Carbon fibre is often touted as a wonder material, and many of the best road and mountain bikes are created from sheets of carbon and resin. But what goes in to a carbon fibre frame? What do all the terms really mean. They can be seen as fragile too, but can carbon fibre frames be repaired? And, how do you know if your carbon fibre frame is damaged? We go deep into the tech behind this material with Oscar Huckle, who's previously worked for one of the UK's major carbon fibre frame repair compani...
Aug 12, 2022•42 min
In this Tech Q&A BikeRadar's tech team delve into tubeless tech, both on and off road, as well as considering the implication of 3D printing when it comes to the future of bike buying. We also touch on pack-less riding and a query about some brakes that aren't performing quite as well as they should be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Aug 08, 2022•40 min
In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, deputy editor Jack Luke sits down with senior technical editor Tom Marvin – who, after a well-earned 12-week break, is making his return to the podcast - to talk through the biggest cycling tech news in recent weeks. The pair talk through two new lightweight eMTBs from Pivot and Trek, Unno’s radical looking new enduro bike, discipline-specific tubeless sealant from Pirelli and the new Cervelo S5. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...
Aug 05, 2022•31 min
Electronic groupsets are ever-increasing in popularity and are near-ubiquitous in the pro peloton. The technology has trickled down to lower-tier road and mountain bike groupsets since the arrival of Shimano Di2, and there are now more options available on the market than ever before. In this episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Jack Luke and Simon von Bromley talk through everything you need to know about electronic groupsets. The pair also gaze into their cycling tech crystal ball to try and pred...
Aug 01, 2022•44 min
BikeRadar’s Alex Evans sits down with two of our most experienced testers, Robin Weaver and Warren Rossiter, to reveal how we test a bike. The trio – all key members of our test team – have decades of experience reviewing bikes between them and discuss their individual processes for delivering a verdict on the latest machines. From pre-test planning and bike setup, to back-to-back testing, feedback and scoring reviews, Alex, Rob and Warren lift the lid on why you can rely on our reviews. Hosted ...
Jul 29, 2022•1 hr 11 min
With the dust settling on the Tour de France, George Scott and Simon von Bromley dish out BikeRadar’s awards for the 2022 race. From the best rider, performance and team, to the best bike, tech highlights and tech fails, George and Simon deliver their verdict on this year’s race. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jul 26, 2022•56 min
The ENVE Melee is the brand’s new road race bike, and its second bike overall. Where the design of last year’s Custom Road was, as the name suggests, focussed on allowing customers to configure the bike to their specific needs, the Melee is “purpose-built for speed”, and will be available in a more typical range of seven sizes. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, deputy editor Jack Luke sits down with ENVE’s vice president of product and brand, Jake ENVE, to take a deep dive into the tech ...
Jul 21, 2022•31 min
Jack Luke, Warren Rossiter and Stan Portus sit down to discuss Eurobike Eurobike is the world’s biggest cycling trade show and offers an embarrassment of riches for the tech-hungry cycling nerd. With everything from literally hundreds of tiny OE manufacturers to mega-brands exhibiting 500+ different bikes, navigating the Escher-like Messe Hall is a challenging task. Mercifully for you, our dear listeners, BikeRadar has a team on the ground to pick out the most interesting tech from this year’s s...
Jul 18, 2022•30 min
This year’s Tour has, as always, seen its fair share of interesting tech stories, but what does the future hold? Senior technical writer, Simon von Bromley and BikeRadar’s Editor-in-chief, George Scott, gaze into the crystal ball and discuss potential tech trends that could be on the horizon. What materials will future Tour bikes be made of and will they still have derailleur drivetrains? Will the UCI ever relax its strict technical regulations or lower its minimum bike weight limit? Will the Ch...
Jul 15, 2022•1 hr 11 min
‘The rules’ is an oft-cited unofficial code of conduct for cyclists that, among other things, dictates which cycling accessories are deemed acceptable. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Jack Luke and Simon von Bromley encourage you to throw off the oppressive shackles of fashion and embrace a cycling life that is more practical (and, possibly, even faster) with these 8 criminally uncool cycling accessories. From the humble and misunderstood kickstand to the much-misaligned saddle bag, th...
Jul 11, 2022•43 min
Fresh from a few days touring team hotels in Copenhagen, Denmark, Simon von Bromley and George Scott sit down to discuss the key tech trends from the 2022 Tour de France. After trying to explain why bikes at the top of the sport are so heavy these days (and why that might not be such a problem anyway), Simon and George talk about some of clever new wind cheating tricks they spotted during the opening time trial, and why many teams aren’t yet using the latest and greatest kit in every circumstanc...
Jul 08, 2022•56 min
BikeRadar’s editor-in-chief, George Scott, grabs ten minutes with Israel-PremierTech’s performance coach and aerodynamics specialist, Dr. Ciarán O’Grady, ahead of stage one of the Tour de France in Copenhagen. O’Grady provides a fascinating insight into the team’s tech choices for the 2022 Tour, including tubeless tyres, big chainrings, foam inserts, handlebar width and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/...
Jul 04, 2022•15 min
Ahead of the year’s biggest bike race, Simon, Jack and Ashley gaze into the crystal ball and ponder what new bikes we might see at this year’s Tour de France. There are a few which have just been announced, as well as some we’ve already spotted in the wild, but have yet to be officially launched. Bikes such as the new Trek Madone SLR, Scott Foil RC and Pinarello Bolide F (and more) are all dissected, plus how these new bikes might affect the racing. For more on bike tech from the 2022 Tour de Fr...
Jul 01, 2022•46 min
Shimano 105 Di2 R7150, the brand’s long-awaited third-tier electronic groupset, has finally arrived. The £1,730 / $1,890 / €1,869 groupset brings more affordable electronic shifting to the Shimano road groupset line-up than ever before. Like Ultegra R8100 and Dura-Ace R9200, Shimano’s 105 Di2 road bike groupset is semi-wireless and 12-speed. However, unlike those two groupsets, 105 Di2 is only available with disc brakes. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Jack Luke and Simon Bromley take ...
Jun 29, 2022•37 min
BikeRadar’s deputy editor Jack Luke sits down with senior technical writer Simon von Bromley to discuss this week’s hottest news from BikeRadar. The pair discuss CeramicSpeed’s divisive aerodynamic oversized pulley wheel system, their favourite cycling meme accounts, Bafang’s automatic shifting three-speed internal gear hub, Pinarello’s new ‘leaked’ Bolide time trial bike and more. https://www.bikeradar.com/news/ceramicspeed-ospw-aero/ https://www.bikeradar.com/news/bafang-3-speed-automatic-hub-...
Jun 27, 2022•37 min
Jack discusses carbon frame protection, and whether he would choose the Merida Scultura or Scultura Endurance road bikes, while Rob shines light on how to clean up stuck-on tubeless sealant, and whether you should ride with a backpack or try to store your essentials on your bike. Finally, we discuss handlebar dimensions and buckled wheels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jun 24, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Jack, Alex and Rob sit down to discuss the various (and arguably, most common) mountain bike race formats, what they entail, why they’re great and what type of bike and gear you’ll need should you ever wish to compete in one. The guys cover off cross-country, downhill, enduro and four cross, talking through how the races work and how they differ and, with some of their own experiences thrown into the mix, what you might expect if you do decide to get between the tapes. Hosted on Acast. See acast...
Jun 20, 2022•55 min
BikeRadar digital writer Jack Evans speaks to Garmin’s global product manager Andy Silver at the launch of the Edge 1040 Solar . Besides the new head unit’s technology, Jack and Andy discuss Garmin’s response to competitors and where bike computers will take us next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jun 17, 2022•27 min
Simon von Bromley, Warren Rossiter and Jack Luke discuss Warren’s recently published review of the latest Ultegra R8170 Di2 groupset. Performance is said to be “indiscernible from its pro-level sibling”, so is there any reason to spend the extra money on Dura-Ace? Is the best high-end road groupset available right now, and, if so, what (if anything) do other manufacturers need to do to catch up? These questions answered, and more, in this edition of the BikeRadar podcast. If you’d like to read W...
Jun 13, 2022•48 min
Description: Endurance road bikes are designed to help you cover long distances in comfort. But the latest endurance bikes are more versatile than ever, with a turn of speed that can rival race bikes and enough adaptability for light gravel riding or bikepacking. BikeRadar’s George Scott is joined by Warren Rossiter and Jack Luke to dissect the evolution of the endurance bike, and help you pick the best endurance bike for your needs. Head to BikeRadar for our full buyer’s guide to the best endur...
Jun 10, 2022•54 min
BikeRadar’s senior technical writer, Simon von Bromley holds the somewhat controversial view that press-fit bottom brackets are, in fact, superior to traditional threaded bottom brackets. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Simon puts his case forward to Jack Luke, explaining what a bottom bracket is, a brief history of press-fit standards and the state of play today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...
Jun 06, 2022•43 min
To help us gaze into our crystal ball of gravel riding, we chatted to a number of industry experts, riders and racers to discuss where we think the future of gravel will lie. Could we come up with a consensus? Absolutely not, but there are certainly some bright ideas about the different directions that the gravel world could be heading in. Thank you to racers Dalila Lecky and Amanda Nauman, JP McCarthy from SRAM, Canyon’ Matt Leake, James Heaton from WTB, Rapha events’ Louis van Kleef, Ian Carte...
Jun 03, 2022•58 min
Technical editor-in-chief Rob Weaver and technical editor Alex Evans talk about their favourite riding spots across the globe. Rob’s most cherished places include the slickrock trails unique to the USA, the steep, tight training grounds of Downhill World Cup legends Nico Vouilloz and Fabien Barel, Australian rainforest, and, back in the UK, the steeps of the Welsh valleys. Alex chats about two mountain biking hotspots, both he calls home. One in the French Alps and the other in southern Scotland...
May 30, 2022•52 min
Bringing together both competition and community, gravel racing creates a unique atmosphere across a range of different race formats the world over. To discuss the proliferation of gravel races and how you can get into racing off-road, we’re joined by American gravel racing OG Amanda Nauman, who has twice won Unbound Gravel, as well as London-based multi-discipline racer Dalila Lecky. To round off our panel, Jack Luke brings his experience of UK and European gravel races from Grinduro! To longer...
May 27, 2022•37 min
Let’s be honest, we all love new bolting on new, shiny upgrades to our bikes. However, changing certain components can have a bigger effect on your riding experience than others. Luke, Rob, and Will talk through the essential parts you should prioritise when looking to upgrade your bikes spec that will deliver more fun, control and performance from your bike. All essential ingredients for improving your ride experience. Bang on the kettle and listen in to find out where the guys would put their ...
May 23, 2022•1 hr 16 min
The cause of much debate for riders who fondly remember the early years of mountain biking, we call in two of our in-house experts from CyclingPlus and MBUK to debate whether gravel riding is just mountain biking from the 90s. Both Robin Weaver and Warren Rossiter rode and raced mountain bikes across multiple disciplines in the 1990s, but today enjoy riding and testing modern gravel bikes alongside their usual helpings of 21st century road and mountain bikes. Has gravel riding backfilled the voi...
May 20, 2022•26 min
After thousands of kilometres of testing and hours of deliberation, our annual Bike of the Year test has come to a conclusion. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, deputy editor Jack Luke is joined by senior technical editor Warren Rossiter, who headed our gravel and endurance bike categories, and senior technical writer, Simon von Bromley, who looked after the performance bike category. The three discuss how the dozens of bikes tested across five categories were put through their paces bef...
May 17, 2022•37 min
Our annual Bike of the Year test is a massive undertaking where we tell you which bikes are category-leading, with this year being no exception. Tom, who was in charge of the trail bike category, and Alex, who tested electric mountain bikes for the first time in Bike of the Year history, are joined by Luke to discuss the trials and tribulations of this year's testing, and to discuss Rob's Enduro Bike of the Year category in his absence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...
May 16, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Planning a gravel ride well can make the difference between a mega day out and a disastrous one. In this episode, we chat about route planning, nutrition, tools and spares, sharing some of our past mistakes to help you prepare better than we did! BikeRadar’s Robyn Furtado and Jack Evans join us for this episode, as well as multi-sport adventurer, komoot Global Community Manager and Hammerhead ambassador Gaby Thompson. This episode is brought to you by Hammerhead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...
May 13, 2022•36 min
Technical Editor-in-Chief Robin Weaver and Senior Road Technical Editor Warren Rossiter impart their vast knowledge to answer a depth of questions from you, our dear readers and listeners. Warren recommends a Shimano-compatible 11-speed Miche cassette that includes the sweet spot 16t sprocket, while Rob tells why you need to carefully research whether your enduro bike frame is compatible with dual crown forks, or not as the case may be. We also discuss cycling kit for bigger riders and the best ...
May 09, 2022•54 min
