Giant bikes held at US border over forced labour allegations, SRAM vs UCI beef explained, Sea Otter Europe Recap and more…

If you’ve been paying attention to the pro road-racing scene recently, you may have noticed many riders are increasingly using oversized chainrings.   Are today’s pro riders so fast they simply need bigger gears than before, or could there be more to this tech trend than meets the eye?   In today’s episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill to discuss this development and whether there’s anything the rest of us can learn from it.   If you have any thoughts, questions or feedback, you can contact the team at podcast@bikeradar.com.   https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/why-are-pros-using-such-big-chainrings  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 Huhti 202433min

Are you confused by the jargon you read in our reviews? Find technical terms all a bit much? In this podcast, our technical writer and all-round tech-head Luke Marshall guides you through some of the terms that pop up frequently in our mountain bike reviews. If there are other terms you’re not sure the meaning of, pop us an email, and we’ll do our best to help. Our email address is podcast@bikeradar.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

25 Huhti 202427min

Sea Otter 2024, part trade show, part mountain, road and gravel festival, has just wrapped up. The beady eyes of George Scott and Jack Luke have been on the search for the best MTB kit at the show, and they bring you their top picks here. From fancy frames to brand new pedals, via a very fast set of tyres, the 2024 Sea Otter has provided the goods. Our team pushed out a lot of tech content on BikeRadar’s Instagram account, so you can catch up with even more here: https://www.instagram.com/bikeradar/ And, of course, there are a host of articles on the site now, and coming soon, covering all aspects of the show. https://www.bikeradar.com/news/sea-otter-classic-2024-mtb-tech https://www.bikeradar.com/news/maxxis-aspen-st https://www.bikeradar.com/news/neko-mulally-bonded-dh-frame https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-sea-otter-new-gravel-tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22 Huhti 202434min

Sea Otter 2024 has landed, merging trade-show tech with bike-festival vibes. Our editorial duo of Jack Luke and George Scott are pounding the grounds of Laguna Seca Raceway to bring you the best bits. This podcast focuses on the best of the drop-bar tech seen on day one. Jack Luke almost lost his marbles when he spotted Ritchey’s new Montebello randonneur bike, and was blown away by 5Dev’s scuff-proof cranks. There also were some fancy bikes from the likes of Parlee, while the team got a hands-on look at the new Cane Creek Invert gravel fork that has certainly stirred up plenty of comments. For the most up-to-date news from the show, follow BikeRadar’s Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/bikeradar/ And, of course, there are plenty of in-depth features on BikeRadar.com, including the stories below on Ritchey, Parlee, 5Dev and Cane Creek. https://www.bikeradar.com/news/ritchey-montebello https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-parlee-ouray https://www.bikeradar.com/news/5dev-diamond-coated-cranks https://www.bikeradar.com/news/cane-creek-invert-gravel-suspension-forks   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Huhti 202425min

In today’s episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, deputy editor Jack Luke and senior technical writer Simon von Bromley discuss the latest tech news in road cycling.   Last week saw the launch of the new ENVE Fray and BMC Roadmachine – both endurance road bikes with an all-road slant. As well as sharing details of each new bike the pair discuss whether all-road bikes can really do double duty off and on the tarmac.   Next up, Jack and Simon discuss Campagnolo’s new HPPM power meter, and why it took the BikeRadar team by surprise.   Finally, this week’s podcast wraps with details about Shimano’s new Essa groupset – an 8-speed 1x-only groupset designed specifically for budget bikes. The duo consider how it fits in with Shimano’s Cues range, and what it could signal for entry-level bikes of the future.   As always, if you have any comments, questions or feedback about what was discussed in this podcast, you can email the BikeRadar team at podcast@bikeradar.com. https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/road-bikes/enve-fray-first-ride-review  https://www.bikeradar.com/news/bmc-roadmachine-2024  https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-campagnolo-hppm-power-meter https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-shimano-essa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Huhti 202435min

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Jack Luke, Tom Marvin and Warren Rossiter answer questions sent in by you, our beloved listeners. From average chain life to describing the feel of tyres, the trio shares solutions for your burning tech questions.    Thanks to Steve Wilson, Nicolas Rogowski, Tom Parish, Owen Lockwood and everyone else for sending in your questions!   If you have any questions you want answered in a future episode, send them to podcast@bikeradar.com    https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/workshop/how-to-set-up-your-mountain-bike-suspension-video-guides-to-help-you-get-the-most-from-your-bike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11 Huhti 202433min

It's the morning after the night before and, with the dust settling on another edition of Paris-Roubaix, George, Liam and Simon sit down to digest this year's tech highlights. Big tyres, bigger chainrings, aero optimisations and even gravel bikes featured over the cobbles of the Hell of the North.   Got a question for the team? You can email us at podcast@bikeradar.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8 Huhti 202430min

Dropper seatposts are near-ubiquitous on modern mountain bikes, but what separates the good from the bad, how do they work and what should you look out for when shopping for a new one?    Hot on the heels of a nine-way test, BikeRadar digital writer Nick Clark outlines the key buying considerations and spills the beans on the best and worst of dropper seatpost tech today.   He’s joined by BikeRadar MTB presenter Tom Law and deputy editor Jack Luke, who’ve each spent enough time swearing into a seat tube and fishing about for pesky cables to earn a spot in this episode.  BikeRadar’s buyer’s guide to the best dropper seatposts: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-dropper-posts Nick’s matt paint op-ed: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/matt-paint-is-trash      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 Huhti 202436min