Velo Podcast

Velo
  • 4.5 (525)
  • SPORTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Velo Podcast brings you inside the world of gravel and road racing with Velo's team of reporters and commentators.

  1. The $10,000 SuperSix EVO Reality Check (and the $3,000 Sleeper Hit)

    12H AGO

    The $10,000 SuperSix EVO Reality Check (and the $3,000 Sleeper Hit)

    Senior Tech Editor Josh Ross has spent the last month living with the 5th generation Cannondale SuperSix EVO, and he’s come to a blunt conclusion: either he’s jaded, or the flagship "superbike" just isn't that exciting. While the marketing suggests this is a category-defining machine, Josh explains why at $10,000 for the Hi-Mod (and more for the Lab71), the SuperSix has essentially become a clone of the Specialized Tarmac SL8 without actually hitting the same high marks. The crew discusses the "Tarmac-ification" of the all-around race bike and why the real winner of this launch is actually the $3,000 mechanical 105 build at the bottom of the range. The SuperSix launch is just the start of the episode. Mike Levy, Lisa Charlerbois, and Josh dive into the polarizing news of the upcoming Lance Armstrong movie starring Austin Butler. Does another big-screen biopic help or hurt the sport’s image? The crew also tackles your listener questions, including the rise of Chinese wireless drivetrains, Mike’s story of being chased through the dark by a "squadron" of squirrels, and whether radar is actually ruining the purity of the ride. Finally, Josh doubles down on the take that set the Velo comments section on fire: Hi-viz clothing is victim blaming. He explains why he's rejecting the "common sense" argument and why we need to stop shifting the burden of safety onto cyclists. 00:00 – Welcome to the show  01:53 – The Austin Butler/Lance Armstrong Movie Debate  08:17 – Listener Q&A  30:58 – Trek Check-Out Long Term: Ditching the "Dorky" Rack  36:07 – SuperSix EVO Gen 5: What Actually Changed, how the Lab71 compares to the Tarmac SL8 and Cervélo S5, and why the 105 mechanical build is what you be buying 50:13 – Wrap up and a tease about the Garmin 1050 and how it's possible the company made a mistake

    54 min

  2. FEB 13

    Bigfoot, Hi-Viz Victim Blaming, and the Garmin Drafting Hack

    From donkeys in the Oman desert to a kangaroo take-down at the Tour Down Under, the 2026 racing season is off to a wild start. But the real creature chaos starts when Levy tells the story of being hunted through the woods by something he can't quite explain. This week, we also have a heated discussion on whether the push for hi-viz apparel is actually a form of victim blaming that ignores the real dangers of the road. Plus, we discuss the new Garmin RearVue 820 and how its same-speed tracking effectively turns it into a high-tech drafting sensor for catching wheel-suckers. 00:00 – Intro  00:35 – Wildlife Chaos: Donkeys and Gazelles in Oman  04:25 – Wildlife Chaos: Kangaroos at the Tour Down Under  05:53 – Hazardous Animal Encounters: Dogs and Bee Stings  08:09 – Hazardous Animal Encounters: Locusts and Tarantulas  09:26 – Levy’s Mystery Woods Encounter (The Bigfoot Story)  13:55 – Listener Q&A: The Cost of Campagnolo Batteries  17:41 – Listener Q&A: Electronic Drivetrains and "E-Waste"  23:53 – Listener Q&A: Lower Tier and Chinese Group Sets  29:54 – Garmin RearVue 820: The Drafting Sensor Hack  47:15 – The Ethics of Safety: Is Hi-Viz Just Victim Blaming?

    55 min

  3. FEB 6

    The 2026 Drivetrain Shootout & Trek Check-Out First Impressions

    This week, Velo tech editor Josh Ross dives deep into the "Big Four" road groupsets. After months of testing SRAM Red AXS, Shimano Dura-Ace, Campagnolo Super Record 13, and the TRP Vistar // Classified partnership, Josh argues that the "best" groupset doesn't exist—only the one that fits your personality. We also discuss: Trek Check-Out: Lisa gives her early impressions of Trek’s genre-bending new gravel platform. Pro Safety: The fallout of the 100kph Alula Tour crash and the debate over peloton speed limits. Listener Q&A: We answer your questions on everything from aero bras to the struggle of skin suits.

    1h 19m

  4. JAN 30

    30% More Efficient? The Math Behind Aero vs. Steel

    We dug into the data to find out. After a 20-minute head-to-head test between a modern aero setup and a classic steel bike, the results were staggering: The aero setup was 30% more efficient, requiring just 221 watts to outpace a rider pushing 288 watts. In this episode, the Velo tech team breaks down the physics of why "Weight Weenie" upgrades fail where aerodynamics succeed, and how you can find these same "free" watts on your next ride. Also in this episode: The Vingegaard Incident: A deep dive into Jonas Vingegaard’s recent crash in Spain involving a "stalker" fan and the reality of pro/fan interactions on open roads. Gravel Suspension Shootout: Is the Lauf leaf-spring fork actually better than the Cane Creek Invert? We answer listener Q&A about upgrading the Salsa Cutthroat. The Leadville Ban: The crew debates LifeTime’s decision to ban drop bars at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. Tech Hot Takes: A defense of the critical take on Pinarello’s new Grevil MX mountain bike conversion. Pro Encounters: Lisa and Levy share their own awkward moments with pros in Girona and F1 drivers.

    1h 1m

  5. JAN 23

    Gravel Suspension Fork Shootout (Cane Creek vs. Fox vs. RockShox) + The Leadville Drop-Bar Ban

    Do you actually need a damper on a gravel bike? Logan Jones-Wilkins joins the show to discuss his massive suspension shootout comparing the Cane Creek Invert, RockShox Rudy, and Fox 32 TC. We break down the winners, the losers, and where the "upside-down" tech actually makes sense. Then, we tackle the controversy of the week: The Leadville Trail 100 MTB drop-bar ban. Josh digs into the archives to see if drop bars truly offer an advantage, or if this rule change is purely aesthetic. Finally, we ask if the new Pinarello Grevil MX is a legitimate race bike or just a way to move overstock frames.

    1h 16m

  6. JAN 16

    Testing Litespeed's $16,500 Titanium Dream Machine & the Best Winter Jackets

    “Owning the Litespeed Coll dels Reis isn’t smart," according to Velo tech editor Josh Ross, but sometimes you have to go with your heart rather than your head. Today's episode sees Josh describe how the lightest titanium disc road frame performs, and he explains that there's much more to this US-made metal bike than its lack of heft. We also dig into comparisons to carbon bikes, its 187lb weight limit, and why there's no such thing as the mythical "forever bike."  Velo contributor and ultra-distance cyclist Lisa Charlebois joins us to report back on her findings after testing a load of women's winter riding jackets, and both she and Josh share their top picks for different conditions and budgets. They also give Levy some pointers on how to stay warm, including a high-tech alternative to the ol' newspaper stuffed down the front of your jersey trick.  New year, same rider... But fresh goals? Lastly, from 500km epics to simply aiming to get on the bike more often, Will, Lisa, Josh, and Levy talk about their ride plans and goals for the 2026 season.

    58 min

  7. JAN 9

    Dangerholm: The Mad Genius Behind the World's Most Boundary Pushing Bikes

    Best known for heavily modifying carbon fiber mountain bike frames and components to shave grams and hide every cable, Dangerholm set out to create two wild gravel machines based on Scott's Spark RC and Scale frames. But the real talking point is the wheels used on both bikes: fully custom carbon rims with a 45mm inner width, 52mm on the outside, and a stepped height of up to 70mm. In other words, absolutely massive. But are they too wide?Levy has Dangerholm explain how the design is essentially a hidden rim inside of a fairing, tire choices, the upsides that go far beyond aero benefits, and how you'll never know what works if you don't go a bit too far sometimes.

    1h 1m

  8. 12/12/2025

    Factor's Wild Geometry Gamble and What It Says About the Future of Road Bikes

    With Mike Levy out, tech editors Alvin Holbrook and Josh Ross take over the Velo podcast to unpack some of the biggest stories in cycling right now, including one bike that calls itself the lightest bike in the world, and another that calls itself the fastest in the world. Big day. Of course, we had to start with the news. Specialized just busted $1.5 million worth of counterfeit gear with help from AliExpress and the Chinese police. So why now? And what does this bust mean for cycling gear? Spoiler: probably not much. Campagnolo is in a bit of a financial crisis, reportedly having laid off 40 percent of its workforce and lost 24 million euros over the last few years. There is hope yet, though. We discuss why. Then it's time for bike reviews. Josh breaks down the XDS X-Lab RT-9, the lightest disc brake road bike you can buy, at just 550 grams. It's a super light frame with some spec quirks, and nearly impossible to find in the US. Finally, we discuss the Factor One review, a bike that makes some heady claims and has the performance to back it up. But the aero shaping isn't the most interesting part of the bike: it's the geometry. Further reading: -⁠⁠⁠We Rode the ‘Fastest UCI-Legal Bike Ever Made.’ The Best Part of the Bike Is Hiding Under the Surface.⁠⁠⁠  -⁠⁠⁠The World’s Lightest Production Bike Is an Engineering Marvel At a Discount Price⁠⁠⁠  -⁠⁠⁠Specialized Seizes $1.6M in Fake Tarmac Frames and Roval Wheels – With AliExpress’s Help⁠⁠⁠  -⁠⁠⁠Campagnolo Lays Off 40% of Staff After €24 Million Losses⁠⁠⁠  00:00 Intro 1:23 Specialized's counterfeit bust 8:36 Campagnolo responds to reports of layoffs 25:03 Riding the XDS X-Lab RT9 44:09 Riding the Factor One

    1h 9m
See All (643)

Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
525 Ratings

About

The Velo Podcast brings you inside the world of gravel and road racing with Velo's team of reporters and commentators.

Information

  • Creator
    Velo
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    643
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Velo Podcast

You Might Also Like