This week the Chumps look into a new release from Shimano. We think it is a good example for chumps to learn from about how cycling brands develop and market new products. Do you need it? Listen to find out! Before we get to that, we have some listener feedback on our tires episode to discuss, and we finish with a listener submitted factoid!

Tire releases have been fast and furious in the past month with quite a few brands trying hard to differentiate their tires in order to take your money. What do chumps out there need to know about these tires? The Chumps will tell you! Before the tires, we have an update on the Vuelta (remember that race we said was over last time). We finish with a factoid that is about, you guessed it, tires! And if you stay all the way to the end, you can hear a special announcement about something happening later this month.

There was a lot of news on the tech front since our last show, and the Chumps are here to shoot straight about it. We talk about the new Dura Ace spotted in the wild at the Vuelta, some new tires from Silca, and the rest of the Tarmac SL9 bike lineup. As ususal, we don't give you all of the tech details, but we talk about what is relevant for chumps like us. Mike Green is not on the show, but the King of Factoids himself sent one in, so listen to the end!

This week the Chumps talk about the AI coaching app boom we have been seeing, especially with Wahoo's recent update of their app and partnership with Coros. Do chumps need this kind of AI training program, and does it replace a real coach? Chad and I give you the low down. We also have a brief recap of the Tour de France Femmes, and a take on a controversial moment in that race that maybe you haven't heard elsewhere. Chad closes out the show with an exciting factoid/Velo Chumps consultancy business proposition!

This week we briefly talk close out the men's Tour de France, and then we talk all about the Tour de France Femmes. We discuss the riders and team, and also how the course itself leads to fantastic racing. Either way, it's a super exciting race and you should be watching. Chad closes us out with a PSA in lieu of a factoid this week, so listen to the end for that!

This week, legendary frame builder Rob English joins the Chumps to talk about the bikes he built for us and building custom bikes in general. The conversation ranges from the technical aspects of frame building, to some great stories from Rob's custom building experience, and we can't leave out some bike racing and Tour talk since it is July. Rob even brings the factoid to the show this week!To learn more about Rob and his custom bikes, go to his website: https://www.englishcycles.com

The Yellow Jersey competition at the Tour de France has come to a close, even though we are only halfway through the race. The Chumps tell you why you should keep watching anyway! We also discuss some exciting news out of the Women's peloton and why you will want to keep an eye on some those races. Chad has a tech tidbit, and we finish with a Tour related listener factoid!

As promised, the Chumps give you a chump breakdown of the Tour de France so far. We did have to come back and add an edit in because things changed dramatically between the time we recorded and the time we could edit and publish. Then we talk about the White Paper Specialized released along side their new Tarmac SL9. It sounds impressive when you read it, but we tell you why it doesn't really say what Specialized thinks it does. That then leads us into the SL9 related factoid to close out the show.

This week the Chumps talk about some new mechanical group sets and the upcoming Tour de France. Of course they are separate topics - no one will use mechanical shifting at the Tour, but that doesn't mean Chumps should not have mechanical options! Eric has another PSA related to a bike that came through his garage, and we end with an exceptional listener factoid.

This week the Chumps start off with some racing tidbits and then we talk about a new UCI rule that is stupid (surprise!). Next we talk about the click bait epidemic we are seeing in cycling media, and we explain why chumps out there reading cycling media need to be wary of what "journalists" are telling us these days. Eric has a PSA, and Ryan is back with a factoid to close out the show.