New bikes are now rolling in from all directions with both the road and mountain bike race seasons in full swing. In this week’s episode, Dave chats with new hire Jack Duncan about what he’s been seeing at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (aka, the Dauphine).

Later in the episode, Jack and Dave discuss new cross-country mountain bikes from Orbea and Lapierre. Then Alex Hunt joins to talk about his experience with the new Scott Spark.

Not even prompted by Dave, the geeks also cover space and weight-efficient tools for travel. And as per usual, members of Escape Collective get access to our popular Ask a Wrench segment at the end of the episode.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:10 - Pre-Tour tech at the Dauphine
• 00:09:00 - A tangent on big brand wheels
• 00:14:00 - Mystery new shoes
• 00:15:20 - New climbing bikes are being seen, but rarely raced
• 00:23:30 - How to pack tools for travel is on our mind
• 00:41:00 - It’s a week of new 29er XC MTB, starting with the Orbea Oiz and Lapierre XR
• 00:49:30 - Alex Hunt joins to talk about Scott’s Spark update
• 00:59:00 - RIP Charlie Cunningham
• 01:01:40 - Ask a Wrench with Colin Williams (members only)
• 01:03:00 - Small electric inflators where low pressures matter
• 01:13:00 - Discontinued pedal lubes and PFAS’
• 01:20:30 - What on saddles makes them a wear item?
• 01:27:00 - Pondering a handlebar that turns more freely
• 01:30:30 - Talking about our mechanical work

Geek Warning gets a new voice as Escape’s new US tech editor - Jack Duncan - joins the motley crew.

Together with Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, the geeks cover a broad range of topics from Unbound tech, UCI doing UCI things, Ronan’s custom inner sole journey, and hubs that allow cassettes to fall off.

Of course, members of Escape Collective also get Ask a Wrench. This week, Dave is joined by Jack Duncan to answer a number of questions from our members. Also, Dave sends his apologies to members listening to Ask a Wrench as his mic settings had changed without warning.

Time stamps:

• 00:00:00 - An introduction to Jack Duncan
• 00:04:30 - Unbound tech wrap
• 00:16:25 - Disqualification over 20 grams
• 00:28:00 - Cassettes that fall off and Dave’s Public Rambling Rant
• 00:33:00 - Carbon inner soles are on Ronan’s mind
• 00:49:30 - Ask a Wrench (members only)
• 00:51:00 - Running a 12-speed chain on a 11-speed cassette
• 00:57:45 - battery drain issues in an AXS shifter
• 1:04:00 - How to add grip to a slippery brake lever

Howdy geeks! It’s Unbound race week, and with that, we’ve seen an expected amount of fresh new tech in the gravel space.

This week, Escape’s senior tech editors Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin discuss Specalized’s long-awaited update to the Crux. There’s, of course, a bit of big wheel chatter. A fun new project product from Wheels Manufacturing. And plenty more.

As a reminder, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench, where member questions are answered by Dave Rome and a quest mechanic (this week, Colorado-based Colin Williams returns).

If you liked this episode, please leave us a review. It helps like-minded cyclists discover us.


Time stamps:

• 00:00:30 - Ronan went racing
• 00:07:15 - Ronan rides the new Specialized Crux
• 00:14:50 - But is it actually aero?
• 00:23:47 - Are pure aero gravel bikes what we need?
• 00:30:05 - Scott’s 32in gravel bike for Unbound
• 00:36:50 - Wheels Manufacturing’s better mud stick
• 00:42:29 - Paragon Machine Works has been acquired
• 00:43:56 - Good thing: Mechanics you can trust
• 00:51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members-Only feed)
• 00:52:30 - Weird pulley wheel wear
• 1:03:00 - When is it time to replace a wheel?
• 1:12:00 - A Dangerholm-inspired Full-Suspension gravel bike?