It’s the first week of the Tour and Escape’s geeks are seemingly all down different rabbit holes. This week, Dave Rome is joined by new hire Jack Duncan to talk through the week in cycling tech, which seems to involve a handful of juicy rumours.

From rumours of new Dura-Ace to big wheels from big brands, there’s a lot to chew on. Dave and Jack also discuss airbag tech that keeps circling big budget teams. And there’s some tool talk for the wrench-enthusiasts.

The free episode wraps up with Jack jumping on a call with aero clothing expert Johannes Rom Dahl (of Fusion) to try to get an answer on whether being in Yellow (or another leader jersey) has an aero disadvantage.

Time stamps:

• 00:02:30 - New Dura-Ace 9300 rumours
• 00:07:00 - Trek 32ers are coming
• 00:13:30 - Please tell us 30.5” wheels are actually a joke
• 00:21:30 - Will airbags ever come to pro racing?
• 00:30:45 - Jack bought some new tools
• 00:38:30 - You probably need a breaker bar
• 00:42:00 - Interview: What being a leader’s jersey costs you
• 01:07:45 - Ask a Wrench (members only)
• 01:10:00 - Corrections corner
• 01:12:00 - Torque and headset preload
• 01:20:00 - A chronically creaky headset and a rant about IS52
• 01:37:30 - Picking a custom steel frame and picking a builder

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?