Geek Warning

Escape Collective
  • 5.0 (9)
  • TECH NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Geek Warning

Welcome to Geek Warning, a podcast focused on deciphering the world of cycling tech, explaining how bikes work, and how to make them better. Hosted by Dave Rome, Ronan Mc Laughlin and Brad Copeland, this weekly show is your fix for tech geekitude, covering the latest tech news, industry trends, answering mechanical questions, and whatever else is on our minds. Escape Collective is entirely member-funded. If you like this podcast please consider supporting us by becoming a member: https://escapecollective.com/member/

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Factory tours and fresh tech

    This week in Geek Warning, tech writers Suvi Loponen and Alex Hunt join Dave Rome to discuss their recent factory visits to SRAM, DT Swiss, Oquo, and more. You’ll hear Dave and Alex debate about using full-suspension gravel bikes instead of a mountain bike. The geeks also discuss a whole lot of new and interesting tech. As usual, members of Escape Collective have access to the Ask a Wrench segment of the episode, and this week, Australian national team mechanic, Peter Arch, joins to help answer the questions. Members can submit new questions here. Time stamps: 2:00 - Factory visits18:00 - Full Suspension gravel bikes are coming back25:00 - TRP Vistar with Classified is finally official29:00 - Spoken comes to Sydney in a week30:15 - Oquo now making its own hub33:15 - Industry9 acquires We Are One Composites35:00 - Leaked Roval Rapide wheels37:30 - No.22’s new Drifter gravel bike39:10 - Unno returns to XC with the Horn, room for 2.6” tyres41:50 - Pro’s new internally routed MTB handlebar, please no46:00 - Trek joins the electric air inflator world48:00 - Ronan’s big ride54:30 - Ask A Wrench with National pro mechanic Peter Arch (member-only)56:00 - Solving a skipping hub1:01:30 - What’s going inside a hydraulic disc brake?1:05:30 - Mystery flat tyre1:10:30 - Safer lubricants and lubing cables

    55 min

  2. 6 JUNE

    A Week of Wireless

    June has started with a bang when it comes to new cycling tech. This week we’ve seen the long-awaited release of new Shimano XTR Di2, the next generation Super Record from Campagnolo, and a welcomed new power pedal from Favero. All are new products that Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin discuss, in addition to being covered in more detail on Escape Collective. In addition to all that, Unbound gravel saw a whole bunch of unreleased bikes being raced, which Dave and Josh Weinberg (US tech and culture editor) discuss. Of course, there’s also the usual PSA, Ronan has something on his mind, and the episode wraps with the member-only Ask a Wrench segment (with Zach Edwards of Boulder Groupetto helping to answer questions). Members can submit new questions here. As a reminder, this week also brought a special episode of Geek Warning where Shimano’s North American MTB product manager, Nick Murdick, was interviewed about all things related to new XTR Di2. Timestamps: 2:30 - New Shimano XTR7:50 - Campagnolo’s new Super Record WRL 1319:15 - Favero Assioma Pro RS road power pedals27:45 - PSA on eye safety32:00 - On Ronan’s mind, uh oh40:00 - Unbound tech42:30 - Specialized’s new Diverge45:30 - A name suggestion for the new Pinarello gravel racer47:00 - Factor’s two new unreleased gravel bikes51:50 - Orbea’s also got two new gravel bikes going around54:00 - And Vos on a new Cervelo gravel race bike?55:00 - Euro versus US gravel racing seen in bike design1:00:30 - A pre-installed backup tube1:04:30 - Ask a Wrench (member-only)1:06:15 - How to adjust eccentric bottom brackets on single-speeds1:11:30 - A tip for finding dropped items1:15:40 - Our favourite hand cleaner? Hello gloves.1:22:00 - Removing the impossibly stuck crank

    1h 5m

  3. 4 JUNE

    Special ep: Shimano’s MTB Product Manager on the new XTR Di2

    Seven years have passed since we last saw an updated version of Shimano’s flagship mountain bike group. Assuming you weren’t holding your breath, and as a result are still with us, then today is the day of the update. Yes, new XTR Di2 M9200 is here. It represents Shimano’s delayed entry into true wireless shifting, and brings with it a number of other interesting developments (a new brake oil, anyone?).In this episode, Escape Collective’s Dave Rome and Alex Hunt sit down with Shimano North America’s MTB Product Manager, Nick Murdick. The North American offices of Shimano have been playing an increasingly significant role in the development and design of Shimano’s next generation parts, and Nick has been at the centre of that for the new XTR. This episode speaks candidly with Murdick about the new group, some challenges faced, some decisions behind the details, and a few teases of what may still be to come. Alex and Dave wrap up at the end with a few quick thoughts. Meanwhile, you’ll need to visit our article on Escape Collective to find all the nuanced details and ride impressions of the new XTR product range. A chunk of this episode (along with our written report) is free for all to enjoy and learn from. However, as Escape is wholly member-funded (which means this isn’t sponsored or paid content), you will need to be a member of Escape Collective in order to hear it all.

    22 min

  4. 30 MAY

    Mountain bikers on gravel tyres. What in the upside-down world?

    Our necks are hurting from the whiplash of information regarding what tyres are actually fastest off-road. Ronan teases a fresh discussion he had about optimising one sponsored rider for Unbound and some surprising lessons that came from that. It's a topic that continues to fascinate, especially given some of the world's best cross-country mountain bikers have been racing Short Track on 50 mm gravel tyres. In addition to that, you’ll hear Dave Rome, Alex Hunt, and Ronan McLaughlin explain why none of them are currently choosing to use 3D-printed saddles. There’s a PSA for anyone with wireless shifting, and of course, there’s new stuff to talk about, too. As usual, members also get our Ask a Wrench segment, which this week sees Dave Rome and pro race mechanic Brad Copeland answer a handful of questions, including: how keep 11-speed shifting running long-term, understanding bike handling, and best practises for travelling with new SRAM Full Mount derailleurs (Transmission and XPLR). Members can submit new questions here. Timestamps: 5:15 - Corrections corner related to 55 mm road tyres8:40 - Corrections corner related to the Zipp 303 SW naming11:00 - So mountain bike tyres aren’t always faster off-road?24:00 - DT Swiss joins the gravel suspension game29:30 - Why we don’t choose 3D-printed saddles42:10 - A PSA to wireless shifting44:30 - Polygon’s new Helios A road racer50:30 - Goodyear’s new Connector gravel race range55:00 - HED’s new gravel wheels58:30 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (member-only)59:40 - Keeping SRAM 11-speed going long-term1:05:30 - How to understand rear handling?1:09:00 - Travelling with SRAM T-Type/Full Mount derailleurs

    59 min

  5. 23 MAY

    Modern chain wins and questionable pressure sensors

    Welcome back to the cycling tech podcast with a Geek Warning.  This week, Escape’s tech editors Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin discuss what’s been on their minds. For Dave, that’s how good modern chains have become and a cool upgrade option for DT Swiss hub users.For Ronan, it’s the new wheels from Zipp that have been occupying his time. This is a fairly long episode for members of Escape Collective (go here). Those on the member-only podcast feed won’t just hear what’s new, but rather will hear some criticism of Zipp’s new built-in pressure gauges and whether the company has addressed Ronan’s concerns about hookless. As always, members also get our Ask a Wrench segment, which this week sees Dave Rome and pro race mechanic Brad Copeland answer a handful of questions related to disc brakes, along with one about the trend to toward wide gravel tyres and where suspension comes into that. Members can submit new questions here. 3:30 - Corrections corner: 14-speed cassettes do exist, sigh.4:30 - Williams Racing Product’s Zero Drag Kit is cool9:30 - Some things are really good, especially new chains17:30 - PSA: Don’t pluck your (tyre) hairs20:50 - Gunnar and Waterford names return21:30 - Standert’s new scandium alloy road racer24:30 - Pirelli’s new endurance road tyre that goes to 55 mm wide31:15 - Rex releases its Black Magik drip wax34:30 - Silca’s first grease and Dave’s go-to grease37:00 - Zipp’s new range of wheels42:15 - Wolf Tooth’s new Clik valves and bottom brackets49:00 - Opinions on Zipp’s new wheels and sensors (member-only)1:03:00 - Where we stand on hookless (member-only)1:13:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only)1:15:00 - Dealing with rubbing discs1:26:00 - Crop circles on disc rotors1:32:00 - Cleaning with disc brakes1:39:00 - Pondering wide tyres versus gravel suspension for Unbound

    50 min

  6. 21 MAY

    Special ep: Why is kit so expensive?

    You don’t have to look far these days to find a jersey and bib short that costs more than my first road bike, or one that costs less than lunch. In this episode, I sit down with Steve Smith, Brand Manager at Castelli and Sportful, to unpack what really drives the cost of cycling kit. From €1.50 chamois pads to €300 retail tags, we explore the full supply chain, manufacturing realities, sponsorship costs, direct-to-consumer myths, and why a €30 short might look the part and what it might be missing, if anything. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re really paying for, if it's marginal gains or just all margins for the manufacturers, this episode has answers.

    45 min

  7. 16 MAY

    Tech so smart it’s dumb

    This week we’ve got wireless shifting on our minds. Campagnolo’s new 13-speed wireless continues to be seen out in the wild, now at the Giro d’Italia. Dave has had his hands on WheelTop’s latest wireless mountain bike derailleur and shifter. And SRAM has an option to upgrade its new mechanical T70/T90 system to wireless, and nope, we’re not joking. Additionally, Ronan is feeling misunderstood. We warn about using modern Ai-type tech in your repair endeavours. And of course, there’s plenty more. As always, Escape Collective members will hear our popular Ask a Wrench segment. This week, Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) and Dave Rome answer member-submitted questions related to fixing tubeless punctures in road tyres, the complications of Cannondale’s Ai asymmetry, and we provide some thoughts on the best tyre setups for amateur racing across multiple disciplines. As a reminder, you’ll need to be a member of Escape Collective (go here) in order to access this popular segment of the podcast. Members can submit new questions here. Time stamps:2:50 - Ronan’s feeling misunderstood8:15 - Thumb shifter all-but-confirmed for next-gen Campagnolo Wireless13:30 - Dave’s first impressions of WheelTop wireless (EDS OX2.0)23:00 - a PSA about using Ai to help you wrench27:00 - SRAM’s new mechanical shifting can be upgraded to wireless32:00 - Canyon updates the Ultimate and Endurace road bikes38:00 - Rocky Mountain secures new Canadian owners39:20 - Where to for Felt Bicycles?42:00 - Threaded this week45:00 - Time for Ask a Wrench (member’s feed only)49:00 - How to properly fix a cut tubeless tyre57:00 - Cannondale Ai crank woes1:04:00 - Best tyre setups by disciplines

    52 min

  8. 9 MAY

    Is every flagship drivetrain bound to go 13-speed?

    How is it that a product can be raced by a professional, in a professional event, and that the media aren’t allowed to tell all? It’s become a surprisingly common occurrence, and in this episode, you’ll hear Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome explain how it all works. You’ll also hear about Campagnolo’s latest spotted new drivetrain, and why it likely spells a wider change to 13-speed. Also, Ronan and Dave discuss the new Cannondale Synapse and its rather confusing overlap with other bikes in Cannondale’s range. The conversation then moves to cover other new products and industry news. Finally, Escape Collective members will hear our popular Ask a Wrench segment. This week, Ronan and Dave answer member-submitted questions related to their favourite Co2 inflator heads (and preferred alternatives), an update to the Classified two-speed hub system, and calibrating power meters. As a reminder, you’ll need to be a member of Escape Collective (go here) in order to access this popular segment of the podcast. Members can submit new questions here. Language warning: Ronan said a naughty word at the 6:58 point of the episode. Time stamps: 2:00 - Spotting new products in clear sight and embargos explained10:40 - Campagnolo 13-speed EPS Wireless is coming22:00 - We’re not sure how to define the new Cannondale Synapse37:00 - Chit chat, amusing clickbait, and problematic AI41:00 - Canyon US and Amazon Prime42:00 - Industry news from DT Swiss43:20 - Vittoria updates the Rubino45:30 - Park Tool’s new free things47:00 - Feedback Sports’ new chain whip alternative50:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only)51:00 - Our preferred Co2 inflator heads and alternatives59:20 - Calibrating power meters1:04:10 - Classified’s requirements for the 10T cassettes

    51 min
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About

Welcome to Geek Warning, a podcast focused on deciphering the world of cycling tech, explaining how bikes work, and how to make them better. Hosted by Dave Rome, Ronan Mc Laughlin and Brad Copeland, this weekly show is your fix for tech geekitude, covering the latest tech news, industry trends, answering mechanical questions, and whatever else is on our minds. Escape Collective is entirely member-funded. If you like this podcast please consider supporting us by becoming a member: https://escapecollective.com/member/

Information

  • Creator
    Escape Collective
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    157
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Escape Collective
  • Show Website
    Geek Warning

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