The Rouleur Podcast

There are so many myths and misunderstandings about carbon frames - they break easily, they're impossible to repair, the ride deteriorates with age, you can't leave them out in the sun. In this episode Dan Cavallari goes in search of the truth with the help of carbon expert Cameron Frazer of Driven Technologies. The good news is a decent carbon frame will probably outlast you. Unless you drive int...

Slovenia is a cycling superpower - with two out of the three Grand Tour winners this year and an Olympic time trial gold for Primož Roglič. A new book by Roglič's partner Lora Klinc was designed to explain the mysteries of the international peloton to Slovenia's legion of new cycling followers, and the English-language version is surprisingly informative for even the most knowledgeable fan. Also o...

Supersapiens hit the headlines recently when the UCI banned use of the glucose monitoring system in races. Company founder and CEO Phil Southerland, who also founded Team Novo Nordisk with a roster comprised entirely of type 1 diabetics, declared it a backward step from the governing body, citing improved rider health and welfare possibilities with the new technology. Supersapiens co-founder and C...

How do we make cycling - as a sport and a way of life - as diverse as possible? That’s the central question in Rouleur edition 106 - The Empowerment Issue. And it’s the theme of this podcast. We hear from cycling coach Thea Smith on how her club is trying to attract more women, non-binary and trans people through the gates of the venerable velodrome in London’s Herne Hill. And from...

Swiss brand BMC are leaders in technological developments in the bike world. From their base in Grenchen, BMC’s team of engineers at the Impec lab develop new ideas and push the boundaries of what can be achieved in bicycle design for any terrain. Stefan Christ, head of R&D at BMC, joins host Dan Cavallari to explain what they get up to in their mysterious lab, and what we can expect to see co...

Emma Pooley is more likely to be found running up hills these days than cycling up them, but the competitive spirit that led her to Olympic medals, world championships and multiple stage and race wins is still strong.  She joins presenter Ian Parkinson from her home near Zurich to talk about retirement, the current state of the women’s pro scene and why she’s about to run 100km through the mo...

Ultra-Endurance rider Lael Wilcox was the fastest woman at Unbound 2021. She sits down with host Dan Cavallari to discuss going fast over 350 miles of gravel. While it's all about the legs and the heart, bike tech plays a vital role in multi-day races in the wilderness. From making the right choice of aero bar or flat bar, choosing the best power banks and bringing a reliable head-torch for those...

This edition is dedicated to La Vuelta, too often the poor relation of its French and Italian equivalents. Olga Ábalos, editor of Rouleur's Spanish sister magazine Volata, admits the race has an identity crisis but praises the organisers' willingness to experiment and try new things. Like the Gamoniteiro, this year's novelty climb, which will subject the world's best riders to a series of nea...

Graeme Raeburn, lead designer at UK-based Albion clothing, joins host Dan Cavallari to discuss current trends, future technologies and the hot potato subject of hi-vis fabrics and their effectiveness. Graeme was with Rapha from its early days, playing a major part in the aesthetic revolution we have witnessed since the company’s formation in 2004. What next in the design world, plus the crucial ar...

Author, broadcaster and Rouleur contributor Matt Rendell joins us during his tour promoting  Colombia es Pasion!: The Generation of Racing Cyclists Who Changed Their Nation and the Tour de France. His feature in our latest issue profiles Sergio Higuita at home in Colombia and his rise from the streets of Medellín to the WorldTour with EF Education-Nippo. It’s quite a story. And another of Mat...

With all men’s WorldTour teams bar Ineos Grenadiers now on disc brake-equipped bikes, can we finally cease arguing about stopping and which is better? Yes, and no. Samuel Johnson, US Market Manager at Hunt, wheel suppliers to Qhubeka-Assos, joins host Dan Cavallari to explain the advantages behind discs and the ability to design using wider rims, wider tyres – it’s all good. But are they heavier?...

“We knew he was on the right track, but the next thing was getting him to the Tour de France. There was no doubt in Cav’s head he would win at the Tour.”  Few in the world of cycling know Mark Cavendish better than Brian Holm, who first worked with the precocious teenager back in their T-Mobile days in 2006. He was also best man at the Manxman’s wedding.  The Deceuninck – Quick Step spor...

Know your lubes? If the notion that a dry lube is for dry conditions and wet is for soggy rides is your default position, then think again. It’s a complicated and fascinating (honest!) subject, so we brought in lubrication expert Jason Smith of Friction Facts, the bicycle component test lab and part of the Ceramic Speed family, specialists in drivetrain efficiency. Host Dan Cavallari deconstructs...

Some questioned Lachlan Morton’s sanity when he announced he’d be riding the entire Tour de France route ahead of the race, including transfers, making some 5,500km in all, but witnessing the chaos of the opening stages in Brittany, his ambitious plan appears the less stressful option. The relaxed Australian mile-muncher is riding totally unsupported, raising funds for World Bicycle Relief, and yo...

Yes, the Tour de France is upon us and with it, inevitably, a whole slew of new tech that will be unveiled during the great race. Our resident experts on all things gear-related, Dan Cavallari and Peter Stuart, go in deep on a new Dura Ace groupset that is much talked about but yet to be seen in the wild, apart from a few spy shots in Belgium recently. Is it a wired / wireless combo? Can the batte...

The Cyclists' Alliance, the organisation formed to aid female racers both during and after their careers, recently announced a mentor programme with backing from major players in the industry, including Specialized, Cannondale and Trek. Gracie Elvin from TCA joins us to outline what help will be available to riders under the new initiative. Rouleur’s very own Rachel Jary, a recently retired racer...

In what host Dan Cavallari dubs 'Tech tricks with Tetrick' – see what he did there? – former Unbound winner Alison Tetrick takes us through her set up for the 200-mile gravel race in Kansas. Tetrick starts with a special Specialized Diverge with Future Shock suspension running at all times and Pathfinder tyres with the pressure set just so – whatever that is. Comfort is key, including an anatomica...

A hatful of victories in recent weeks for Team Ineos’ Ethan Hayter in Italy, Spain and Portugal, with jerseys to go alongside his four stage wins. Our very own south London legend, Ian Parkinson, talks to his fellow Herne Hill velodrome habitue and level-headed young man on early riding, avoiding crashes, making the grade, and aiming for Tokyo. Will he share the team pursuit squad's latest practic...

Tubeless tyres for road bikes – do we need them? Are they really better, or is it just an industry-led marketing push? A messy fiddle and faff to mount, or a fit-and-forget cyclist’s friend? Samuele Bressan, global marketing at Pirelli tyres, joins Dan Cavallari to persuade us to ditch inner tubes and embrace the rapidly-improving tubeless technology. Our own Peter Stuart piles in too. Is he under...

The Giro d’Italia is the most beautiful race in the world. But don’t take our word for it. Rouleur Italia editor Emilio Previtali joins us to describe what his home race means to the Italian nation. “Cycling in Italy is a kind of glue, bringing the people together.” Hard to argue with that. And as for the scenery… Bellissimo! Dan Bigham and his KGF team gatecrashed the team pursuit World Cup so su...

All the gears and some ideas. Why have two chainrings and a front changer when the 1x drivetrain revolution has all bases covered? Or does it? Dan Cavallari makes the case for retaining maximum gearing options, on his road bike at least, while dedicated singleton Peter Stuart goes all in with the modern technology. Sprocket wars and chainring conundrums debated by our resident tech experts. Hosted...

For our special  issue 103  on the theme of speed, we gathered four of the fastest people in the world in their respective sports. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes F1), Jamie Chadwick (W Series and Williams development driver), Cal Crutchlow (2009 Supersport world champion) and Mark Cavendish (a very good cyclist) to discuss what makes them tick. What is this need for speed? Do they get a...

Wireless or old school cable? In the blue corner, all the way from Colorado, Dan Cavallari makes the case for “if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” when it comes to gear shifting. And in the red corner, early adopter and Rouleur digital editor Peter Stuart grabs the latest technology with both hands. Who will win the no-holds barred battle of the tech-heads? A couple of bruisers go the distance. D...

What is this endless fascination with going fast? The Slow Cycling Movement from Rouleur Issue 103 is read by Phil Wright. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hailing from Alaska, holding Harvard rowing records and with an on-hold career in investment banking, Kristen Faulkner can now add top-notch cyclist to her glittering CV. The Team Tibco-SVP racer took to the Spring Classics like a Belgian to cobbles, with 7th at Gent-Wevelgem and 10th in the Tour of Flanders. We catch up with the new American on the block. Ever considered building your own bike, r...