It’s time to geek out. This week, Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome discuss how as bikes progress, market opportunity is often created in what those bikes previously provided. Through this conversation, Ronan and Dave come to an agreement on a specific style of bike that’s obviously missing today.

You’ll hear a PSA relevant to any modern bike, along with a few quick updates that provide a couple of brief tangents.

The episode wraps with Ronan and Dave discussing a fancy type of hex key (the topic of Dave’s Threaded article this week). We love our members, and so those on the member-only feed of the podcast get a little extra bonus chat before the regular 'Ask a Wrench' segment kicks in.

Happy geeking!

Time Stamps:

4:45 - There is always an opportunity to backfill
23:00 - PSA: Don’t ignore worn bearings
27:30 - No.6’s new gravel suspension corrected rigid fork
30:15 - Fara’s new GR4 gravel bike and a tangent on claimed frame weights
38:00 - Dave has sliding T-handle hex keys on his mind (again)
42:15 - The best sliding T-handle hex key (Member’s only)
49:30 - Ask a Wrench (Member’s only)
50:00 - Can a chain wear out even when it doesn’t measure as worn?
57:15 - The best spoke wrench to avoid nipple damage
1:02:00 - How should you clean a disc brake? How often?

A mix of rumours circling and the recently reviewed FiftyOne Sika road bike have Ronan and Dave pondering whether the UCI frame sticker is relevant to many of us. Spoiler, it’s not.

The episode was recorded a few days before we know for sure, but the social media profiles of athletes strongly point toward some interesting drop-bar-converted mountain bikes for the Leadville 100 race ahead.

Ronan and Dave discuss a PSA for themselves, and of course, members of Escape Collective get access to the Ask a Wrench segment with Brad Copeland, where this week a handful of drivetrain-related questions are answered, including one about measuring for lateral chain wear.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:

2:20 - The UCI approval sticker overrated
16:50 - Wild bikes expected at Leadville
31:30 - PSA for those with an air compressor
40:00 - Standert’s new Keiswerk
44:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Members Only)
45:30 - Chasing noises that only occur under high load
54:00 - Upgrading an old MTB drivetrain that’s locked to an HG freehub
1:03:00 - All about lateral chain wear

What in the upside-down world is this? Ronan Mc Laughlin has been investigating rumours around the UCI getting involved with the new 32 in wheelsize, and in this episode of Geek Warning, you’ll hear the crew discuss what it may spell.

Additionally, you’ll hear the geeks (Ronan, Dave, and Alex) talk about some products that have left them a little underwhelmed as of late. New SRAM centerlock lockrings are on Dave’s mind. And there’s a PSA related to disc brake bed-in.

Members of Escape Collective also get access to our popular Ask a Wrench segment, where Dave and pro race mechanic (with Specialized Off-Racing Racing) Brad Copeland answer a number of member-submitted questions with helpful tips for all.

Enjoy!

Time stamps:

1:00 - Products that leave us wanting more
9:45 - UCI looking to ban 32in wheels and will it matter?
28:00 - SRAM finally has centerlock lockrings
33:00 - PSA: Brake bed-in is skipped far too much
39:30 - DT Swiss’ and Swiss Side’s recall
43:00 - Ask a Wrench with Brad Copeland (Escape members only)
45:00 - A call to action for the industry in regards to manuals
51:00 - Best chain lube for indoor cycling
58:15 - Stubborn tubeless tyre installs
1:09:00 - Dehumidifiers and tubeless sealant longevity