Special ep: In for review, October 2025

It’s a rare occurrence that timezone align for Escape’s entire tech team to get together and casually chat about what’s keeping each of them busy.For this bonus episode of Geek Warning, Dave, Ronan, Suvi, Josh, and Alex discuss some of the test products and testing that has been on their minds as of late.Enjoy!Time stamps:3:00 - The bikes we rode last5:00 - Early thoughts on the Cervelo Aspero 58:00 - Canyon Grizl12:00 - Trek CheckOut18:00 - Stinner Refugio Ti and Salsa Spearfish21:00 - A long-awaited Basso review23:00 - A tangent (rant) into how we do and don’t get review bikes to fit us37:30 - PFAS-free waterproof and cool-weather kit (Members Only)44:00 - Wolf Tooth’s entry to SPD pedals53:00 - Ronan’s power meter pedal deep-dive56:00 - Josh’ Dynamo adventures58:00 - Not feeling the difference in Shimano’s new cleats1:07:00 - Ronan thinks he’s owned a Tarmac SL8 for 7 years. Alex praises the Scott Addict RC.1:13:00 - THE electric inflator test is coming this week!

Emergency episode time!Caley and Ronan dive into a story that started with chainrings and cogs, and ended up in court. The BCA has ordered the UCI to suspend its new Maximum Gear Ratio Standard, siding with SRAM in a dispute that could reshape how cycling’s rules are made. What began as a “safety test” for rider speed has become a battle over who really governs the sport, and whether the UCI is still above competition law.

Come get geeky with Dave, Ronan, and Zach (Boulder Grupetto), as they add context to the latest cycling tech.This week you’ll hear about adjustable crank lengths, whether fancy bottom brackets are worth the expense, and if modular mechanical rear derailleurs will succeed.Members of Escape will also hear a non-safety-critical PSA, and of course, Ask a Wrench. That Ask a Wrench is a little different from the usual, with a long chat about whether the review bikes we get are given special treatment by the brands.Time stamps:1:50 - Adjustable length cranks return with SRM10:15 - A dive into fancy fancy bottom brackets via CeramicSpeed’s overhaul29:30 - Did Specialized get the new Aethos right?37:30 - Debating premium, modular, mechanical rear derailleurs.44:00 - PSA - Check your hex keys for wear (Members Only)51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members Only)53:00 - Do we get special bikes to review?1:04:00 - Solving mystery air in disc brakes

Long-time listeners of Geek Warning are in for a treat as Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) returns for a full episode. Along with Dave Rome and Alex Hunt, there is a whole lot of ultimate bike geek to this week’s episode.Within, you’ll hear about some unintentionally leaked information related to what’s likely the next generation of Shimano road pedals.Dave then takes the conversation to an old favourite topic – chain waxing. Next, those new to cycling or less knowledgeable about the technical aspects may appreciate a dedicated new section that aims to cover topics that bike shop staff frequently repeat multiple times a week. This week, it’s all about drip-on wax lubes.Of course there’s some industry news to talk about, and finally a decision on the UCIs handlebar width pondering.All of that is free for all, but members of Escape Collective then get access to the Ask a Wrench segment of the podcast. Here, the geeks answer a number of member-submitted technical questions with information that should prove helpful if you’re working on bikes or keen to expand your technical knowledge.Happy geeking!Time stamps:01:50 - Is a new generation of Shimano road pedals around the corner?10:40 - Chain waxing temperatures, does it matter?17:00 - Back to basics: Chain lubes31:00 - UCI adjusts and confirms its bar width ruling37:30 - YT set to close42:50 - CSS Composites closing48:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members only)48:30 - Getting perfect shifting with Shimano Tiagra56:30 - Where to begin with modern mountain bike geometry1:04:30 - Shimano 12-speed cassettes and the Adhesive Ring

This week on Geek Warning, Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome discuss why SRAM’s battle with the UCI may also prove positive for Shimano.Ronan asks Dave what his workshop wish is, which leads to an unexpected tangent about bike washing. There’s, of course, a PSA, which ends up being a conversation about how to align dropbar shifters. And the geeks summarise a bunch of the latest and biggest new tech.Lastly, Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) joins the pod to answer some questions from members in the Ask a Wrench segment. As a reminder, only members of Escape Collective get access to this section of the podcast.Happy geeking!Time stamps:1:00 - A hypothetical question5:30 - SRAM taking the UCI to court, explained (plus a big rumour)10:15 - Waiting on an update to the UCI’s handlebar ruling (now out of date since recording)13:00 - Ronan ponders Dave’s dream workshop wish 25:00 - PSA that alignment markings on bars may be fictional plus an explainer on road shifter alignment38:00 - Rotor returns to the groupset game, sorta40:15 - Further update on SRAM’s Transmission firmware update41:40 - Trek’s CheckOut, a full suspension gravel bike43:15 - RockShox’s matching Rudy XL45:00 - RLS helmet safety system and Canyon growing the full-service side of the business48:30 - Lezyne enters the rear Radar game50:00 - Ask a Wrench (Escape members only)52:30 - Shimano Di2 rear shifting woes58:30 - Adding shifters to SRAM AXS1:04:00 - Greasing posts and cleaning seat tubes

Today, Trek launched a bike that’s sure to spark debate in comments sections. It’s called the CheckOut. It features a new 60 mm travel front suspension fork, courtesy of the RockShox Rudy XL, and 55 mm rear travel to match. It fits gravel-width cranks and has official clearance for up to 56 mm tyres (about a 29x2.25in).However, it’s the design and testing of this bike that brings our fascination up to a boiling point. Trek published a white paper explaining how it used a rolling road with 3D motion capture, on bike sensors, and a metabolic mask to understand the benefits of having suspension on typical gravel terrain. We had questions.So with that, Alex Bedinghaus (Lead Design Engineer) and Kyle Russ (Analysis team) jumped on to geek out with Escape's Dave Rome. The conversation covers the design of the bike, what modern off-road efficiency testing looks like, why gravel bikes continue to go where mountain bikes have been, and plenty more.Meanwhile, head over to Escape Collective.com to see Dave Rome’s early coverage of the new Check Out.Those on the free feed for Geek Warning get the first 25 minutes free. Meanwhile, members of Escape Collective get the whole thing, which frankly, includes the best parts.Time stamps:3:00 - Introductions6:00 - The design goal of the CheckOut10:00 - Why not a mountain bike?15:30 - Designing for bikepacking20:00 - Longer suspension and stack heights25:00 - Suspension layout versus Trek’s IsoTrust27:00 - Testing explained (Escape Members Only from here on)35:00 - Body is a damper and a spring37:00 - Suspension versus bigger tyres44:00 - Measuring steering compensation49:00 - Qualitative versus quantitative data53:30 - Is smoother always faster?57:00 - CheckOut versus a gravel race bike

When Escape Collective first launched, Ronan Mc Laughlin announced plans for an aero leaderboard. The goal was to test race bikes in real-world conditions using the latest testing tools to determine which bikes are the fastest. That obviously didn’t come to fruition, and this week, Dave and Ronan discuss why. The conversation leads to the two discussing how they approach reviews and the anxieties that surround them.The geeks also have a PSA, Dave attempts to explain pedal kickback in mountain bikes to Ronan, and there's chat of SRAM's speed update for Transmission.Members of Escape Collective (via the member podcast feed) get the full episode, which contains Ask a Wrench. This week Dave answers a handful of member-submitted questions, which this week relate to bottom brackets, servicing hydraulic disc brakes, and cassette wear.Time stamps:2:00 - Why bike reviews can’t have conclusive answers26:00 - PSA related to replacing disc brake pads31:00 - DT Swiss’ new DF system and pedal kickback explained39:30 - A quiet release from SRAM that speeds up Transmission shift speed50:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only feed)50:00 - Specialized’s OSBB explained56:30 - Cassette wear and how to measure for it1:04:00 - SRAM Road Hydro lever service1:11:00 - Buying a bike with a BB86 bottom bracket

This week, Ronan and Dave ponder how they would equip an entry-level road bike, and while chatting, realise that maybe the industry has backed itself into a costly corner.Of course, there’s a PSA and a bunch of tech news to discuss. Meanwhile, members of Escape Collective get access to Ask a Wrench, where this week Dave and Zach Edwards answer four member-submitted technical questions.Enjoy!Time stamps:3:15 - How would we spec an entry-level road race bike22:30 - A PSA to grease your axles27:20 - Cervelo’s new R530:40 - Castelli’s PFAS-free poor weather jacket37:00 - SRAM’s 1987 Limited Edition Silver group38:00 - What’s coming up, plus Escape gets a much-wanted feature42:00 - Ask a Wrench (member’s only)44:00 - Suspension service intervals and not riding50:00 - Breaking chainring bolts56:00 - Using a shorter fork on a modern XC bike1:01:30 - Why are aero wheels not a thing in fast MTB races?

An Irish road cyclist walks into the R&D department of an international bike brand and rides a prototype mountain bike. That’s the joke.In this episode, Dave and Ronan discuss 32-inch-wheeled mountain bikes and whether Ronan is now a mountain biker.There’s a detailed chat about the torque required when working with UDH hangers or SRAM Full Mount derailleurs, along with some buying advice for an appropriate torque wrench.There are new road bikes from Pinarello and Scott worth talking about, while Shimano’s new cleats are equally worthy of discussion.The free-version of the episode wraps with a quick chat about Dave’s recent counterfeit chain article, while the Member-only version offers some more detailed answers on this matter. Then it’s time for Ask a Wrench, where Dave is joined by mechanic Zach Edwards in answering a handful of member-submitted technical questions.Happy geeking!As requested by a few members, we're now offering episode chapters – hope it works as expected! And a language warning for around the 9-minute mark, as Ronan is a potty mouth.Time stamps:1:23 - Corrections Corner for another podcast3:55 - Ronan is now a mountain biker?20:00 - PSA - Torque that UDH and Full Mount, plus a tangent on torque wrench choice33:28 - Shimano's new cleats42:26 - Explaining Pinarello's Dogma F-Series50:12 - Scott's interesting new Addict endurance road bike58:42 - Counterfeit versus Fake Chains1:14:18 - Ask a Wrench: Chain waxing in hot conditions (member only)1:20:50 - Ask a Wrench: Wheels with creaking spokes (member only)1:28:00 - Ask a Wrench: Setting up a kids bike for better shifting (member only)

The Portland-based Made show has wrapped up for another year, and our website has been buzzing with coverage from the handmade bike event.This week’s Geek Warning is a bit different from the usual format, with the conversation focused mainly on what was seen at Made. Here, Dave Rome chats with Escape’s US tech editor Josh Weinberg along with famed framebuilder (and Escape contributor!) Rob English.Within you’ll hear about emerging trends from the custom bike world, why Rob believes there are no new ideas left for bicycles, and some of Rob and Josh’s top picks.As usual, the episode wraps with our regular Ask a Wrench segment, where Zach Edwards (Boulder Groupetto) and Dave Rome answer technical questions from Escape members. You’ll need to be on the Escape member podcast feed to listen to this section.See all the coverage from Made 2025 here.Time stamps:2:40 - Explaining Made and industry vibes10:00 - Trends in the handmade scene18:30 - Josh and Rob’s favourite bikes of Made31:30 - Rob’s absolute favourite - a bike from 197936:00 - A little Aero bike38:30 - Favourite small parts of Made55:45 - Ask a Wrench (Members only)57:00 - A corrections corner related to impact wrenches58:40 - Bottom bracket torque settings1:03:15 - Solving a worn dropout1:09:00 - Sticky cables, sticky drink mix