Velo Podcast

Velo

The Velo Podcast brings you inside the world of gravel and road racing with Velo's team of reporters and commentators.

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Friday · 1 hr 14 min
Our Biggest Cycling Mistakes, Shoelace Aero, & $6500 Wheels | Velo Podcast
We tally up our most memorable on-bike disasters, look at why World Tour riders are ditching BOA dials for laces, and debate the true cost of the sport. Let us know your worst cycling mistake in the comments! About This Episode: This week, Lisa Charlebois, our host Mike Levy, and I (Josh Ross) will be riding in Death Valley when you watch this. With that in mind, we had a discussion—including Logan Jones-Wilkins who will only be on the ride in spirit—all about the mistakes we’ve made. It starts with Logan giving me a bit of a hard time. The problem is that I’m so risk-averse I don’t actually have a ton of examples. If left to my own devices, I tend to move slowly and plan things carefully to avoid disaster. Mistakes do happen though, and I have a few. Lisa has a few more, and Logan has a few more too. Pretty soon though, this just devolves into the Levy show. Mike is far from risk-averse, and the number of things he’s done with his body moving faster than his ability to contemplate the results is pretty extensive. We do have some other things to chat about this week before we get into all the Mike Levy disasters, though. Did you know that laces are more aerodynamic than BOA dials? Logan noticed a lot of riders at Worlds seemed to be into laces, so he jumped into why and has some interesting details to share. I also get a chance to share why I suggest that anyone looking for budget-focused shoes might want to think twice about BOA dials. Then we take some time to answer listener questions, including a dive into why Mike is adamant that cycling isn’t an expensive sport. That discussion happens right around when we also talk about the $6,500 Partington wheels that Pidcock was riding at Worlds. Clearly, the two things are not related. Same story with the 12-speed Dura-Ace Di2 rim brake groupset that apparently still exists for sale. Support the Channel: The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at https://www.outsideonline.com/membership/ to score these savings, and thank you for your support!
October 2 · 1 hr 17 min
The Rapha Meltdown, Worlds Drama, and Selling $6,500 Wheels in 2026
Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins Inside the Rapha corporate fallout, a boots-on-the-ground Worlds recap, and the strategy behind selling $6,500 wheels. This week, we dive into road tech, racing drama, and the cycling industry's biggest shakeups. Logan Jones-Wilkins brings us inside the race for the rainbow stripes, while Josh and Logan debate the business logic behind some of the sport's most polarizing gear. In this episode: Worlds Recap: Logan’s on-the-ground breakdown of Brandon McNulty’s win and the ridiculous positional rule that nearly upended the women’s race with Kate Courtney. The Rapha Meltdown: Is its financial restructuring a textbook marketing fail, or was the CEO’s departure actually a calculated, voluntary exit? High-Dollar Bling: Why a custom Firefly rim-brake bike makes no logical sense but still commands attention, and how $6,500 Partington wheels prove a Western brand can maintain appeal against cheaper Eastern competition. Listener Q&A: We address the Canyon mounting system corrections, Logan answers for his Haro bike, and Josh shares advice on balancing mileage goals with raising kids. Listener Perks: The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to score these savings, and thank you for your support! Chapter Markers 00:00:00 - Intro: Lisa's Heat Training for the Desert 00:02:17 - Logan at the Montreal World Champs 00:06:21 - A Road-Only Episode Challenge 00:08:53 - Listener Q&A: Grail Mounts, Motivation, Water Bladders & the Old Haro 00:19:58 - Firefly Bicycles: Titanium Rim-Brake Art 00:30:23 - Fran Miller Steps Down & the Rapha Story 00:37:34 - Manufactured Scarcity & Cycling Fashion 00:43:25 - World Champs: The Men's Race & McNulty's Win 00:48:41 - Should Pogačar Be Unbeatable? 00:53:48 - The Women's Race: Vollering vs Kopecky 00:56:35 - Demi's UCI Fine & the Puppy-Paw Rule 00:59:33 - Kate Courtney & the Crash 01:01:56 - Trade Teams vs National Teams 01:05:42 - Tom Pidcock's Partington Wheels 01:14:45 - Wrap-Up & Listener Questions
September 25 · 1 hr 15 min
Shimano’s New Pedals Break Compatibility, Canyon’s Handlebar Surprise & Finding Ride Motivation
Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins This week, we have a full house with Logan Jones-Wilkins, Lisa Charlebois, Mike Levy, and Josh Ross. We kick things off with a massive week in gear news before diving deep into the psychology of ride motivation. In this episode: Shimano's Pedal Controversy: Shimano just dropped new pedals, shoes, and cleats that break backward compatibility. Are we excited, or stocking up on new-old-stock? Canyon Grail Critiques: The latest Grail seems like a great bike in many ways, but Josh brings some sharp criticism regarding a “fun” surprise with the handlebars. MVDP's Latest Feat: Logan breaks down Mathieu van der Poel's recent achievement and how it might impact the World Championship race. (Plus, an inevitable tangent on aero gains). The Motivation Equation: How do you get out the door when you just don’t feel like it? After years of riding through major life changes and terrible weather, the crew shares what actually gets them out of bed. Support the Show: The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to score these savings, and thank you for your support! Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro & Episode Overview 00:02:10 - Josh's Early Impressions of the Envy Melee V2 00:04:18 - Shimano's New SPD-SL Pedals & Cleats 00:14:39 - The Third-Gen Canyon Grail 00:23:40 - Van der Poel's 174km Solo Breakaway 00:30:40 - Pogačar & World Championships Preview 00:36:26 - Poll Results: 1.6 Watts vs 1 Kilogram 00:38:05 - Josh's Melee vs Factor 1 Aero Testing 00:43:58 - Listener Comments on Aero vs Weight 00:51:19 - Electronic Shifting on Long Rides 00:53:24 - Where Does Cycling Motivation Come From?
September 18 · 1 hr 26 min
Big Dumb Rides, Aero Gravel Tires, and the Enve Melee V2
Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins We answer your questions, debate the real-world value of aero bottle cages, and discuss why it makes sense to ride 500km for tacos. We’ve had some major topics on the show the last few weeks, so this week we are taking a step back a little and answering some questions. We read every comment, and Logan Jones-Wilkins, Lisa Charlebois, and I will often jump in to respond. Mike Levy also reads them, but he actually brings the comments to the show so we can answer them out loud, so to speak. Before we get to that, though, Levy starts with a question: Have you ever done a ride just for the sake of going somewhere dumb and unimportant? I’ve (Josh Ross) had this idea for years to ride from Los Angeles to the Mexican border for tacos, then back. It’s a 500km ride, and there’s no real point other than to ride a bike. Lael Wilcox once rode all the roads in Alaska for a similar reason. The whole crew is on this week, so we get to talk about our silly reasons for big rides. Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever done anything like that. Or, if you are like Logan and just ride for training, let us know that too. We also have some news to talk about. Mostly, it comes down to Logan and me (Josh Ross) trying to convince Lisa and Mike that aero matters. For Logan, it’s all about aero gravel tires. He went very deep into the weeds in his article, and there's a good reason for that. Then it’s my turn to talk about the Enve Melee V2 and why it features aero bar tape and aero bottle cages. I also have a question that I am hoping you can help me answer. To participate you'll have to jump to the [Velo website], but the question is: Would you choose a bike that is 1.6 watts more aero or a bike that is 1kg lighter? Give me the Factor One. I will gladly take a 1kg weight penalty to gain 1.6 watts of aero efficiency. Give me the Enve Melee. Saving 1kg is far more important to how I ride than 1.6 watts of aero efficiency. I am choosing the Enve Melee purely based on aesthetics. Regardless of the aero advantage, I would not pick the Factor One because of how it looks. I am choosing the Factor One. I want the 1.6 watts of free speed, and I actually prefer the aggressive aero styling over a traditional frame. The Velo Podcast wouldn’t happen without subscribers. We’re offering listeners of the show a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to score these savings, and thank you for your support! 00:00:00 - Intro & Vel Membership Code 00:02:08 - Bond Almond Ultra-Endurance Story 00:06:03 - Big Adventure Rides Discussion 00:13:19 - Arrow Gravel Tires from WTB 00:28:02 - Envy Melee V2 & Aerodynamic Handlebars 00:31:38 - Desert Ride Plans (Vegas to Death Valley) 00:41:34 - Q&A Segment Begins 00:42:46 - Front Derailleur Q&A & Comments 00:47:02 - Shimano vs Sram Brakes Debate 00:54:44 - Environmental Impact of Bike Materials 00:58:35 - Gravel Bike vs Mountain Bike Comparison 01:04:16 - Arrow vs Lightweight Bike Poll 01:13:38 - 32-Inch Wheel Comments & Discussion 01:21:16 - Suspension Fork Question 01:22:32 - Closing Remarks & Listener Poll WTB's New Stromm Collaboration Aero Tires Are Exactly What Gravel Tires Should Be The Story of a Cyclist, 32 NFL Stadiums, and One Very Important Football ENVE's New Melee V2 Proves Hyperbikes Don’t Need to Look Insane
September 11 · 1 hr 24 min
Are 32-Inch Wheels Actually Faster? (with Jan Heine & John Karrasch)
Featuring: Mike Levy, John Karrasch, and Jan Heine Does a 32-inch wheel actually save watts, or is the testing methodology broken? We put Chung Method advocate John Karrasch and vocal critic Jan Heine in the same room to hash out the reality of rolling resistance. This week, the usual crew steps aside to host a direct debate between two of the most outspoken voices in tire tech. John Karrasch (aka flexfitbyjohn) has generated massive datasets using the Chung Method, recently claiming that adopting 32-inch wheels can improve rolling resistance by up to 10%. On the other side, Rene Herse CEO Jan Heine—a pioneer of supple gravel tires—argues that wheel size ultimately doesn't matter for speed, pointing to historical roll-down tests and potential flaws in the Chung Method's precision. After a long series of online blog posts and rebuttals, we brought them together to debate the physics, the testing protocols, and the future of gravel geometry face-to-face. Support The Velo Podcast This show wouldn’t happen without our subscribers. We’re offering listeners a special 25% discount on an Outside+ membership. Enter the code velopod at checkout to claim your savings. Episode Timestamps 00:00:00 - Episode Intro & Guest Backgrounds 00:07:51 - Setting Up the 32-Inch Test Bikes 00:12:12 - Understanding the Chung Method for Tire Testing 00:16:18 - The Results: Do 32-Inch Wheels Roll Faster? 00:25:01 - Analyzing the Physics and Approach Angles 00:29:32 - Jan Heine's Counterargument: Wheel Size Doesn't Matter 00:36:58 - The Debate: Is the Chung Method Too Precise? 00:42:36 - Defending the Data and Real-World Variables 01:03:15 - Tire Design Priorities: Casing, Compound, and Pressure 01:17:11 - Tire Inserts and 36-Inch Wheel Possibilities 01:18:57 - 2030 Gravel Bike Predictions & Outro
September 4 · 1 hr 20 min
The 1x vs. 2x Road Bike Debate and 13-Speed Shimano
Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins This week is easily one of our favorite recent episodes. All four Velo podcast hosts—Lisa Charlebois, Logan Jones-Wilkins, Mike Levy, and myself—are together in the virtual studio, and things get incredibly spicy. Expect a lot of passion and plenty of heated back-and-forth as we debate drivetrain futures, prototype spy shots, and the true definition of bikepacking. We kick things off with listener questions. What starts as straightforward bike-buying advice quickly devolves into an argument over whether bikepacking is strictly a gravel activity and if camping is actually required. Josh also gets a chance to double down on why there is more to a bike than its spec sheet, specifically making the case for the Cannondale CAAD14. Next, the conversation shifts to the newly spotted 13-speed Shimano Dura-Ace prototype. Because the system still relies on wires, the analysis quickly spirals into a broader SRAM vs. Campagnolo vs. Shimano showdown. The crew splits on what matters more: Shimano’s shifting precision or the glaring gaps in the rest of the brand's ecosystem. Finally, the main event. Following a week of dueling op-eds, Logan and Josh bring the drivetrain battle to the microphone. Is 1x the inevitable future of road bikes, or will the slow-to-change road market ensure 2x remains superior? Listen to the arguments, read the articles on the site, and vote in the Velo poll to settle the score. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:52 - Listener questions: Bikepacking definitions and the Cannondale CAAD14 00:25:45 - Shimano 2x13 prototype and the great drivetrain brand war 00:53:41 - 1x vs. 2x on the road Read More on Velo Front Derailleurs Are Living on Borrowed Time: Why 1x on the Road Is the Inevitable Future Opinion: You Can Take My Front Derailleur When I am Dead The Velo Drivetrain Poll: Is 1x or 2x the Future of Road?
August 28 · 1 hr 8 min
The Vuelta’s Influencer Misstep and Why Silca Ditched Aero
Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins The Vuelta a España is in full swing, and this week the whole crew is in the house to break down the racing, new tech, and the latest industry chaos. Host Mike Levy is joined by Logan Jones-Wilkins, Lisa Charlebois, and Josh Ross to cover: Vuelta a España Wackiness: The race has a reputation for the unexpected, and Logan and Lisa walk us through the organizers' questionable decision to hire a specific influencer. It seems nobody vetted the content before handing over the credentials, and the resulting shock was entirely predictable. New Silca Tires: Logan gives the rundown on Silca's latest rubber and the inevitable claims of being the absolute best. Josh jumps in with intel directly from Josh Poertner, who he caught up with at the MADE show, to explain why the master of marginal gains chose to make a road tire that explicitly isn't aero-optimized. The Best of the MADE Show: Josh spent the week shooting rolling art and picked his five favorites. We dive into his absolute top choice. No spoilers, but it features exposed cables, is built for ultra-endurance distances, and comes from fellow Oregon resident Rob English, who builds highly functional steel frames just down the road. Van Rysel Gravel Reviews: Lisa drops two reviews covering the newly launched Van Rysel gravel line. We look at the adventure model that somehow maxes out with only a 50mm tire, and the crew gets into the weeds on why the "racy" version should probably be categorized as an all-road bike rather than a dedicated gravel racer. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:47 - Pogacito 14:32 - Silca tires 33:45 - MADE bike show 44:22 - Van Rysel EDR-G and RCR-G review
August 22 · 57 min
Confessing Our Toxic Cycling Traits and Defending the Cannondale CAAD14
Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, and Lisa Charlebois We air out our worst group ride habits, explain why the CAAD14's aluminum vibe beats cheap carbon, and tackle reader questions. In this episode: Toxic Cycling Traits: What's the thing you do on the bike that the group ride probably hates? Levy admits to half-wheeling, I talk too much, and Lisa... well, you'll have to let us know if her trait is actually a big deal. The Cannondale CAAD14: I’ve had this bike all summer and absolutely love it. We discuss how a mistake by Cannondale made the bike better, why it's an incredible value, and why other reviewers are entirely missing the point. It doesn’t matter that there are cheaper, faster carbon bikes out there; the CAAD14 has an undeniable vibe. Reader Q&A: With Logan Jones-Wilkins off at Leadville playing at high altitude, Lisa, Levy, and I take over the mic to answer your questions. Would Logan have suggested a Trek endurance bike instead of the gravel bike I recommended? We also touch on the massive new 32-inch Mosaic that launched this week. We want to hear from you: What is your toxic cycling trait? Also, have you ridden a CAAD bike and know exactly what I'm talking about, or am I off my rocker and people should just buy cheap carbon instead? Let us know! Articles covered in this episode: Review: Cannondale Made a Mistake and the CAAD14 Is Better for It The New Trek Domane is Too Good to Call an Endurance Bike The New Mosaic 32 Gravel Bike Fixes 32-Inch Gravel Bikes' Biggest Problem
August 14 · 53 min
220 Miles on an Aero Race Bike, Seven Straight Centuries, and the 14-Pound Trek Domane 5
Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins The Velo tech team breaks down a week of massive summer rides, including fueling disasters on a 1x Factor One and why Trek’s endurance labeling might be entirely wrong. It is the height of summer, and right now, we are doing some massive rides. We are all here this week—including Lisa Charlebois, Logan Jones-Wilkins, Mike Levy, and Josh Ross. This week we talk about how Logan just did a century on a new bike, but before we get to that, it was Josh's turn to discuss a “big dumb ride.” The 220-Mile Aero Experiment: Last weekend, Josh took the Factor One to the beach and back from Portland. It’s a 220-mile ride with 14,000 feet of elevation, and the base build of the One wasn’t extreme enough. To set things right in the aero world, he swapped the wheels for a staggered Zipp 858 NSW / 454 NSW setup and paired that with a SRAM 1x XPLR groupset. We start by talking about how that 13-hour ride went, including the fueling mistakes that led to violently retching on the side of the road. Seven Centuries in Seven Days: Last week, Lisa declared she’d be doing a century a day for seven days. She crushed it and recorded the numbers. She rode for 52 hours, but how many pounds of sugar did she consume during that time? We discuss the fueling, and Levy reveals why the number of people she rode with is actually the most surprising part of the whole thing. Testing the Trek Domane 5: We bring home the discussion with Logan and the century that was just a small part of the 650 miles he spent on the Trek Domane 5. Trek calls it an endurance bike, but is that what it actually is? It weighs only 14 lbs and will take up to a 40mm tire. Is there a better name for it? Logan walks us through his thoughts on the bike, including why he loves it so much. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:35 - 220 mile ride on a 1x aero race bike 18:52 - A century a week results and figures 28:27 - Trek Madone review Articles covered in this episode: The New Trek Domane is Too Good to Call an Endurance Bike
August 7 · 38 min
The Aero Math Behind "Bra Maxxing" and the Reality of 32-Inch Wheels
Featuring: Mike Levy and Lisa Charlebois How much time does "bra maxing" actually save in a pro peloton? This week, we dive into the Tour de France Femmes tech controversy that could alter podiums, look at the brutal reality of 32-inch gravel bikes, and check in on a 700-mile Century Week. With Josh and Logan out this week, Lisa Charlebois and Mike Levy hold down the studio to discuss the big, dumb rides they are both doing and the biggest aero news of the week. First up: Mike’s ongoing saga with 32-inch wheels. He tackled a 160km Fraser Valley “gravel” epic in continuous rain on his Salsa Fargo 32. He breaks down why the massive wheels continue to impress him, where a rigid fork falls short, and how a stranger's campfire saved his ride. Then, a welfare check on Lisa. She is in the middle of a self-imposed "Century Week"—riding 100 miles a day for seven days straight. She gets into the reality of surviving a 700-mile week while trying to maintain basic human functions off the bike, plus the unexpected rig she chose for this crazy challenge. Finally, the pair tackle the "bra maxxing" (or bra doping) controversy. They run the math on exactly how much time a rider stands to gain with a chest fairing and debate whether the UCI should step in or consider it fair game. Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Intro 02:13 - Mike Levy does a huge ride on a 32-inch bike 11:22 - Lisa and the daily century week 28:37 - Bra doping at the TDFF
July 31 · 1 hr 19 min
Marketing vs. Engineering and the 32-Inch Bike Debate
Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins Episode Description: We rank the fastest aero road bikes, discuss Lisa’s plan to ride 700 miles in a week, and unpack how the giant Salsa Fargo actually handles in the woods of BC. We missed last week because we were all deep in the woods in British Columbia testing, among other things, a 32-inch bike. We actually recorded a podcast while together but you will have to wait for that one. For now, the team is back in our home studios to discuss some of what we found in the forest. We get rolling with news that Charlebois is riding seven centuries next week. That’s right, she had a surplus of fitness after a planned event fell through, so… why not? Think you could do seven centuries in seven days? We talk to her about how she plans to motivate for it and we all go around the room to share our much lower highest-mileage weeks. Next we answer listener questions but it’s primarily about the big three aero bikes. I’ve ridden the Factor One, the Cervelo S5, and the Colnago Y1RS, plus we throw the Specialized Tarmac SL9 into the mix. One of you out there wanted to know what I would choose to ride and why given those choices. The team graciously gave me a chance to sit in my happy place and discuss those aero bikes. Not for too long though. Pretty soon we rolled into questioning marketing vs. engineering in terms of bike design. We all have pretty strong feelings about who drives the conversation and why. Which is, of course, a perfect segue into discussing the 32-inch Salsa Fargo that we rode in Squamish. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Intro & Introductions 00:00:50 - Lisa and 7 centuries 00:13:30 - Riding in British Columbia 00:29:55 - Listener questions and aero bikes 00:41:20 - More listener questions and marketing vs. engineering 01:00:00 - Riding the Salsa Fargo 32
July 17 · 1 hr 8 min
Velo Podcast: The Tour Circus, 200 Miles on an Aero Bike, and the Bike Luggage Debate
Is the Tour de France actually a circus, and how do riders survive the extreme heat? Plus, why you shouldn't put luggage on a race bike. This week, the whole gang is in the virtual studio to talk about everything happening in the cycling world right now. Logan Jones-Wilkins kicks things off with his firsthand account of the Tour de France and shares a radical take on why moving race start times to beat the heat is harder than it sounds. Then, Mike Levy pulls a listener question that sparks a debate on why we push gear testing past the 1,000-mile mark. That leads perfectly into a recap of the 200-mile Seattle to Portland (STP) event, where Lisa Charlebois pedaled a traditional round-tube metal bike while I coasted past on a fully-kitted aero Factor One. Finally, we break down my review of the Pinarello Dogma X and explain why its "endurance" label masks a bike that still fundamentally wants to race. In This Episode We Cover: The Tour de France: The reality of the circus and how the peloton handles scorching temperatures. Extreme Heat Strategies: Why starting races earlier isn't an easy fix, plus tips for surviving hot weather rides. Gear Testing: Why a saddle that feels great at 100 miles might fail at 1,000. The STP Ride: Aero bikes vs. round-tube metal frames over 200 miles. The Luggage Debate: Why race bikes and frame storage (or saddlebags) don't mix. Pinarello Dogma X: A deep dive into the quirks of Italian bike reviews and racing heritage. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Guest Introductions 01:35 – Survival Tips for Riding in Extreme Heat 06:47 – Heat Training & Hydration Strategies 12:15 – How the Tour de France Peloton Handles the Heat 16:26 – Should the Cycling Calendar Change Due to Climate? 24:00 – Listener Question: Finding the Perfect Long-Distance Saddle 30:05 – Recapping the Seattle to Portland (STP) 200-Mile Ride 40:05 – On-Bike Nutrition: The Magic of Tums for Cramps 45:40 – Pinarello Dogma X Review: Race Performance vs. Endurance 55:00 – The Great Debate: Frame Storage vs. Bike Luggage
July 10 · 1 hr 14 min
Every bike isn't the Factor One and why Mike Levy broke on the Tour Divide
And we’re back, everyone. Mike Levy returns from the wilderness, and Lisa Charlebois and I join him to unpack exactly where he’s been. But before we get to the heartbreak of ultra-endurance racing, the Tour de France is in full swing, and we’ve got a wild first week to discuss. Tour de France Carnage & UCI Rulings We kick things off with the absolute chaos of the opening team time trial. Two crashes in the exact same spot on a manhole cover beg the question: is this the UCI's fault for not securing the course, or the teams' fault for not scouting a public road? Plus, we break down the Wile E. Coyote-style crash from the XDS-Astana rider, and the UCI's controversial decision to ban ice socks in the middle of a historic heatwave. Defending the Tarmac SL9 We also dive back into the Specialized Tarmac SL9 discourse. I respond to a listener who compared the SL9’s iterative updates to the Porsche 911. I’m defending the bike against the "boring" allegations—everyone says they want a refined, incredible-riding bike, so why complain when a brand delivers exactly that? Not every bike needs to be the Factor One. Mike Levy's Tour Divide Reality Check The real heart of the show is Levy detailing his abbreviated Tour Divide attempt. He walks us through the sleep deprivation, the cement mud, the brutal realities of pushing a 55-pound bike for hours, and the catastrophic rock strike that ultimately ended his ride. It’s a raw look at what happens when the physical matches the mental breaking point, the absolute relief of finally stopping, and why he’s already thinking about trying it again next year. Episode Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:04 Tour de France discussion 00:12:04 Listener questions including about the Tarmac SL9 00:32:53 Mike Levy attempts the Tour Divide
July 3 · 1 hr 1 min
The Tarmac SL9 "Win Fin," a Shrinking Eurobike, and Tour de France Hype
In this week's episode, we question whether the Specialized Tarmac SL9 is a true upgrade or just an iPhone-style micro-update, look at the shrinking footprint of Eurobike, and talk Tour de France storylines. Show Notes: This week is a big one for me. Logan is out doing the Tour de France thing, and Mike is nursing his wounds somewhere. That leaves just myself and Lisa Charlebois running the studio, which means after all this time, this is officially my first time hosting the podcast. Of course we have to talk about the Tour, so that is where we start. Charlebois is the one who knows the most about the ins and outs of the riders, so I ask her to explain some of what we should be looking for. She’s all-in on the Paul Seixas hype train, wondering if the 19-year-old rookie can snag a stage win for Decathlon. Meanwhile, I ask about Tadej Pogačar and she tells me about potential inner drama over at UAE compared to the clear roles at Visma. Since the Tour is going to get plenty of coverage soon, we kept this light. Before we get into the real meat of the episode though, I have to talk about San Francisco and traffic. Charlebois spends her time riding there and, like everyone else in San Francisco, she seems happy to deal with cars. I take a minute to say I dislike Mt. Tam and we veer into some unexpected tips for riding in traffic. Next, we get into Eurobike. I just got back from Frankfurt, and the main takeaway is that the show is shrinking down to just a couple of halls. However, there were still talking points. Canyon showed up with a 3D-printed concept bike loaded with integrated cameras and a radar system that looks suspiciously like their next aero bike. I also break down a panel on women in cycling, discussing how the industry continues to overlook a demographic with massive spending power. Finally, we tackle the Specialized Tarmac SL9. Logan reviewed it on the site, but Charlebois and I dig into the reality of a bike that claims to be four watts faster but weighs and looks nearly identical to the last generation. We talk about the new "win fin" and whether consumers should be hyped about incremental micro-updates or if there is simply an expectation that the new model has to exist, much like the newest iPhone. Listen to the full episode for all the details, and let us know if you think the SL9 is worth the squeeze.
June 25 · 1 hr 13 min
755-Mile Ultra-Endurance Ride Through Freezing Rain and the Arctic Circle
This week we are doing something a bit different. Often this podcast is a space for a deep dive into an article that you can read about on the Velo website. This week we are instead going to learn more about contributor Lisa Charlebois. Mike Levy and I sat down to chat with Charlebois about a ride she once did. This wasn’t an ordinary ride, though. Charlebois does a lot of big rides, but this one was even bigger. It is called the Midnight Sun Randonneur, and it is a 1,215-kilometer (755-mile) loop that starts six hours north of Stockholm in Umeå, Sweden, pushes north into the Arctic Circle to the Norwegian Sea, and then loops back. Because the event takes place during the Scandinavian midsummer, there is no real sunset, just a constant daylight that messes with your sense of time. The mass start kicks off at 11:00 PM, and riders navigate to checkpoints roughly every 100 kilometers where they refuel on local items like deep-fried dumplings and moose meat sandwiches. Beyond that framework, it is an unsupported ride with a 90-hour time limit. You carry your own gear and sleep when you can. To put her pacing into perspective, Lisa's first day on the bike covered 470 kilometers (292 miles) with over 15,500 feet of climbing. That initial push took 19 hours of moving time through rolling hills and endless Swedish forests before the landscape drastically shifted. Just in case you thought things weren’t hard enough, the third day is where the weather broke. Lisa and the remaining riders faced roughly 200 kilometers of driving, freezing rain. Of course, like any ultra-endurance event, crossing the finish line was met with no fanfare. Does that sound like your idea of a good time? Maybe not, but that’s the kind of thing Charlebois brings to the table when she shares her perspective about a bike. Listen to the full discussion to hear all the twists and turns and find out if Charlebois would ever consider doing it again. For more information about the event visit the Midnight Sun Randonneur website.
June 19 · 1 hr 1 min
The Case Against Endurance Bikes and 20 Hours on a Climbing Frame
This week on the Velo Podcast, the crew discusses a 13-pound Everesting rig, women's specific bike shoes vs unisex options, and why your next road bike might actually be a gravel setup. I’m back, but Mike Levy is still playing in the woods on a bike. We’ll talk to him about that soon, but for now, Logan Jones-Wilkins, Lisa Charlebois, and I get into women's cycling shoes, 13-pound climbing bikes, and the death of the endurance road bike. Episode Breakdown: Women's Shoe Buyer's Guide: We look at the women’s shoe buyer's guide that Charlebois recently published. We bypass debating the actual shoe choices and focus on why it’s critical to carve out dedicated space for that guide. Charlebois shares her thoughts on the current market mix of women-specific and unisex shoes and whether a unisex approach takes away from the quality of the selection. Everesting Roam on a 13lb Bike: The discussion transitions to the shoes Charlebois chose and the 13-pound bike she used for her recent Everesting Roam adventure—a format with no sleep allowed and no hill repeats, ending only when you hit 29,000 feet of elevation. As someone who prioritizes comfort and normally rides a metal frame, what was the experience actually like on a stiff, ultra-light carbon bike? The Endurance Bike is Dead: Wouldn’t she have been more comfortable on an endurance bike? It’s possible, but maybe no one should be riding a dedicated endurance bike in 2026. Jones-Wilkins reports on a rider who won a stage of Tulsa Tough on a gravel bike. He argues that while some insist the gravel bike is an industry marketing scam, that label really only applies to pure road bikes. We debate if the endurance bike genre should be put to pasture.
June 12 · 56 min
The "GRXTR" Mashup: Why 12 Speeds Might Be All You Need
wash lines, and why the UCI is suddenly policing your jersey pockets and screen size. This week on the Velo Podcast, it's lonely! I was away doing an interview, and Mike Levy is out in the wilderness doing a big ride. That left just Logan Jones-Wilkins and Lisa Charlebois to cover the week's topics. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 - Unbound Aftermath & Press Camp Prep: The pair starts off discussing Charlebois getting ready for her first press camp. She has questions about how to handle it, but she also asks Jones-Wilkins if he has recovered from Unbound and what happens after the finish line when the cameras stop. He details the reality of the endless queues for the Muc-Off bike wash, the decompression in the pro tent, and the sheer volume of mud that riders had to scrape off just to feel human again. 05:27 - Shimano GRX Long-Term Review: Gravel continues to be the focal point of the episode. If you’ve been following the drivetrain wars, you know SRAM has seemingly cornered the gravel market. Jones-Wilkins decides to zig when others zag, breaking down his custom mashup—pairing an XTR rear mech with GRX levers—and explaining why Shimano is actually winning the gravel race when it comes to raw shifting speed, cassette range, and the long-term cost of consumable parts. It is a deep dive into why 12 speeds might just beat 13, and why a brand doesn't always need to reinvent the wheel to stay on top. 40:34 - The UCI's New Tech Regulations: The gravel wars are free from the UCI, but once again, the team had to talk about another head-shaking UCI decision. The UCI recently rolled out new tech regulations, including a cap on computer screen sizes, conveniently set exactly 1mm larger than the massive Wahoo Ace. They also introduced a ban on carrying nutrition in front jersey pockets. Logan and Lisa debate whether this is a genuine safety measure to reduce cognitive load or just another instance of the UCI over-regulating tech while ignoring course safety. 51:30 - Ultra-Racing Updates: Finally, the duo wraps up with a nod to the ultra-endurance world, dot-watching Lael Wilcox as she sets off on her Around the World Record attempt, and tracking Dr. Sarah Ruggins on her massive push across the European divide.
June 5 · 56 min
Team Tactics, Peeing on Chains, and 32-Inch Wheels: The Unbound 2026 Debrief
Logan Jones-Wilkins is back from the mud in Kansas to break down a wild 26-mph crash, the dominant Specialized Crux 5 debut, and why gravel racing might never be the same. As we mentioned last week, Logan was in Emporia, Kansas covering Unbound 2026. Now he’s back in the studio and Mike Levy and I get to talk about what he saw. Part of that is the new Specialized Crux, but before we get there, we start with a discussion of how Logan did in his own Unbound 100 race. It wasn't exactly a quiet day out. Logan details a wild situation that unfolded right in front of him, going from 26 mph to on the ground in an instant. Despite the crash, he still managed a 5-hour and 50-minute finish on the new Crux 5, and he finally shares the real details on what the bike is like to ride. From there, we get into the rest of the racing in Kansas, and that means the mud. This year, the Flint Hills delivered thick, sticky mud that forced massive sections of walking and led multiple pros to pee on their drivetrains just to keep moving. We also tackle the arrival of true team tactics. Specialized exerted absolute control over the front of the pack in the Men's 200, prompting the question: is this the natural evolution of the sport, or does it completely change the fabric of gravel racing? The Women's 200 was a slow build with constant anticipation, blowing up early and culminating with riders Sophia Gomez Villafañe and Geerike Schreurs texting mid-race to orchestrate attacks for the final sprint. Finally, we look at the giant prototype Scott 32-inch wheeled bikes that made their debut. What does that mean for the technology, and will you see it roll out on production models soon? Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Logan's Unbound 100 10:03 – The Specialized Crux Deep Dive 21:55 – The Mud & Drivetrain Drama 27:00 – The Men’s 200 & Team Tactics 42:05 – The Women's 200 46:38 – The 32-Inch Wheel Debate Resources Check out the Unbound Gravel hub for all the articles covered this week: https://velo.outsideonline.com/tag/unbound-gravel
May 29 · 1 hr 3 min
The Great Gravel Debate, 32-Inch Wheels, and Ride Audio Confessions
We dive into the controversial Scott prototype at Unbound, argue over what makes the perfect gravel bike, and reveal the top picks from our new Road Bike Buyer's Guide. Last week Josh missed the pod, but this week it's Logan Jones-Wilkins’ turn. He is currently on the ground in Emporia, Kansas for Unbound 2026, but his Starlink connection failed. That leaves host Mike Levy, Lisa Charlebois, and Josh Ross to hold down the fort. Without Logan to set the record straight, the crew dives into the newly released Specialized Crux. Things quickly get heated as Charlebois and Ross defend nimble gravel bikes with 40mm tires, while Levy argues we all need slacker front ends and suspension. Plus, Levy shares his newfound love for the Garmin 1040 Solar, which leads to a shocking confession from Lisa about how she listens to music on ultra-rides. We also analyze the massive 32-inch wheels Cam Jones and Robin Gemperle are racing on their Scott prototypes at Unbound, and finally, Josh breaks down his testing methodology and top picks for the 2026 Road Bike Buyer's Guide. In This Episode: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:13 a mini review of the Garmin 1040 Solar 00:09:53 Music and headphones on the ride 00:14:20 Unbound and Cam Jones riding a 32-inch bike 00:22:34 Reader questions 00:29:14 Road bike buyers guide 00:45:26 Specialized Crux initial discussion
May 22 · 1 hr 1 min
When is Course Cutting Cheating? + Giro Water Bottle Fines and Strava Feuds
Mike Levy, Lisa Charleboise, and Logan Jones-Wilkins hold down the fort talking about pee, ultra-racing, and Strava feuds. First, Levy tries to pry embargoed information out of Jones-Wilkins before Charleboise recaps another massive weekend ride. From there, it's on to the main topics: Urine Intel from the Giro d'Italia The trio tackles the recent UCI warnings at the Giro d'Italia. Racers have been put on notice for urinating into their water bottles and tossing them to the roadside. Levy attempts to defend the logistical efficiency of the "bottle pee," while Logan and Lisa outline the absolute horror for roadside fans hoping to snag a souvenir bidon. Strava Feuds and Indoor Aerobars Addressing reader questions, the team discusses the mental health aspects of chasing Strava KOMs in highly saturated areas. Logan shares his philosophy on defending niche segments against World Tour riders, and Levy confesses to running a high aerobar setup on his indoor Zwift bike strictly for comfort during three-hour sessions. The Traka 560 Controversy & Ultra-Racing Ethics The crew dives deep into the messy world of ultra-distance racing. Logan breaks down why Victor Bosoni's victory at the Traka 560km Adventure event sparked intense debate after he cut approximately 400 meters off the official GPS track. This leads to a fiery debate: Lisa firmly believes missing that much of the course is grounds for immediate disqualification, while Levy and Logan argue for a bit more nuance in self-supported "adventure" events. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:08:52 - Peeing in water bottles 00:14:14 - Reader Questions 00:23:37 - The Traka 560 Controversy & Ultra-Racing Ethics

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