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

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 skills 04:49 – Rouleur Live: crowds, vibes & venue 05:45 – Show tech highlights: Reap aero gravel bike & POC bags 10:30 – What are trade shows even for now? 15:00 – Industry networking, media value & meeting members 20:39 – Nukeproof is back: new Reactor trail bike 25:00 – Ritchey Septimer breakaway gravel bike 32:00 – Tangent to talk about travel bikes vs hire vs bags 39:44 – 32" wheels & the emerging 32er niche 46:40 – New Lazer Impala: Dual Core trail helmet, helmet testing, MIPS rivals & Virginia Tech ratings 55:00 – 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 Tunnels 6:00 - Giant’s big bet on XC and high-end frames bumping up price points 19:00 - DT Swiss has a wheel with spokes that aren’t made by them 25:00 - Trek’s Project One now offering frame-only 29:00 - A PSA for your drivetrain 36:00 - Dave’s Good Thing of the week (decade?) 45:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Members Only) 46:00 - A watery floor pump 52:00 - 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 Taiwan 6:30 - Touring Giant’s flagship facility 14:45 - Equipment basics for Gravel Burn 22:00 - A proven use case for gravel suspension 50:00 - Brad Copeland returns for Ask a Wrench (Members only) 54:00 - Indoor bike and trainer servicing 1:14:00 - 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 need 4:00 - Campagnolo’s big Super Record expansion and the limits of 1x road 26:00 - Looking at Look’s Vision pedals 30:00 - New warranty options for CSS rim customers 32:00 - a PSA for your freehub 41:00 - Readily available technical manuals are a Good Thing 48:50 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only, with Zach Edwards) 49:30 - What’s up with gravel suspension? 55:00 - Threaded bottom bracket creaks 1:04:00 - Putting new Shimano XTR Di2 on a road bike 1:17:00 - Zach’s preferred brakes to bleed

Warning, geeks inbound. This week, Dave and Ronan catch up to discuss WorldTour rumours and a few of the bigger stories in tech. One of which is Wilier’s new aero bike, and while it wasn’t what Ronan had expected, it raises questions about whether the new crop of Hyperbikes are a consumer-friendly option. Of course, there’s a PSA and Dave shares a ‘Good Thing’ that was on his mind from earlier in the day. And as per usual, members of Escape Collective get an extra half an hour of geekery as submitted questions get answered. Time stamps: 1:00 - A little bit about electric tyre inflators 10:45 - Wilier’s new Filante SLR aero bike isn’t so radical 17:15 - WorldTour tech rumours 31:00 - Strava wants to be friends with Garmin again 34:00 - PSA to preventing stuck tubeless valve nuts 37:00 - Good Things for bleeding brakes 44:00 - Ask A Wrench (Members Only) 44:30 - Maintenance time versus durability in chain lubes 52:00 - Wedges in cycling shoes 1:01:00 - How to know when a slick tyre is worn 1:05:00 - Finding a 160 mm crank for use with 2x GRX

Gravel World’s, Bespoked Dresden, and new products have kept Escape’s tech team busy over the past week. In this episode of Geek Warning, Dave and Ronan discuss a few of the bigger tech sightings and why they may prove to be irrelevant. There’s talk of Campagnolo’s latest products, plus Ronan further explains the role of saddle positioning tools. Members of Escape Collective also get access to the Ask a Wrench segment (this week with Boulder Groupetto). Of particular interest for many is a question related to the use of grease versus anti-seize versus threadlocker. Happy geeking! Time stamps: 2:20 - Tech at UCI Gravel Worlds 8:00 - Ultra-wide wheels from Dangerholm 19:00 - Campagnolo goes Ultra 27:30 - Good products, inspired by another podcast 33:30 - Pet peeve meets PSA related to saddle positioning 45:00 - Ask a Wrench with Boulder Groupetto (Members Only) 47:00 - Tech that less tech-savvy riders should avoid 58:30 - Grease vs Anti-Seize vs Threadlocker 1:12:00 - A member-submitted tip 1:15:00 - Omnium tyre choices

It’s a rare occurrence that timezone align for Escape’s entire tech team to get together and casually chat about what’s keeping each of them busy. For this bonus episode of Geek Warning, Dave, Ronan, Suvi, Josh, and Alex discuss some of the test products and testing that has been on their minds as of late. Enjoy! Time stamps: 3:00 - The bikes we rode last 5:00 - Early thoughts on the Cervelo Aspero 5 8:00 - Canyon Grizl 12:00 - Trek CheckOut 18:00 - Stinner Refugio Ti and Salsa Spearfish 21:00 - A long-awaited Basso review 23:00 - A tangent (rant) into how we do and don’t get review bikes to fit us 37:30 - PFAS-free waterproof and cool-weather kit (Members Only) 44:00 - Wolf Tooth’s entry to SPD pedals 53:00 - Ronan’s power meter pedal deep-dive 56:00 - Josh’ Dynamo adventures 58:00 - Not feeling the difference in Shimano’s new cleats 1:07:00 - Ronan thinks he’s owned a Tarmac SL8 for 7 years. Alex praises the Scott Addict RC. 1:13:00 - THE electric inflator test is coming this week!

Emergency episode time! Caley and Ronan dive into a story that started with chainrings and cogs, and ended up in court. The BCA has ordered the UCI to suspend its new Maximum Gear Ratio Standard, siding with SRAM in a dispute that could reshape how cycling’s rules are made. What began as a “safety test” for rider speed has become a battle over who really governs the sport, and whether the UCI is still above competition law.

Come get geeky with Dave, Ronan, and Zach (Boulder Grupetto), as they add context to the latest cycling tech. This week you’ll hear about adjustable crank lengths, whether fancy bottom brackets are worth the expense, and if modular mechanical rear derailleurs will succeed. Members of Escape will also hear a non-safety-critical PSA, and of course, Ask a Wrench. That Ask a Wrench is a little different from the usual, with a long chat about whether the review bikes we get are given special treatment by the brands. Time stamps: 1:50 - Adjustable length cranks return with SRM 10:15 - A dive into fancy fancy bottom brackets via CeramicSpeed’s overhaul 29:30 - Did Specialized get the new Aethos right? 37:30 - Debating premium, modular, mechanical rear derailleurs. 44:00 - PSA - Check your hex keys for wear (Members Only) 51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only) 53:00 - Do we get special bikes to review? 1:04:00 - Solving mystery air in disc brakes

Long-time listeners of Geek Warning are in for a treat as Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) returns for a full episode. Along with Dave Rome and Alex Hunt, there is a whole lot of ultimate bike geek to this week’s episode. Within, you’ll hear about some unintentionally leaked information related to what’s likely the next generation of Shimano road pedals. Dave then takes the conversation to an old favourite topic – chain waxing. Next, those new to cycling or less knowledgeable about the technical aspects may appreciate a dedicated new section that aims to cover topics that bike shop staff frequently repeat multiple times a week. This week, it’s all about drip-on wax lubes. Of course there’s some industry news to talk about, and finally a decision on the UCIs handlebar width pondering. All of that is free for all, but members of Escape Collective then get access to the Ask a Wrench segment of the podcast. Here, the geeks answer a number of member-submitted technical questions with information that should prove helpful if you’re working on bikes or keen to expand your technical knowledge. Happy geeking! Time stamps: 01:50 - Is a new generation of Shimano road pedals around the corner? 10:40 - Chain waxing temperatures, does it matter? 17:00 - Back to basics: Chain lubes 31:00 - UCI adjusts and confirms its bar width ruling 37:30 - YT set to close 42:50 - CSS Composites closing 48:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members only) 48:30 - Getting perfect shifting with Shimano Tiagra 56:30 - Where to begin with modern mountain bike geometry 1:04:30 - Shimano 12-speed cassettes and the Adhesive Ring

This week on Geek Warning, Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome discuss why SRAM’s battle with the UCI may also prove positive for Shimano. Ronan asks Dave what his workshop wish is, which leads to an unexpected tangent about bike washing. There’s, of course, a PSA, which ends up being a conversation about how to align dropbar shifters. And the geeks summarise a bunch of the latest and biggest new tech. Lastly, Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) joins the pod to answer some questions from members in the Ask a Wrench segment. As a reminder, only members of Escape Collective get access to this section of the podcast. Happy geeking! Time stamps: 1:00 - A hypothetical question 5:30 - SRAM taking the UCI to court, explained (plus a big rumour) 10:15 - Waiting on an update to the UCI’s handlebar ruling (now out of date since recording) 13:00 - Ronan ponders Dave’s dream workshop wish 25:00 - PSA that alignment markings on bars may be fictional plus an explainer on road shifter alignment 38:00 - Rotor returns to the groupset game, sorta 40:15 - Further update on SRAM’s Transmission firmware update 41:40 - Trek’s CheckOut, a full suspension gravel bike 43:15 - RockShox’s matching Rudy XL 45:00 - RLS helmet safety system and Canyon growing the full-service side of the business 48:30 - Lezyne enters the rear Radar game 50:00 - Ask a Wrench (Escape members only) 52:30 - Shimano Di2 rear shifting woes 58:30 - Adding shifters to SRAM AXS 1:04:00 - Greasing posts and cleaning seat tubes

Today, Trek launched a bike that’s sure to spark debate in comments sections. It’s called the CheckOut. It features a new 60 mm travel front suspension fork, courtesy of the RockShox Rudy XL, and 55 mm rear travel to match. It fits gravel-width cranks and has official clearance for up to 56 mm tyres (about a 29x2.25in). However, it’s the design and testing of this bike that brings our fascination up to a boiling point. Trek published a white paper explaining how it used a rolling road with 3D motion capture, on bike sensors, and a metabolic mask to understand the benefits of having suspension on typical gravel terrain. We had questions. So with that, Alex Bedinghaus (Lead Design Engineer) and Kyle Russ (Analysis team) jumped on to geek out with Escape's Dave Rome. The conversation covers the design of the bike, what modern off-road efficiency testing looks like, why gravel bikes continue to go where mountain bikes have been, and plenty more. Meanwhile, head over to Escape Collective.com to see Dave Rome’s early coverage of the new Check Out. Those on the free feed for Geek Warning get the first 25 minutes free. Meanwhile, members of Escape Collective get the whole thing, which frankly, includes the best parts. Time stamps: 3:00 - Introductions 6:00 - The design goal of the CheckOut 10:00 - Why not a mountain bike? 15:30 - Designing for bikepacking 20:00 - Longer suspension and stack heights 25:00 - Suspension layout versus Trek’s IsoTrust 27:00 - Testing explained (Escape Members Only from here on) 35:00 - Body is a damper and a spring 37:00 - Suspension versus bigger tyres 44:00 - Measuring steering compensation 49:00 - Qualitative versus quantitative data 53:30 - Is smoother always faster? 57:00 - CheckOut versus a gravel race bike

When Escape Collective first launched, Ronan Mc Laughlin announced plans for an aero leaderboard. The goal was to test race bikes in real-world conditions using the latest testing tools to determine which bikes are the fastest. That obviously didn’t come to fruition, and this week, Dave and Ronan discuss why. The conversation leads to the two discussing how they approach reviews and the anxieties that surround them. The geeks also have a PSA, Dave attempts to explain pedal kickback in mountain bikes to Ronan, and there's chat of SRAM's speed update for Transmission. Members of Escape Collective (via the member podcast feed) get the full episode, which contains Ask a Wrench. This week Dave answers a handful of member-submitted questions, which this week relate to bottom brackets, servicing hydraulic disc brakes, and cassette wear. Time stamps: 2:00 - Why bike reviews can’t have conclusive answers 26:00 - PSA related to replacing disc brake pads 31:00 - DT Swiss’ new DF system and pedal kickback explained 39:30 - A quiet release from SRAM that speeds up Transmission shift speed 50:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only feed) 50:00 - Specialized’s OSBB explained 56:30 - Cassette wear and how to measure for it 1:04:00 - SRAM Road Hydro lever service 1:11:00 - Buying a bike with a BB86 bottom bracket