Tech Q&A – your questions answered! Padded shorts for MTBing, £2k XC bikes, how to build a do-it-all gravel bike, better brakes for converted e-bikes and more
The Tech Q&A is back, with Jack Luke, Tom Marvin and Simon Von Bromley fielding your questions. This time around, the trio cover:
Do MTBers wear padded shorts, and if so what kind?
Having recently crashed their gravel bike at a local trail centre, one rider is looking for a fun hardtail with a £2,000 budget – we recommend our three top picks
Can you fit bigger brake rotors to a converted e-bike to help with stopping power?
What to do if your mechanical shifting isn’t performing at its best
Smartwatches as an alternative to GPS bike computers – are they any good, what compromises might you have to make, and what brands we’d recommend.
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43:14
Why TRP Vistar is the best Classified integration yet – plus why alloy bottle cage bolts suck
In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, digital editor Jack Luke grills Simon von Bromley on his experience with Vistar – an all-new drivetrain that neatly integrates Classified’s two-speed hub into a fresh component ecosystem from TRP.
The pair are joined by MBUK presenter Tom Marvin, who gives his take on the system, having tested Classified for BikeRadar on his gravel bike.
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/official-tour-de-france-guide
https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/groupsets/groupset-road/trp-classified-vistar-powershift-groupset-review
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/shimano-kills-di2-batteries-with-self-powered-qauto-hub
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34:17
Campagnolo strikes back with Super Record 13 – and Shimano gets weird with Q’Auto
This week on the BikeRadar Podcast, Jack Luke and Simon von Bromley get stuck into Campagnolo Super Record 13 – the world’s first 2x 13-speed wireless road groupset.
Lighter than the competition, full of smart tech and surprisingly affordable, could Super Record 13 be the comeback Campag fans have been waiting for?
The pair also cover:
The return of the iconic Campag thumb shifter
Why SRAM and Shimano should be worried
Future launches from Campagnolo
Shimano’s strangest product launch in years
And last week’s top story
Read more on everything discussed in today’s podcast:
https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/components/groupsets/groupset-road/campagnolo-super-record-13-first-ride-review
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/campagnolo-super-record-13
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/shimano-kills-di2-batteries-with-self-powered-qauto-hub
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/progress-or-protectionism-in-ebike-industry
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40:35
Shimano launches XTR M9200 Di2, its first wireless electronic MTB drivetrain
Senior tech ed Alex and video presenter Tom chat all things XTR Di2, from the brand’s removal of wires and internal batteries through to shifter ergonomics and shift performance. Tune in if you want all the juicy insights on Shimano’s latest product.
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45:08
A drop bar MTB for Unbound?! Why Chris Mehlman’s wild Pivot LES SL could be the future of gravel tech
In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, digital editor Jack Luke takes a super nerdy deep dive into Chris Mehlman's drop bar Pivot Les, which he’ll race at Unbound XL 2025.
We explore the specifics of his bike setup, including lots of detail on the logic behind his tyre, suspension and bag choices, and how this unconventional approach reflects wider gravel racing tech trends. If you're a fan of big gravel adventures, weird bikes and clever hacks, you won't want to miss this one.
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BikeRadar delve into the world of road and mountain biking to bring you the best tech content in cycling. Join the team for their weekly episodes and occasional bonus episodes.
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