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The BikeRadar Podcast

Our Mediawww.bikeradar.com
BikeRadar delve into the world of road and mountain biking to bring you the best tech content in cycling. Join the team for their weekly episodes and occasional bonus episodes.
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Episodes

Campagnolo has announced Super Record S Wireless – a new “Special Edition” version of its flagship road bike groupset, Super Record Wireless.

Campagnolo has announced Super Record S Wireless – a new “Special Edition” version of its flagship road bike groupset, Super Record Wireless. The new groupset offers a wider range of gearing choices at “a very competitive price” of $4,299 / €3,990, thanks to its “more moderate use of extreme materials”. In this episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill to discuss the launch and what it might mean for the historic Italian brand’s future. Learn more about your ...

Sep 10, 202424 min

MTB suspension platforms explained – BikeRadar’s tech team talk through the most popular designs

Our MTB tech experts Alex, Tom and Luke discuss all - things mountain bike suspension design. From the history of the first true full-sus bike to the latest, most technically advanced designs, suspension has come a long way. The team explain the four most common designs – the single-pivot, the Horst-link, the twin-link, and the six-bar – and give you their thoughts on how they ride, and each design’s benefits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Sep 08, 202444 min

What road bikes would we buy with our own cash?

BikeRadar’s road tech writers are in the enviable position of getting to ride countless bikes every year, but it’s one thing to test a bike and another to drop cold, hard cash on one. In this episode, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill, Ashley Quinlan and Warren Rossiter to discuss the road bikes they’d be willing to spend their own money on. As well as picking bikes they could realistically afford, each of the group also gets a ‘money’s-no-object’ option, just in case this week’s lott...

Sep 01, 202453 min

Road bike upgrades you don't need (and why)

Many roadies are obsessed with buying upgrades for their bikes. If it’s carbon, light, aero or ceramic (or perhaps even all four simultaneously), we want it and may be prepared to part with large bundles of cash to get our grubby hands on it. But which ones are all style and no substance? In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill to discuss the road bike upgrades you should steer clear of and why. Go faster with this new cycling tech (BodyRocket) The ...

Aug 26, 202445 min

Tech Q&A – dropper lengths, UDH conversions, pedal threads and more

We’re back with another Tech Q&A – our listeners have been sending their technical conundrums to podcast@bikeradar.com and we have some answers! In this episode, we look at how to pick the best dropper-post length, whether there’s a way of adding UDH to existing frames, and why pedal threads are the way they are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Aug 18, 202437 min

Cargo bikes: EVERYTHING you need to know (and why you should buy one)

Cargo bikes could be the N+1 to your current vehicle, if you have space in your home or garage for one. Over the past few months , senior technical editor Warren Rossiter has been taking trips to the tip, doing his weekly shop, carrying camera equipment and taking his dog for walks, all while testing a selection of electric cargo bikes. In this episode, Warren and Tom discuss the cargo bike scene, their pros and cons, the models Warren tested, and more home-brew options, including trailers and D...

Aug 16, 202447 min

Why are women outnumbered in mountain biking and what can be done to increase participation?

Mountain biking is a male-dominated sport, and so in this episode we talk to Fi Spotswood, associate professor in marketing and consumption at the University of Bristol, who researches female participation in sport, with a focus on mountain biking. We also hear from Rachel Bennet, MBUK ’s staff writer. We discuss the structural and cultural barriers to female participation, as well as looking at spaces and areas in which participation has grown successfully. Fi’s blog on the subject can be found...

Aug 12, 202454 min

Why riding an eMTB will make you a better rider

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Jack Luke catches up with Tom Marvin and Alex Evans to discuss whether riding an eMTB makes you a better rider. The team share their experience of riding electric mountain bikes and talk about how they’ve shaped their riding on non-assisted bikes. https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-electric-mountain-bikes https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/what-is-an-electric-bike https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/7-reasons-why-electric...

Aug 08, 202430 min

The evolution of British Cycling’s space-age Olympic track tech | BikeRadar Meets… Ed Clancy

Over the past two decades, Team GB has been the dominant track cycling force at the Olympic Games – and arrives at Paris 2024 looking to add to the haul of gold medals. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, triple Olympic champion Ed Clancy reveals the space-age tech used to help power British riders to glory through his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 04, 202436 min

SRAM’s new 13-speed Red XPLR AXS groupset and ultra-wide gravel wheels

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Simon von Bromley catches up with Warren Rossiter to discuss all of the groupset’s new features and find out how SRAM Red XPLR AXS performs out on the trails. The duo also discuss Zipp’s new 303 XPLR wheelset, which features an enormous 32mm internal rim width. While Warren says they perform fantastically, could these radically wide rims signal even more tyre compatibility woes ahead? https://www.bikeradar.com/news/sram-aims-to-set-the-gravel-standard-wi...

Aug 01, 202445 min

Why YT’s new eMTB is ‘the best enduro bike’ – plus 3 more fresh MTBs from Trek, Specialized and Lapierre

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Tom Marvin and Jack Luke recap on a busy period for mountain bike launches, kicking off with the Specialized Status 2 – an interesting do-it-all shred sled that offers the unusual option to run a 27.5/26in mullet wheel setup on smaller sizes. The pair then discuss the fourth generation of Trek’s all-rounder Top Fuel, which gets lightly updated geometry, suspension and in-frame storage for 2025. We then round out with the Lapierre Spicy and YT Decoy SN – ...

Jul 29, 202433 min

José Hermida on coaching Tom Pidcock, his 2024 Olympic predictions and how 29ers “changed everything”

José Antonio Hermida is an institution of cross-country mountain bike racing. From humble beginnings – winning his first race at age 14 in a hockey helmet, swim shorts and a T-shirt – he racked up a wealth of impressive wins throughout his 20-year racing career, culminating in a dominant performance at the 2010 World Championships. He also took silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics and fourth at the 2012 London Olympics. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, deputy editor Jack Luke and Hermida ...

Jul 26, 202450 min

5 must-ride climbs from the 2024 Tour de France

With the 2024 Tour de France coming to a dramatic close, we look back on the past three weeks of racing and some of the classic climbs that have defined the action. BikeRadar's George Scott is joined by Simon Warren, author of The 100 Greatest Climbs of the Tour de France , to talk through five must-ride ascents from this year's Tour. Which climbs should you put on your bucket list? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Jul 21, 202433 min

The new Canyon Aeroad is here – our first impressions and a chat with a design engineer behind the bike

After teasing it for weeks, Canyon has announced the new Aeroad CFR. Said to be both lighter and more aerodynamic than the third-generation version, the 2025 Canyon Aeroad is boldly claimed to be “the fastest bike in the pro peloton”. In this podcast, Jack Luke catches up with Simon von Bromley, who spent a few days in Calpe, Sapin, gathering intel and first impressions of the bike ahead of the announcement. We also hear from Lukas Birr, a design engineer at Canyon, and a key mind behind the new...

Jul 19, 202455 min

Pro-spec bike testing – riding the crème de la crème of road race bikes

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to ride a pro-spec bike? Listen up! Senior technical editor Ashley Quinlan has recently had the pleasure of running the rule over some of the best race bikes you’ll find in the pro peloton today, just in time for the Tour de France. Host Tom Marvin dusts off his roadie cap to ask Ash about the bikes, which one ranks best (and why), chat about why the winning machine might not be the best for you and cover his three key takeaways from the test. Remember, we’d lo...

Jul 14, 202438 min

1x on the Galibier, Pog’s supersize tyres and Cav’s record-breaking setup | 2024 Tour de France tech trends

In this episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Ashley Quinlan catches up with Simon von Bromley to discuss the hottest tech trends from the 2024 Tour de France. As always, there’s plenty to cover, including 1x drivetrains on the Galibier, Pogačar’s chunky tyres, Cavendish’s fully optimised bike setup, new aero bikes, waxed chains, aero tyres and more. They also reflect on the events of stage 9 – the ‘gravel stage’ – and whether we might see more gravel in future Tours. https://www.bikeradar.com/featu...

Jul 11, 20241 hr 2 min

Tech Q&A – carbon lifespans, Fox dampers and Campagnolo compatibility

It's time for another Tech Q&A, this time with Rob Weaver and Oscar Huckle answering your mechanical queries. In this episode we discuss how to check your carbon components are up to scratch, Fox's damper upgrades, cross compatibility with Campagnolo gears and more. If you've got your own tech conundrum, email us at podcast@BikeRadar.com and we'll try and squeeze you into our next Tech Q&A episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Jul 07, 202434 min

NEW: Spesh Stumpjumper 15 launched with unique Fox Shock

The 15th version of Specialized’s Stumpjumper full-suspension trail bike has been launched, and Rob Weaver has ridden it! Not one to miss out on an opportunity to integrate some interesting tech, Specialized has collaborated with Fox to develop a unique shock to finely tune the suspension’s performance. In this episode, Rob talks us through the new bike, and interviews Specialized’s Stumpjumper product manager Steve Saletnik to get the full low-down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...

Jul 05, 202424 min

Tour de France tech special: five new bikes from the Grand Départ

It’s Tour time! BikeRadar’s George Scott and Simon von Bromley bring you this special episode from Florence, where they’ve been spotting new bikes ahead of the 2024 Tour. George and Simon talk through the new Pinarello Dogma F, an unreleased Van Rysel aero bike, the brand new Trek Madone, Canyon’s redesigned Aeroad and Dare’s latest aero machine. Head to our YouTube channel to see more of these bikes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Jun 29, 202425 min

5 top gravel racing tips from a pro

We speak to Josie Lori Millard, one of Canyon’s supported gravel racers, to find out what her top tips are when it comes to racing gravel. Josie used to be a pro skateboarder, but has transitioned to the world of gravel racing, and very quickly picked up sponsorship from one of the biggest brands out there. We discuss kit and clothing, tyres and training in this episode of the BikeRadar podcast. To find out more about gravel racing, check out our guide to gravel racing here: https://www.bikerada...

Jun 27, 202451 min

New bikes from Specialized, New RockShox suspension and Zwift’s first smart bike | BikeRadar news show

In this episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Jack Luke is joined by Alex Evans and Simon von Bromley to discuss some of the most interesting bike tech stories from recent weeks. First up, Alex takes us through the details on Specialized’s updated Chisel – its high-performing full-suspension alloy MTB. Following that, Simon gives his take on Zwift’s latest innovation – a (relatively) low-priced, modular smart bike called ‘Zwift Ride’. Alex, Jack and Simon then discuss the new RockShox forks and damp...

Jun 23, 202454 min

What’s the point of gravel suspension?

Gravel bikes with suspension might not be mainstream yet, but there’s an increasing number of gravel-specific suspension forks making their way onto the market, both on production bikes, and available for consumers to fit to their existing bikes. Beyond bouncy forks, plenty of gravel bikes have compliance built into the frame, to boost comfort levels. In this third episode of BikeRadar’s latest gravel series, sponsored by Canyon, Tom Marvin and Warren Rossiter delve into the world of gravel susp...

Jun 20, 202439 min

5 things we learnt testing the LATEST XC race bikes

XC has evolved, and so have the bikes. Following his test of four brand new XC race rigs, Tom Marvin is quizzed by Tom Law on the five things he learnt from his test. All four bikes are fresh for 2024, and represent the latest developments in the sport. We delve into the details, from suspension to tyres and geometry. Full reviews of the four bikes will be on bikeradar.com soon – look out for the Mondraker F-Podium RR, Cannondale Scalpel 1 Lefty, Specialized Epic 8 Pro and Yeti ASR T3. Learn mor...

Jun 17, 202441 min

EVERYTHING you need to know about gravel tyres

How do you pick a tyre for gravel riding? Jack Luke and Tom Marvin are joined by gravel race and former BikeRadar tech guru, Ben Delaney, in our second episode in our gravel cycling series with Canyon, to discuss just that. How do you know what width tyre to get, or how much air you need to put in it? How important is tread pattern, and what on earth is tubeless and what are inserts? Looking for more info? Check out these in-depth buyers guides: Buyer’s guide to gravel tyres: https://www.bikerad...

Jun 13, 202455 min

5 things we want to see from new Shimano XTR Di2

Last updated in 2014, Shimano’s XTR Di2 groupset is getting long in the tooth. But with the recent release of a semi-wireless, 12-speed GRX groupset, we’re hopeful a new version of the Japanese brand’s top-end race-ready mountain bike groupset late could be with us soon. But what can we expect from a new XTR Di2 groupset? We’ve dug out BikeRadar crystal ball, and with the help of video presenter Tom Law and Technical Writer Luke Marshall, have built a wish-list of features for next-gen XTR. http...

Jun 10, 202439 min

How to choose the right gravel bike for you

Jack Luke and Tom Marvin are joined by gravel racing legend, Ben Delaney, for the first episode in our gravel cycling series with Canyon. In this episode, the trio discuss what gravel cycling even is and the key things to consider when shopping for you first gravel bike. Looking for more info? Check out these in-depth buyers guides: Buyer’s guide to gravel bikes: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-gravel-bikes Gravel bike setup explained: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-...

Jun 07, 202443 min

SPOTTED at Unbound – the tech we didn’t expect to see

Unbound, arguably the most important gravel race in the world, took place last weekend, and our eyes on the ground spotted a host of interesting tech strapped to bikes and bodies. Jack Luke and Liam Cahill guide Tom Marvin through the most interesting bits of tech seen at the Mid-West’s foremost gravel event. For more Unbound tech, head to www.bikeradar.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Jun 05, 202438 min

5 gravel racing myths BUSTED

Ahead of Unbound 2024, Tom Marvin grills Jack Luke on gravel racing and busts a few myths along the way. No you don’t need to be a pro, no you don’t need to be able to ride silly-long distances and no you don’t even have to ride a gravel bike. For a lot of people, it’s not even a race. This podcast is part of Gravel Racing Week on BikeRadar. Check out all of our gravel racing content here: https://www.bikeradar.com/news/gravel-racing-week-bikeradar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

May 31, 202428 min

How to make the most of your mountain biking this summer

As summer approaches, it's the perfect time to take full advantage of your time on the trails. In this episode, tech writer Luke Marshall is joined by fellow riders Tom Law and Nick Clark to explore how to make the most of your summer riding experience. They share tips on discovering new trails, optimising your bike's performance, and identifying the essential gear you need to ride at your best. Tune in to find out how to make this summer your most enjoyable yet. Learn more about your ad choices...

May 27, 202430 min

Shimano launches 12-speed GRX Di2 – what’s new and what’s missing?

Yesterday, Shimano announced GRX Di2 RX825 – its long-awaited 12-speed electronic gravel bike groupset. In this episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Jack Luke grills Simon von Bromley to find out what’s changed, what’s stayed the same and what’s missing. For the full scoop on Shimano’s first 12-speed electronic gravel bike groupset head to www.bikeradar.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

May 24, 202437 min
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