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?

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 get the full episode (and no ads!), where mechanic Colin Williams joins Dave to answer technical questions.

Time stamps:

• 00:01:31 - Suvi's time at the Gralloch
• 00:10:48 - How to get comfortable when going far on gravel
• 00:17:13 - New Specialized and Canyon spotted at the Gralloch
• 00:18:29 - What benefits the pros doesn’t always benefit us
• 00:20:33 - Unbound is coming
• 00:35:07 - New Enve gravel wheels
• 00:41:49 - Is wider really better, or is this just a trend?
• 00:45:55 - Niner bikes goes on pause
• 00:49:00 - Ask a Wrench (member-only feed)
• 00:50:30 - How long does a bag of wax last?
• 00:55:15 - Running a road cassette with mountain bike derailleurs
• 00:59:30 - Building a tool to stress relieve a wheel
• 1:06:04 - Does suspension need servicing after storage?

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?
• 00:56:30 - More Cannondale Ai oddness
• 01:02:20 - Why don’t mechanics provide their own tools?