Not everyone can be in the cool kids club, and that’s OK

With much of the industry languishing under the post-Covid, brands are trying harder than ever to carve out a niche for themselves to stay afloat. Colnago’s new C68 Gravel bike is super premium by design, but based on their sales figures, the focus on luxury is clearly getting the job done. Campagnolo seems to be falling into the same strategy almost by accident, but is it working as well? That’s not so clear. Hunt also debuted its latest aero wheels and they look like they could be quite the performance bargain – as long as you’re ok with hookless rims – and just when you thought clipless road pedals couldn’t get any better than they already are, French brand Ekoi’s new road pedal-and-shoe system might actually move the needle. And finally, have we finally reached a stable point for road bike tire sizes? Maybe. Or maybe not. Timestamps: 6:45 – Colnago’s got a fancy new gravel bike, and they’re ok if it’s out of your reach

20:19 – Campagnolo’s new aero road wheels are absolutely gorgeous

27:53 – Hunt’s new Sub50 Limitless Aero Disc road wheels could be an incredible performance bargain

38:45 – Ekoi has a truly novel new road pedal-and-shoe system in development, and they might actually be good

48:04 – Noble Wheels tools are back! Well, sort of

49:55 – More musings on using candle wax to lube your chains

51:39 – Vittoria’s got a new Corsa Pro Speed go-fast tire

52:52 – Want to stand out from the crowd? Bossi has expanded its range of titanium gravel frames

54:28 – Orange Bikes is back in business

56:49 – Road tire sizes seem to have stabilized (and yes, James is getting old)