Giant bikes held at US border over forced labour allegations, SRAM vs UCI beef explained, Sea Otter Europe Recap and more…
On this week’s episode of the BikeRadar news podcast, Jack Luke is joined by Simon von Bromley to discuss the biggest tech stories in cycling this week. Leading with the news that Giant bikes are being held at the US border due to allegations of forced labour and “undercutting American businesses”, Jack and Simon discuss the biggest tech tidbits from the Sea Otter Europe trade show and explain why SRAM has taken legal action against the UCI. Wrapping things up, Jack and Simon discuss last week’s top news story – as voted by your clicks – and Jack explains why, in his opinion, loud freehubs are an abomination. Trump administration bars Giant Bicycles imports to the US, citing forced labour allegations Why is SRAM taking legal action against the UCI? This tiny brand could challenge SRAM's UDH dominance with new direct-mount derailleur One of road cycling's most iconic shoes has finally been updated Dangerholm's mind-bending gravel bike weighs only 7.19kg – but its components are even more interes… I’ve just found Pogačar’s 2018 race bike – it's mismatched, beat up, and cooler than an… Why don't bike manufacturers adopt a universal system for aligning the stem in the correct position? Loud freehubs are a crime against good manners – and there’s a better way Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26 Sep 44min
Vitus is BACK! Plus Bradley Wiggins’ £515 Olympic track bike, and more
Jack Luke is joined by Simon von Bromley are back for another episode of the BikeRadar News Podcast. This time, the pair discuss Vitus’ return from the dead, the revival of the tri-spoke, a wild bargain for sports memorabilia hunters, and Simon’s take on the new crop of hybrid TT/aero helmets. - Read more on Simon’s helmet test: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/time-trial-helmets-for-road-cycling-test - Vitus back from the dead: https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2026-vitus-hardtails-nucleus-sentier - AeroCoach’s new wheels: https://www.bikeradar.com/news/aerocoach-thunderbolt-tri-spoke-wheel - Bradley Wiggins’ Olympic bike on eBay: https://www.bikeradar.com/news/bradley-wiggins-2000-olympics-bike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18 Sep 32min
Garmin’s frighteningly expensive power meter pedals, the new Specialized Diverge and more
Jack Luke is joined by Simon von Bromley and Ollie Smith to break down the biggest tech stories in cycling this week. The team dive into Garmin’s new Rally power meter pedals and Edge computers, with Simon offering his take on the steeply priced pedals. Ollie shares his first impressions of the freshly launched Specialized Diverge 4, which brings bigger tyre clearance, tweaked geometry and the latest Future Shock suspension. Looking back to last week’s top story on BikeRadar, Tom Marvin asked ChatGPT to design the mountain bike of the future – with results ranging from realistic to wildly fanciful. And in Rant of the Week, we argue the case for more shiny groupsets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12 Sep 37min
Tech Q&A: How to make your gears easier, set up cleats like a pro, and more
In this month’s BikeRadar Tech Q&A, we tackle another batch of your tech questions. We cover everything from keeping your drivetrain spotless without contaminating your disc rotors, to whether tubeless tyres are more likely to blow off the rim in a puncture. We also discuss chain wear on mid-drive e-bikes and how to set up Shimano MTB cleats like a pro. Elsewhere, we answer your questions on wheel upgrades for gravel, upgrading 7-speed gearing for easier climbing, and tricky shifting issues with wide-range cassettes. If you’ve got a question for the team, send it into podcast@bikeradar.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7 Sep 44min
The trends defining road and gravel tech in 2025
Join BikeRadar’s digital editor Jack Luke and road tech gurus Warren Rossiter and Ashley Quinlan as they discuss the key takeaways and trends from this year’s Road Bike of the Year awards.Find out why they think tech integration is the future for all bikes, perfect spec is more important than ever, and why gravel bike divisions are here to stay, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5 Sep 41min
How we buy cycling bib shorts NEEDS to change
In this edition of the BikeRadar Podcast, Simon von Bromley discusses the challenges of buying bib shorts in 2025 with Ashley Quinlan. Ashley is dissatisfied with the dominant window-shopping method of buying bib shorts and thinks we all deserve a better way. Today's episode is supported by Insta360 and the new GO Ultra, the tiny 4K camera that goes everywhere with you. Visit store.Insta360.com and use the code "RADAR" for a free 128 GB micro-SD card. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31 Aug 37min
Road Bike of the Year 2025 – The winners are…!
Host Jack Luke sits down with tech experts Ashley Quinlan and Warren Rossiter to reveal our 2025 Road Bike of the Year winners.Along the way, discover how Bike of the Year has changed for 2025, the bikes that earned a place on the shortlist, and which two from each category made the final cut.Find out the winners across this year’s race, endurance and gravel bike categories, plus the big reveal of our overall Road Bike of the Year for 2025. The BikeRadar Podcast is supported by Insta360 and the new GO Ultra, the tiny 4K camera that goes everywhere with you. Visit store.Insta360.com and use the code "RADAR" for a free 128 GB micro-SD card. Bike of the Year 2025 is sponsored by Auto-Trail. Head to auto-trail.co.uk for more details about their range, including the cycling-specific Auto-Trail Expedition 68, which features a purpose-built bike garage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29 Aug 57min
Hardtail vs Softail vs full-suspension – what’s best for XC racing in 2025?
Jack Luke is joined by Tom Marvin to discuss his latest test, which pitched a traditional Cannondale Scalpel hardtail versus a softail Specialized Epic World Cup and a mid-travel Lauf Elja. The pair discuss Tom’s racing chops, and the findings from his test. Read more on BikeRadar: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/versus/what-makes-the-perfect-xc-race-bike Today's episode is supported by Insta360 and their new GO Ultra, the tiny 4K camera that goes everywhere with you. Visit store.Insta360.com and use the code "RADAR" for a free 128 GB micro-SD card. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
24 Aug 25min
