Geek Warning

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 Campagnolo12:00 - Trek’s gusty headwinds13:45 - Garmin’s new rear radar and Suvi’s existing picks23:30 - Surly’s Midnight Special gets some fiber24:50 - Rose’s Shave race and endurance bikes36:00 - Bike wash tips for apartment dwellers48:30 - Portable air blowers51:30 - The old rules of drivetrain wear no longer apply54:00 - Ask a Wrench with Zach Edwards (Members Only)54:30 - Dropper posts and internal cable routing woes1:05:00 - A funny PSA1:6:30 - Full Mount derailleurs and stripped bolts1:13:00 - 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 Velofollies6:00 - Why many dropbar MTBs are half-baked16:00 - A concept bike designed partly for reality25:30 - Less happy industry times29:30 - Gravaa ceases33:00 - On Dave’s mind: Stems that can’t be moved without cutting steerers42:00 - MADE tickets now open43:00 - 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 confusion1:01:00 - 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 wish15:30 - BBB’s CoreCap19:20 - SRAM goes shorter in cranks22:30 - Tailfin’s bottle cage mount where you want it24:30 - Garbaruk breaks SRAM’s rules28:00 - RIP Joe Montgomery29:00 - Mechanic crystal balling is on Dave’s Mind38:30 - A basic safety check procedure43:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Members Only, with some audio issues, sorry!)43:30 - SRAM eTap rim brake shifters50:30 - Draining a bike and warding off corrosion1:04:30 - 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 reward4:30 - Best new drivetrain10:00 - The coolest bike of the year18:30 - Our favourite products (one each)32:00 - Our most read tech articles38:00 - The biggest industry story and the word of the year41:30 - We didn’t see that coming46:00 - Most overrated new trend56:00 - The Members Only after party57:00 - The buyer’s remorse badge1:08:00 - The ‘Wait, What?!’ Award1:11:30 - Media Beef of the year1:24:00 - The reoccurring news award1:27:00 - The messiest situation (shituation?)1:32:30 - The Grumpies1:34:00 - 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 One14:00 - New non-power pedals from SRM23:00 - Cube’s recall25:30 - Do we ever get sick of bikes?37:30 - PSA for the bearings on your bike40:15 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only)41:00 - When to replace a punctured tubeless tyre49:00 - 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 testing15:10 - The struggle of picking our favourite products23:00 - It’s the last 5% that counts the most39:00 - The latest Rabbit Holes42:00 - PSA: The organised mess51:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only)52:00 - Servicing hubs and dealing with freehub drag1:01:25 - Singlespeeds and chain wear1:08:30 - Toe spikes and dealing with faulty shoes1:14:00 - Our preferred safety window for Hookless Road1:21:00 - 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 options7:20 - UCI leaves the door open to 32in wheels in MTB12:00 - Trek’s big recall of little things17:10 - Rant time from Dave24:00 - PSA for another place to look for a creak29:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only)32:00 - Corrections Corner for the previous Ask a Wrench34:00 - Can a chainring wear out before a chain?41:00 - Shimano 105 shifter levers not engaging

In a tech-launch heavy week, Suvi, Josh, and Alex have taken over the pod to chat about what was happening at the recent, season-ending Rouleur Live show, which led them to discuss the value of these cycling exhibitions a little more. To wrap things up, the team chatted through the – admittedly very off-road focused – new product launches from Nukeproof, Ritchey, Velocity USA, and Lazer. If you scroll past the show timestamps, we've also included a little Rouleur Live gallery there for you to browse. Timestamps:00:10 – Intro, and Suvi's Brompton skills04:49 – Rouleur Live: crowds, vibes & venue05:45 – Show tech highlights: Reap aero gravel bike & POC bags10:30 – What are trade shows even for now?15:00 – Industry networking, media value & meeting members20:39 – Nukeproof is back: new Reactor trail bike25:00 – Ritchey Septimer breakaway gravel bike32:00 – Tangent to talk about travel bikes vs hire vs bags39:44 – 32" wheels & the emerging 32er niche46:40 – New Lazer Impala: Dual Core trail helmet, helmet testing, MIPS rivals & Virginia Tech ratings55:00 – Outro

If you were buying a mid-level performance bike, would you prefer an exceptional frame or a little compromise to get better components? That’s something that Ronan and Dave ponder in this week’s episode of Geek Warning.In addition to that, you’ll learn about DT Swiss’ first wheel that features spokes that aren’t its own. There’s a PSA for anyone ignoring noises from their drivetrain. And Dave nerds out on some funny-looking screwdrivers.Of course, members of Escape Collective get access to the Ask a Wrench segment at the end of the episode. Here, Dave and Brad Copeland go deep on whether bottom bracket bearings can last a lifetime and take a detour on the topic of flat mount mountain brakes.Timestamps:1:00 - Bigham’s Laser Bubble Tunnels6:00 - Giant’s big bet on XC and high-end frames bumping up price points19:00 - DT Swiss has a wheel with spokes that aren’t made by them25:00 - Trek’s Project One now offering frame-only29:00 - A PSA for your drivetrain36:00 - Dave’s Good Thing of the week (decade?)45:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Members Only)46:00 - A watery floor pump52:00 - Can a bottom bracket bearing last a lifetime?1:02:00 - Upgrading flat mount brakes on a mountain bike

It’s rare to get a bike that’s raced professionally throughout the season, that wins a World Championship title, and only then is released.The new Giant Anthem cross-country bike is finally official, and tech editor Dave Rome recently flew to Taiwan to see how it’s made and get some early ride time on it.While at that launch, Dave sat down with the bike’s lead category manager, Joe Staub, to learn about some of the design decisions, how Giant designs for manufacturing, and plenty more. At the end of the episode, you’ll also hear an interview with current XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly (as well as team manager Sebastion Boyington) about some specific tech thoughts for cross-country racing.Usually, the full versions of our special episodes are only available to members of Escape Collective. We’re making an exception for this and keeping the full episode free for all. We just ask that if you find it interesting, please consider sharing it with someone who may also like it.If you want more information on the bike, then head to EscapeCollective.com for a full write-up, including early ride impressions.

Welcome back, geeks!This week’s episode is a bit of a mixed bag, with Dave and Ronan kicking things off with a chat about Giant’s flagship factory. Things then jump to South Africa, where Escape’s CEO Wade Wallace sits down with racer and occasional tech contributor Kevin Bekenstein to chat tech at the inaugural Gravel Burn stage race.Finally, members of Escape Collective will hear the return of Brad Copeland in the Ask a Wrench segment.Time stamps:2:30 - Dave’s trip to Taiwan6:30 - Touring Giant’s flagship facility14:45 - Equipment basics for Gravel Burn22:00 - A proven use case for gravel suspension50:00 - Brad Copeland returns for Ask a Wrench (Members only)54:00 - Indoor bike and trainer servicing1:14:00 - Shimano front shifter that keeps getting hard to use.1:27:00 - Long-term storage of mountain bike suspension

Jeez, that Dave and Ronan can sure ramble on about a new groupset. Indeed, this week’s Geek Warning has the geeks geeking over Campagnolo’s much-awaited release of 1x13 wireless. They chat about what's new, the limitations of a single chainring for general road riding, and why the future for the iconic Italian manufacturer seems brighter.While that chat may be a little premium for some tastes, the rest of the episode is all about more practical things. From tips for freehub servicing through to chatting good tech docs, this week’s episode lives up to the podcast’s name.Time stamps:2:30 - A Corrections Corner that only members need4:00 - Campagnolo’s big Super Record expansion and the limits of 1x road26:00 - Looking at Look’s Vision pedals30:00 - New warranty options for CSS rim customers32:00 - a PSA for your freehub41:00 - Readily available technical manuals are a Good Thing48:50 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only, with Zach Edwards)49:30 - What’s up with gravel suspension?55:00 - Threaded bottom bracket creaks1:04:00 - Putting new Shimano XTR Di2 on a road bike1:17:00 - Zach’s preferred brakes to bleed