109 Alexey Vermeulen & Lani Benson Talk Gravel Gear Up

Hey BikeRumor Fans - Welcome to Episode 109!  Ep - 109: Gravel, gear, and getting to the start line. Jordan sits down with professional gravel race extraordinaire Alexey Vermeulen and Pearl Izumi product line manager Lani Benson. They unpack how gravel gear (especially kit and outerwear) has evolved along with the sport's progression. But thats just the tip of the iceberg. It's not all gear and geeking out. However, the conversation moves into the "real meaning" of gravel. Why would someone subject themselves to a grueling (yet fun) 10-hour day on the bike? Importantly, how that day on the bike might not vibe with the most obvious gear choice. For example, the super lightweight stiff-soled gear the professionals are racing might not be the best for you.  The group discusses their favorite pieces of gravel (and all-around kit) from the newest Pearl Izumi offerings and Alexey's never-ending love for the Attak Barrier jacket. Will Pearl Izumi possibly return to higher footwear? Their newest offering, the Expedition Pro shoes, looks promising, but they need that extra push—and that could be coming.  Lastly, it wouldn't be a podcast with Alexey if we didn't discuss the dog in the room: Willy. We talk about how he became so comfortable on the bike and how he (Willy) trains. What's the longest ride Willy does? Listen to find out!  Check out all the gear and more at PearlIzumi.com. Want More? Find every episode of the BikeRumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and more. Or through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts!  Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play! Can’t find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! Use this form to send us your suggestions for whom you want us to interview! Follow BikeRumor Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear, and tech on The World’s Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow Jordan Villella Like us? Love us? Follow Jordan Villella on social @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)     

Hey BikeRumor Fans!  For this Monthly Round-up, we lay out our predictions for 2025 (and beyond). The crew gets together and chats about what we want to see and, ultimately...what we'll get. Plus, we review our favorite pieces for the month and our favorite comments.  Some predictions include... New SRAM groupsets with better braking.  Shimanos return to a Di2 MTB drivetrain. Electronic brakes?! A Campagnolo comeback?! XC Team changes  Belt drive dominance in the UCI Downhill World Cup Narrower bars for road for consumers? 35.5cm bars on the new Chapter 2.  Wider MTB tires for racing 2.5-2.6"? Wider gravel bars (for Ron)  And much more... Joining Jordan for this episode are Zach Overholt, Cory Benson, and Ron Frazelle,  Want More? Find every episode of the BikeRumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean and more. Or through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts!  Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play! Can’t find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! Let us know who you want us to interview,  use this form to send us your suggestions! Follow BikeRumor Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear, and tech on The World’s Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow Jordan Villella Like us? Love us? Follow Jordan Villella on social @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)   

Hey BikeRumor Fans!  The Cyclocross World Championship is just around the corner, and we thought there was no better time to have our buddy Bill Schieken of CXHAIRS on the podcast. Jordan sits down with Bill and chats about the inception of CXHAIRS and how it grew into the last standing real-time coverage of US Cyclocross.  But CXHAIRS covers more than the domestic cyclocross scene. Over the years, they have grown to have European coverage and moved to a substack-style model.They offer deep dives into race coverage with fantastic in your face race and venue photography.  Bill isn't only a cyclocross correspondent king; he was also once part of Trek Factory Racing. He discusses his favorite times documenting the team and shares stories of hanging with the athletes.  The discussion moves into how SVENNESS came about, and we might see some new Episodes.  Lastly, Jordan and Bill discuss the announcement of DCCX being the home for the 2025 Pan-American championships.  There are LOTS packed into this episode, so if you're a fan of racing in parking garages, basketball (you heard that correctly), and all things for the love of bikes - this is a must-listen.  You can check out Bill Schieken on his own podcast at Cyclocross Radio Check out more of their content on the Wide Angle Podium Network Want More? Find every episode of the BikeRumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean and more. Or through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts!  Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play! Can’t find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! Let us know who you want us to interview,  use this form to send us your suggestions! Follow BikeRumor Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear, and tech on The World’s Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow Jordan Villella Like us? Love us? Follow Jordan Villella on social @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)   

Hey BikeRumor Fans!  For the last (recorded) podcast of 2024, the BikeRumor team sits down and talks about their top picks for Editors Choice. Things get spicy as each Editor describes how and why they chose each piece of kit.  — Enjoy!  *Like all the Monthly Round-up podcast Episodes, the BikeRumor Editors Choice 2024 podcast has a companion video available on the BikeRumor Youtube Channel.  Joining Jordan for this episode are Zach Overholt, Cory Benson, Ron Frazelle, and Riley Marshall You can check each BikeRumor Editor’s Choice 2024:  Zach Overholt Editors Choice  Cory Benson Editors Choice  Jordan Villella Editors Choice  Ron Frazelle Editors Choice  Steve Fisher Editors Choice Want More? Find every episode of the BikeRumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean and more. Or through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts!  Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play! Can’t find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! Let us know who you want us to interview,  use this form to send us your suggestions! Follow BikeRumor Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear, and tech on The World’s Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow Jordan and Tyler Like us? Love us? Follow Jordan Villella on social @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)   

Welcome to BikeRumor Podcast #106  How to Conquer Cold Weather Cycling and Crush Your Winter Rides This episode covers cold-weather cycling and how to dress best for success when the temperature drops. Jordan chats with Lani Benson and Matt Kent from Pearl Izumi. We start with the basics of dressing for winter riding and quickly get to the specifics of how to get the most from your gear.  If the weather near you is getting colder and the trainer is looking more and more tempting, chill out (by grabbing a coffee or snack) and listen to this podcast. We start with the laying basics as a refresher and introduction for new all-year-round outdoor cyclists. Next, we move into how to build a kit for your type of rider and training needs. Then, we move on to mid-layers and shells, gloves, and shoe covers. Finally, we wrap up with all the tips and tricks Pearl Izumi learns from working with the best cycling athletes from around the world.  Lani and Matt have so much information on the technical aspects of winter layering that we could have talked for two hours or more. But don't worry — they'll be back in spring with a special guest!  Want More?  Find the Bikerumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Can't find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! And let us know who you want us to interview. Click here to send in your suggestions! Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride! Follow BikeRumor Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow Jordan Villella Like us? Love us? Follow your host on social media @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)  

Hey BikeRumor Fans!  We're taking a new approach—actually, we're adding a whole new format. In addition to our interviews and tech features, we'd like to bring in the BikeRumor Editorial Team to chat about their favorite pieces and stories from the past month. Covering everything from the newest racing gear to super sweat bar tape that will last longer than your bottom bracket. For this episode, we have; Zach Overholt, Cory Benson, Tyler Benedict, Ron Frazelle, and Jordan Villella. Each author gives a deep dive into their product review and a behind the scenes look at BR Team in action. Don't worry — its not all weights and pull ratios, theres a fair share of goofing off.  Join us in the BikeRumor Monthly Round Up  We discuss: Brompton G-Line Ribbles new 3D printed Titanium bikes Lauf Elja Specialized Crux DSW  Canyon Helmet  Camp and Go Slow's Trout Bar Tape Pro's closet auction/rebirth  Pivot Vault Tylers Retirement Lauf Hub Patent Want More?  Find the Bikerumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Can't find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! And let us know who you want us to interview. Click here to send in your suggestions! Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride! Follow BikeRumor Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow Jordan Villella Like us? Love us? Follow your host on social media @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)

Podcast Episode 103: A Guide to Practical Gravel Race Fueling We'll be the first to admit it: Fueling for long events is challenging, especially if you don’t have a game plan or it's your first event. With the rise of longer and more intense gravel races and events, proper fueling is more critical than ever. A Guide to Gravel Race Fueling This conversation isn’t just for first-timers or elite gravel grinders; it's for everyone. I’ve often gotten my fueling strategy wrong, and I still do sometimes (and I’ve been at this for years).  Whether it was not eating enough, not eating the right food, or the dreaded “I’ll eat later” followed by a dreaded BONK and vision quest for the finish line. We can all work on our fueling for training and racing, no matter how many races we have under our belt.  For BikeRumor Podcast Episode 103, I sat down with the Fuel Good Nutrition (formerly Rider Box) team to dispel fueling myths and clarify what a race nutrition plan can look like.  So, should I eat as many gels as I can? No, this isn’t a laundry list of 20 gels and 50 blocks for over 250k of racing. It's a real-food and practical look at what riders can do (and stomach) to achieve the most from their training. From Training to Race Day We discuss what a fueling plan looks like from the very start. We  look at the week leading up to the big event (gravel race in our scenario) and forward from there. We are tackling not only what but also how to get in the correct amount of carbs and other fuels to stay robust and fresh over your ride.  After the race, you need to replenish, recover, and rebuild. We discuss re-fueling, recovery meals, drinks, and strategies so you can be stronger in the next race. WANT MORE?  Find the Bikerumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Can't find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! And let us know who you want us to interview. Click here to send in your suggestions! Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride! FOLLOW BIKERUMOR Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

Jordan sits down and talks about all things Lefty with Cannondale Factory Racing (CFR) and the suspension team at Cannondale. Steve Exstance, Murray Washburn, and Lefty Larry walk us through the conception, progression, and even electrification of Cannondale's Lefty line. Larry was kind enough to meet us at the CFR headquarters and described the "day in the life" of a CFR team member and how all the moving parts behind wins work in tandem. We cover how the team dials in their suspension for different course demands and rider styles and what it's like servicing multiple Lefties while traveling worldwide. Plus, we get the insider scoop and some secret tips from Lefty Larry for setup, lockout and the team answers reader questions. So, if you're a Cannondale fanatic or a rider looking to get a peek behind the scenes of World Cup life, this episode is a must-listen!  WANT MORE? Find the Bikerumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Can't find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! And let us know who you want us to interview. Click here to send in your suggestions! Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride! FOLLOW BIKERUMOR Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. FOLLOW JORDAN Like us? Love us? Follow your hosts on social @tylerbenedict (FB // TW // IG) and @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)

The Bikerumor team recaps their favorite products, experiences and happenings at the Sea Otter Classic 2024.  WANT MORE?  Find the Bikerumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Can't find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! And let us know who you want us to interview. Click here to send in your suggestions! Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride! FOLLOW BIKERUMOR Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. FOLLOW JORDAN Like us? Love us? Follow your host on social media @cxjordancx (Coaching //IG // Strava)

Silca's Josh Poertner gets his new product ideas from the craziest places. Take the new Strip Chips, for example. These hot melt chain wax additives were inspired by the food industry, where they're trying to find a replacement for trans fats and hydrogenated oils. Turns out, they can make it a whole lot easier to wax your chain, too! In this episode, we geek out on how that product works, the nuances of wax temperatures for proper chain waxing, and talk a lot about where his ideas come from, what else he's excited about, and why his stuff costs more than everyone else's. I always love talking to Josh, and I think you're going to really enjoy this one, too. WANT MORE?  Find the Bikerumor Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and through RSS, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Can't find it? Let us know which players you use so we can get them up to speed! And let us know who you want us to interview. Click here to send in your suggestions! Hit like, hit subscribe, and hit play. Then just get out and ride! FOLLOW BIKERUMOR Keep tabs on all the latest bikes, wheels, components, gear and tech on The World's Largest Cycling Tech Blog by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. FOLLOW TYLER Like us? Love us? Follow your host, Tyler Benedict, on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn