Geek Warning

It’s not the usual weekly show format this week, as instead, it’s time for our annual tech awards. Don’t worry, this isn’t just us praising new products, in fact, there’s hardly any of that.

These are awards you won’t likely see promoted by the respective brand, as afterall, a poo emoji isn’t likely to help sell product. It’s not all negative though as the full cast of geeks discuss the biggest new tech trends, a few most desired products, and the most anticipated new products for 2025.

With absolutely no sensical order to anything, let’s dive into the Geek Warning tech awards of 2024! Thanks for a great year, and you’ll hear from us again when 2025 arrives.

Warning, spoilers (aka time stamps) below:

1:00: Biggest tech trends of 2024 - All-road bikes, wider gravel tyres, converging categories, and shorter cranks
13:00: The unexpected gimmick we don’t hate - Head units with integrated bicycle bells
15:40: Silliest new product of 2024 - RAF’s aero backpack
18:40: Thought-invoking/Most nuanced/potentially bad award - Zipp XPLR 303 gravel wheels, Highbar helmet system, Visma’s TT Giro Aerohead II helmet
29:00: Most desired small product that doesn’t yet exist - A “long press” SRAM Blip shifter and a self-dropping dropper post
34:00: Best new aero thing - Time-trial saddles for road bikes
37:00: Best new maintenance tool thing - A different way to check chain wear from Abbey Bike Tools and disc brake piston presses
41:30: Great new product most likely to bankrupt us - Scott Addict RC, RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, Body Rocket Aero Sensor (guess who picked what?)
47:00: Glasshouse of the year - GCN Tech Show #359
48:30: Worst trend of 2024 - Half-baked products being released for sale (looking at Wahoo and Coros as examples) and product leaks
59:00: It’s about time they fixed it (aka most improved) - Pinarello Dogma F, SRAM Red AXS shifters, and SRAM brakes in general
1:08:30: The more of this please bike industry award - Genuinely serviceable and repairable components, better representation in the industry, and less waste in general.
1:14:00: Most anticipated new product for 2025 (which hopefully happens) - Shimano GRX Di2 1x, Shimano XTR Di2, SRAM mechanical T-Type shifting, Specialized reVenge, Fox’s answer to Flight Attendant suspension
1:21:00: Looking to 2025 and some changes to the Geek Warning team

Just when we started to think the bike industry was moving toward do-it-all road race bikes, we then get word that it’s all about to change once again. Dedicated aero bikes never entirely left, but as you’ll hear from the geeks, they’re very much coming back.

This week, Ronan Mc Laughlin, Suvi Loponen, Brad Copeland, and Dave Rome are all on the pod to discuss the latest new bikes and what is driving these trends. You’ll learn about the biggest dos-and-don’ts in using a torque wrench, plus the geeks answer a few “Ask a Wrench” questions from Escape members.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:

1:30 - Spotting bikes in the wild is getting easier
5:00 - Colnago’s big investment in the new Y-Series is unapologetically for the pros
14:20 - On our minds: Dedicated aero bikes are coming back in a big way and sharing our preferences
25:00 - PSA: Proper usage of torque wrenches
41:30 - Schwalbe’s new gravel range of tyres
44:00 - Trek launches a tyre recycling program in the USA
46:15 - Ask a Wrench: Removing stubborn tyres on the road
53:00 - Ask a Wrench: Wear on metal steerer tubes
59:00 - Ask a Wrench: Tyre inserts for XC racing
1:06:00 - Geek Warning awards next week

In this bonus episode of Geek Warning, Ronan McLaughlin sits down with the Colnago design team to dissect the design and development of their latest aero road bike, the Y1-RS.

They explore how recent changes to UCI regulations opened up new possibilities in frame design, the challenges of balancing aerodynamics, stiffness, and rider comfort, and why the bike looks the way it does.

The discussion covers everything from improving CFD modelling to a Colnago's stiffness tests, and the whys of that off set seat post design and Y shaped handlebar. Long story short… In the absence of being able to ride the bike, we set about finding out if this decisive bike is all go or all show.

Welcome back to Geek Warning!

This week Ronan Mc Laughlin, Dave Rome, Suvi Loponen, and Brad Copeland are on the pod to discuss things such as Wahoo’s gigantic new head unit, Campagnolo’s return to the WorldTour, and the worrying trend of many cycling products being disposable.

On our minds, and a general theme of the episode, is how to better cover sustainability aspects in the products we review. As you’ll hear, our focus is expecting a longer useable life (whether through serviceability or just straight up durability) from the products we buy.

Of course, plenty more is discussed, too. Enjoy!

Time stamps:

1:00 - The big-sized release of the Wahoo Elemnt Ace, aero meters, and more
19:30 - We told you so, Campagnolo returns to the WorldTour
27:00 - Sustainability in products is on our minds
36:00 - Giant’s expands its own range of suspension components for 2025
41:00 - Ask a Wrench: Lacking access to service parts
52:40 - Ask a Wrench: Pedal extenders and power meter pedals
58:45 - Ask a Wrench: Odd movement between a Shimano SPD-SL pedal and cleat
1:06:00 - Ask a Wrench: Finding a budget cassette for SRAM Eagle that fits an HG freehub

This week, Escape’s newest tech writer, Alex Hunt becomes the latest voice on the show. Joined by Suvi, Dave, and Brad, the geeks discuss the biggest news in the week of tech, a tech development that could have a game-changing application, and answer several technical questions.

There is Scott’s newly renewed focus on weight and what appears to be crazily light tyres coming from Schwalbe. Dave thinks Magura’s recently announced Easy Link hose system could be a glimpse at the future of easing the pain that is integrated cabling.

The geeks then discuss a few smaller bits of tech and then get to an important maintenance-related matter that impacts all bikes. Finally, the Ask a Wrench segment answers things related to headsets, bottom bracket/crank installation, and tandems. A special thanks to frame builder Brad Bingham (plus Butch Boucher and Steve Potts!) for helping to answer that tandem question.

Time stamps
1:00 - An introduction to Escape’s newest tech hire, Alex Hunt
4:30 - Scott’s Addict RC proves weight still sells
12:00 - The unknowns of Schwalbe’s new Aerothan tyres
25:00 - On our minds, the future of quick disconnect hydraulic hoses
33:00 - PSA: Draining those bikes
40:50 - Enve’s SES Aero Pro one-piece road bar
43:00 - Outlier's Unusual Axle-Free Pedal Designs
47:00 - The Smart Lever, aims to ease tyre installation
52:00 - Ask a Wrench: Steering range limiting headsets
58:30 - Ask a Wrench: Tandem-related things, answered by the experts
1:06:00 - Ask a Wrench: How freely should a new bottom bracket spin?

It’s a big week in the cycling tech world with Strava dropping a bomb on many connected apps. To learn more about what this upcoming change could mean for you, Ray Maker, aka DCRainMaker, joins the pod.

Following that chat, you’ll hear from Suvi, Ronan, Dave, and Brad on various topics, ranging from Rouleur Live, a bunch of new bikes, and answering a couple of member questions. Plus, Dave shares something on his mind that then follows a different path.

As usual, we encourage you to visit escapecollective.com to see and learn more about the products and themes discussed.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:
1:00 - DCRainMaker joins to explain Strava’s unexpected API changes
21:30 - Rouleur Live highlights
25:30 - Reap Type 300 gravel bike and rapid prototyping
32:40 - On our mind: products shouldn’t be annoying to use and an unexpected tangent into disc brake caliper piston service and Dave’s tool testing
43:30 - Bunch of new bikes, starting with the Mondraker Arid Carbon gravel bike
46:30 - Argonaut’s Supernaut
48:00 - Colnago has a new steel bike, the Steelnovo
52:25 - Pinarello’s entry-level F1 road bike
56:00 - DT Swiss partners on a dynamo hub and complete wheels
59:50 - Ask a Wrench: Brake feel and air in Shimano brakes
1:09:00 - Ask a Expert: Why compliance matters beyond the tyres

Join Ronan, Dave, Suvi, and Brad as they discuss all things related to modern tyres. You’ll hear why Ronan now prefers hard-to-fit tyres, tips to make the installation easier, and our favourite online (free) pressure calculators.

Of course, there are a few bits of news to cover, including an interesting new freehub patent from Lauf. And as usual, Brad and Dave answer a few mechanical questions submitted by Escape members.

As a reminder, we’re now covering tech news in our Daily News (published on site each day), and that means we’ve also made some changes to the podcast (for the better, we hope). Let us know in the comments how you like (or not) the format changes we’ve been making.

Time stamps:

1:15 - Corrections Corner related to pulling a chain from wax
2:50 - On Ronan’s mind is that tyre fitment woes may not be a wholly bad thing
18:00 - Making tyre installation easier
21:30 - Ronan finally reveals the tight-fitting tyre
24:30 - Pick One: Tyre pressure calculators
39:45 - MRP creates a Cage Guard from SRAM Transmission derailleurs
41:55 - Thule purchases Quadlock
43:00 - Stinner’s introduces a well-priced USA-made stock geometry steel bike
44:50 - Lauf’s teases patent for a springy freehub
47:00 - Ask a Wrench: chain noises on SRAM Eagle AXS
55:20 - Ask a Wrench: installing new brakes and hoses
1:00:05 - Ask a Wrench: removing a stuck headset bearing

Welcome back to Geek Warning. It’s a big cast with Suvi Loponen, Ronan Mc Laughlin, Brad Copeland, and Dave Rome chatting through the latest new tech and answering some mechanic-related questions.Ronan is quizzed over the “too long didn’t read” for the newly Spotted Ridley Noah Fast, plus what Pirelli is up to with its FSC-certified tyres.

SRAM chains have been back in the media this week after some comments from cyclocross legend Sven Nys, the geeks speculate what could be happening here and why it’s not a widespread issue. Of course there's more tech talk including a PSA and answering a few Ask a Wrench questions from Escape Collective members.

Finally the episode wraps with a bunch of new product releases worth sharing.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:

2:00 - Ridley’s new and unreleased Noah Fast
7:15 - Pirelli and rubber trees
12:20 - Coros’ new Pace Pro sports watch
18:30 - Hammerhead Karoo updates battery life through firmware
20:50 - Sven Nys complains of SRAM chains
27:10 - PSA to not ignore creaks
36:00 - Ask a Wrench: When pull your waxed chain
41:20 - Ask a Wrench: Feeling a brake track
45:15 - Ask a Wrench: Putting a longer fork on an XC bike
49:50 - OneUp’s new dropbar dropper lever
52:20 - Stan’s No Tubes and Daysaver collab
55:20 - Canecreek’s GXC stem fills a gap
57:40 - Aerocoach Blitz track handlebars
1:00-40 - Lapierre’s new Pulsium endurance road bike
1:02:15 - Yamaha stops e-bike sales in the USA
1:03:30 - The Pro’s Closet returns

It may be the off-season in the racing world, but the land of bike tech never sleeps. In this episode of Geek Warning, you’ll hear Suvi, Dave, and Brad discuss an intriguing shifter-related patent from Campagnolo that perhaps can’t come soon enough.

The geeks then discuss what they each seek in a drop handlebar and what their favourites are. Within this extended segment, you’ll hear about one-piece cockpits, more traditional two-piece setups, and picks for road and gravel purposes.

We’ve also got some great Ask a Wrench questions that spark some deeper conversation.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:

1:45 - Campagnolo’s recent shifter patent
11:00 - Discussing drop handlebars and picking one (well, maybe two)
33:15 - Ask a Wrench: How to become a bike mechanic
48:00 - Ask a Wrench: SRAM Flat Top and T-type chain compatibility
53:22 - Ask a Wrench: Raising awareness for the actual cost of bike ownership and where the blame sits
1:06:45 - Tech bites: an increasing number of lighter e-MTBs is a trend that won’t slow