Is the new CAAD rider the old CAAD rider?

This week, Ronan reveals to the world that he’s never even sat on a Cannondale CAAD. Relatedly, Escape is now hiring a new tech editor. Separate from that controversy, Dave and Ronan chat through some interesting but unreleased products. Dave worries he’s got too much on his mind when it comes to modern electronics in bicycles. And conversation turns a little behind-the-scenes. Members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench, where we answer your technical questions. This week a lot of those questions were up Ronan’s alley, so he’s present to answer them.   Happy geeking! Time stamps: 3:40 - Escape is hiring!  7:00 - The new CAAD   16:30 - Interesting concept handlebar from Champn  24:00 - Pogi’s new Enve 6.7s  26:33 - Bianchi’s Infinito puzzling press launch   35:40 - New travel cases from Evoc and Post Carry Co 40:00 - Dave has no more mental capacity for electronics 50:00 - Ask a Wrench (members only)  51:00 - Corrections Corner  52:00 - Bike choice for Paris-Roubaix Challenge   1:04:00 - Hookless confusion in the real-world  1:10:00 - First bike with electronic shifting. Things to know. 

From hookless hubs to the latest in 11-speed shifting, the past week of tech has been quite the rollercoaster for the tech-minded.  This week on Geek Warning, Ronan, Dave, and Alex from Escape Collective’s tech team catch up to run through the news and offer plenty of thoughts along the way. This one is a little heavier on the news than we typically like to do, but it’s been quite the busy week on that front!Of course, members of Escape Collective also get access to the full version of the episode that tacks on Ask a Wrench at the end. Zach Edwards joins Dave in answering a handful of interesting member questions, including one from a former winner of Unbound 200.  Time stamps:    2:40 - The new Cervelo Caledonia  3:34 - OneUp joins the XC SPD pedal game  6:40 - Nobl’s new sub-1,000 gram MTB wheels 9:20 - MicroShift’s Advent MX 1x11 shifting  10:10 - Shimano Tiagra goes 11-speed  11:50 - Hookless hub failures in the WorldTour  17:00 - Giant’s vaguely new Propel  22:00 - Merida’s new Reacto is finally released  31:00 - Closely overlapping road range confusion  50:30 - A SPD to flat pedal adapter that’s a Good Thing  53:50 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only feed)   54:45 - Getting specific with 2x shifting on Cane Creek EEwings cranks  1:01:50 - Do you need to bleed brakes after undoing and/or cutting hoses?  1:09:40 - Rusty chains, chain wax, and when to replace  1:19:00 - A real fancy bike behind Zach 

It’s common for everyone to chase the simple answer for what the best product is. In this week’s Geek Warning, Dave and Ronan discuss why those chasing the best of something may be landing upon fiction.   Additionally, you’ll hear about the differing paths in aero road wheel design between the latest from Princeton Carbon Works and Cadex. Of course, there’s a PSA. And our Good Thing segment returns.   As with every week, members of Escape Collective get access to our Ask a Wrench segment. This week, Zach Edwards joins Dave to discuss greasing principles, whether to lube electronic derailleurs, mixing-and-matching SRAM brakes, and more. If you like the show, then please consider leaving a review. It’s much appreciated.   Happy geeking! Time stamps:   1:20 - Princeton Carbon Works’ research into rim widths 10:50 - Cadex’s new aero combo  20:00 - SRAM’s new gravity MTB products 22:55 - Ibis has a new XC bike  24:00 - On our mind: There is no best  36:50 - PSA: Know when you don’t know   46:00 - Good thing: Sync Ergonomics Aerobar Three 51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members only) 51:30 - Do you lube the pivots of electronic derailleurs?  59:20 - Shimano MTB vs Road on an indoor trainer  1:04:00 - Mixing SRAM dropbar shifters with four-piston calipers  1:09:30 - Applying grease to a thread and how much to use 

Oh hi, Dave Rome here. It’s time to get geeky about spokes.  I recently wrapped up a long-term review (now live on Escape Collective) where I compared two identical gravel wheelsets, one built with bladed steel spokes and the other built with Berd spokes, a spoke made from a Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, aka, Dyneema. Those white Berd spokes have been growing steadily in popularity, and off the back of Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand Prevot winning the last Olympic games on them, I was ever more curious. To help with that curiosity, Tristan Thomas of the New Zealand-based wheel company, WheelWorks, lent me some wheels in order to get some answers to questions I had.  This episode is a sit-down with Tristan to discuss spokes and the considerations around an interesting polymer product like Berd. Happy geeking! 

Think of recent times when Apple, Samsung, or Google have once again claimed to change the phone, just for you to find out that you can now photograph everyone’s wrinkles a little more clearly. Ronan believes we’re in an age where performance bikes are like phones, and of course, the geeks discuss it.On Geek Warning this week, Dave and Ronan discuss Cannondale’s latest bikes and what they may spell for some other emerging trends. Meanwhile, the PSA segment returns with a warning regarding increasingly common hood slippage. All of that is free to all, while members of Escape Collective also gain access to our popular Ask a Wrench segment at the end of the episode. From our favourite bearing greases to headset woes, there’s plenty answered and discussed this week. Happy geeking! Time stamps:  1:45 - Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4.5 12:50 - TT frames as aero road bikes?  24:00 - Favero doubles battery longevity, for free 25:50 - Trek turns 50  26:30 - New Factor Ostro Gravel spotted  30:30 - RIP King Liu  31:30 - Performance bicycles are like phones  45:00 - PSA related to slipping hoods  54:30 - Ask a Wrench with Boulder Grupetto (member only) 55:48 - Mixing and matching SRAM Transmission with other cassettes  1:00:15 - Specialized Crux headset loosening woes 1:10:00 - Quick connectors for fully integrated drop bar bikes?  1:17:20 - Servicing versus replacing bottom brackets, and our go-to bearing greases 

It’s time for another bonus episode from the geeks. Hosted by Dave Rome, this episode is a dive into the world of torque wrench usage. Oh yes, it’s time to get nerdy. Anyone who uses a torque wrench should find value in this episode that covers the do’s and don’ts in using a torque wrench. To help with this topic, Dave is joined by Alex Boone, an aerospace engineer who works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Formerly a quality control engineer, and before that, a bike shop rat, Alex knows the ins and outs of using a torque wrench and how best to apply that in bicycle terms. For more on this topic, head on over to EscapeCollective.com for Dave’s latest edition of Threaded that summarises and shows many of the concepts discussed within. The full version of this episode is only available to members of Escape Collective. Those on the free feed will hear approximately half the episode. If independent journalism matters to you, you want access to all that we offer (and without ads), or you just want a website that’s not trash to look at, then please consider joining at escapecollective.com/geekwarning .

Have you experienced certain models of Shimano 12-speed chains rusting more easily than expected? It’s one of many topics in this week’s Geek Warning, the cycling tech podcast from Escape Collective. This week, Suvi, Alex, and Dave also discuss limitations and concerns regarding the fast-arriving 32in wheels. There’s talk of new bikes. And what we carry for fixing tubeless punctures. Those on our member-only feeds also get access to Ask a Wrench, where this week Colorado-based pro mechanic Colin Williams joins Dave for the first time. Happy geeking! Time stamps: 1:40 - Trek’s new XC bike has been spotted 6:40 - Big (32”) wheels continue to gain momentum, but maybe we should pump the brakes?  18:00 -  Basso’s new gravel bike  22:30 - Do 12-speed Shimano chains have a rust issue?  31:00 - Tubeless tyre plugging  42:30 - What we’ve finished working on  45:00 - Ask a Wrench (Member-only, with pro mechanic Colin Williams)  46:00 - When cutting carbon goes wrong  51:00 - Are there short-cuts to setting up SRAM Transmission?  58:40 - Tips for gravel racing in sand  1:04:00 - Specialized FutureShock headset tips

This week’s episode is packed tighter than a top tube bag before an all-day outing. Join Suvi, Dave, and Ronan as they chat through the latest industry and product news to hit the cycling world.Within, you’ll hear where Suvi’s head is at in picking a rear radar, and what Dave suggests for a portable air blower. The geeks also discuss bike-washing tips for those without a garden, plus thoughts on modern drivetrain wear.Members of Escape Collective also get access to the Ask a Wrench segment at the end of the episode, where member-submitted tech questions are answered. Plus, our member-only podcast feeds are ad-free.Time stamps:2:00 - Is Eurobike as we know it now over?9:00 - Good news from Campagnolo12:00 - Trek’s gusty headwinds13:45 - Garmin’s new rear radar and Suvi’s existing picks23:30 - Surly’s Midnight Special gets some fiber24:50 - Rose’s Shave race and endurance bikes36:00 - Bike wash tips for apartment dwellers48:30 - Portable air blowers51:30 - The old rules of drivetrain wear no longer apply54:00 - Ask a Wrench with Zach Edwards (Members Only)54:30 - Dropper posts and internal cable routing woes1:05:00 - A funny PSA1:6:30 - Full Mount derailleurs and stripped bolts1:13:00 - Brake pad compounds for ultra wet off-road riding

Welcome back to Geek Warning! Turn up that radio and listen Suvi, Ronan, and Dave as they discuss the latest big stories in cycling tech.From why many dropbar MTBs being sold have it wrong, through to a rant about stem designs with limited adjustability, there’s plenty to geek about this week.Members of Escape Collective also get Ask a Wrench, where Zach Edwards (Boulder Grupetto) and Dave Rome answer a number of technical questions.Happy bike nerding!Time stamps: 2:08 - Our first Velofollies6:00 - Why many dropbar MTBs are half-baked16:00 - A concept bike designed partly for reality25:30 - Less happy industry times29:30 - Gravaa ceases33:00 - On Dave’s mind: Stems that can’t be moved without cutting steerers42:00 - MADE tickets now open43:00 - Ask a Wrench with Boulder Grupetto (Members Only)44:00 - How do Hookless Max tyre pressures scale with size?51:00 - Quick connectors for hydraulic disc brakes?56:00 - Cannondale Ai offset confusion1:01:00 - Converting an old 29er MTB to dropbar

We’re in Adelaide for the Tour Down Under, and it would be rude not to take a stroll through the race mechanics’ village. After all, the race provides a unique opportunity to see all men’s and women’s WorldTour teams in one place.Tune in as Caley Fretz and Dave Rome reunite and casually chat tech. From big changes, rumours, to fancy hand-built bikes – there’s plenty to take in.It’s worth noting that the episode starts with some audio issues, but they're quickly fixed. This episode is wholly free to all of our listeners, whether members or not. And on that note, there is no Ask a Wrench segment this week.