Geek Warning

This week, Dave and Jack from the Escape Collective tech team talk modern cross-country bikes and where the nuance between race and downcountry sits. Plus, Dave shares why he believes remote lockouts are a race-day product. 
Meanwhile, the geeks discuss why rounded bolts are most often user error and how to avoid them (also check out Dave’s Threaded #15 article on the topic). 
Like every week, members of Escape Collective (on the exclusive member-only feeds) get access to the full episode, including Ask a Wrench. This week Colin Williams is back on the mic to answer questions from our members, including tips for washing bikes with waxed chains and removing stubborn hub end caps.

Time stamps:

00:02:00 - Santa Cruz updates the Blur 

00:12:00 - The difference between XC race and downcountry 

00:16:30 - It’s in the lockouts 

00:20:00 - Differences in spec 

00:28:30 - A reminder why MTB tech matters to all listeners 

00:30:00 - A little Clarifications Corner for last week’s PSA 

00:36:30 - Rounded bolts are a you problem 

00:43:45 - DT Swiss updates its budget 1800 wheel range 

00:46:00 - Silca updates its saddle bags 

00:47:45 - Giant and Liv’s new premium shoes 

00:51:15 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 

00:53:00 - How to wash a bike with a waxed chain 

00:57:45 - How to remove stubborn hub end caps 

01:06:20 - How to become a bicycle mechanic

This week we got new Shimano R9300 Dura-Ace, although not quite the release many had wished for. Escape’s senior tech editors, Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, talk through this new release, the details that are easily overlooked, and where Shimano could do more.

Ronan then shares what he saw while covering tech at the Tour de France and how perceived trends can often be false. Dave then raises the increasing problem of Large Language Models (aka, Ai answers) leading people astray in topics that have limited information available online.

There’s also a bit of interesting tech news from Silca and Tune.

As per usual, members of Escape Collective also get Ask a Wrench. This week, Zach Edwards of the Boulder Groupetto joins Dave to cover topics such as noisy drivetrains, why aero isn’t more prominent in downhill racing, and what we look for in good headset cable routing. 
Time stamps:

00:02:21 - Shimano’s new Dura-Ace R9300, sorta

00:19:01 - How pro bike fit is and isn’t progressing

00:34:20 - PSA related to using Ai for tech help 

00:41:15 - Silca’s new Super Secret 2.0 

00:45:00 - Tune’s interesting approach to carbon spokes

00:51:00 - Ronan’s got some Record to build 

00:52:30 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only) 

00:53:00 - Chain noise in more extreme angles 

01:02:45 - Where’s the aero in downhill? 

01:11:20 - What to look for in good headset cable routing

We’re going back to basics in this week’s episode. While Geek Warning is usually for tech-obsessed cyclists, this edition covers the common conversations a bicycle mechanic would have with a client. It’s for everyone and anyone who does a little of their own bike maintenance. 
Many road cyclists are still relatively new to disc brakes, so Jack Duncan and Dave Rome start the episode with a deep dive into many facets of ownership. The basics of chain lube and drivetrain wear are covered later on, as are some thoughts about tyre wear and who tubeless may be right for. 
After all that, members of Escape Collective get the usual Ask a Wrench segment, this time with the return of a familiar voice. 
Time stamps:
 

00:03:45 - The biggest red flag for when something is wrong 

00:06:20 - Brakes usually shouldn’t squeak or squeal 

00:16:00 - Disc brake pad wear 

00:20:00 - Pad spacers and travel 

00:24:00 - Burning brakes is questionable at best

00:26:15 - The importance of brake bed-in 

00:29:20 - Why brakes need scheduled bleeding 

00:35:00 - Shifting to chain lube basics

00:43:00 - How a drivetrain wears

00:50:30 - Tubeless is great, but not for everyone 

00:57:30 - Don’t ignore your front tyre wear 

1:05:00 - Ask a Wrench (members-only podcast feed) 

1:05:30 - Welcome back to Zach Edwards 

1:06:15 - Chasing a forward-offset seatpost 

1:14:20 - A weird sound in older AXS front shifting

1:21:45 - Pedals with a top-out knock

Dave and Jack are back for another round of Geek Warning. This week, new road bikes from Cervelo and Pinarello bring the discussion to topics such as what makes a good endurance road bike, where emerging Chinese brands are seeing success, and why aero bottles are an impractical feature. 
In this episode, you’ll also hear what Dave considers the best multi-tool and plenty more. 
Meanwhile, listeners on our members-only podcast feed will hear "Ask a Wrench" at the end of the episode. This week, Dave Rome is joined by pro mechanic Colin Williams to answer questions about sticking Shimano dropbar levers, how to handle failed internal dropper-post routing, and a difference in SRAM chains that the company has remained silent about. 
Happy geeking! 

 Time stamps:

00:02:13 - A correction’s corner related to airbags 

00:04:00 - Pinarello’s Dogma X is a pure road bike 

00:19:15 - Cervelo’s new Soloist is now less affordable 

00:32:00 - Wrapping up the WheelTop EDS GeX review 

00:42:00 - Dave’s multi-tool pick(s)

00:48:30 - Tern updates its compact cargo bike 

00:53:30 - Ask a Wrench (members only feed) 

00:54:30 - Sticking Shimano brake levers when tightened

00:58:45 - When internal dropper post routing fails 

01:09:00 - SRAM T-Type versus Flat Top chains

It’s the first week of the Tour and Escape’s geeks are seemingly all down different rabbit holes. This week, Dave Rome is joined by new hire Jack Duncan to talk through the week in cycling tech, which seems to involve a handful of juicy rumours. 
From rumours of new Dura-Ace to big wheels from big brands, there’s a lot to chew on. Dave and Jack also discuss airbag tech that keeps circling big budget teams. And there’s some tool talk for the wrench-enthusiasts.
The free episode wraps up with Jack jumping on a call with aero clothing expert Johannes Rom Dahl (of Fusion) to try to get an answer on whether being in Yellow (or another leader jersey) has an aero disadvantage.
 
 Time stamps:

00:02:30 - New Dura-Ace 9300 rumours 

00:07:00 - Trek 32ers are coming

 00:13:30 - Please tell us 30.5” wheels are actually a joke

00:21:30 - Will airbags ever come to pro racing?

00:30:45 - Jack bought some new tools 

00:38:30 - You probably need a breaker bar 

00:42:00 - Interview: What being a leader’s jersey costs you 

01:07:45 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 

01:10:00 - Corrections corner 

01:12:00 - Torque and headset preload 

01:20:00 - A chronically creaky headset and a rant about IS52

01:37:30 - Picking a custom steel frame and picking a builder