Geek Warning

Every other Geek Warning episode typically ends with the geeks answering 3-4 technical questions submitted by members. This week, we’re opening up our usual Member-Only ‘Ask a Wrench’ section to everyone.

For this episode, Dave Rome is joined by US tech writer Jack Duncan and mechanic Zach Edwards of the Boulder Groupetto. The episode starts with some tech news from the week, and then gets into answering member-submitted questions.

If you like this format, please know we offer a shorter version of it every week – you just need to be on the member-only feed to see it.

Time stamps:

00:02:00 - Cannondale USA headquarters to close 

00:07:00 - Reserve goes 32in 

00:11:00 - Ohlins enters gravel 

00:15:45 - Ask a Wrench, an extended version 

00:16:00 - Why are there so many wheel brands? 

00:23:00 - Is the Corsa Pro Speed causing crashes? 

00:32:00 - Buying a budget e-bike in Australia 

00:36:00 - What else to consider other than the Oneup EDC pump? 

00:40:30 - Better gravel wheels for a heavier rider 

00:47:00 - How should I store my dropper post? 

00:49:00 - Capping open hydraulic brake hoses 

00:55:00 - What to use for sticky SRAM D1/D2 brake lever pistons

01:02:00 - How to fix a torque wrench with a slipping ratchet? 

01:07:00 - Should mechanics charge more for emergency and weekend repairs?

This week on Geek Warning, Dave chats with Ronan about his extremely comprehensive road tyre test, published a week ago. The conversation covers how the test was run and why the data is so reliable. 
Then, Ronan and Dave chat about Silca’s acquisition and re-release of the analogue-watch-lookalike Omata cycling computer. 
Midway, Escape's US-based tech writer Jack Duncan jumps on to discuss Colnago’s new Colnago gravel bike and a somewhat peculiar wheel release from Cadex. 
Lastly, members of Escape Collective (on our exclusive member-only feeds) get access to Ask a Wrench, where we answer technical questions submitted by our members. 

 Time stamps: 

 2:30 - Ronan’s big and tiring project 

25:30 - Silca acquires Omata 

36:00 - Switching locations to Jack

39:00 - Colnago’s new G5-X gravel bike 

45:00 - Cadex’s XC wheelset is a little weird

55:45 - Ask a Wrench with Zach Edwards (Member-Only)

A report published by CyclingIndustries.com highlights an extreme shortage of skilled mechanics and the issues that presents. Dave and Ronan discuss some of the challenges behind this and what it may take to better retain skilled mechanics. 
Later in the episode, Dave shares why he thinks rim brakes will return in popularity, at least a little. Ronan argues why Dave’s crystal ball is faulty.
You’ll also hear a tech tip that’s perhaps more just an excuse to treat yourself. To wrap things up, and as per usual, members of Escape Collective get our Ask a Wrench section, where Dave and Zach Edwards answer technical questions from listeners. 
Happy geeking!

Time stamps:

02:30 - Skills shortage facing the cycling industry 

22:15 - Yet another wheelsize that’s to cause ever more havoc 

29:00 - Will rim brakes make a comeback on the road? 

40:00 - Your bike is only as good as its worst part (language warning for this segment) 

47:45 - Ask a Wrench (Members only) 

48:00 - Yet another mystery disc brake noise 

53:30 - Chasing a stubborn creaking pedal noise 

59:00 - Glazed brakes and how to solve it 

1:05:00 - A rattly RockShox XPLR dropper post 

1:11:00 - Does the suspension linkage design matter?

Geek Warning is rarely about the chapter titles, but rather the expertise and information shared within. That sure applies this week, as the conversation covers the real story behind Pidcock’s recent wheel choice at Worlds, Ronan’s ideal rim widths for road racing, and what Dave considers to be the benchmark in SPD pedals. 
There’s also a relatively new Good Thing for SRAM Transmission, a tech tip for anyone turning a spanner, and plenty more. 
 
 As usual, members of Escape Collective (on the member-only feed) get Ask a Wrench at the end of the episode. This week, Zach Edwards of the Boulder Groupetto returns to help answer tech questions from our members. 
Timestamps:
 

 00:01:30 - Ronan “working” at Road Worlds 

00:04:00 - The rumoured story behind Pidcock’s wheels

00:11:00 - The UCI to review its Lugano Charter 

00:19:45 - Enve’s new SES 6.7 Pro have us patting ourselves on the back

00:28:00 - Wolf Tooth trickles down its excellent ALT SPD pedal

00:34:00 - A tech tip to tighten up tool fitment 

00:39:00 - SRAM has a Good Thing for Transmission users

00:45:30 - What Ronan and Dave are busy with

00:47:40 - Ask a Wrench (Member-only feed) 

00:48:00 - Why don’t all tubeless rims have a solid rim bed? 

00:55:00 - Shigura brakes? 

01:05:45 - Reuse a plugged tyre? 

1:10:00 - A front wheel causing brake resonance

Many brands within the bike industry often speak about higher-performing products being stiffer, lighter, more aero, and faster-rolling. And yet when it comes to off-road disciplines, it’s rare for brands to discuss smoothness as a performance metric. It’s an area many have dabbled in over the years, but it’s tough to market a product on. 

Berd, makers of rope-like spokes, recently published a white paper detailing why they believe their new gravel race wheels are the fastest for the off-road discipline. A big part of that claim relates to vibration damping and impact reduction, metrics that historically haven’t been included in the performance modelling used today to calculate a road cyclists’ speed. 

In its white paper, Berd proposes that vibration damping and impact reduction should be included as a component of rolling resistance. Geek Warning host Dave Rome has long shouted as much for off-road – smoother is faster – and thought that was all quite interesting. So he sat down with Berd co-founder and CEO, Charlie Spanjers, to hear more. 

An edited transcript of the conversation is also available at EscapeCollective.com.