The BikeRadar Podcast

We have all bought some truly awful bike products over the years and there are plenty of pitfalls to make when spending money on cycling kit.   But a lot of products, while far too expensive, are still ones we really want.    Liam is joined by Warren and Ash to identify the offending items and help you avoid making the same mistakes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...

Liam and Simon are joined by Nathan Haas, a former WorldTour professional turned gravel privateer, to discuss the tech trends that could define gravel racing in the coming years.   Having started his cycling career as a mountain biker, Haas explains why he thinks MTB tyres and suspension forks are overkill for gravel racing.   The trio also touch on the recent UCI Gravel World Championships, and h...

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, senior technical editor Warren gets an exclusive sit-down with Sir Chris Hoy at Manchester Velodrome to talk about his astonishing career. They discuss everything from E.T.-inspired BMX racing, mountain bike, and road racing to how Sir Chris became a track legend. We hear who inspired him, what brought him to track racing, and how he stayed on top for so l...

The bike industry is, like any industry, home to aspects which are great and things which boil our brakes.   But from the outside, some of these positive and negative aspects can be missed. In the spirit of openness, we wanted to talk about them.   So these are five things that we love, and six things we think the bike industry could improve on. https://www.bikeradar.com/news/longest-bike-stem htt...

BikeRadar’s testers are in the fortunate position to be able to test the latest bikes. But reviewing bikes and making a significant financial investment to buy one, are two very different things.   The gravel discipline has expanded rapidly over the last decade and the bikes which fall under this dusty umbrella range from aero racers to monster adventure rigs. So with gravel bikes becoming ever mo...

Zwift might have a serious contender in 2025 after TrainingPeaks acquired IndieVelo.   The virtual indoor cycling app – now called TrainingPeaks Virtual – will be free to use until at least March 2025. With TrainingPeaks' new software being bundled as part of its premium subscription tier going forward, could it tempt Zwift users away from Watopia?   Liam and Simon sit down to discuss this, along...

Senior tech editor Alex joins video presenter Tom to discuss how to make your suspension forks perform better. After spending countless hours testing three of the latest forks from the biggest names – Fox, Öhlins and RockShox – Alex divulges all the tips and tricks he learnt, to help you get more from your setup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Almost every brand promises their waterproof jackets can lock out water on rainy days yet still allow sweat to ‘breathe’ through, to prevent you getting soaked from the inside. Is this possible, though?   In this episode, Ashley Quinlan sits down with Simon von Bromley to discuss why the marketing behind breathable waterproof clothing has misled us all, and what we can do to stay dry and comfortab...

In this edition of the BikeRadar Podcast, road lead Ashley Quinlan and senior technical writer Simon von Bromley are hosted by digital editor Jack Luke to talk about one of the most popular bike upgrades: carbon wheels.   Ash has been hard at work putting the latest sub-£1,000 carbon wheels to the test, and has emerged struggling to think of a reason why anyone should spend more of their hard-earn...

Alex is joined by Jack and Tom to discuss the tech behind eight recently launched eMTBs, all fitted with the brand new Bosch Performance Line CX motor.   The bikes include Santa Cruz’s new Vala, Trek’s updated Rail+ Gen 5, Mondraker’s affordable and versatile Chaser, Focus’ hydroformed Jam2, Cube’s impressively priced Stereo Hybrid One44, Crestline’s boutique S180 and LS160, Norco’s high-pivot Sig...

The UCI Gravel World Championships are into their third year, and were held in Flanders, Belgium this time out. Liam and Simon discuss how the tech choices of the main contenders show the race is slowly progressing towards becoming an event befitting the name.   We also hear from Connor Swift, Marianne Vos and Valtteri Bottas about the specific tech choices they made in the pursuit of speed on gra...

Mountain biking in Wales faces an uncertain future, thanks to cost savings at NRW – National Resources Wales.  With NRW’s budgets flatlining in the face of inflationary pressures, the government agency has statutory responsibilities to maintain, forcing cuts to leisure facilities. This includes the maintenance of Wales’ extensive network of official trails. Without maintenance, the organisation ma...

We’re back with another Tech Q&A, this time tackling a pair of road and a pair of mountain bike questions. We look at how to gear up for a winter of road cycling to ensure we stay warm and dry, as well as discussing which endurance bikes are going to provide plenty of comfort on long rides. When it comes to the flat-bar side of things, there’s a question over compliant bars that aren’t as comfy as...

In today’s episode, Luke and Rob delve into the depths of their imaginations and ponder what they’d change in the sport of mountain biking if money were no object. The guys cover everything from grassroots racing and school curriculums all the way through to preventing bike theft, upping innovation funding and increasing inner-city ride locations, all in a bid to make mountain biking even better....

Liam Cahill and Felix Smith sit down with Lael Wilcox to discuss the tech behind a record-breaking around the world bike ride. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Simon von Bromley and Liam Cahill sit down to discuss Lael Wilcox’s incredible Around The World record and Lachlan Morton’s ongoing lap of Australia Fastest Known Time attempt.   The duo pore over incredible stats from each ride and discuss the bike setups each rider used.   Rounding out the episode, they chat about why ultra-distance cycling has had such...

Campagnolo has announced Super Record S Wireless – a new “Special Edition” version of its flagship road bike groupset, Super Record Wireless.   The new groupset offers a wider range of gearing choices at “a very competitive price” of $4,299 / €3,990, thanks to its “more moderate use of extreme materials”.   In this episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill to d...

Our MTB tech experts Alex, Tom and Luke discuss all-things mountain bike suspension design. From the history of the first true full-sus bike to the latest, most technically advanced designs, suspension has come a long way. The team explain the four most common designs – the single-pivot, the Horst-link, the twin-link, and the six-bar – and give you their thoughts on how they ride, and each design’...

BikeRadar’s road tech writers are in the enviable position of getting to ride countless bikes every year, but it’s one thing to test a bike and another to drop cold, hard cash on one.   In this episode, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill, Ashley Quinlan and Warren Rossiter to discuss the road bikes they’d be willing to spend their own money on.   As well as picking bikes they could reali...

Many roadies are obsessed with buying upgrades for their bikes. If it’s carbon, light, aero or ceramic (or perhaps even all four simultaneously), we want it and may be prepared to part with large bundles of cash to get our grubby hands on it.   But which ones are all style and no substance?   In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill to discuss the road...

We’re back with another Tech Q&A – our listeners have been sending their technical conundrums to podcast@bikeradar.com and we have some answers! In this episode, we look at how to pick the best dropper-post length, whether there’s a way of adding UDH to existing frames, and why pedal threads are the way they are.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cargo bikes could be the N+1 to your current vehicle, if you have space in your home or garage for one. Over the past few months, senior technical editor Warren Rossiter has been taking trips to the tip, doing his weekly shop, carrying camera equipment and taking his dog for walks, all while testing a selection of electric cargo bikes. In this episode, Warren and Tom discuss the cargo bike scene,...

Mountain biking is a male-dominated sport, and so in this episode we talk to Fi Spotswood, associate professor in marketing and consumption at the University of Bristol, who researches female participation in sport, with a focus on mountain biking. We also hear from Rachel Bennet, MBUK’s staff writer. We discuss the structural and cultural barriers to female participation, as well as looking at sp...

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Jack Luke catches up with Tom Marvin and Alex Evans to discuss whether riding an eMTB makes you a better rider.   The team share their experience of riding electric mountain bikes and talk about how they’ve shaped their riding on non-assisted bikes.   https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-electric-mountain-bikes https://www.bikeradar.com/advi...

Over the past two decades, Team GB has been the dominant track cycling force at the Olympic Games – and arrives at Paris 2024 looking to add to the haul of gold medals. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, triple Olympic champion Ed Clancy reveals the space-age tech used to help power British riders to glory through his career.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...