Velo Podcast

Welcome to this special episode of the Velo Podcast from our 2027 Field Test, where we asked one very important question: What does the future of gravel look like? We took six bikes that couldn’t be more different and compared them head to head. The six bikes: Giant Revolt: The lightweight all-rounder—race it or go off the beaten path. Factor Sarana: The ultra endurance machine. Argon18 Anti Matter: The aero approach to gravel. Obed GVR: The progressive race bike. Pivot Les SL Drop Bar: The drop-bar mountain bike. Salsa Fargo 32 Ti: The 32er. How much difference do big wheels make? We started with a first impressions loop, then put them through a series of head to head challenges, and finally took them on a 100km ride with varied terrain up to Whistler, BC. Now, Levy, Josh, and Logan have some thoughts about what they just experienced and where the future of gravel is headed. We break it all down on this special episode of the Velo Pod where we're all together under one roof! Watch the three episodes and learn more about each bike in our individual reviews over at Velo! Velo's 2027 Gravel Field Test is presented by: Endura Sport Schwalbe Tires Easton Cycling Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:25 The Bikes 03:00 Was This Actually Gravel Riding? 08:30 The Importance of Back to Back Testing 13:48 Are 32-Inch Wheels the Future of Gravel? 21:16 What Kind of Gravel Riding Do You Like? 31:04 Biggest Surprise of the Test? 37:05 How would you change the pivot gravel bike? 40:35 Don't Let the Brand Tell You What the Bike Is 43:48 Did We Figure Out the Future of Gravel?

In this special episode of the Velo Podcast presented by Pivot, Chris Cocalis, Founder of Pivot Cycles, joins Mike Levy to discuss a new project from the Arizona, based brand.  Most people know Pivot for forward thinking mountain bikes, but now the brand is getting into road bikes with the Pravia, a bike Pivot is calling ‘a race bike built for humans.’ Intrigued? Us too.  This is actually a return to road bikes for Pivot. The brand partnered with BH years ago on road bike product development and design from 2007 to 2012. Fast forward to today and Pivot has decided the time is right to get into this category under its own name. “I just thought we could have a cutting edge product that was better,” said Cocalis.  For this project, he tapped into the innovative spirit at Pivot, like when they pushed into 29-inch wheels early, or developed a fat bike. “Pivot is our brand, and wherever we decide to take it we can compete in those categories,” he said.  Although there was some consideration for making a super lightweight, specialist bike, Cocalis really wanted to get back to having one good road bike to ride everything. So the Pivot team set forth to create the Pravia, a performance road bike with elements that more riders will find more comfortable. They have lovingly dubbed it “a race bike for humans.” Cocalis was deeply involved in the bike development process for the Pravia.  He walks us through the carbon layup development process. It took two years to get all the different sizes correct, and the 56 size around took at least six rounds of development to get the weight and ride quality where they wanted them. But it’s actually the smallest sizes that are the hardest to develop. Cocalis also talks to us about how Pivot’s Hollow Core Carbon Molding process for creating carbon frames differs from other brands. He calls it the most precise way to make a carbon frame.  Levy and Cocalis also get into the nitty gritty details that set this bike apart Cocalis talked us through his decision to include downtube storage, a move that isn’t always perceived as being for performance bikes. It was also a massive development process to get a downtube storage door that “doesn’t squeak, doesn’t creak, doesn’t leak,” and that’s before trying to hit stiffness and weight targets. It’s part of the reason they needed six rounds of layup development on the size 56 frame alone.  Cocalis then discusses the decision to go all-in on electronic shifting. As he puts it, the Pravia is a high-end bike built for a rider that’s not interested in mechanical shifting. And making it electronic only means not sacrificing ride quality, performance, or weight to build in cable guides and stops. “It is definitely a performance minded decision,” Cocalis said.  Then there’s the small details that make the bike more livable, like a seatpost wedge that actually works — an apparently high bar to clear in this day and age.  Settle in for a great episode of the Velo Podcast Learn more about the Pravia : https://www.pivotcycles.com/en-us/bikes/pravia Time stamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:30 - Why Is Pivot Making a Road Bike Now? 00:11:09 - Competing in Both Road & Mountain 00:14:28 - Tangent: The Fat Bike Project 00:16:50 - Fat-Tire Road Bikes & Tire Clearance  00:21:16 - Into the Details: Designing the Frame 00:29:13 - Frame Iterations & Sizing for Smaller Riders 00:32:36 - Ride Feel, Vibration & Compliance Testing 00:38:01 - How Carbon Frames Are Actually Made 00:44:51 - Balancing Stiffness, Compliance & Fit 00:48:00 - Chris’s Road History & the LeMond Days 00:53:17 - Solving the Squeak-Free Door & Internal Routing 00:56:03 - Price, Materials & the Three Build Levels 01:01:18 - Who This Bike Is For 01:06:01 - What’s Next?

Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins This is a spooky week to talk about bikes. Logan Jones-Wilkins, Lisa Charlebois, host Mike Levy, and Josh Ross are all committed to the Halloween bit, but they don't let it distract from the tech. The crew starts off by diving into listener questions, chatting about why weight has fallen out of the top spot in specs over the last few years, and exploring the reasons why you might decide to care about weight more than aero—even if it makes you slower overall. Plus, Logan shares insight into why the pros don’t care as much about aero as it seems like they should. The big question still looming is about the crew's failed desert adventure. Lisa can’t stop thinking about it, and the debate continues over going back for unfinished business versus just letting it die, alongside some epic failed-ride stories from listeners. From there, it’s time to talk about bike computers. The chat starts with whether anyone actually needs an $800 head unit, but quickly devolves into the ultimate wardrobe debate: jorts versus spandex, including Josh's hot take that the casual jorts crowd is actually the least welcoming group in cycling. The real meat of the tech discussion is the polarizing new Coros Dura 2. We answer your questions, break down why the Coros ecosystem is a major selling point, and mourn the loss of the first generation's scroll wheel. After that, it’s the Levy and Logan show as the gravel boys take on the new Öhlins GXF30 Suspension Fork, debating whether a well-designed gravel fork ever actually needs a lockout. Finally, we get to the big topic of the week: Halloween. The crew shares their spookiest, unexplained bike stories from the darkest night rides. Listener Perks: The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to score these savings, and thank you for your support! Episode Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:38 - Listener Q&A: Weight vs Aero 00:12:02 - Do You Have to Redo a Failed Adventure? 00:20:12 - Comments: Does Anyone Need an $800 Computer? 00:29:50 - Coros Dura 2 Review: What’s New 00:39:37 - The Ecosystem Problem 00:45:37 - Dislikes & the Price Question 00:50:10 - Öhlins GXF30 Gravel Suspension Fork 00:58:41 - Spooky Bike Stories 01:19:05 - Wrap-Up & Listener Prompt

Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, and Lisa Charlebois We headed into the desert for a massive route, and the desert won. This week, Mike Levy, Lisa Charlebois, and Josh Ross (Logan Jones-Wilkins is still away) recount the war stories from our brutal trip through Death Valley. We’re talking 109-degree heat, heat exhaustion, and gale-force hurricane winds—which makes for a very interesting day when you are riding an aero bike with 65mm wheels. We break down exactly how the ride fell apart, including why Lisa dropped us on the first major climb and what caused her husband to end up puking on the side of the road. Before we get into the survival stories, we tackle your listener questions. I explain why I never give exact numbers when quoting aero savings, we offer up some new bike recommendations, and we listen to a gnarly crash recounting. Plus, we debate the new Garmin Edge 1060 and whether voice control on a bike computer actually makes sense. This week's poll: A big goal goes unfinished. Do you plan a revenge ride, or move on to the next adventure? Let us know in the comments. Listener Perks: The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to score these savings, and thank you for your support!

We tally up our most memorable on-bike disasters, look at why World Tour riders are ditching BOA dials for laces, and debate the true cost of the sport. Let us know your worst cycling mistake in the comments! About This Episode: This week, Lisa Charlebois, our host Mike Levy, and I (Josh Ross) will be riding in Death Valley when you watch this. With that in mind, we had a discussion—including Logan Jones-Wilkins who will only be on the ride in spirit—all about the mistakes we’ve made. It starts with Logan giving me a bit of a hard time. The problem is that I’m so risk-averse I don’t actually have a ton of examples. If left to my own devices, I tend to move slowly and plan things carefully to avoid disaster. Mistakes do happen though, and I have a few. Lisa has a few more, and Logan has a few more too. Pretty soon though, this just devolves into the Levy show. Mike is far from risk-averse, and the number of things he’s done with his body moving faster than his ability to contemplate the results is pretty extensive. We do have some other things to chat about this week before we get into all the Mike Levy disasters, though. Did you know that laces are more aerodynamic than BOA dials? Logan noticed a lot of riders at Worlds seemed to be into laces, so he jumped into why and has some interesting details to share. I also get a chance to share why I suggest that anyone looking for budget-focused shoes might want to think twice about BOA dials. Then we take some time to answer listener questions, including a dive into why Mike is adamant that cycling isn’t an expensive sport. That discussion happens right around when we also talk about the $6,500 Partington wheels that Pidcock was riding at Worlds. Clearly, the two things are not related. Same story with the 12-speed Dura-Ace Di2 rim brake groupset that apparently still exists for sale. Support the Channel: The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at https://www.outsideonline.com/membership/ to score these savings, and thank you for your support!

Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins Inside the Rapha corporate fallout, a boots-on-the-ground Worlds recap, and the strategy behind selling $6,500 wheels. This week, we dive into road tech, racing drama, and the cycling industry's biggest shakeups. Logan Jones-Wilkins brings us inside the race for the rainbow stripes, while Josh and Logan debate the business logic behind some of the sport's most polarizing gear. In this episode: Worlds Recap: Logan’s on-the-ground breakdown of Brandon McNulty’s win and the ridiculous positional rule that nearly upended the women’s race with Kate Courtney. The Rapha Meltdown: Is its financial restructuring a textbook marketing fail, or was the CEO’s departure actually a calculated, voluntary exit? High-Dollar Bling: Why a custom Firefly rim-brake bike makes no logical sense but still commands attention, and how $6,500 Partington wheels prove a Western brand can maintain appeal against cheaper Eastern competition. Listener Q&A: We address the Canyon mounting system corrections, Logan answers for his Haro bike, and Josh shares advice on balancing mileage goals with raising kids. Listener Perks: The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to score these savings, and thank you for your support! Chapter Markers 00:00:00 - Intro: Lisa's Heat Training for the Desert 00:02:17 - Logan at the Montreal World Champs 00:06:21 - A Road-Only Episode Challenge 00:08:53 - Listener Q&A: Grail Mounts, Motivation, Water Bladders & the Old Haro 00:19:58 - Firefly Bicycles: Titanium Rim-Brake Art 00:30:23 - Fran Miller Steps Down & the Rapha Story 00:37:34 - Manufactured Scarcity & Cycling Fashion 00:43:25 - World Champs: The Men's Race & McNulty's Win 00:48:41 - Should Pogačar Be Unbeatable? 00:53:48 - The Women's Race: Vollering vs Kopecky 00:56:35 - Demi's UCI Fine & the Puppy-Paw Rule 00:59:33 - Kate Courtney & the Crash 01:01:56 - Trade Teams vs National Teams 01:05:42 - Tom Pidcock's Partington Wheels 01:14:45 - Wrap-Up & Listener Questions

Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins This week, we have a full house with Logan Jones-Wilkins, Lisa Charlebois, Mike Levy, and Josh Ross. We kick things off with a massive week in gear news before diving deep into the psychology of ride motivation. In this episode: Shimano's Pedal Controversy: Shimano just dropped new pedals, shoes, and cleats that break backward compatibility. Are we excited, or stocking up on new-old-stock? Canyon Grail Critiques: The latest Grail seems like a great bike in many ways, but Josh brings some sharp criticism regarding a “fun” surprise with the handlebars. MVDP's Latest Feat: Logan breaks down Mathieu van der Poel's recent achievement and how it might impact the World Championship race. (Plus, an inevitable tangent on aero gains). The Motivation Equation: How do you get out the door when you just don’t feel like it? After years of riding through major life changes and terrible weather, the crew shares what actually gets them out of bed. Support the Show: The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to score these savings, and thank you for your support! Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro & Episode Overview 00:02:10 - Josh's Early Impressions of the Envy Melee V2 00:04:18 - Shimano's New SPD-SL Pedals & Cleats 00:14:39 - The Third-Gen Canyon Grail 00:23:40 - Van der Poel's 174km Solo Breakaway 00:30:40 - Pogačar & World Championships Preview 00:36:26 - Poll Results: 1.6 Watts vs 1 Kilogram 00:38:05 - Josh's Melee vs Factor 1 Aero Testing 00:43:58 - Listener Comments on Aero vs Weight 00:51:19 - Electronic Shifting on Long Rides 00:53:24 - Where Does Cycling Motivation Come From?

Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins We answer your questions, debate the real-world value of aero bottle cages, and discuss why it makes sense to ride 500km for tacos. We’ve had some major topics on the show the last few weeks, so this week we are taking a step back a little and answering some questions. We read every comment, and Logan Jones-Wilkins, Lisa Charlebois, and I will often jump in to respond. Mike Levy also reads them, but he actually brings the comments to the show so we can answer them out loud, so to speak. Before we get to that, though, Levy starts with a question: Have you ever done a ride just for the sake of going somewhere dumb and unimportant? I’ve (Josh Ross) had this idea for years to ride from Los Angeles to the Mexican border for tacos, then back. It’s a 500km ride, and there’s no real point other than to ride a bike. Lael Wilcox once rode all the roads in Alaska for a similar reason. The whole crew is on this week, so we get to talk about our silly reasons for big rides. Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever done anything like that. Or, if you are like Logan and just ride for training, let us know that too. We also have some news to talk about. Mostly, it comes down to Logan and me (Josh Ross) trying to convince Lisa and Mike that aero matters. For Logan, it’s all about aero gravel tires. He went very deep into the weeds in his article, and there's a good reason for that. Then it’s my turn to talk about the Enve Melee V2 and why it features aero bar tape and aero bottle cages. I also have a question that I am hoping you can help me answer. To participate you'll have to jump to the [Velo website], but the question is: Would you choose a bike that is 1.6 watts more aero or a bike that is 1kg lighter? Give me the Factor One. I will gladly take a 1kg weight penalty to gain 1.6 watts of aero efficiency. Give me the Enve Melee. Saving 1kg is far more important to how I ride than 1.6 watts of aero efficiency. I am choosing the Enve Melee purely based on aesthetics. Regardless of the aero advantage, I would not pick the Factor One because of how it looks. I am choosing the Factor One. I want the 1.6 watts of free speed, and I actually prefer the aggressive aero styling over a traditional frame. The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to score these savings, and thank you for your support! 00:00:00 - Intro & Vel Membership Code 00:02:08 - Bond Almond Ultra-Endurance Story 00:06:03 - Big Adventure Rides Discussion 00:13:19 - Arrow Gravel Tires from WTB 00:28:02 - Envy Melee V2 & Aerodynamic Handlebars 00:31:38 - Desert Ride Plans (Vegas to Death Valley) 00:41:34 - Q&A Segment Begins 00:42:46 - Front Derailleur Q&A & Comments 00:47:02 - Shimano vs Sram Brakes Debate 00:54:44 - Environmental Impact of Bike Materials 00:58:35 - Gravel Bike vs Mountain Bike Comparison 01:04:16 - Arrow vs Lightweight Bike Poll 01:13:38 - 32-Inch Wheel Comments & Discussion 01:21:16 - Suspension Fork Question 01:22:32 - Closing Remarks & Listener Poll WTB's New Stromm Collaboration Aero Tires Are Exactly What Gravel Tires Should Be The Story of a Cyclist, 32 NFL Stadiums, and One Very Important Football ENVE's New Melee V2 Proves Hyperbikes Don’t Need to Look Insane

Featuring: Mike Levy, John Karrasch, and Jan Heine Does a 32-inch wheel actually save watts, or is the testing methodology broken? We put Chung Method advocate John Karrasch and vocal critic Jan Heine in the same room to hash out the reality of rolling resistance. This week, the usual crew steps aside to host a direct debate between two of the most outspoken voices in tire tech. John Karrasch (aka flexfitbyjohn) has generated massive datasets using the Chung Method, recently claiming that adopting 32-inch wheels can improve rolling resistance by up to 10%. On the other side, Rene Herse CEO Jan Heine—a pioneer of supple gravel tires—argues that wheel size ultimately doesn't matter for speed, pointing to historical roll-down tests and potential flaws in the Chung Method's precision. After a long series of online blog posts and rebuttals, we brought them together to debate the physics, the testing protocols, and the future of gravel geometry face-to-face. Support The Velo Podcast This show wouldn’t happen without our subscribers. We’re offering listeners a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to claim your savings. Episode Timestamps 00:00:00 - Episode Intro & Guest Backgrounds 00:07:51 - Setting Up the 32-Inch Test Bikes 00:12:12 - Understanding the Chung Method for Tire Testing 00:16:18 - The Results: Do 32-Inch Wheels Roll Faster? 00:25:01 - Analyzing the Physics and Approach Angles 00:29:32 - Jan Heine's Counterargument: Wheel Size Doesn't Matter 00:36:58 - The Debate: Is the Chung Method Too Precise? 00:42:36 - Defending the Data and Real-World Variables 01:03:15 - Tire Design Priorities: Casing, Compound, and Pressure 01:17:11 - Tire Inserts and 36-Inch Wheel Possibilities 01:18:57 - 2030 Gravel Bike Predictions & Outro

Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins This week is easily one of our favorite recent episodes. All four Velo podcast hosts—Lisa Charlebois, Logan Jones-Wilkins, Mike Levy, and myself—are together in the virtual studio, and things get incredibly spicy. Expect a lot of passion and plenty of heated back-and-forth as we debate drivetrain futures, prototype spy shots, and the true definition of bikepacking. We kick things off with listener questions. What starts as straightforward bike-buying advice quickly devolves into an argument over whether bikepacking is strictly a gravel activity and if camping is actually required. Josh also gets a chance to double down on why there is more to a bike than its spec sheet, specifically making the case for the Cannondale CAAD14. Next, the conversation shifts to the newly spotted 13-speed Shimano Dura-Ace prototype. Because the system still relies on wires, the analysis quickly spirals into a broader SRAM vs. Campagnolo vs. Shimano showdown. The crew splits on what matters more: Shimano’s shifting precision or the glaring gaps in the rest of the brand's ecosystem. Finally, the main event. Following a week of dueling op-eds, Logan and Josh bring the drivetrain battle to the microphone. Is 1x the inevitable future of road bikes, or will the slow-to-change road market ensure 2x remains superior? Listen to the arguments, read the articles on the site, and vote in the Velo poll to settle the score. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:52 - Listener questions: Bikepacking definitions and the Cannondale CAAD14 00:25:45 - Shimano 2x13 prototype and the great drivetrain brand war 00:53:41 - 1x vs. 2x on the road Read More on Velo Front Derailleurs Are Living on Borrowed Time: Why 1x on the Road Is the Inevitable Future Opinion: You Can Take My Front Derailleur When I am Dead The Velo Drivetrain Poll: Is 1x or 2x the Future of Road?