Velo Podcast

Mike Levy, Lisa Charleboise, and Logan Jones-Wilkins hold down the fort talking about pee, ultra-racing, and Strava feuds. First, Levy tries to pry embargoed information out of Jones-Wilkins before Charleboise recaps another massive weekend ride. From there, it's on to the main topics:

Urine Intel from the Giro d'Italia

The trio tackles the recent UCI warnings at the Giro d'Italia. Racers have been put on notice for urinating into their water bottles and tossing them to the roadside. Levy attempts to defend the logistical efficiency of the "bottle pee," while Logan and Lisa outline the absolute horror for roadside fans hoping to snag a souvenir bidon.

Strava Feuds and Indoor Aerobars

Addressing reader questions, the team discusses the mental health aspects of chasing Strava KOMs in highly saturated areas. Logan shares his philosophy on defending niche segments against World Tour riders, and Levy confesses to running a high aerobar setup on his indoor Zwift bike strictly for comfort during three-hour sessions.

The Traka 560 Controversy & Ultra-Racing Ethics

The crew dives deep into the messy world of ultra-distance racing. Logan breaks down why Victor Bosoni's victory at the Traka 560km Adventure event sparked intense debate after he cut approximately 400 meters off the official GPS track. This leads to a fiery debate: Lisa firmly believes missing that much of the course is grounds for immediate disqualification, while Levy and Logan argue for a bit more nuance in self-supported "adventure" events.

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:08:52 - Peeing in water bottles

00:14:14 - Reader Questions

00:23:37 - The Traka 560 Controversy & Ultra-Racing Ethics

From wild TT bikes spotted at China Cycle to the real reason behind the Jan-Willem van Schip DQ, we break down the week's biggest tech news. Plus, I talk about sitting down with Chris Froome in China to talk bikes

Episode Notes:

Once again I hit the podcast mic completely jet-lagged and out of my mind to talk about the trip I’d just returned from. This time I was back in Asia, specifically China, at China Cycle to see all the craziest tech from brands that people are absolutely eating up right now.

No doubt about it, Chinese bikes are having a moment right now, but what did I actually see in China? Turns out one thing I saw was Chris Froome so, obviously, we talked about how I had the chance to sit down with one of the most famous roadies of recent memory and talk about gravel racing. I also chatted with Froome about his involvement in Factor Bikes and which Factor model he actually prefers.

Outside of Chris Froome, we also talk about aerodynamics a lot in this podcast. It’s what happens when Logan Jones-Wilkins is away, probably riding a gravel bike in another country. This time, though, we took it about as extreme as it gets. At China Cycle, I spotted a couple of wild TT bikes that take completely different approaches to cutting through the wind.

Before we get into that discussion, though, first we talk about disqualifications in a UCI race. Why did Jan-Willem van Schip get disqualified after the fact for a setup that was approved ahead of the race? If you don’t know the answer, don’t worry; lots of people don’t seem to understand and I take a shot at explaining it a bit more.

All that discussion doesn’t get rolling right away, though. First we talk a little bit about where the riding is best between Europe and Asia and we give some notes for a brand manager who wants to see the product they launch put to the test in better situations. Lisa Charlebois thinks she’s missing out on spending four days traveling for two days in Europe, so Mike Levy and I give her a healthy warning.

We also spend some time answering listener questions and we talk about segments on local roads. Levy claims he’s not fast enough and Charlebois pretends not to care. I don’t believe them, though—what do you think? And how do you treat local segments?

This week's episode is all about riding long.

Factor's new Sarana ultra-distance race bike made its first appearance at last weekend's Traka gravel race in Girona, Spain, and Velo tech editor Logan Jones-Wilkins answers Levy's questions about how it aims to combine speedy handling and all-day comfort. Its geometry leans more towards speed and agility than outright stability, but it also has room for 2.2" tires and a carbon frame designed for vertical compliance and integrated frame bags, making the Sarana a novel endurance racing option, but did Factor go far enough? 

And speaking of all-day (and all-night) adventures, Lisa recounts her recent 600km / 373 mile ride at the Mendocino 600 that saw her on the move for over 20 hours while bagging 5,128 meters (16,824-feet) of climbing. Logan and Levy ask her about the pre-ride planning that goes into an effort like this, how she fueled herself while on the bike, and why she rode a steel frame equipped with some ultra-light carbon wheels and components. They also get into using a power meter to limit yourself, how being a trash panda is a superpower during ultra-distance events, and the deeper meaning of being on your bike for such a long time. 

Also, more reader questions answered about 32" wheels and bikes not being too expensive. 

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

This week's episode was just like any other. There was definitely nothing controversial… Logan Jones-Wilkins and I dive into two vastly different gravel bikes we’ve been testing, starting with my review of the XDS X-Lab GT8.

On paper, the GT8 is a standard, run-of-the-mill gravel bike. It lacks a unique "special sauce" and won't revolutionize the category, but it is a highly capable all-rounder that will handle just about any unpaved road. Then you see the price. The GT8 comes with a full carbon build and a power meter for about half the cost of its mainstream competitors. XDS is a massive Chinese manufacturing powerhouse that is now entering the US through a traditional dealer network. We discuss whether you should buy the GT8, and what its aggressive pricing means for Western brands.

Then we pivot to the Obed GVR, which Jones-Wilkins has been putting through its paces. Despite sharing the gravel category, the Obed is the polar opposite of the XDS. It is not an all-rounder. Instead, it is a highly specialized, direct-to-consumer machine built around big tire clearance and a DT Swiss suspension fork that was previously a Canyon exclusive. We break down the tech and figure out exactly who this bike is built for.

Oh and we’ve got more 32-inch wheel discussion. Of course there’s no way we can get away from that. If you read my recent piece, you know I think the standard makes zero sense for most riders, and I absolutely hate the idea of a new wheel size standard. Logan is taking a more measured approach, analyzing why the industry is pushing this standard regardless of public opinion. Of course, Mike Levy set this up as a pair of dueling articles, so we hash out the details on the air and try to predict where this is all headed. Tune in and let us know your take.

We break down the polarizing "big wheel" trend, compare ultra-premium Partington wheels to Hunt's high-value alternatives, and dive into the coolest gear from the Sea Otter Classic.

This week, the podcast is all about Sea Otter and we’ve got a full house. Lisa Charlebois, Logan Jones-Wilkins, and I all spent time in California at the event, and we’ve got stories to tell. We kick things off by sharing what the vibe was like on the ground, especially for Jones-Wilkins, who was attending the show for the very first time.

After that, we get into the big news: big wheels. Some of us are skeptical and some favor the potential efficiency, but either way, 32-inch wheels are the topic we had to cover. There is a lot to take in, but we focus on the Salsa Fargo, a 32-inch lugged carbon bike from Faction, and a Ventum mountain bike coming this summer.

From there, we talk gravel bikes. This is Sea Otter, so gravel is the focus, and Logan dives deep on a few cool bikes, including the Look G85 and an aero-focused SEKA featuring integrated Fidlock bottles.

Despite the dirt-heavy show, I try to keep it road-first whenever possible, and there were some notable road launches. Partington showed off a crazy expensive wheelset that is incredibly light for a 50mm depth and uses a continuous carbon spoke system. The real surprise, however, was Hunt. Hunt launched a wheelset that is thousands of dollars cheaper than the Partington offering, slightly deeper, and nearly as light.

It wasn’t only wheels, either. I saw a Tavelo aero bike with 40mm of tire clearance and a 650g frame weight that will likely cost half the price of its competition. The No. 22 3D-printed titanium bike definitely won't cost half of anything, but it was spectacular to see getting closer to production. It might even cost more than the lugged-carbon Colnago C72 that launched just before the show.

Finally, we wrap it up with our favorite things from Sea Otter. Charlebois easily had the best answer, but jump into the comments on Velo and let us know what you thought was the coolest tech we reported on.

00:00 Intro: The Sea Otter Classic Experience

05:10 The 32-Inch Wheel Debate

19:30 Look G85 Gravel Bike

23:42 Wheel Tech: Partington vs. Hunt

27:56 Tavelo 650g Aero Road Frame

32:00 Sika Aero Gravel Bike

35:00 No. 22 3D-Printed Titanium Bike

37:20 Colnago C72 & Expensive Paint

40:14 The $25,000 Factor Bugatti Concept Bike

42:30 Our favorite things

This week the Velo team is at Sea Otter covering the latest tech and Mike Levy is holding down the fort. In this episode, Levy sits down with New Zealander Joe Nation, a rider who possesses one of the most uniquely varied racing resumes in the sport.

Nation spent years following the mountain bike World Cup circuit as a privateer and racing in the Enduro World Series. Today, he’s trading three-minute downhill runs for events that span thousands of kilometers. He placed third overall at the 2023 Tour Divide and won the grueling 1,939-kilometer Silk Road Mountain Race across Kyrgyzstan in 2024.

Levy and Nation dig deep into the mindset required to survive these massive efforts, but they also look at the technology, the preferences, and the background that help Nation find success.

In this episode, we cover:

The Ultimate Dirtbag Origins: How Nation funded his European downhill racing by participating in clinical drug trials (earning the nickname "the white rat") and lived in a tent in the Morzine woods for two and a half months.

The 100mm BB Drop Aero Hack: For the Tour Divide, Nation’s friend built him a highly specialized bike through his company, Sufur Cycles. It features a massive 100mm bottom bracket drop designed purely for aerodynamics so he can get his head out of the wind.

Why Flat Bars Win: Nation pushes back on the trend of adding drop bars to everything, explaining how flat bars provide better leverage on steep climbs and save his hands from nerve damage.

The "Everyone is Dying" Superpower: Nation credits the realization that "when you are hurting, so is everyone else" as a major contributor to his ability to push through dark moments.

Psychological Warfare at 3,800 Meters: How hiding your exhaustion can break your competitors, which is exactly what Nation did when he attacked the leader at the top of a massive pass during the Silk Road Mountain Race.

Hunting for UFOs: It wouldn’t be a Levy interview without discussing the unexplainable things you might see while exhausted and isolated in the wilderness.

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Downhill Racing Background

06:37 - The Dirtbag Days and Drug Trials

12:22 - The Tour Divide & Ultra-Racing Mindset

29:44 - The "Everyone is Dying" Superpower

41:29 - Psychological Warfare on the Silk Road

46:08 - The Custom Sufur Cycles Bike & Flat Bars

48:44 - The 100mm BB Drop Aero Hack

59:41 - Hunting for UFOs on the Trail

I went to Taiwan, but the show must go on. While I was away covering the Taipei Cycle Show, Mike Levy, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins had plenty to talk about. Predictably, things got heavily focused on gravel tire pressure, but that wasn’t all.

This week, the podcast crew debates why roadies need bigger gravel tires, breaks down Specialized’s newest tech, and confesses to their strangest cold-weather clothing hacks.

In this episode, we cover:

Lisa’s 300km Mission: A recap of an epic 193-mile ride through Napa and Sonoma, plus a crucial PSA on the protocol for crossing the Golden Gate Bridge late at night.

Specialized's New Pathfinder TLR: Logan is currently working his way through a massive pile of test rubber. He explains why pros like Keegan Swenson opt for the slickest options, but argues the more aggressive Terra tread is actually better for the rest of us.

Levy’s Tire Volume Hot Take: Levy takes a firm stance that most gravel riders are severely under-tired. His advice to roadies hitting the dirt? Stop obsessing over aero, mount the biggest tires your frame clears, and run an insert.

New Roval Gravel Wheels: A quick look at the newly launched Roval Terra Aero CLX and Terra CLX3 wheelsets, including a discussion on their 27mm internal width and the decision to use a wide carbon hook.

Questionable Winter Kit: Inspired by Jonas Vingegaard's heavily modified, cut-up winter bib shorts, the crew shares their own extreme cold-weather survival tactics—from crotchless long underwear to the merits of baggy mountain bike pants on a drop-bar bike.

Give it a listen, and let us know in the comments if you have a favorite tire or if you think Levy is wrong on his hot take.

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:25 - Lisa’s 300k

05:04 - Gravel Tires

27:54 - Specialized Wheels

34:28 - Clothing discussion

Five minutes after walking in the door from the Taipei Cycle Show, I sat down with Mike Levy to unpack what it was like being there. We immediately dive into the wildest tech from the show floor: what a $31,000 3D-printed titanium road bike actually looks like, whether those budget power meter pedals are legit or just vaporware, and the exact physics behind Pirelli’s claim that their new aero tire cuts drag without ruining rolling resistance. I also talk about the one Chinese brand I found at the show and how they’ve got a brand new gravel bike that’s half the price of a Western company.

We also get into the 32-inch wheel standard. The first suspension fork for the standard hit the market at the show, and we dig into whether this is the upgrade riders have been waiting for.

It wasn’t all walking trade show aisles, though. I spent a few days riding Factor's futuristic One aero road bike through the Taipei jungle, and the experience taught me how much better road culture can be.

I was planning to bring that bike home for a full review and further aero testing. Instead, it stayed behind. We get into how the bike actually handles on the road, its aggressive geometry, and the ongoing mystery behind how I somehow managed to break it.

Legendary Canadian racer Svein Tuft joins Mike Levy to chat about stories from his book, We Will Never Be Here Again. The two cover wild stories ranging from epic bike-packing trips while pulling Tuft's 60-lb dog named Bear in a homemade trailer, to winning stages at the Tour de France and Giro. Tuft has had an unconventional career and lived an unconventional life.

Tuft is likely also the only professional cyclist, active or retired, who has spent time train hopping. He gives Levy his best tips for traveling via railcar—like finding priority trains to cross the country quickly and hiding in the nooks of grain carts to avoid the authorities.

The two also dive into how being an introvert was a superpower for Tuft during his European road career before getting into a discussion of ultra-endurance racing. Tuft has advice for racing the Tour Divide, including getting heavier, and talks about how a severe sickness forced him to pull the pin once he reached Colorado during his own attempt.

Finally, the duo discusses Tuft’s unexplainable sighting while camping deep in the Canadian forest. Was it a UFO or something else? Whether it was an otherworldly encounter or just extreme exhaustion, it adds another incredible layer to Tuft's backlog of outdoor stories.

Listen to the full episode, grab his book, We Will Never Be Here Again, for the rest of the wild stories, and check out Tuft Camps if you're brave enough to try holding his wheel.

Show Notes & Chapter Markers:

[00:00:11] - Intro: Mike Levy welcomes 13-time national champion Svein Tuft.

[00:04:06] - Early bike-packing trips to Alaska with his dog, Bear.

[00:15:57] - The lost art of train hopping and finding "priority trains."

[00:21:47] - How being an introvert was a superpower in the European peloton.

[00:30:08] - Reflecting on the Tour de France and old-school cycling nutrition.

[00:42:37] - Svein’s Tour Divide attempt and knowing when to pull the pin.

[00:52:22] - Unconventional ultra-endurance advice: why you shouldn't show up too lean.

[01:11:01] - An unexplainable UFO sighting near Mount Rexford.

[01:14:51] - Tuft Camps: Riding gravel, road, and MTB in British Columbia.

We debate whether dumping half your pedal is actually worth the cash, unpack a terrifying lead-vehicle disaster at the Mid-South gravel race, and explain why buying price-point carbon is a mistake.

0:00 - Intro

0:00:35 - Welcome Logan and Mid-South

0:18:10 - Listener questions

0:34:18 - CAAD14 first impressions

0:45:34 - Otso Waheela R launch

0:58:27 - Single sided gravel pedals