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.