australia’s Spoken bike show and how downhill is teasing future puzzling for disc brakes.

Of course, there’s plenty more than that, and members of Escape Collective also get Ask a Wrench at the end of the episode (members-only feed).

Time stamps:

• 00:01:30 - The new Eddy Merckx and an exploration into progressive road geometry 
• 00:22:45 - Shimano’s mechanical shifting update
• 00:29:00 - Shimano updates a real classic 
• 00:31:45 - Don’t miss Overnight Success 
• 00:33:50 - Downhill tech is on Dave’s mind and the pursuit of heat-regulated brakes 
• 00:39:15 - Dave makes a case for why Australia’s builder scene is world-class 
• 00:46:00 - Cannondale’s nostalgic Team Dream CAAD14s 
• 00:47:15 - Bianchi’s new Specialissima 
• 00:51:45 - Ask a Wrench with Colin Williams (Members Only) 
• 00:54:00 - A Shimano mechanical dropbar shifter that’s coming undone 
• 01:03:00 - Inconsistent Torx tooling 
• 01:13:45 - Noisy eccentric bottom bracket challenges 
• 01:21:20 - Disc brake pads for high elevation bike packing 

New bikes are now rolling in from all directions with both the road and mountain bike race seasons in full swing. In this week’s episode, Dave chats with new hire Jack Duncan about what he’s been seeing at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (aka, the Dauphine). 

Later in the episode, Jack and Dave discuss new cross-country mountain bikes from Orbea and Lapierre. Then Alex Hunt joins to talk about his experience with the new Scott Spark. 

Not even prompted by Dave, the geeks also cover space and weight-efficient tools for travel. And as per usual, members of Escape Collective get access to our popular Ask a Wrench segment at the end of the episode.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:10 - Pre-Tour tech at the Dauphine 
• 00:09:00 - A tangent on big brand wheels 
• 00:14:00 - Mystery new shoes 
• 00:15:20 - New climbing bikes are being seen, but rarely raced 
• 00:23:30 - How to pack tools for travel is on our mind 
• 00:41:00 - It’s a week of new 29er XC MTB, starting with the Orbea Oiz and Lapierre XR 
• 00:49:30 - Alex Hunt joins to talk about Scott’s Spark update 
• 00:59:00 - RIP Charlie Cunningham 
• 01:01:40 - Ask a Wrench with Colin Williams (members only) 
• 01:03:00 - Small electric inflators where low pressures matter 
• 01:13:00 - Discontinued pedal lubes and PFAS’
• 01:20:30 - What on saddles makes them a wear item? 
• 01:27:00 - Pondering a handlebar that turns more freely 
• 01:30:30 - Talking about our mechanical work 

Geek Warning gets a new voice as Escape’s new US tech editor - Jack Duncan - joins the motley crew. 

Together with Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, the geeks cover a broad range of topics from Unbound tech, UCI doing UCI things, Ronan’s custom inner sole journey, and hubs that allow cassettes to fall off. 

Of course, members of Escape Collective also get Ask a Wrench. This week, Dave is joined by Jack Duncan to answer a number of questions from our members. Also, Dave sends his apologies to members listening to Ask a Wrench as his mic settings had changed without warning. 

Time stamps: 

• 00:00:00 - An introduction to Jack Duncan 
• 00:04:30 - Unbound tech wrap 
• 00:16:25 - Disqualification over 20 grams 
• 00:28:00 - Cassettes that fall off and Dave’s Public Rambling Rant 
• 00:33:00 - Carbon inner soles are on Ronan’s mind
• 00:49:30 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 
• 00:51:00 - Running a 12-speed chain on a 11-speed cassette 
• 00:57:45 - battery drain issues in an AXS shifter 
• 1:04:00 - How to add grip to a slippery brake lever

Howdy geeks! It’s Unbound race week, and with that, we’ve seen an expected amount of fresh new tech in the gravel space.

This week, Escape’s senior tech editors Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin discuss Specalized’s long-awaited update to the Crux. There’s, of course, a bit of big wheel chatter. A fun new project product from Wheels Manufacturing. And plenty more.

As a reminder, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench, where member questions are answered by Dave Rome and a quest mechanic (this week, Colorado-based Colin Williams returns).  

If you liked this episode, please leave us a review. It helps like-minded cyclists discover us.


Time stamps:

• 00:00:30 - Ronan went racing
• 00:07:15 - Ronan rides the new Specialized Crux
• 00:14:50 - But is it actually aero?
• 00:23:47  - Are pure aero gravel bikes what we need? 
• 00:30:05  - Scott’s 32in gravel bike for Unbound
• 00:36:50  - Wheels Manufacturing’s better mud stick 
• 00:42:29  - Paragon Machine Works has been acquired
• 00:43:56 - Good thing: Mechanics you can trust
• 00:51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members-Only feed) 
• 00:52:30 - Weird pulley wheel wear 
• 1:03:00 - When is it time to replace a wheel? 
• 1:12:00 - A Dangerholm-inspired Full-Suspension gravel bike? 

With Unbound on next week, and the Gralloch on last weekend, it felt timely to talk about going further on gravel. For this, Escape’s tech and industry reporter, Suvi Loponen, joins Dave Rome. Also joining this week is special guest (and occasional Escape contributor) Kevin ‘Benky’ Benkenstein, a familiar face in the ultra world. 

There's also talk of whether the trend in wide gravel rims is a good direction. And of course, there’s plenty more. Just a quick note that Kevin did have some internet issues, so we apologise for the occasional delay in the recording. 

Members of Escape Collective get the full episode (and no ads!), where mechanic Colin Williams joins Dave to answer technical questions. 

Time stamps: 

• 00:01:31 - Suvi's time at the Gralloch
• 00:10:48 - How to get comfortable when going far on gravel
• 00:17:13 - New Specialized and Canyon spotted at the Gralloch
• 00:18:29 - What benefits the pros doesn’t always benefit us
• 00:20:33 - Unbound is coming
• 00:35:07 - New Enve gravel wheels 
• 00:41:49 - Is wider really better, or is this just a trend?
• 00:45:55 - Niner bikes goes on pause
• 00:49:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only feed) 
• 00:50:30 - How long does a bag of wax last? 
• 00:55:15 - Running a road cassette with mountain bike derailleurs 
• 00:59:30 - Building a tool to stress relieve a wheel 
• 1:06:04 - Does suspension need servicing after storage? 

 In a rare treat, Caley Fretz (aka, The Hammer) makes a return to Geek Warning. Joined by Escape's Senior Tech Editor Dave Rome, this week’s chat covers electronic suspension on mountain bikes and whether it makes sense for future gravel bikes. 

Time stamps: 

• 00:00:00 - Intro, Caley is back
• 00:02:01 - Caley is a fan of Flight Attendant
• 00:25:30 - Electronics for gravel suspension? 
• 00:34:30 - Endurace CF range
• 00:41:00 - Rotor in trouble
• 00:42:00 - Why Escape Collective
• 00:44:56 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 
• 00:45:50 - Can you fix a creaking saddle? 
• 00:50:10 - How to find info on older bikes? 
• 00:56:30 - More Cannondale Ai oddness 
• 01:02:20 - Why don’t mechanics provide their own tools? 

Are full-blown aero gravel bikes all they’re cracked up to be? Dave and Ronan share some strong thoughts on why this may be the wrong path, or at least, why it’s still early days for these being the faster choice. 

For those in the workshop, Dave shares the importance of good lighting and some of his favourite hand-held options for seeing better. 

Alex Hunt then jumps on to talk about XC tech from the opening round of World Cup racing, including why the conditions caused so many dropped chains. 

Of course, members of Escape Collective get Ask a Wrench, this week with guru Colin Williams. Dave and Colin answer a handful of questions, but a chunk of the time is spent chatting about their most underrated and overrated tools. 

Time stamps: 

• 00:02:13 - A Traka load of new, unreleased gravel bikes from Factor and Ridley 
• 00:06:46 - Cervelo Aspero 5 where it’s good and where it’s really not
• 00:13:41 - Has gravel learned everything it knows from XC?
• 00:18:03 - Is the Factor Sarana Ronan McLaughlin’s bike for ultras or just confusing?
• 00:29:42 - A good thing to share about lighting 
• 00:41:47 - Alex joins to talk MTB World Cup
• 00:43:51 - New bikes spotted in South Korea from Scott and Lapierre
• 00:51:56 - Lots of mud and 1x drivetrains aren’t a good match
• 01:01:15 - Ask a Wrench (member-only feed) 
• 01:02:40 - Best mechanical shifting options for dropbar? 
• 01:12:10 - Chainline variance and e-bikes 
• 01:17:30 - Squeaky shoes with SPD 
• 01:22:00 - Our most overrated and underrated tools 

It’s an episode of three parts this week and there’s been lots of big tech releases to chat through. 

Things kick off with Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome chatting about Campagnolo’s new Record 13 release and why it may prove to be the move to put Campagnolo back in the minds of many. 

There’s chat of where Zipp may be gone wrong with its latest 202 wheel release, and Ronan shares some thoughts of BMC’s new gravel racer, the Kaius. 

Then Dave gets tech reporter Alex Hunt on the phone to talk about two new cross-country bike releases - the Specialized Epic 9 and Canyon Lux World Cup. 
 
 Finally, and as per every episode, members of Escape Collective get Ask a Wrench. Zach Edwards and Dave offer their insights to three member-submitted questions. 
 
 Happy geeking! 

Time stamps: 

• 00:00:00 Introduction, Ronan’s knackered, he’s been testing.
• 00:02:40 Campagnolo release Record 13, cheaper than Super Record, still more expensive than most other things.
• 00:14:17 Zipp 202 wheels for going up hills.
• 00:25:29 BMC Kaius 01 Gravel Racing Bicycle
• 00:37:53 Alex is here to talk about new MTBs
• 00:40:54 The new 2026 Canyon Lux Word Cup 
• 00:48:30 The 2026 Specialized Epic 9 has arrived with a big price tag and no frame storage
• 1:02:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only, audio only) 
• 1:04:00 - Headset loosening woes and the Ring of Death
• 1:14:00 - Over-preloaded hub woes
• 1:21:10 - Our choice of tubeless tapes 

It’s the week after the Sea Otter Classic, and the geeks speak surprisingly little of the products shown there. Instead, Ronan and Dave cover new budget drivetrains from SRAM and Shimano. Dave is thinking about unsustainable warranty policies. And there’s plenty more covered from the world of cycling tech. 
 

As a reminder, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench (at the end of the free episode). This week, Zach Edwards joins Dave in answering a variety of questions from members. 

Happy geeking! 

Time stamps:

• 00:01:29 - Should you grease headset spacers?
• 00:05:39 - Lifetime warranties on wear items 
• 00:16:14 - Sea Otter - lots of 32” wheels and the rise of Chinese brands
• 00:31:38: - SRAM S-Series, where 9 becomes 3
• 00:39:54 - Shimano CUES 2x11 overlapping with Tiagra 2x11
• 00:45:37 - UCI vs SRAM. The UCI will make everything safer with limit screws
• 00:56: 11 - Ronan’s nipples are sore, but it’s in the name of unlocking performance
• 1:00:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only)
• 1:02:00 - How does new Campagnolo differ in installation? 
• 1:15:00 - Tips for maintaining a full suspension MTB
• 1:26:00 - Sweat causing Shimano pedal failures? 
  
  

Whoa, what a week to be a cycling fan. And for the nerds among us, Roubaix rolling into Sea Otter is always great.

This week Ronan, Alex, and Dave discuss some of the bigger tech finds and blunders of Roubaix and what they may spell for future products and trends. Many tangents are had. Ronan got to ride the new Colnago C72 and shares why he’s always dreamed of owning a C-Series.

Of course, the geeks also cover some tech news, and there’s a PSA. It’s a long one, but we think it’s a good one! As usual, members of Escape Collective get Ask a Wrench (via the member-only podcast feeds). It’s perhaps one not to miss for the chain waxers among us.

Time stamps: 

• 3:55 - New Shimano SLR pedals break cover
• 7:48 - MVDP not on that new Endurace
• 16:42 - 1x everywhere from Shimano and SRAM 
• 25:30 - Tyres wider than first assumed? 
• 29:00 - What's going on with all the punctures? 
• 34;10 - Inflatable inserts from Odyssey Optis 
• 41:30 - On your mind: The Roubaix-specific bike may still have its day again
• 49:15 - Roubaix’s most intriguing tech picks (glue)
• 57:00 - Colnago’s new C72 
• 1:06:15 - Shimano finally adds crank options to GRX
• 1:07:15 - Dave’s Tool Lust (Cushcore) 
• 1:11:35 - Sea Otter Classic is here
• 1:12:15 - PSA: Be careful not to make a candle
• 1:17:30 - Ask a Wrench with Zach Edwards (Escape members only) 
• 1:18:40 - Chain wax for ultra endurance applications 
• 1:28:00 - Fixing a stuck brake hose olive 
• 1:32:20 - Time XC pedal creak
• 1:39:55 - Why isn’t Nitrogen used in tyres? 

A recent review comparing SRAM XPLR AXS to Shimano GRX Di2 1x brought up an interesting comment from a reader: does electronic shifting kill the soul of a bicycle? It’s a topic of discussion in this week’s episode. 

Also in this episode, tech editor and industry reporter Suvi Loponen rejoins Geek Warning to talk about Canyon’s somewhat confusing new Endurace CFR release. You’ll also hear about some other bits of new tech. Meanwhile, the PSA this week doesn’t mince words, calling out a new product on Kickstarter as one to avoid. 

 
 Of course, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench, where this week Dave is joined by pro wrench Colin Williams to answer a number of your questions. 

Time stamps: 

• 02:41 - Is electronic shifting lacking a soul? 
• 16:36 - New Canyon Endurace CFR isn’t an Endurace 
• 31:59 - New things from Easton, Vittoria and Surly
• 41:28 - PSA: You can’t lube a chain with nonsense
• 50:00 - Ask a Wrench with Colin Williams (Member’s Only) 
• 52:00 - Should I clear coat raw aluminium? 
• 57:35 - Mystery Di2 chain dropping issue 
• 1:05:00 - SRAM dropbar sticky pistons 
• 1:10:20 - Bringing a bike out of winter storage 

This week, Escape’s senior tech editors Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome are back on the mics to talk about Campagnolo’s big news, Stan’s new products, and a big-tyred aero bike from Ridley.

Also, Dave has easy-to-build bikes on his mind and why they’re the sort of bike he personally still seeks out. Plus there’s a PSA for those who ever turn a hex key near a SRAM Transmission or XPLR-equipped bike.

Geek Warning usually finishes on a member-only segment of Ask a Wrench, but not this week. Instead, Dave catches up with famed frame builder Rob English (of English Cycles) about his time at MADE (the North American boutique bicycle show). 

Happy geeking! 

Time stamps:

• 00:01:45 - Ronan and Jack’s big ride 
• 00:05:45 - Campagnolo gets its first outside investor 
• 00:17:30 - For love of easy-to-build bikes 
• 00:30:00 - A conspiracy theory for proprietary design 
• 00:36:00 - A PSA for SRAM Full Mount owners
• 00:37:40 - Stan’s NoTubes has been busy 
• 00:46:00 - Ridley’s Kanzo Fast 2.0 
• 00:55:48 - Talking all things MADE with Rob English (Members Only) 

Ronan and Dave return to chat through the week of cycling geeking. From emerging trends in one-piece cockpits to the latest in tech news, this episode has plenty of information nuggets. 

As usual, members of Escape Collective have access to the member-only podcast feeds where they receive the full versions of our episodes. Every week, this includes the bonus section of Geek Warning – Ask a Wrench, where you’ll hear pro mechanics answer technical questions from members. This week, the mechanics answer questions related to restoring an older rim brake bike and the reasons to do it; tubeless sealants and dehumidifiers; and a handful of questions related to new disc brake setup.
 
 Time stamps:
 

•  4:20 -  Mixing and matching cockpits 
• 18:00 - Do modern handlebar measurements measure up? 
• 24:40 - Escape Explained 
• 25:45 - Prologo joins the pressure mapping game 
• 34:45 - Safety first: Pikio Labs’ Si helmet 
• 39:00 - New Canyon spotted 
• 41:00 - A PSA for crummy pump heads
• 46:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 
• 46:30 - Bringing an old CAAD9 back to life and whether to upgrade the drivetrain
• 53:30 - The Chisel dropbar conversion continues
• 58:30 - Storing bikes with tubeless 
• 1:02:45 - A fussy and sticky SRAM hydraulic disc brake, plus some sneaky tips 

This week, we have tech editors Ronan Mc Laughlin and Josh Weinberg coming in from opposite ends of the world, both in dimly lit hotel rooms, and without their usual podcast recording equipment. It’s only up from here!
 
In the first section, Dave Rome chats to Ronan about his previous day touring Pirelli. Then Dave reminds us of the real-world compromises that 1x shifting continues to battle. Also, you’ll hear a rant, and Ronan has a Good Thing that many probably already own.
 
Next stop is Dave catching up with our US tech editor Josh Weinberg, who finds himself in Taiwan for the Taipei Cycle Show.
 
And finally, members of Escape Collective (who get access to everything we do at Escape Collective), can tune in for our popular Ask a Wrench segment, where Dave and pro mechanic Zach Edwards answer technical questions from members. 

Finally, the day has come for Geek Warning to be a motion picture. You’ll now find episodes on YouTube, too. 
 
 Happy Geeking!
 
 
 Time stamps:
 

•  4:40 - Touring Pirelli HQ 
• 12:00 - Pirelli’s new flagship race tyre
• 18:00 - Wolf Tooth’s new flagship Mark Zero range
• 21:40 - The real world compromises of 1x shifting 
• 34:00 - Content creation that has Dave ranting 
• 40:20 - Ronan’s Good Thing that you may already own -
• 44:45 - Taipei Cycle Show with Josh 
• 52:00 - 32er manufacturing is brewing, 3D printing, and other trends
• 1:07:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 
• 1:08:00 - Shimano brakes gone bad if not used 
• 1:17:30 - Stuck tyre bead on rim. Solutions? 
• 1:26:00 - Re-using old brake hoses during re-routing 

This week, Ronan and Dave discuss Muc-Off’s much-delayed entry into premium drip wax lubes. Better late than never? 

With some new gravel wheels from Swiss Side and Scope hitting the market, the conversation turns to how hooked rims are quickly becoming a sales feature even in disciplines where hookless is perfectly fine. The geeks also chat about rim widths and wheel choices. 

Of course, there’s a PSA, while the free episode wraps with Ronan sharing a new app for the watts-obsessed – wattsthedifference. 

Something you'll be missing in this free feed is that members of Escape Collective get the full episode, including Ask a Wrench. This week, Dave is joined by pro mechanic Colin Williams to answer questions related to torque, DOT fluid, and picking one grease. 

Time stamps: 

• 02:45 - Muc-Off does the thing they debated against 
• 17:20 - Swiss Side’s budget gravel performance and 
• 20:16 - Hooked is a selling feature
• 22:30 - Scope enters the wider rim space and a rabbit hole down the rim width tunnel 
• 31:15 - Wolf Tooth joins the nice semi-internal headset game
• 35:00 - Sapim expands beyond steel spokes 
• 41:00 - PSA for the eyes 
• 43:30 - Ronan’s good thing 
• 1:00:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 
• 1:00:40 - More on torque, dry threadlocker, and carbon paste 
• 1:08:00 - Worry about a frame repair 
• 1:11:00 - How long does DOT fluid keep for? 
• 1:14:00 - Picking one grease for general use 

This week, Ronan reveals to the world that he’s never even sat on a Cannondale CAAD. Relatedly, Escape is now hiring a new tech editor. 

Separate from that controversy, Dave and Ronan chat through some interesting but unreleased products. Dave worries he’s got too much on his mind when it comes to modern electronics in bicycles. And conversation turns a little behind-the-scenes. 

Members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench, where we answer your technical questions. This week a lot of those questions were up Ronan’s alley, so he’s present to answer them. 
 
 Happy geeking! 

Time stamps:

• 3:40 - Escape is hiring! 
• 7:00 - The new CAAD 
•  16:30 - Interesting concept handlebar from Champn 
• 24:00 - Pogi’s new Enve 6.7s 
• 26:33 - Bianchi’s Infinito puzzling press launch  
• 35:40 - New travel cases from Evoc and Post Carry Co
• 40:00 - Dave has no more mental capacity for electronics
• 50:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 
• 51:00 - Corrections Corner 
• 52:00 - Bike choice for Paris-Roubaix Challenge 
•  1:04:00 - Hookless confusion in the real-world 
• 1:10:00 - First bike with electronic shifting. Things to know. 

From hookless hubs to the latest in 11-speed shifting, the past week of tech has been quite the rollercoaster for the tech-minded.  

This week on Geek Warning, Ronan, Dave, and Alex from Escape Collective’s tech team catch up to run through the news and offer plenty of thoughts along the way. This one is a little heavier on the news than we typically like to do, but it’s been quite the busy week on that front!

Of course, members of Escape Collective also get access to the full version of the episode that tacks on Ask a Wrench at the end. Zach Edwards joins Dave in answering a handful of interesting member questions, including one from a former winner of Unbound 200.

 
 Time stamps:
 

•  2:40 - The new Cervelo Caledonia 
• 3:34 - OneUp joins the XC SPD pedal game 
• 6:40 - Nobl’s new sub-1,000 gram MTB wheels
• 9:20 - MicroShift’s Advent MX 1x11 shifting 
• 10:10 - Shimano Tiagra goes 11-speed 
• 11:50 - Hookless hub failures in the WorldTour 
• 17:00 - Giant’s vaguely new Propel 
• 22:00 - Merida’s new Reacto is finally released 
• 31:00 - Closely overlapping road range confusion 
• 50:30 - A SPD to flat pedal adapter that’s a Good Thing
•  53:50 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only feed) 
•  54:45 - Getting specific with 2x shifting on Cane Creek EEwings cranks 
• 1:01:50 - Do you need to bleed brakes after undoing and/or cutting hoses? 
• 1:09:40 - Rusty chains, chain wax, and when to replace 
• 1:19:00 - A real fancy bike behind Zach 

It’s common for everyone to chase the simple answer for what the best product is. In this week’s Geek Warning, Dave and Ronan discuss why those chasing the best of something may be landing upon fiction. 
 
 Additionally, you’ll hear about the differing paths in aero road wheel design between the latest from Princeton Carbon Works and Cadex. Of course, there’s a PSA. And our Good Thing segment returns. 
 
 As with every week, members of Escape Collective get access to our Ask a Wrench segment. This week, Zach Edwards joins Dave to discuss greasing principles, whether to lube electronic derailleurs, mixing-and-matching SRAM brakes, and more. 

If you like the show, then please consider leaving a review. It’s much appreciated. 
 
 Happy geeking! 

Time stamps:
 

• 1:20 - Princeton Carbon Works’ research into rim widths
• 10:50 - Cadex’s new aero combo 
• 20:00 - SRAM’s new gravity MTB products
• 22:55 - Ibis has a new XC bike 
• 24:00 - On our mind: There is no best 
• 36:50 - PSA: Know when you don’t know  
• 46:00 - Good thing: Sync Ergonomics Aerobar Three
• 51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members only)
• 51:30 - Do you lube the pivots of electronic derailleurs? 
• 59:20 - Shimano MTB vs Road on an indoor trainer 
• 1:04:00 - Mixing SRAM dropbar shifters with four-piston calipers 
• 1:09:30 - Applying grease to a thread and how much to use 

Oh hi, Dave Rome here. It’s time to get geeky about spokes. 
 
I recently wrapped up a long-term review (now live on Escape Collective) where I compared two identical gravel wheelsets, one built with bladed steel spokes and the other built with Berd spokes, a spoke made from a Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, aka, Dyneema. 

Those white Berd spokes have been growing steadily in popularity, and off the back of Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand Prevot winning the last Olympic games on them, I was ever more curious. To help with that curiosity, Tristan Thomas of the New Zealand-based wheel company, WheelWorks, lent me some wheels in order to get some answers to questions I had. 

 This episode is a sit-down with Tristan to discuss spokes and the considerations around an interesting polymer product like Berd. Happy geeking! 

Think of recent times when Apple, Samsung, or Google have once again claimed to change the phone, just for you to find out that you can now photograph everyone’s wrinkles a little more clearly. Ronan believes we’re in an age where performance bikes are like phones, and of course, the geeks discuss it.

On Geek Warning this week, Dave and Ronan discuss Cannondale’s latest bikes and what they may spell for some other emerging trends. Meanwhile, the PSA segment returns with a warning regarding increasingly common hood slippage.

 All of that is free to all, while members of Escape Collective also gain access to our popular Ask a Wrench segment at the end of the episode. From our favourite bearing greases to headset woes, there’s plenty answered and discussed this week. 

Happy geeking! 

Time stamps: 

• 1:45 - Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4.5
• 12:50 - TT frames as aero road bikes? 
• 24:00 - Favero doubles battery longevity, for free
• 25:50 - Trek turns 50 
• 26:30 - New Factor Ostro Gravel spotted 
• 30:30 - RIP King Liu 
• 31:30 - Performance bicycles are like phones 
• 45:00 - PSA related to slipping hoods 
• 54:30 - Ask a Wrench with Boulder Grupetto (member only)
• 55:48 - Mixing and matching SRAM Transmission with other cassettes
•  1:00:15 - Specialized Crux headset loosening woes
• 1:10:00 - Quick connectors for fully integrated drop bar bikes? 
• 1:17:20 - Servicing versus replacing bottom brackets, and our go-to bearing greases 

It’s time for another bonus episode from the geeks. Hosted by Dave Rome, this episode is a dive into the world of torque wrench usage. Oh yes, it’s time to get nerdy.

Anyone who uses a torque wrench should find value in this episode that covers the do’s and don’ts in using a torque wrench. To help with this topic, Dave is joined by Alex Boone, an aerospace engineer who works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Formerly a quality control engineer, and before that, a bike shop rat, Alex knows the ins and outs of using a torque wrench and how best to apply that in bicycle terms.

For more on this topic, head on over to EscapeCollective.com for Dave’s latest edition of Threaded that summarises and shows many of the concepts discussed within.

The full version of this episode is only available to members of Escape Collective. Those on the free feed will hear approximately half the episode. If independent journalism matters to you, you want access to all that we offer (and without ads), or you just want a website that’s not trash to look at, then please consider joining at escapecollective.com/geekwarning .

Have you experienced certain models of Shimano 12-speed chains rusting more easily than expected? It’s one of many topics in this week’s Geek Warning, the cycling tech podcast from Escape Collective. 

This week, Suvi, Alex, and Dave also discuss limitations and concerns regarding the fast-arriving 32in wheels. There’s talk of new bikes. And what we carry for fixing tubeless punctures. 

Those on our member-only feeds also get access to Ask a Wrench, where this week Colorado-based pro mechanic Colin Williams joins Dave for the first time. 

Happy geeking! 

Time stamps:

• 1:40 - Trek’s new XC bike has been spotted
• 6:40 - Big (32”) wheels continue to gain momentum, but maybe we should pump the brakes? 
• 18:00 -  Basso’s new gravel bike 
• 22:30 - Do 12-speed Shimano chains have a rust issue? 
• 31:00 - Tubeless tyre plugging 
• 42:30 - What we’ve finished working on 
• 45:00 - Ask a Wrench (Member-only, with pro mechanic Colin Williams) 
• 46:00 - When cutting carbon goes wrong 
• 51:00 - Are there short-cuts to setting up SRAM Transmission? 
• 58:40 - Tips for gravel racing in sand 
• 1:04:00 - Specialized FutureShock headset tips

This week’s episode is packed tighter than a top tube bag before an all-day outing. Join Suvi, Dave, and Ronan as they chat through the latest industry and product news to hit the cycling world.

Within, you’ll hear where Suvi’s head is at in picking a rear radar, and what Dave suggests for a portable air blower. The geeks also discuss bike-washing tips for those without a garden, plus thoughts on modern drivetrain wear.

Members of Escape Collective also get access to the Ask a Wrench segment at the end of the episode, where member-submitted tech questions are answered. Plus, our member-only podcast feeds are ad-free.

Time stamps:

2:00 - Is Eurobike as we know it now over?
9:00 - Good news from Campagnolo
12:00 - Trek’s gusty headwinds
13:45 - Garmin’s new rear radar and Suvi’s existing picks
23:30 - Surly’s Midnight Special gets some fiber
24:50 - Rose’s Shave race and endurance bikes
36:00 - Bike wash tips for apartment dwellers
48:30 - Portable air blowers
51:30 - The old rules of drivetrain wear no longer apply
54:00 - Ask a Wrench with Zach Edwards (Members Only)
54:30 - Dropper posts and internal cable routing woes
1:05:00 - A funny PSA
1:6:30 - Full Mount derailleurs and stripped bolts
1:13:00 - Brake pad compounds for ultra wet off-road riding

Welcome back to Geek Warning! Turn up that radio and listen Suvi, Ronan, and Dave as they discuss the latest big stories in cycling tech.

From why many dropbar MTBs being sold have it wrong, through to a rant about stem designs with limited adjustability, there’s plenty to geek about this week.

Members of Escape Collective also get Ask a Wrench, where Zach Edwards (Boulder Grupetto) and Dave Rome answer a number of technical questions.

Happy bike nerding!

Time stamps:

2:08 - Our first Velofollies
6:00 - Why many dropbar MTBs are half-baked
16:00 - A concept bike designed partly for reality
25:30 - Less happy industry times
29:30 - Gravaa ceases
33:00 - On Dave’s mind: Stems that can’t be moved without cutting steerers
42:00 - MADE tickets now open
43:00 - Ask a Wrench with Boulder Grupetto (Members Only)
44:00 - How do Hookless Max tyre pressures scale with size?
51:00 - Quick connectors for hydraulic disc brakes?
56:00 - Cannondale Ai offset confusion
1:01:00 - Converting an old 29er MTB to dropbar

We’re in Adelaide for the Tour Down Under, and it would be rude not to take a stroll through the race mechanics’ village. After all, the race provides a unique opportunity to see all men’s and women’s WorldTour teams in one place.

Tune in as Caley Fretz and Dave Rome reunite and casually chat tech. From big changes, rumours, to fancy hand-built bikes – there’s plenty to take in.

It’s worth noting that the episode starts with some audio issues, but they're quickly fixed. This episode is wholly free to all of our listeners, whether members or not. And on that note, there is no Ask a Wrench segment this week.

Welcome to a new year of Geek Warning, the cycling tech-focused podcast from Escape Collective.

This week, Ronan and Dave get back into the swing of things by covering some fresh products from Cane Creek, SRAM, BBB, and more.

It seems Ronan and Dave both had PSAs on their minds, so we have two this week. One is about watching wear on what are common wear items. The other is about how to perform a basic safety check on any bike.

Unfortunately, we hit audio issues with the member-only Ask a Wrench that only showed up during editing. For some reason, the recording device decided to give Dave a lisp and mute him off-and-on. Sorry.

Time stamps:

4:00 - Cane Creek answered Dave’s wish
15:30 - BBB’s CoreCap
19:20 - SRAM goes shorter in cranks
22:30 - Tailfin’s bottle cage mount where you want it
24:30 - Garbaruk breaks SRAM’s rules
28:00 - RIP Joe Montgomery
29:00 - Mechanic crystal balling is on Dave’s Mind
38:30 - A basic safety check procedure
43:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Members Only, with some audio issues, sorry!)
43:30 - SRAM eTap rim brake shifters
50:30 - Draining a bike and warding off corrosion
1:04:30 - Can 3D printing save me from a new Wahoo speed sensor?
1:08:00 - How to make toe spikes last longer

Welcome back to Geek Warning. We’re feeling well-rested from a couple of weeks off, despite the world of bicycle tech not waiting.

To kick off the New Year we’re bringing you a special episode, one with someone who should be a familiar face. Calvin Jones has been the public face of Park Tool’s education resources and programs for 29 years, and this week he announced his upcoming retirement from the role.

Dave Rome sat down with Calvin to talk through a variety of topics, including a number of throwback moments, a chat about the current state of professional bicycle education, how some modern tech changes may be driven by a lack of that education, some life tips for all, and so much more.

This is a wholesale listen to kick off the new year, and so we’ve left it open to all. Hope you enjoy it.

The red carpet is out and dozens of interesting cycling products are strutting their way down it.

In this final episode of Geek Warning for 2025, the full cast of geeks assembles for the GWAs. What’s the GWAs you ask? What’s the GWAs?! It’s only the most prestigious and hard fought nonsense in all of cycling tech!

As always with Geek Warning, there are interesting and informative tangents around every corner. If you’re keen on those time stamps in order to jump through the sections, then you’re truly missing the point of this podcast.

Much of this episode is free to all, but only members of Escape Collective are invited to the afterparty. And as is often the case, it’s the afterparty where things get said and friendships are broken. If you haven't already, it's never too late to join.

We had fun putting this one together and we hope you have fun listening to it.

Time stamps:

2:30 - The about time reward
4:30 - Best new drivetrain
10:00 - The coolest bike of the year
18:30 - Our favourite products (one each)
32:00 - Our most read tech articles
38:00 - The biggest industry story and the word of the year
41:30 - We didn’t see that coming
46:00 - Most overrated new trend
56:00 - The Members Only after party
57:00 - The buyer’s remorse badge
1:08:00 - The ‘Wait, What?!’ Award
1:11:30 - Media Beef of the year
1:24:00 - The reoccurring news award
1:27:00 - The messiest situation (shituation?)
1:32:30 - The Grumpies
1:34:00 - Most anticipated new thing

Geek Warning time! Factor’s new One aero road bike, SRM’s non-power pedals, and whether riding bikes ever feels like work are all things Dave and Ronan discuss this week.

There’s a bit of happy news for Spotify users, with our member-only channels now available on the green app. If you’ve been missing out on the Ask a Wrench segment (this week with Brad Copeland) because you’re loyal to Spotify, then now is the time to jump in.

Time stamps:

3:00 - Factor’s new One
14:00 - New non-power pedals from SRM
23:00 - Cube’s recall
25:30 - Do we ever get sick of bikes?
37:30 - PSA for the bearings on your bike
40:15 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only)
41:00 - When to replace a punctured tubeless tyre
49:00 - How much of a difference do a few millimetres make?
57:00 - Pressures for winter tyres

In this episode, we finally dig into the tyre-testing project that quietly consumed most of my year.

Nine months, six tyre widths, hundreds of test runs, three road surfaces, four identical wheelsets, and far too many cold late-night tests than any sane person should attempt. But it was worth it.

Today, Ronan is joined by John Buckley the founder of Streamlines Aero, the company behind the hardware and technical support so crucial to this testing. Together, we break down how the test protocol worked, why it’s different, and why those differences matter. We also unpack the major findings: why pressure mattered more than width in this dataset, why some long-held assumptions didn’t hold up in the real world, and how tyre temperature turned out to be one of the biggest and least appreciated variables affecting performance.

This is just the beginning. Later in the episode we explain where our tyre testing goes from here and what to expect in the new year.

This week’s episode is perhaps a little more behind the scenes than most. Ronan tells Dave about his nine-month tyre-testing project and why he is now ready to actually test tyres. There’s chat about the struggles in picking products for our favourite things lists. And you'll hear a conversation that involves a lot of cliches such as ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ and ‘listen to your bike and body’. Of course, there’s a PSA, and somehow the conversation even turns to elephant asses. Oh yes, the Geeks cover some real ground in this one!

Members of Escape Collective get all of that plus the Ask a Wrench segment (with pro mechanic Brad Copeland). It’s a big segment this week with five questions answered, but like every other week, it’s only available on the member-feed. Speaking of which, members can now access these episodes on Spotify!

Time stamps:

00:45 - Ronan’s long-awaited tyre testing
15:10 - The struggle of picking our favourite products
23:00 - It’s the last 5% that counts the most
39:00 - The latest Rabbit Holes
42:00 - PSA: The organised mess
51:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only)
52:00 - Servicing hubs and dealing with freehub drag
1:01:25 - Singlespeeds and chain wear
1:08:30 - Toe spikes and dealing with faulty shoes
1:14:00 - Our preferred safety window for Hookless Road
1:21:00 - A torque adapter question

Big wheels, a product recall, and another rant about poor bike design – oh yes, it’s time for Geek Warning.

This week Dave and Ronan return to your digital radios. On the list is a sneaky disappearance of a liked SRAM product, news from UCI regarding 32in wheels, and a recall from Trek. Some time on the tools has Dave ranting about a particularly bad example of internal cable routing, and of course, there’s a PSA.

Members of Escape Collective get access to the full episode, which includes our popular Ask a Wrench segment (this week with pro race mechanic Brad Copeland). Just a note that we had an audio issue, and so Ask a Wrench this week has us answering two questions rather than the usual three. Still, there’s plenty of ground covered.

Happy geeking!

Time stamps:

4:00 - SRAM quietly discontinues older AXS rim brake options
7:20 - UCI leaves the door open to 32in wheels in MTB
12:00 - Trek’s big recall of little things
17:10 - Rant time from Dave
24:00 - PSA for another place to look for a creak
29:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only)
32:00 - Corrections Corner for the previous Ask a Wrench
34:00 - Can a chainring wear out before a chain?
41:00 - Shimano 105 shifter levers not engaging