Tech Q&A – your questions answered! New bikes vs old bikes, MTB-to-gravel conversion, the perfect brake bleed and more

In the first episode of a three-part series with Zipp, BikeRadar’s Liam Cahill and Warren Rossiter sit down with Zipp product manager Nathan Schickel to chart the history of one of cycling’s most influential brands.   From Zipp’s original carbon tri-spoke wheel to the current trend for super-wide rims and tyres, via the brand’s detour into making bike frames, this is a fascinating chat that looks back at Zipp’s key innovations, and what might be coming next.   You can also watch this episode on BikeRadar’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bikeradar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Electric mountain bike development shows no signs of slowing, with high-powered motors arriving from the likes of DJI and Specialized, which offer 850 and 720 watts of power respectively in their ‘regular’ modes. The DJI takes that further with a 1,000-watt boost mode.   But that’s not always a good thing. In this podcast, BikeRadar’s technical editor-in-chief, Rob Weaver, and MBUK TV’s video presenter, Tom Marvin, tell you why.   The duo also chat through what this means for the future of eMTBs, and whether peak power and torque now needs to be capped.   Watch MBUK TV’s review of the new Specialized Turbo Levo 4 – https://youtu.be/vk34BFJQ2xQ?si=o1l5OiRczYSIhnyq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Jack Luke sits down with hardcore roadie turned gravel dad, Simon von Bromley, to discuss the missing 1x version of Shimano’s 12-speed GRX Di2 groupset.   With images of potential new XTR Di2 parts leaking online in recent months, we’ve been wondering what it could mean for the next generation of 1x GRX Di2 – something conspicuous by its absence in Shimano’s gravel line-up.   The duo ponder what a fully wireless XTR could mean for GRX and Shimano’s other 12-speed Di2 ranges, why Shimano’s enormous product ecosystem can appear so confusing from the outside, and what features they think would be essential in any new 1x GRX Di2 groupset.   Shimano XTR Di2 'leak' reveals the one thing we've been waiting for 12-speed Shimano GRX Di2 is finally here – but it’s 2x only for now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Tech Q&A is back, with Jack Luke your host, and Tom Marvin and Warren Rossiter fielding your questions. This time around, the trio cover: Are new bikes actually any better than old bikes?  How to improve hand comfort on the bike  Can you convert an MTB to a gravel bike?  Tips for fitting stiff tubeless tyres  The perfect brake bleed, according to Shimano  Carbon vs alloy mountain bikes, what’s better?   Got a tech question for the BikeRadar team? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colnago has launched the V5Rs, claimed to be the lightest bike it has ever made. The new bike is the replacement for the V4Rs, which has just had an enviable send-off at the 2025 Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix under Tadej Pogačar. In this bonus podcast episode, digital editor Jack Luke sits down with road tech lead Ashley Quinlan to discuss Ash’s early impressions of the new bike from a press event on Lake Garda, Italy. Of course, it’s lighter and faster on paper, but is that enough to satisfy these two tech nerds?  Read the V5Rs news story here:  https://www.bikeradar.com/news/colnago-v5rs Read Ash’s first-ride review here:  https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bike-reviews/colnago-v5rs-first-ride  Find out why Ash thinks Colnago might have missed an opportunity to be bolder here: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/the-colnago-v5rs-has-left-me-feeling-cold  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Scott and Simon von Bromley reflect on another classic edition of Paris-Roubaix, dissecting the tech trends that dominated this year’s race. From ever-wider tyres to gravel-inspired hacks, George and Simon chart the latest evolutions in Roubaix tech.   How Zipp’s radically wide 303 wheelset ushered in an aero revolution at Paris-Roubaix – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/icons-of-cycling-zipp-303 Our tech predictions for Paris-Roubaix 2025... and a decade into the future, in 2035 – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/paris-roubaix-2035-tech-predictions Why gravel gearing and clearance for 40mm tyres could be the future of Paris-Roubaix tech – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/gravel-gearing-2025-spring-classics   Watch all of our Paris-Roubaix tech videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bikeradar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With legit suspension and clearance for 50mm tyres, the latest gravel bikes are getting more extreme than ever. Jack and Warren discuss some of the latest trend-setting gravel launches, why big-tyred gravel bikes are good for pros and amateurs alike, and how you can choose the best gravel machine for your needs.   Ridley Ignite GTX – https://www.bikeradar.com/news/ridley-ignite-gtx Lee Cougan Innova Super Gravel – https://www.bikeradar.com/news/lee-cougan-innova-super-gravel Why we need more gravel bike categories – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/gravel-bike-categorisation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many cyclists, the continual churn of standards can be a nightmare. New ‘standards’ shoot up like Tadej Pogaçar on the Plateau de Beille, making our riding lives more complicated than necessary.   Innovation and new standards can make our bikes better, but too often the gains don’t feel worth the hassle.   With this in mind, Jack Luke sits down with Simon von Bromley and Tom Marvin to discuss their top picks for universal road and mountain bike standards.   Simon says: dear bike industry, these are the only road bike standards you should use Dear bike industry: these are the only mountain bike standards you should use Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Holy Week is here! The biggest week in the one-day race calendar is here, with the Tour of Flanders on Sunday and Paris-Roubaix a week later.   The Spring Classics test riders and their equipment to the limit. It’s an annual tech feast for bike nerds so, ahead of Flanders and Roubaix, BikeRadar’s Simon von Bromley make their predictions for the trends that will define this year’s racing.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our tech coverage from Paris-Roubaix: https://www.youtube.com/user/bikeradar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, BikeRadar’s George Scott speaks to Glen Leven, Team Support Manager for Lidl-Trek, to find out why the team is using gravel gearing for the Spring Classics.   This was an impromptu phone call following Mads Pedersen’s win at Gent-Wevelgem, so the audio quality isn’t quite up to our usual standard, but we still want to bring you this behind-the-scenes chat about the latest Classics tech developments.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices