CyclingTips Podcast

This week's episode opens with a roundup of February's racing, including discussion of the exhilarating Tour Colombia and how that style could be translated to Europe. 

Then we talk retirement and legacy with Helen Wyman. 

In this week's Nerd Alert, Dave Rome speaks with pro mechanics about the particular difficulties of implementing disc brakes into the WorldTour. 

Plus, we answer VeloClub questions about chain wear, the lure of Campagnolo, and objectivity in journalism.

After wrapping up the week's racing news, Neal, James and Caley dive into a discussion of the ethical quandary presented by big-money race promoters in ethically dubious countries. 

On Nerd Alert, we call up Jeff Rowe of Neutral Service Sans Frontiers to ask how 12-speed SRAM complicates an already complicated situation. 

Finally, we answer VeloClub listener questions, both philosophical and pragmatic.

This week's episode opens with cyclocross worlds, including a dissection of Lucinda Brand's odd pit crash. Then we have a dispatch from Australia and the Herald Sun Tour. 

Then, on Nerd Alert, James gets a bit ranty about water bottles that don't use a regular water bottle cage, and we award the first CyclingTippy WHY?! Award. 

Finally, we answer a VeloClub question: Are carbon wheels more comfortable than aluminum wheels?

This week's episode opens with the sordid tale of Iljo Keisse's disrespectful act toward a woman in Argentina, his subsequent apology, and then his team's utter failure to properly address the issue. 

Then, James posits an interesting question: Is it possible to use equipment to close the gap between riders of different abilities? What's the best way to do it?

Richie Porte won on Willunga again but didn't win the TDU. Caley and Neal kick off the episode with a discussion of Porte's efforts, and then we have a dispatch from Matt de Neef from the ground in Adelaide.

In this week's Nerd Alert, a debate rages over the fuzzy line between gravel bikes and mountain bikes. At what point is a gravel bike just a hardtail with drop bars? New gravel bikes with 29-inch wheels and 2.0" tires — mountain bike sizes — have us wondering what on earth is going on.

We begin with news that the UCI will ban the painkiller Tramadol, often used in "finish bottles," from competition. Then Neal, James, and Caley take a look at Elia Viviani's first win of the year and chat with Jonathan Vaughters about his team's new kit (and his duel with Neal). 

James has issues with some of the tech being launched at CES and thinks it may actually make riding more dangerous. 

Neal calls Phil Liggett to talk about his longtime co-commentator, Paul Sherwen, who recently passed away.

Disc brakes can be very loud. It's a reality that road cyclists are beginning to come to grips with, but there are things riders can do to minimize the noise. For some insight, James and Caley call up Christian Huele, a former pro cyclocross racer who now works for SwissStop. 

But first, there's quite a lot to be excited about as the 2019 racing season kicks off. Neal has a list of the big moments and trends to keep an eye out for this year.

It's time for the second annual CyclingTips Podcast CyclingTippy Awards!

James Huang and Caley Fretz are joined by Dave Rome (all the way from Sydney) for a rundown of the best, worst, fastest, slowest, and most annoying tech of 2018. Plus, we make our tech predictions for 2019. 

(Warning, this episode does include a couple words kids may not know yet.)

James, Neal, and Caley are in the basement for the final episode of 2018 with a pile of questions from you, our dear listeners. They answer questions about gravel bikes, drivetrain upgrades, favorite snacks, road racing tactics, and more. 

Thank you to everyone who listened, laughed, shared, and commented this year. The CyclingTips Podcast wouldn't exist without you.

Telecommunications giant Sky is pulling out of cycling. Caley, Neal and James discuss the implications this will have on the sport. 

Caley also catches up with EF-Drapac boss Jonathan Vaughters to talk about cycling's future.

In Nerd Alert, James chats about a bike he recently tested and why it's really good.