Velo Podcast

There has been an alarming amount of physical assault and middle fingers flying in the pro peloton lately. Last weekend, UCI race officials disqualified NSN Devo rider Kiaan Watts after he reached out and struck a competitor in the head mid-race. Just days later, British time trial champion Ethan Hayter earned himself a $645 fine and a docking of 25 UCI points for flashing his middle finger to a TV moto at 54 kilometers an hour during the Tirreno-Adriatico.

Which begs the question: when was the last time you completely lost your cool mid-ride?

In this week's episode, Mike, Lisa, and I share our own stories of frustration, adrenaline, and bad behavior. These are not stories any of us—well, maybe Mike—are particularly proud of, but it happens. Lisa details her dark fantasy involving spark plugs, and I pretend like I might actually have the courage to remove a mirror or two. Mike confesses to standing in an intersection in full Lycra and kinda, maybe, definitely threatening a driver. We want to hear about your frustrated moments with cars, so jump into the comments and let us know.

This wasn't only a complaining episode, though. This past week was a massive week for road tech, and we had two incredibly different bikes to dissect.

First up is the fourth-generation Giant Propel. Giant is making a massive aero claim of 18 watts saved. Is that even possible? I break down the fine print after cross-referencing three different press releases, and I talk about why I think it's actually quite likely—but also why you might not even need a new bike to take advantage of those 18 watts.

The big news this week, though, is not about aero gains. I'm super excited to talk about the new Cannondale CAAD14 and why Cannondale is leading this launch with an apology. The latest model in this lineup is heavier than the last one, but that's not what the apology is about. There's also a showstopper brushed aluminum version, and we talk about why you can't buy it.

Finally, we tackle a question from Velo editor Jim Cotton: When you are completely bonked, shivering, and staring blankly into a gas station aisle, what is your desperation snack of choice? Lisa has a jersey pocket recipe of marinated chicken nuggets that's either genius or offensive, while I rain on the parade with a more clinical eye for my choices. No surprise if you listen regularly, Mike chooses Monster. I also share a story about a near-mythical vending machine I encountered outside Vienna, Austria, around 1 a.m. near the end of a 200-ish mile ride.

There's also some time spent on listener questions and comments where Lisa shares an absolutely outrageous opinion about downtube storage before Mike says he wants a leather-bound novel with his bike… or maybe just a paper manual. I also spend some time talking about the merits of the user experience as it relates to package design and high-end sunglasses, and we all confess to hoarding tires.

As you wrap it up, we definitely want to know your take on Lisa's recipe, what you would have chosen from the vending machine, and how you feel about downtube storage.

Chapters:

What does it take to be considered one of the greatest of all time? A boatload of major wins doesn't hurt, of course, but how a racer wins can be just as important. Tadej Pogačar's list of victories includes four Tour de France titles, two World Championships, and a remarkable ten Monuments, among many others. They're super-human performances, no doubt, yet it's the Slovenian's willingness to race with his heart and gamble it all that sets him apart, especially in this era of relatively risk-averse specialists.
Today's podcast sees Levy speaking with Velo contrinutor Andy McGrath, author of "Tadej Pogačar: Unstoppable," a biography of the modern era’s greatest cyclist. They dig into Pogačar's early days as a junior, his family life and his mother's concerns, and how he's able to remain so calm and positive even when it's not going to plan. Oh, and might Pogačar have a secret tractor collection? 

Opening weekend in Flanders saw chaos, carnage, and the inevitable, with Omloop first-timer Mathieu van der Poel taking a dominating win and Demi Vollering showing some impressive early-season strength. This episode of the Velo podcast has European editor and race correspondent Andrew Hood breaking down all the action from Belgium and answering Levy's questions about how to stop MVDP's dominance at the classics, why there were so many huge crashes, and when a podium feels like a victory.
Hoody and Levy also get into the action from Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, where 20-year-old Matthew Brennan's dominating sprint form has finally given Visma–Lease a Bike some good news. They also preview this weekend's Strade Bianche and weigh in on the chances of anyone beating Tadej Pogačar for his fourth win on the white roads, something that Tom Pidcock and Paul Seixas will be doing their best to prevent. 

In this episode of the Velo podcast, we're doing some collective venting about the stuff that grinds our gears, but we don’t start there. Instead, we open with some breaking news from Lisa about Ironman of all things. We don't usually spend much time on triathlons, but this is less about the sport and more about the corporation that controls it. We have to ask: Is a new gear ban with a "safety" justification actually just a thin veil for a commercial cash grab?

From there, we pivot to the two years I’ve spent living with the Garmin Edge 1050. The "fancy walled garden" of the Garmin ecosystem creates a trap that’s hard to escape, but is the tech actually enough to keep anyone there? I think it is, but I also made a big mistake with my initial read on the 1050 when it launched, and it’s time I owned up to it.

Then, the episode shifts into a rapid-fire round of industry complaints:

Mike kicks things off by explaining why a "standard" designed to fix creaking has actually created a new nightmare for home mechanics. We mostly agree on this one, but we want to know if you’ve felt the same pain in your workshop.

Then it’s my turn to rant about unwritten rules. I dig into why I never quite seem to fit in on the local ride, while Lisa offers some perspective, then firmly lays down the real rules of engagement.

Rules established, we jump back to Mike’s crusade against electric mini pumps. We’re all in agreement that they're a bit silly, but Mike shocks us with an unexpected admission about a different strategy he actually endorses. There’s a brief mention of hookless here, too, but I let it go... for now.

Lisa gets surprisingly fired up about the "rules" of jersey pockets, and Mike has his own gears to grind here regarding bibs. Lisa starts with a strong point, and we think she's on to something, but she loses us after Mike swoops in with his own complaint about bibs.

Mike gets on his high horse to explain why your gravel bike shouldn't just be a road bike with fat tires and how current designs make descents scarier than they need to be. I eventually force him to admit he’s wrong, and I may have done a small victory dance off-camera.

My victory doesn't last long. To close things out, I get on my own high horse to talk hookless. We get into a heated discussion about why hookless even exists and whether "mini-hooks" are a real solution or just more marketing. I’ll call it like it is: I think the public is falling for the marketing BS, but maybe you think I’m the one who’s wrong?

Let us know in the comments where you think I’m off my rocker and where Lisa and Mike are spot on. Or, if there’s something else driving you crazy in the bike world that we missed, tell us about it.

00:00 – Episode Intro and "Things that Grind our Gears"

00:57 – Breaking News: Ironman Corporation bans athlete video equipment

07:40 – Garmin Edge 1050: A two-year long-term review and the ecosystem trap

38:20 – Things that grind our gears: Mike hates T47 bottom brackets

42:32 – Things that grind our gears: Josh hates group rides

45:29 – Things that grind our gears: Lisa hates stopping at the top of the climb

46:56 – Things that grind our gears: Everyone hates electric mini pumps

53:34 – Things that grind our gears: Lisa hates bad jersey pockets

54:21 – Things that grind our gears: Mike hates bibs without pockets

56:16 – Things that grind our gears: Mike hates gravel bike geometry

01:07:58 – Things that grind our gears: A heated debate over Hookless Rims

Senior Tech Editor Josh Ross has spent the last month living with the 5th generation Cannondale SuperSix EVO, and he’s come to a blunt conclusion: either he’s jaded, or the flagship "superbike" just isn't that exciting. While the marketing suggests this is a category-defining machine, Josh explains why at $10,000 for the Hi-Mod (and more for the Lab71), the SuperSix has essentially become a clone of the Specialized Tarmac SL8 without actually hitting the same high marks. The crew discusses the "Tarmac-ification" of the all-around race bike and why the real winner of this launch is actually the $3,000 mechanical 105 build at the bottom of the range.

The SuperSix launch is just the start of the episode. Mike Levy, Lisa Charlerbois, and Josh dive into the polarizing news of the upcoming Lance Armstrong movie starring Austin Butler. Does another big-screen biopic help or hurt the sport’s image? The crew also tackles your listener questions, including the rise of Chinese wireless drivetrains, Mike’s story of being chased through the dark by a "squadron" of squirrels, and whether radar is actually ruining the purity of the ride.

Finally, Josh doubles down on the take that set the Velo comments section on fire: Hi-viz clothing is victim blaming. He explains why he's rejecting the "common sense" argument and why we need to stop shifting the burden of safety onto cyclists.

00:00 – Welcome to the show 

01:53 – The Austin Butler/Lance Armstrong Movie Debate 

08:17 – Listener Q&A 

30:58 – Trek Check-Out Long Term: Ditching the "Dorky" Rack 

36:07 – SuperSix EVO Gen 5: What Actually Changed, how the Lab71 compares to the Tarmac SL8 and Cervélo S5, and why the 105 mechanical build is what you be buying

50:13 – Wrap up and a tease about the Garmin 1050 and how it's possible the company made a mistake

From donkeys in the Oman desert to a kangaroo take-down at the Tour Down Under, the 2026 racing season is off to a wild start. But the real creature chaos starts when Levy tells the story of being hunted through the woods by something he can't quite explain.

This week, we also have a heated discussion on whether the push for hi-viz apparel is actually a form of victim blaming that ignores the real dangers of the road. Plus, we discuss the new Garmin RearVue 820 and how its same-speed tracking effectively turns it into a high-tech drafting sensor for catching wheel-suckers.

00:00 – Intro 

00:35 – Wildlife Chaos: Donkeys and Gazelles in Oman 

04:25 – Wildlife Chaos: Kangaroos at the Tour Down Under 

05:53 – Hazardous Animal Encounters: Dogs and Bee Stings 

08:09 – Hazardous Animal Encounters: Locusts and Tarantulas 

09:26 – Levy’s Mystery Woods Encounter (The Bigfoot Story) 

13:55 – Listener Q&A: The Cost of Campagnolo Batteries 

17:41 – Listener Q&A: Electronic Drivetrains and "E-Waste" 

23:53 – Listener Q&A: Lower Tier and Chinese Group Sets 

29:54 – Garmin RearVue 820: The Drafting Sensor Hack 

47:15 – The Ethics of Safety: Is Hi-Viz Just Victim Blaming? 

This week, Velo tech editor Josh Ross dives deep into the "Big Four" road groupsets. After months of testing SRAM Red AXS, Shimano Dura-Ace, Campagnolo Super Record 13, and the TRP Vistar // Classified partnership, Josh argues that the "best" groupset doesn't exist—only the one that fits your personality.

We also discuss:

Trek Check-Out: Lisa gives her early impressions of Trek’s genre-bending new gravel platform.

Pro Safety: The fallout of the 100kph Alula Tour crash and the debate over peloton speed limits.

Listener Q&A: We answer your questions on everything from aero bras to the struggle of skin suits.

We dug into the data to find out. After a 20-minute head-to-head test between a modern aero setup and a classic steel bike, the results were staggering: The aero setup was 30% more efficient, requiring just 221 watts to outpace a rider pushing 288 watts. In this episode, the Velo tech team breaks down the physics of why "Weight Weenie" upgrades fail where aerodynamics succeed, and how you can find these same "free" watts on your next ride.

Also in this episode:

The Vingegaard Incident: A deep dive into Jonas Vingegaard’s recent crash in Spain involving a "stalker" fan and the reality of pro/fan interactions on open roads.

Gravel Suspension Shootout: Is the Lauf leaf-spring fork actually better than the Cane Creek Invert? We answer listener Q&A about upgrading the Salsa Cutthroat.

The Leadville Ban: The crew debates LifeTime’s decision to ban drop bars at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB.

Tech Hot Takes: A defense of the critical take on Pinarello’s new Grevil MX mountain bike conversion.

Pro Encounters: Lisa and Levy share their own awkward moments with pros in Girona and F1 drivers.

Do you actually need a damper on a gravel bike? Logan Jones-Wilkins joins the show to discuss his massive suspension shootout comparing the Cane Creek Invert, RockShox Rudy, and Fox 32 TC. We break down the winners, the losers, and where the "upside-down" tech actually makes sense.

Then, we tackle the controversy of the week: The Leadville Trail 100 MTB drop-bar ban. Josh digs into the archives to see if drop bars truly offer an advantage, or if this rule change is purely aesthetic. Finally, we ask if the new Pinarello Grevil MX is a legitimate race bike or just a way to move overstock frames.

“Owning the Litespeed Coll dels Reis isn’t smart," according to Velo tech editor Josh Ross, but sometimes you have to go with your heart rather than your head. Today's episode sees Josh describe how the lightest titanium disc road frame performs, and he explains that there's much more to this US-made metal bike than its lack of heft. We also dig into comparisons to carbon bikes, its 187lb weight limit, and why there's no such thing as the mythical "forever bike." 

Velo contributor and ultra-distance cyclist Lisa Charlebois joins us to report back on her findings after testing a load of women's winter riding jackets, and both she and Josh share their top picks for different conditions and budgets. They also give Levy some pointers on how to stay warm, including a high-tech alternative to the ol' newspaper stuffed down the front of your jersey trick. 

New year, same rider... But fresh goals? Lastly, from 500km epics to simply aiming to get on the bike more often, Will, Lisa, Josh, and Levy talk about their ride plans and goals for the 2026 season.