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