May 28, 2026

The Crux is now a DirtMac

Listen Later

50 minutes

Howdy geeks! It’s Unbound race week, and with that, we’ve seen an expected amount of fresh new tech in the gravel space.

This week, Escape’s senior tech editors Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin discuss Specalized’s long-awaited update to the Crux. There’s, of course, a bit of big wheel chatter. A fun new project product from Wheels Manufacturing. And plenty more.

As a reminder, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench, where member questions are answered by Dave Rome and a quest mechanic (this week, Colorado-based Colin Williams returns).

If you liked this episode, please leave us a review. It helps like-minded cyclists discover us.

Time stamps:

00:00:30 - Ronan went racing

00:07:15 - Ronan rides the new Specialized Crux

00:14:50 - But is it actually aero?

00:23:47 - Are pure aero gravel bikes what we need?

00:30:05 - Scott’s 32in gravel bike for Unbound

00:36:50 - Wheels Manufacturing’s better mud stick

00:42:29 - Paragon Machine Works has been acquired

00:43:56 - Good thing: Mechanics you can trust

00:51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members-Only feed)

00:52:30 - Weird pulley wheel wear

1:03:00 - When is it time to replace a wheel?

1:12:00 - A Dangerholm-inspired Full-Suspension gravel bike?

...more

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By Escape Collective

4.9

293293 ratings

May 28, 2026

The Crux is now a DirtMac

Listen Later

50 minutes

Howdy geeks! It’s Unbound race week, and with that, we’ve seen an expected amount of fresh new tech in the gravel space.

This week, Escape’s senior tech editors Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin discuss Specalized’s long-awaited update to the Crux. There’s, of course, a bit of big wheel chatter. A fun new project product from Wheels Manufacturing. And plenty more.

As a reminder, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench, where member questions are answered by Dave Rome and a quest mechanic (this week, Colorado-based Colin Williams returns).

If you liked this episode, please leave us a review. It helps like-minded cyclists discover us.

Time stamps:

00:00:30 - Ronan went racing

00:07:15 - Ronan rides the new Specialized Crux

00:14:50 - But is it actually aero?

00:23:47 - Are pure aero gravel bikes what we need?

00:30:05 - Scott’s 32in gravel bike for Unbound

00:36:50 - Wheels Manufacturing’s better mud stick

00:42:29 - Paragon Machine Works has been acquired

00:43:56 - Good thing: Mechanics you can trust

00:51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members-Only feed)

00:52:30 - Weird pulley wheel wear

1:03:00 - When is it time to replace a wheel?

1:12:00 - A Dangerholm-inspired Full-Suspension gravel bike?

...more