Austin Whittington Recaps Winning Rouge Roubaix Solo and Talks 32-Inch Wheels, Custom Stem Build, and Cooler Cabinet Projects

Reach out and touch us: [email protected] the Shiftless podcast, hosts talk with guest Austin Whittington, the 2026 Rouge Roubaix overall champion, about the Louisiana 100-mile mixed pavement/gravel race that has shifted to nearly 50 miles of gravel via a lollipop out-and-back; after prior years cramping out and crashing into a tree, he won this year with a ~60–70 mile solo move after a construction bottleneck split the group, finishing about 15 minutes ahead. He discusses race conditions (heat, high average HR and ~280W), road tires (35mm GP5000 AS TR), neutral water hand-ups, and fueling. The conversation also covers his aborted Doom attempt due to a sinus infection, debate about USAC, speculation on 32-inch wheels and component support, his custom drop-bar Cannondale SuperSlice stem designed in CAD with 3D-printed prototypes and machined in China, upcoming crits and rides, and the hosts’ ongoing cooler-to-dry-aging-cabinet build and delivery issues.00:00 Podcast Cold Open00:31 Meet Austin Whittington01:00 What Is Rouge Roubaix02:11 Doom Plans Derail02:59 Race Day Breakaway04:54 Solo Win Strategy06:33 No Radios And Heat09:29 Bike Setup And Tires10:20 Fueling And Water Handups12:12 Course Hazards And Bridges13:19 Doom Recap And Goals15:43 Rouge Weekend Logistics19:02 USAC And Gravel Racing22:09 32 Inch Wheel Debate31:19 Tire Width Tradeoffs32:20 Roubaix Field Gear32:54 Salsa Warbird Update35:23 Tubeless Sealant Talk37:45 Wheel Balancing Margins40:06 36er Wheel Origins41:30 New Road Bike Build45:37 Custom Stem Prototype48:35 Manufacturing Timeline Costs55:17 Racing Plans Training Volume56:53 Cooler Cabinet Project58:46 Delivery Delay Drama01:00:43 Building a Custom Dolly01:01:01 Doorway Clearance Puzzle01:01:54 Delivery Mix-Up Chaos01:03:40 Tomorrow’s Scouting Plan01:05:42 Taco Casa Date Night01:07:14 California Gear Upgrades01:10:22 Next Big Race Goals01:12:38 Training and Mental Game01:14:37 Route Logistics and Overnights01:24:43 RAT Loops and NET Conditions01:28:09 Pie Ride Menu Planning01:29:51 Wrapping Up and Future Events