Tech editor Alvin Holbrook fires up Velo's crystal ball to make some predictions about what the road and gravel world might look like in 2026. He makes his case for peak tire width combined with improved casings, more integrated pressure-monitoring systems (and more batteries), Chinese gravel bikes shaking up the market, and the continued slow demise of 2X drivetrains.

But is he channelling Edgar Cayce, or are his divinations more in line with Miss Cleo?

Josh, Alvin, and Levy also discuss how prepared they are (or aren't) for a mid-ride disaster, and the crew describes their own go-to repair kit that they each bring on every single ride. Also, when is it best to just call someone to come pick you up?

Want to join Josh on his Zwift group ride? See the info here.

See more episodes of the Velo Podcast here.

Further reading:

0:00 Intro
1:20 Josh’s inflammatory no-tube comments
3:11 Gravel predictions
32:30 Interlude: Josh used the new Oakley x Meta Vanguard glasses
39:45 Road predictions
51:30 How prepared are you? What we carry for our rides
59:00 Josh, Alvin, and Levy’s toolkits

Campagnolo’s Super Record X evolved from their 13-speed wireless road drivetrain and employs an off-road-specific rear derailleur with their Nano Clutch and race-focused gearing, but can it compete against GRX and Red? Velo tech editor Josh Ross explains the just-released Italian gruppo and their new, 50mm tall Bora gravel wheels.

Alvin was at Rivian's launch of their (questionably named) Also TM-B e-bike and has all the details of this tech-heavy city rig. The Also employs a pedal-by-wire belt drive system, magnesium housing with TWO motors, an inverted suspension fork, and a car-like regenerative braking feature, but Levy wants to know if it will ever be available or if it's destined for vaporware status?

Lastly, the crew digs into Josh's comprehensive indoor trainer buyer's guide, including the least expensive smart trainer that makes sense, why you should consider buying used, haptics and other add-ons, and what his price-no-object indoor setup might look like. They also share their tricks for making indoor rides "fun."

Further reading

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
2:00 Talking about Rivian’s new e-bike
19:50 Campagnolo Super Record X
37:00 Indoor training
57:44 How much do you need to spend?
1:03:00 Alvin: How do I make indoor training not suck?
1:17:55 Josh’s dream setup

No one thinks “race bike” when I say Santa Cruz Stigmata, yet it’s probably the winningest pro gravel bike over the last bunch of years. It’s not light, but why might that not matter? KILLER livability No aero anything, forget about integrated shit, external seat post clamp (replaceable), and the fork is suspension corrected. Its glorious.

Putting out nearly 5w/kg for 180km earned Matej Mohorič third place at the UCI Gravel World Championships, but how does it compare to one of the most intense Lifetime Grand Prix races? We look at Mohorič's effort versus Simon Pellaud's race data from a punchy Sea Otter course to see which event was "harder," and also how their numbers compare to our own much more human abilities. Spoiler alert: it ain't even close.

Back in the real world, Alvin spent the last six months testing Santa Cruz's Stigmata and might have fallen in love with its off-road handling, but is the bike's geometry right for everyone? No, of course not, but Levy still tries to convince Josh that most gravel riders would have more fun (and be just as fast) on a slacker, longer bike like the Stiggy.

Finally, we review Wolf Tooth's new gravel-specific, one-sided DEL pedal that promises low weight, more support, and an adjustable Q-factor.

See the latest from the Velo Podcast here.

Further reading:

00:00 Intro
11:20 Wolf Tooth DEL pedals
23:15 UCI Gravel Worlds vs Life Time Grand Prix
36:30 Big Sugar Gravel takeaways
44:30 All about the Santa Cruz Stigmata
53:45 Progressive geometry, where it works, and where it doesn’t
1:12:00 Is downtube storage important?

It’s cold. It’s wet. Maybe it’s even snowing. Outside is always the best

How different is European and North American gravel racing? Velo was at the Gravel World Championships in the Netherlands to inspect the bikes used by Marianne Vos, Tom Pidcock, and many others, with the relatively fast and smooth course necessitating some interesting equipment choices. Integrated air pressure adjustment systems, huge (for gravel) gearing, and wildly different tire combinations were all spotted, as well as more than a few custom paint jobs for the special occasion.

Alvin, Josh, and Levy also delve into Suunto's legal action against Garmin and why it differs from the Strava debacle all while Levy attempts to convince the crew that social media is a psy-op while denying being addicted to Strava. We also dig into the latest 3T Racemax2 gravel bike, its background, Josh's early impressions from riding the bike, and ultimately, why the bike is so dang interesting.

Finally, we talk about SRAM winning its suit with the UCI and the perfectly passive-aggressive response the UCI offered as a response.

Further reading

See prior episodes of the Velo Podcast here. 

Some of the best athletes in the world employ pre-game rituals out of superstition, habit, or to “get into the zone,” but you don’t need to be Michael Jordan or Maria Sharapova to benefit from such a routine. It turns out that those rituals, be it your lucky socks or that one song you just have to put on before heading out, can play an important role in readying your mind and body for what’s about to come.

Today’s episode of the Velo Podcast sees Alvin, Josh, and Levy sharing their own pre-ride habits, with the latter’s possibly verging on neuroticism.

The crew also digs into Alvin’s review of the finally updated Surly Straggler, a steel gravel bike designed for a good time rather than the fastest time, as well as Argon 18’s new Nitrogen aero road bike that is most definitely all about fast times.

We bid adieu to Rapha and EF Pro Cycling's seven-year apparel partnership and how the two left a mark on cycling fashion in the collaboration.

Further reading

00:00 intro

1:45 Why we care so much about Rapha and EF Pro Cycling parting ways

15:00 The Surly Straggler

31:30 Argon 18 Nitrogen impressions

39:46 Ride rituals

53:30 Levy's ride rituals are neurotic

Gravel bike? Adventure bike? Bikepacking rig? With a drop handlebar but wide tires, proper suspension on both ends, and geometry that makes sense for good times on dirt, the just-released Trek CheckOUT looks like it’s ready for... well, just about anything, be it a quick singletrack rip or a race from Canada to the Mexican border. Will Tracy and Levy look into the CheckOUT’s features, including its near-endless mounting points and the new, longer travel Rudy XL fork, and Levy shares his questionable opinion from a mountain biker’s perspective. 

Velo’s managing editor, Will Tracy, is also grilled by Levy to find out how he became The Boss, his time working for Peloton magazine, the differences between print and online cycling media, and how watching a race as a young kid shaped the rest of his life.

Velo Senior Tech Editor Josh Ross has been testing the second-generation Aethos and explains what’s changed and how it performs out on the road. We also talk about that kinda mostly hidden cable routing, the advances in FEA software that allow more grams to be shaved, and the new Roval Alpinist CLX III wheels that use thermoplastic spokes with titanium ends. Fancy. 

Josh also compares the just-released Aethos to the previous version that we had at the Velo Field Test, and Levy forces him to decide between the Specialized and Scott Addict RC.

Will lower gearing make for safer racing? The UCI thinks so, but it could also make all of SRAM's 1X drivetrains verboten at the highest level of competition without affecting Shimano or Campagnolo. SRAM disagrees, obviously, and has begun legal action in Europe, citing reputational damage and EU competition laws. And as you'd expect, the UCI responded yet again. That and more on this week's episode of Velo Podcast.

Velo Tech Editor Josh Ross and host Mike Levy dig into the details of the UCI's potential 10.46-meter rollout rule and why SRAM's 10-tooth cog doesn't comply, safer courses versus lower gearing, and the UCI's near silence when it comes to so many issues.

We also discuss the UCI president's social media post congratulating Tadej Pogacar on his TT World Champs victory in Rwanda, despite Remco being the actual victor, and we look at Alvin's first impressions of Factor's new Aluto gravel bike.

Aero is... not everything? Forget about the wind tunnel, kammtail tube shapes, and 65mm deep rims because Cervelo's just-released R5 proves that light isn't just right, it's also fun. Alvin has been testing the new climbing-focused R5 and tells us what it's like to ride and why it might make more sense than an objectively faster aero bike, especially if you swap the tires.

We headed off-road as Specialized debuted the 4th-generation Diverge gravel bike in Slovenia, and tech editor Josh Ross was there to find out how it performs. He explains all the updates, including room for 2.2" wide tires, its evolved geometry, and why it has an even bigger hole. We also dig into Specialized's decision to spec every model with their Future Shock suspension stem, and how it compares to a heavier and more complex suspension fork.

We also discuss the latest updates to the Garmin 550 and 850 computers as well as Garmin's Rally power meter pedals, now available with rechargeable batteries. And last but not least: the Lazer VeloVox begs the question of who among us needs walkie talkies built into their helmets.

Further reading