Podcast · Sport

Geek Warning

by Escape Collective · English · Sport

Welcome to Geek Warning, a podcast focused on deciphering the world of cycling tech, explaining how bikes work, and how to make them better. Hosted by Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, this weekly show is your fix for tech geekitude, covering the latest tech news, industry trends, answering mechanica

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 53 min
Latest: 8 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026 · 48 min

The mechanic model is broken

A report published by CyclingIndustries.com highlights an extreme shortage of skilled mechanics and the issues that presents. Dave and Ronan discuss some of the challenges behind this and what it may take to better retain skilled mechanics. Later in the episode, Dave shares why he thinks rim brakes will return in popularity, at least a little. Ronan argues why Dave’s crystal ball is faulty. You’ll also hear a tech tip that’s perhaps more just an excuse to treat yourself. To wrap things up, and as per usual, members of Escape Collective get our Ask a Wrench section, where Dave and Zach…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

1 Oct 2026 · 48 min
The wheel backstory of Road Worlds
Geek Warning is rarely about the chapter titles, but rather the expertise and information shared within. That sure applies this week, as the conversation covers the real story behind Pidcock’s recent wheel choice at Worlds, Ronan’s ideal rim widths for road racing, and what Dave considers to be the benchmark in SPD pedals. There’s also a relatively new Good Thing for SRAM Transmission, a tech tip for anyone turning a spanner, and plenty more. As usual, members of Escape Collective (on the member-only feed) get Ask a Wrench at the end of the episode. This week, Zach Edwards of the Boulder…
28 Sep 2026 · 29 min
Bonus: Berd's co-founder on the performance cost of vibrations
Many brands within the bike industry often speak about higher-performing products being stiffer, lighter, more aero, and faster-rolling. And yet when it comes to off-road disciplines, it’s rare for brands to discuss smoothness as a performance metric. It’s an area many have dabbled in over the years, but it’s tough to market a product on. Berd, makers of rope-like spokes, recently published a white paper detailing why they believe their new gravel race wheels are the fastest for the off-road discipline. A big part of that claim relates to vibration damping and impact reduction, metrics that…
24 Sep 2026 · 53 min
The last piece of the puzzle
Talk of big wheels continue to dominate headlines in the cycling tech world. This past week, Trek and Scott raced production-ready 32ers at the World Cup round in Utah, while Sea Otter Europe showcased other production-ready options. With that, Dave Rome chats with Escape’s Suvi Loponen and Alex Hunt about what they each saw in person at these respective events. For Suvi, Sea Otter Europe, with about 80,000 attendees this year, offered an opportunity for a vibe check from members of the European bicycle industry. Members on our member-only feed will also hear Ask a Wrench, this week with…
18 Sep 2026 · 50 min
A hands-on guide to Shimano’s new SPD-SLR
Welcome back to Geek Warning. This week, Dave Rome and Ronan McLaughlin talk through Shimano’s new road pedal system, which will eventually supersede the now two-decade-old SPD-SL. Dave has been hands-on with the new pedals and offers insight into how nuanced the differences are. Dave is then joined by Suvi Loponen to discuss the new Canyon Grail gravel bike along with a number of other standout bits of tech news from the week. At the end of the episode, and for those listening via a member-only feed, we have an interview with Bill Alcorn of BikeFlights about how air freighting and…
11 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Fashion week, but new bikes
This week, Caley Fretz returns to Geek Warning alongside Jack Duncan and Dave Rome. It’s been a week full of big new bike launches (all of which Escape Collective attended) and there has been some equally big industry news. The geeks discuss new bikes from Scott, Factor, and Enve, and how each finds (or doesn't) a balance between performance and enjoyment. Plus, there’s a shift in product from WTB, some somewhat sad news out of an Australian business, and we speculate over why Specialized’s founder has returned to the helm. As usual, members of Escape Collective have access to the exclusive…
27 Aug 2026 · 42 min
In person and pondering new Dura-Ace
This week sees a big first for the Geek Warning podcast as the entirety of Escape Collective’s tech crew meet up in person over in Takayama, Japan. With that, we recorded live in front of a select group of Escape members! It’s certainly been a huge week on the tech front for our entire tech team to be away riding bikes at the annual Member Summit. Not only is the Vuelta a España in its first week (where new Dura-Ace prototypes were seen), we also had the last Mountain Bike World Cup round prior to the World Championships. And if that wasn’t enough, MADE was held over in Portland, Oregon, the…
19 Aug 2026 · 32 min
Bonus: The business of batch-built versus custom metal bikes
It’s time for another bonus edition of Geek Warning. This chat is a brief opener to our upcoming coverage of Made, North America’s Custom Bicycle Show. Held this coming weekend (21-23rd of August), the Portland-based show has grown to be a key event on the calendar for bike lovers, tech nerds, makers, and the like. A show like this also consistently serves as a crystal ball into emerging segments and tech trends. One such trend is the emergence of custom frame builders offering pre-built options. In the USA, a number of local frame builders have reduced purchase barriers by offering set…
13 Aug 2026 · 48 min
The endurance bike some of us have been waiting for
This week on Geek Warning, Dave is joined by Escape’s Suvi Loponen and Alex Hunt to talk about the latest in cycling tech. Alex was on the ground at the Tour de France Femmes and came away pondering why 1x hadn’t hit the women’s field like it has the men. Meanwhile, Suvi has spent the past couple of months riding the new Trek Domane endurance road bike. Dave and Suvi discuss why this bike is likely to be a big win for Trek. Then, as usual, those on our member-only podcast feeds get access to Ask a Wrench. This week Dave is joined by Colin Williams to answer questions related to replicating…
6 Aug 2026 · 52 min
The spectrum of XC race bikes
This week, Dave and Jack from the Escape Collective tech team talk modern cross-country bikes and where the nuance between race and downcountry sits. Plus, Dave shares why he believes remote lockouts are a race-day product. Meanwhile, the geeks discuss why rounded bolts are most often user error and how to avoid them (also check out Dave’s Threaded #15 article on the topic ). Like every week, members of Escape Collective (on the exclusive member-only feeds) get access to the full episode, including Ask a Wrench. This week Colin Williams is back on the mic to answer questions from our…
31 Jul 2026 · 53 min
Pros are not not slamming their stems
This week we got new Shimano R9300 Dura-Ace, although not quite the release many had wished for. Escape’s senior tech editors, Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, talk through this new release, the details that are easily overlooked, and where Shimano could do more. Ronan then shares what he saw while covering tech at the Tour de France and how perceived trends can often be false. Dave then raises the increasing problem of Large Language Models (aka, Ai answers) leading people astray in topics that have limited information available online. There’s also a bit of interesting tech news from Silca…
23 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Going back to basics
We’re going back to basics in this week’s episode. While Geek Warning is usually for tech-obsessed cyclists, this edition covers the common conversations a bicycle mechanic would have with a client. It’s for everyone and anyone who does a little of their own bike maintenance. Many road cyclists are still relatively new to disc brakes, so Jack Duncan and Dave Rome start the episode with a deep dive into many facets of ownership. The basics of chain lube and drivetrain wear are covered later on, as are some thoughts about tyre wear and who tubeless may be right for. After all that, members of…
16 Jul 2026 · 54 min
Aero bottles are often a step too far
Dave and Jack are back for another round of Geek Warning. This week, new road bikes from Cervelo and Pinarello bring the discussion to topics such as what makes a good endurance road bike, where emerging Chinese brands are seeing success, and why aero bottles are an impractical feature. In this episode, you’ll also hear what Dave considers the best multi-tool and plenty more. Meanwhile, listeners on our members-only podcast feed will hear "Ask a Wrench" at the end of the episode. This week, Dave Rome is joined by pro mechanic Colin Williams to answer questions about sticking Shimano dropbar…
10 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Rumours all around and the aero cost of being in the Yellow jersey
It’s the first week of the Tour and Escape’s geeks are seemingly all down different rabbit holes. This week, Dave Rome is joined by new hire Jack Duncan to talk through the week in cycling tech, which seems to involve a handful of juicy rumours. From rumours of new Dura-Ace to big wheels from big brands, there’s a lot to chew on. Dave and Jack also discuss airbag tech that keeps circling big budget teams. And there’s some tool talk for the wrench-enthusiasts. The free episode wraps up with Jack jumping on a call with aero clothing expert Johannes Rom Dahl (of Fusion) to try to get an answer…
3 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
Making the test provide the desired result
It’s the week of the Tour de France Grand Départ, and with it have come a few big bike launches. Escape’s senior tech editors, Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin, jump on to discuss whether Specialized’s new Tarmac hits the mark. There’s also a new bike from Orbea. Plus Dave asks Ronan to confirm just how progressive his fit is, and as it turns out, the answer is not very. Ronan then jumps on a call with Daan Teugels from Belgian Cycling Factory to discuss how Eddy Merckx’s reduced-frame-size options can still meet racers' needs. As always, members of Escape Collective don’t just support…
2 Jul 2026 · 53 min
The fastest sleeves you've ever seen | TDF Tech special
It's time for a Geek Warning crossover episode! Ronan Mc Laughlin and Jack Duncan join Caley Fretz ahead of this year's Tour de France to break down how bikes and gear are changing and highlight what our tech reporters think will be the most important equipment of a modern Tour.
26 Jun 2026 · 59 min
The consequences of big wheels and being gaslit
The tech crew at Escape Collective have been paying close attention to the progression toward 32in wheels in gravel and mountain bike, and while the conversation has come up a few times, it felt time to dedicate some real time to the topic. This week, Escape tech staffers Dave Rome, Ronan Mc Laughlin, and Alex Hunt chat about 32ers in the news, whether the UCI’s potential involvement will slow things, and if a new wheel size is of positive net gain for the wider industry. In addition to big wheels, the geeks also talk about some other new products. Meanwhile, members of Escape Collective get…
19 Jun 2026 · 52 min
Exploring progressive road geometry
This week, Dave, Ronan, and new guy Jack chat about Eddy Merckx’s new bike and why it’s surprised Ronan. The bike provides good fodder for diving into more serviceable cockpits and for understanding why only fashion may limit the uptake of progressive road geometry. There’s good news for those who prefer cable-actuated shifting, as Shimano has updated its mountain bike offerings. Dave has other things on his mind, too, including Australia’s Spoken bike show and how downhill is teasing future puzzling for disc brakes. Of course, there’s plenty more than that, and members of Escape Collective…
11 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
New climbing bikes are being seen, but rarely raced
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…
5 Jun 2026 · 50 min
Inner soles, 20 grams, and a new voice
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…
28 May 2026 · 51 min
The Crux is now a DirtMac
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…
22 May 2026 · 49 min
Going further on gravel
With Unbound on next week, and the Gralloch on last weekend, it felt timely to talk about going further on gravel. For this, Escape’s tech and industry reporter, Suvi Loponen, joins Dave Rome. Also joining this week is special guest (and occasional Escape contributor) Kevin ‘Benky’ Benkenstein, a familiar face in the ultra world. There's also talk of whether the trend in wide gravel rims is a good direction. And of course, there’s plenty more. Just a quick note that Kevin did have some internet issues, so we apologise for the occasional delay in the recording. Members of Escape Collective…
14 May 2026 · 45 min
Will beep boop suspension come to gravel?
In a rare treat, Caley Fretz (aka, The Hammer) makes a return to Geek Warning. Joined by Escape's Senior Tech Editor Dave Rome, this week’s chat covers electronic suspension on mountain bikes and whether it makes sense for future gravel bikes. Time stamps: 00:00:00 - Intro, Caley is back 00:02:01 - Caley is a fan of Flight Attendant 00:25:30 - Electronics for gravel suspension? 00:34:30 - Endurace CF range 00:41:00 - Rotor in trouble 00:42:00 - Why Escape Collective 00:44:56 - Ask a Wrench (members only) 00:45:50 - Can you fix a creaking saddle? 00:50:10 - How to find info on older bikes?…
7 May 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Aero gravel bikes are not always the fastest choice
Are full-blown aero gravel bikes all they’re cracked up to be? Dave and Ronan share some strong thoughts on why this may be the wrong path, or at least, why it’s still early days for these being the faster choice. For those in the workshop, Dave shares the importance of good lighting and some of his favourite hand-held options for seeing better. Alex Hunt then jumps on to talk about XC tech from the opening round of World Cup racing, including why the conditions caused so many dropped chains. Of course, members of Escape Collective get Ask a Wrench, this week with guru Colin Williams. Dave…
30 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Campagnolo is oh so back
It’s an episode of three parts this week and there’s been lots of big tech releases to chat through. Things kick off with Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome chatting about Campagnolo’s new Record 13 release and why it may prove to be the move to put Campagnolo back in the minds of many. There’s chat of where Zipp may be gone wrong with its latest 202 wheel release, and Ronan shares some thoughts of BMC’s new gravel racer, the Kaius. Then Dave gets tech reporter Alex Hunt on the phone to talk about two new cross-country bike releases - the Specialized Epic 9 and Canyon Lux World Cup. Finally,…
23 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
No questions asked warranties aren’t all upside
It’s the week after the Sea Otter Classic, and the geeks speak surprisingly little of the products shown there. Instead, Ronan and Dave cover new budget drivetrains from SRAM and Shimano. Dave is thinking about unsustainable warranty policies. And there’s plenty more covered from the world of cycling tech. As a reminder, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench (at the end of the free episode). This week, Zach Edwards joins Dave in answering a variety of questions from members. Happy geeking! Time stamps: 00:01:29 - Should you grease headset spacers? 00:05:39 - Lifetime…
16 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
Roubaix Tech and classic Colnagos
Whoa, what a week to be a cycling fan. And for the nerds among us, Roubaix rolling into Sea Otter is always great. This week Ronan, Alex, and Dave discuss some of the bigger tech finds and blunders of Roubaix and what they may spell for future products and trends. Many tangents are had. Ronan got to ride the new Colnago C72 and shares why he’s always dreamed of owning a C-Series. Of course, the geeks also cover some tech news, and there’s a PSA. It’s a long one, but we think it’s a good one! As usual, members of Escape Collective get Ask a Wrench (via the member-only podcast feeds). It’s…
9 Apr 2026 · 50 min
Is electronic shifting soulless?
A recent r eview comparing SRAM XPLR AXS to Shimano GRX Di2 1x brought up an interesting comment from a reader: does electronic shifting kill the soul of a bicycle? It’s a topic of discussion in this week’s episode. Also in this episode, tech editor and industry reporter Suvi Loponen rejoins Geek Warning to talk about Canyon’s somewhat confusing new Endurace CFR release . You’ll also hear about some other bits of new tech. Meanwhile, the PSA this week doesn’t mince words, calling out a new product on Kickstarter as one to avoid. Of course, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask…
8 Apr 2026 · 56 min
A promising future for Campagnolo
This week, Escape’s senior tech editors Ronan Mc Laughlin and Dave Rome are back on the mics to talk about Campagnolo’s big news, Stan’s new products, and a big-tyred aero bike from Ridley. Also, Dave has easy-to-build bikes on his mind and why they’re the sort of bike he personally still seeks out. Plus there’s a PSA for those who ever turn a hex key near a SRAM Transmission or XPLR-equipped bike. Geek Warning usually finishes on a member-only segment of Ask a Wrench, but not this week. Instead, Dave catches up with famed frame builder Rob English (of English Cycles) about his time at MADE…
2 Apr 2026 · 48 min
Mixing and matching integrated components
Ronan and Dave return to chat through the week of cycling geeking. From emerging trends in one-piece cockpits to the latest in tech news, this episode has plenty of information nuggets. As usual, members of Escape Collective have access to the member-only podcast feeds where they receive the full versions of our episodes. Every week, this includes the bonus section of Geek Warning – Ask a Wrench, where you’ll hear pro mechanics answer technical questions from members. This week, the mechanics answer questions related to restoring an older rim brake bike and the reasons to do it; tubeless…

About Geek Warning

Geek Warning is a English sport podcast from Escape Collective. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Escape Collective
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 53 min
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1670202284
Rights: Escape Collective

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