This episode felt like "producer" Emily is actually way more involved in the podcast and becoming the star of it. Overall very nice episode, keep up the good work!
I think another thing that we're not talking about is that e-bikes and gravel bikes were absolutely new to the market just before the pandemic and people who were either in the mountain bike space or the road space did purchase an additional bike and now they have them.
26:04 "Eveybody had to be expecting that it was gonna end". I'm still floored by how it seems like everybody out there in the industry seemed to have expected things to remain that high. How could you not predict that this would only be a temporary state of the market? Still seems like they all are still in shock that things went back to "normal" or even a bit lower now that people are going back to pre-pandemic "normal".
Absolutely spot on. Nobody saw the Covid thing coming, it came out of the blue & derailed a lot of businesses. However those businesses that survived had strong & robust contingency plans in place, those that didn't & naively assumed the 'high' would keep it's momentum & get even higher have nobody but themselves to blame. All business, regardless of the product or service, is straight up survival of the fittest, just like racing bikes - you either get dropped or you stick with it, but whatever - you do whatever you can, fairly & honestly, to get fitter & keep up with the race. Shit businesses got dropped & then cried about it. It's life. Now that we're all back to some sort of 'normal' it will be interesting to see where the industry goes, however imo there will be more casualties to come. Shame as it's a great sport but too many people & too many brands see it as merely fashion & lose all sight of the passion. Me? Meh - I just like riding my bikes. X
The madness is that every few years there's a "bicycle boom" and every time the industry gets burned... It's almost like nobody will look at historical data or market conditions and stop and think mind boggling. The cost of product just seems to have become phenomenal
I came to cycling from trail running due to hip replacement, which happened to coincide with the pandemic. Bought an aluminum gravel bike then all in with kit and a few upgrades. Been riding consistently ever since. Now the drivetrain has finally worn out. considering a new bike, but due to new bike prices, likely will only replace/upgrade cassette and crankset.
@13:45 "I like not knowing". The motto of every community college. Seriously though, I don't know how you guys do it, but this is by far the best cycling podcast. There's just great chemistry and you make even boring topics sound fun. I look forward to them every week. Thanks! Also, take it easy Jimmy. If there's one thing we know about cyclists, it's that they won't spend a dime on anything that doesn't look cool or makes them "fit in", even if it's something that could save their lives. Not that this backpack would do that, but you can't even convince people to put $12 mirrors on their glasses because there's some sort of ridiculous stigma attached to it. But $400 for a radar that does half of what the mirror does? No problem! Because that's elitist and cool! Lastly, he's spot on. I live in Florida and we beg for hills, we beg for curves, anything to break up the monotony of long, straight, flat roads. It's mind numbing and I hate it.
Can I just say, recently found your channel, it's brilliant. All your content is simply so enjoyable, informative, and fun. Keep up the amazing work. By far one of the best cycling channels out there. 👍
Understanding bike sales figures pre vs post-pandemic is simple. Compare the price of an Ultegra equipped bike before and after. Enthusiast bikes cost 50% more now, so fewer people are able to buy them.
I bought a new Venge Pro with UDi2 in 2019. MSRP was $8200. The equivalent Tarmac SL8 with UDi2 currently has an MSRP of $9000. That doesn't seem that bad to me compared to the inflation I've seen on a lot of other things.
@@Highway_95 i don't follow Specialized much but the Venge was an expensive dead end with no direct replacement. SL8 + SL7 replaced the SL6 in the middle to upper road bike range. SL8 expert is $7k with UDi2 now. In 2019 you could get an SL6 for $4500 with Ultegra disc.
I love moustache Jimmi. Good look. I vote to bring back a green screen photo collage for movember. Maybe even sprinkle Chris hall and Francis in as well
Open ear headphones are awesome when riding, you can totally hear everything around you as long as you're not on max volume. I use music to get me hyped up while riding but same on the trainer indoors too. I even got a nice little rechargeable bluetooth remote that straps to my stem so I can control volume and playlist without getting my phone out.
@@rasmusvedel I use Shokz OpenFit but I have previously tried oladance ows pro and they were good too but I have really small ears so they were a bit loose for me. The shokz ones fit my litle ears well and they hang on tight for me. Bass is superior to bone conduction headphones, they last about 6 hours on a charge and the box will charge them 3 times so you can go for a full day without a power socket.
I brought some Shokz OpenFit 3 days ago and they're already an absolute game changer. I ride through central London during busy times and felt very safe knowing what's going on around me.
Endura sells for a bit less than others in the USA but is just as good. I have a few pieces and they've been great. They're a bit dull but very functional.
Francis is funny and interesting too but you should bring Nick more often. I loved the "Are we getting pizza???" at the end, he sounded like a kid at the back of a car with his parents 😂
On the smart wheels, I really think there's a point where you have too many electronic parts on a bike - having batteries in the head unit, shifters, derailleur, lights, plus endless extras is going to become really onerous. Some things may not need charging super regularly, but if you run out of charge on a ride you could end up in real trouble. I think we should be seeing batteries built into bikes and some sort of universal system for connecting all your peripherals/components, but I can't see that happening any time soon with the industry the way it is.
regarding sales during and after the pandemic: I recon people that would have bought a bike in the say next 2 to 5 years were motivated to buy one on the spot once regulations came into effect. Today sales are even lower than before the pandemic because most folks that bought a bike during the pandemic are not willing to buy another one, yet. The pandemic triggered a shift in demand in already developed markets - on a timescale. It's like part of the earnings companies would have made post pandemic were cannibalized by the pandemic years. Yes part of the boom were first time buyers who without the pandemic might have never bought a bike but I think their influence is a bit hyped by the industry - considering companies have an interest in appearing to capture new markets / customers. great show, as always 😘
Thank you for the “don’t yuck my yum” section regarding whether you need an aero bike or not. Just like Emily, I was in the market for a new bike and probably should have gotten an all around bike as I live in quite a hilly area and all the events I do involve hills. However I bought the aero road bike and I LOOOOVE it!!! The bike is quite light and climbs exceptionally well on anything less than 8% pitch, then I feel like a climbing bike would be better. But unless you’re doing uphill segments only for QOM’s, or maybe the Haute Route, the fun of riding fast everywhere else on the ride outweighs the few extra minutes it might take up a longer climb. And I just empty a bottle before climbing so I lighten my aero bike anyway so it’s probably the same weight as the road bike version with two full bottles. Ride what makes you happy!!!!!
Bike sizing frustration: Very few brands have geometry for short reach and tall stack. Heck, most frames do not shorten reach enough on smaller sized with reach only decreasing 5-8 mm per 2 cm frame size change. Smaller frames should get slacker to both shorten reach and handle better with shorter stems (2 birds and all).
The elephant in the room: geopolitics. Things are more expensive not just because of corporate greed. Many of these companies are losing money but they can’t lower prices due to cost of operation.
because he can't plan a trip properly and check charger status before hand... I've been stranded out of petrol by a malfunctioning pump before too. He was just looking for an excuse, not solution.
Nick is right on about long flat rides. I live in missouri in the US and we have the Katy Trail. It's a 276 mile rail to trail crushed gravel path. Largely flat. People always come into our shop thrilled to share the news that they are going to ride the whole thing and I have to pretend to be excited about it. I don't even like being on it for ten miles for exactly the reasons put forth: one or two gears needed. In the saddle the whole time. Hell the Katy even looks the same most of the time. No thanks. Love your podcast!!!!!!
39:09 you don't need disc brakes but they are arguably superior in just mechanical terms - so why not just accept the change for better? Nic is right, the statement is correct. I'm a roadie. but i'm an engineer as well. and roadies are definitely stuck in the past :)
Nick is right, I am down to 20psi on 45mm gravel tyres and feel I could go lower, I am 94kg, so I am no lightweight! I started at 35psi, but the bike was stotting all over the place🥺
Who'd have thought Nic would be an "Archers" fan. Also, really like the 'Unpopular Opinion' segment. I think that'll be a great addition in the long term as there's a lot of opinions about cycling.
17:20 The tire pressure sensors are not only for racing. imagine you are on a bike packing trip and you only need a small pump and no tire pressure indicator on it. One thing less to take with you, and more space for other stuff and a bike computer you will always have with you.
I had loads of people riding with me during my Everesting effort in 2021, local riders, viewers, family - yes agreeing with Nick there is still a lot, a lot of time you end having to ride alone with a pair of headphones stuck in your ear. My Everesting was in Lincolnshire, my home county, 106 reps of the same hill, over and over again. 😀
When I'm riding or running outside I don't listen to music purely for safety reasons. If I'm on the bike trainer I ALWAYS listen to music but through a soundbar so my long endurance workout doesn't make my ears sore as any on ear devices eventual do. I can't count how many times using music to distract me from my exhaustion has helped get to my distance target no matter how my body feels.
I’m with Emily on this one, I love the aero racing look. And let’s be honest you can make a bike just as light as a hill climbing bike also. So might as well have a bike you like. You guys talked about that very point on a previous podcast I believe :)
Alright troops! Great pod (as always)❤ ah been thinking aboot Nick ditching electric. I'm not big fan of them either (I live in Norway where having electric isnae bad), but why going back to pure petrol? Hybrids are pretty cool. Electric for most of the time, petrol when needed. Best of the both worlds. Anyway, cheers!
Oh you guys were talking about "the good roll" toilet paper! my mother in law buys those and yeah the paper wrappings are super fun, some have bicycles on them.
When Producer Emily read that music can be considered doping, I definitely considered that a legit statement. When I ride on an indoor trainer or if I'm in a spinning class, music helps me hit and maintain a cadence. Racers could put together a playlist with songs of certain BPMs to help them maintain or push themselves during a ride.
I agree with Nick. Back to a petrol car, electric cars are fine for around town but as soon as you go on a road trip they just don't work and they cost more.
Warning re spacers over stems: you have to make sure your expander plug goes long enough down the steerer to support the stem clamp. Shoulda mentioned that guys..!
I was one of those pandemic cyclists, and I went head first in with a relatively inexpensive road bike; all the Lycra; and just made the most out of my one-hour exercise. Continued this into ‘21, ‘22, and in ‘23 even went international and started basing some holidays around cycling. I took a break this year because of what happened in May. As a cyclist in the South East, a bit of heckling and revving is pretty standard even on a short ride. But on one of the May Bank Holidays this year, I got heckled so many times that I ended up finishing the ride incredibly frustrated, instead of enjoying that “runner’s high” effect I’d normally get. This day meant that cycling turned from being easily the best thing to do on a Sunday morning, to something that I had to psych myself up to get my head out of the door. I’m determined to carry on cycling, considering going gravel to get away from the cars and footpaths in general. But I’ve barely touched my bike this year, or made upgrades, or bought any new clothes. What’s even more terrible is that I’ve been playing golf instead. Yuck. I think the pandemic reprieve has finished. There’s definitely been a rise in road rage.
"I got heckled so many times that I ended up finishing the ride incredibly frustrated, instead of enjoying that “runner’s high” effect I’d normally get. " What do you mean by "HECKLED"?
Been there, iI got shoved into the hedge by a driver who just apologised and laughed at me, I got a mountain bike instead and found it much more enjoyable and safe.
Music Dopping. If it is the same as in the running world, then it is because of the use of pacing tracks, where the BPM of the music is at your desired cadence. I used them as a training aid when switching to a shorter running stride with a higher cadence.
@28:25 I completely agree with this point. For example, I got more into cycling during the Pandemic. I cycled 40-100 miles on my 2012 Trek Marlin, 2-3 times a week for almost two years. Then two years ago I got a Trek Checkpoint as my do-it-all bike. Earlier this year I got my first Carbon bike, my "outside/sportive bike". Now my Checkpoint has been retired to Zwift and my Marlin is my "I want to leisurely cycle someplace fun and explore. Not worried if someone steals it bike". In my experience from riding at my local decided cycling loop and chatting with cyclists at the loop/park and events. There's more and more people joining cycling but most of us only need one or two bikes. My girlfriend just purchased a lightly used Cannondale Synapse a month ago. She wants to lose weight and get in shape. She's expressed great interest in joining my during my next Gran Fondo and we're starting her training after Xmas. I would love to get the new Trek Madone. But why? I already have three bikes. Cheers! Thanks for all you do! I look forward to these podcasts/vids!
Bioracer is bigger , just under 29m pounds for the moment post pandemic , they also have a rain jacket with event label that is fully sublimated and with backpockets . And you can put it in your backpockets .
Every time Emily goes ‘Maybe I should look that up quick.’ Jimmi goes ‘No, I like not knowing.’ and I’m always the opposite where I would like for her to look it up and tell us. 😂
Hundred percent "post show" livestream vibe with you lot eating lunch and chatting in a less structured format would be great. I think people love the podcast so much mainly because of you guys' personalities, not necessarily the specific segments/tight editing so I think an unedited/unscripted section would be a lot of good content without too much extra effort:)
Great episode! Re: bike sales - do the stats about bike sales include the second hand market? Because we shouldn't forget that there are a ton of bikes that got ridden for two months in 2020 and then sat in a garage for a few years that are going quite cheaply now. As an enthusiast with a family, we have six bikes in the garage that are new since 2020 and all of them were purchased used.
Suggestion for comment or chat following earlier episodes when you discussed your worst crashes and injuries. How about looking for clothing which protects a roadi against serious grazing from crashes and also how to heal these injuries. I have crashed twice this week on my dad's fixi , once getting cut up and second time on indoor track when tyres slide out from underneath me. Poor prep I had no knowledge of. I presently have a badly grazed hip and forearm, these are wet wounds, also deep graze to knee which is thankfully dry.
I would definitely argue, that square taper vanish for good reason of being sensitive to elements. And salt. Just shot (again) another square / power spline one after 16months, while real hollow one, with larger crank covering the bearing (up to some extent) runs flawlessly for 3y and 20k already Same for disc brakes, used to stick to rim brakes, just got tired of cleaning them constantly and replacing worn rims...
Question for Nic - what is the max amount of spacers to run below the stem if there even is a max? For example could I run 50mm of spacers if i have enough tube left or is that to much? Could I go higher or lower?
TPU tubes where accepted by roadies straight away. If there is a real advantage then it's adopted but when the issues it solves are less than the new created one's then there is resistance to new tech.
The whole music while riding was so 2011… nearly all headphones have ANC and so you have the choice of “transparent mode” which actually amplifies exterior noises…
as far as music goes; I'm fully against using earphones while riding (for the reasons mentioned, it distracts you from your surroundings); however, when I do ride longer rides, I do like to have music going--but I use the bond-conducting earphone technology that does not block your ears, so you can hear your surroundings---it still distracts a bit of course, but you can still fully hear things around you which just isn't possible in standard earphones (especially if they have noise-cancelling).
Loved the new unpopular opinion segment. Was thinking literally yesterday "Has the overrated/underrated well run a bit dry? What else could they do to mix it up a bit?" Great minds think alike, Emily.
I don't think anyone disagrees that cyling is safer in London than the rest of the UK. It's just that London feels like the 4 riders of the apocalypse are after you, compared to other euro cities.
Guitar industry went through the same cycle during the pandemic. Huge boom, price inflation, low stock, then slowing demand, over stock, heavy discounts.
Agreed about London cycling. I used to commute from east to west London every day and the drivers in central London were (mostly) great. And whenever I go back there are even more bikes and I feel even more safe. Except from bloody tourists on hire bikes, obvs. When I moved the The Sticks in '14 the state of the driving and the attitude to cyclists shared the living shit out of me at the start.
not microplastics, It's T E F L O N, check the pricey chain lube before wax emulsions, it has PTFE in it, that's the same thing as in cookware non stick and gore tex membrane fabric.
Unpopular opinions: Don't think you HAVE to ride clipless pedals. Now in my 70's I have used clips and straps also clipless ( since they were introduced) and now, recently, I'm on flat non clip in (cleat-less) pedals on my gravel, mountain and hack because my arthritic knees won't let me unclip quick enough......but I; still riding. BTW they're pretty good at my speed too.
I feel like the price hike after pandemic has killed the cycling boom as a lot of people feel like they are priced out of starting cycling with the prices they push right now.
no lie, i felt safer in the chaos of ho chi minh city on a bike with all the motorcycles zooming in every direction than i do on the road here in Atlanta GA USA, even in our bike lanes.
Arbitrary tech like the wheel technology is invented to create more variables that a customer will look to upgrade due to relentless marketing. It works for everything. Bonkers
I live in Miami, we are flat. After moving here from the UK, I realised I needed to change my pedalling style. You can not pedal here like you do in the UK. It took me a year to find what works for me. It is a constant pedal, at a moderate to higher RPM, with avg power. I was always trying to put too much power down, and too low of an RPM, as you would in the UK for hills etc, and then coast. You can not coast here. If you stop pedalling, you stop rolling. This of course is for your average riding. Racing is a whole other thing, I'm sure.
To build on the hills vs flats: Overrated/Underrated: Gears.... I see so many people that start off at a light or on a hill in a hard gear. Dude(s), you have gears, use them!
I agree with Nick. Back to a petrol car, electric cars are fine for around town but as soon as you go on a road trip they just don't work and they cost more.
This has literally become one of the points in my week I most look forward too.
Downhill everesting is called Trenching and means you have to descend the depth of the Mariana Trench
Ahh beat me to it! Do a Mariana!
The hilarious WTF-ery on Jimmi's face when he learned Cade Media had invested in the aero backpack was worth the price of admission.
This episode felt like "producer" Emily is actually way more involved in the podcast and becoming the star of it. Overall very nice episode, keep up the good work!
I love Emily!
32:41 It's about the "forever chemicals" like PFAS used in membranes and coatings like Gore-Tex that will be banned in 2025.
Are the clothes toxic or harmful to wear?
I think another thing that we're not talking about is that e-bikes and gravel bikes were absolutely new to the market just before the pandemic and people who were either in the mountain bike space or the road space did purchase an additional bike and now they have them.
26:04 "Eveybody had to be expecting that it was gonna end". I'm still floored by how it seems like everybody out there in the industry seemed to have expected things to remain that high. How could you not predict that this would only be a temporary state of the market? Still seems like they all are still in shock that things went back to "normal" or even a bit lower now that people are going back to pre-pandemic "normal".
greed
Absolutely spot on. Nobody saw the Covid thing coming, it came out of the blue & derailed a lot of businesses. However those businesses that survived had strong & robust contingency plans in place, those that didn't & naively assumed the 'high' would keep it's momentum & get even higher have nobody but themselves to blame. All business, regardless of the product or service, is straight up survival of the fittest, just like racing bikes - you either get dropped or you stick with it, but whatever - you do whatever you can, fairly & honestly, to get fitter & keep up with the race. Shit businesses got dropped & then cried about it. It's life.
Now that we're all back to some sort of 'normal' it will be interesting to see where the industry goes, however imo there will be more casualties to come. Shame as it's a great sport but too many people & too many brands see it as merely fashion & lose all sight of the passion.
Me? Meh - I just like riding my bikes.
X
The madness is that every few years there's a "bicycle boom" and every time the industry gets burned...
It's almost like nobody will look at historical data or market conditions and stop and think mind boggling.
The cost of product just seems to have become phenomenal
I'm enjoying Anthony Fantano's stint hosting this pod.
I understood that reference.
I came to cycling from trail running due to hip replacement, which happened to coincide with the pandemic. Bought an aluminum gravel bike then all in with kit and a few upgrades. Been riding consistently ever since. Now the drivetrain has finally worn out. considering a new bike, but due to new bike prices, likely will only replace/upgrade cassette and crankset.
Thanks for the video and cool pup... I like the saying "The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.” Mark Twain. Cheers!
44:31 As long as someone with an expensive kit is not mocking other riders cheaper /older gear, it's fine.
@13:45 "I like not knowing". The motto of every community college. Seriously though, I don't know how you guys do it, but this is by far the best cycling podcast. There's just great chemistry and you make even boring topics sound fun. I look forward to them every week. Thanks!
Also, take it easy Jimmy. If there's one thing we know about cyclists, it's that they won't spend a dime on anything that doesn't look cool or makes them "fit in", even if it's something that could save their lives. Not that this backpack would do that, but you can't even convince people to put $12 mirrors on their glasses because there's some sort of ridiculous stigma attached to it. But $400 for a radar that does half of what the mirror does? No problem! Because that's elitist and cool!
Lastly, he's spot on. I live in Florida and we beg for hills, we beg for curves, anything to break up the monotony of long, straight, flat roads. It's mind numbing and I hate it.
Can I just say, recently found your channel, it's brilliant.
All your content is simply so enjoyable, informative, and fun. Keep up the amazing work. By far one of the best cycling channels out there. 👍
Understanding bike sales figures pre vs post-pandemic is simple. Compare the price of an Ultegra equipped bike before and after. Enthusiast bikes cost 50% more now, so fewer people are able to buy them.
I bought a new Venge Pro with UDi2 in 2019. MSRP was $8200. The equivalent Tarmac SL8 with UDi2 currently has an MSRP of $9000. That doesn't seem that bad to me compared to the inflation I've seen on a lot of other things.
... and everyone who could use one already has a bike from the pandemic boom.
@@Highway_95 i don't follow Specialized much but the Venge was an expensive dead end with no direct replacement. SL8 + SL7 replaced the SL6 in the middle to upper road bike range. SL8 expert is $7k with UDi2 now. In 2019 you could get an SL6 for $4500 with Ultegra disc.
Hands down the best cycling podcast
I love moustache Jimmi. Good look. I vote to bring back a green screen photo collage for movember. Maybe even sprinkle Chris hall and Francis in as well
Thanks for the episode! Nick is one of my fave guests!
Open ear headphones are awesome when riding, you can totally hear everything around you as long as you're not on max volume. I use music to get me hyped up while riding but same on the trainer indoors too. I even got a nice little rechargeable bluetooth remote that straps to my stem so I can control volume and playlist without getting my phone out.
Can you recommend brands/models?
@@rasmusvedel I use Shokz OpenFit but I have previously tried oladance ows pro and they were good too but I have really small ears so they were a bit loose for me. The shokz ones fit my litle ears well and they hang on tight for me. Bass is superior to bone conduction headphones, they last about 6 hours on a charge and the box will charge them 3 times so you can go for a full day without a power socket.
@ cheers man! I’ve been curious about those. Also had my eyes on the new Nothing Ear Open.
I brought some Shokz OpenFit 3 days ago and they're already an absolute game changer. I ride through central London during busy times and felt very safe knowing what's going on around me.
Endura sells for a bit less than others in the USA but is just as good. I have a few pieces and they've been great. They're a bit dull but very functional.
Endura has great overshoes and shorts-they use good material,now i have to watch out
for another brand 😩
The logos fall of the clothes ... I am dissapointed.
Some of Endura bibs have cheaper materials but the shammy is really nice
I like the idea of planning a training playlist to sync up tempos of songs with training segments, as a tool to maintain pace.
Francis is funny and interesting too but you should bring Nick more often. I loved the "Are we getting pizza???" at the end, he sounded like a kid at the back of a car with his parents 😂
On the smart wheels, I really think there's a point where you have too many electronic parts on a bike - having batteries in the head unit, shifters, derailleur, lights, plus endless extras is going to become really onerous. Some things may not need charging super regularly, but if you run out of charge on a ride you could end up in real trouble. I think we should be seeing batteries built into bikes and some sort of universal system for connecting all your peripherals/components, but I can't see that happening any time soon with the industry the way it is.
What a great show !! I laught so hard. Thanks so much. You ended my gray week with, indeed, positive energy. Jean-François Rouyn-Noranda Canada
regarding sales during and after the pandemic: I recon people that would have bought a bike in the say next 2 to 5 years were motivated to buy one on the spot once regulations came into effect. Today sales are even lower than before the pandemic because most folks that bought a bike during the pandemic are not willing to buy another one, yet. The pandemic triggered a shift in demand in already developed markets - on a timescale. It's like part of the earnings companies would have made post pandemic were cannibalized by the pandemic years. Yes part of the boom were first time buyers who without the pandemic might have never bought a bike but I think their influence is a bit hyped by the industry - considering companies have an interest in appearing to capture new markets / customers.
great show, as always 😘
Thank you for the “don’t yuck my yum” section regarding whether you need an aero bike or not. Just like Emily, I was in the market for a new bike and probably should have gotten an all around bike as I live in quite a hilly area and all the events I do involve hills. However I bought the aero road bike and I LOOOOVE it!!! The bike is quite light and climbs exceptionally well on anything less than 8% pitch, then I feel like a climbing bike would be better. But unless you’re doing uphill segments only for QOM’s, or maybe the Haute Route, the fun of riding fast everywhere else on the ride outweighs the few extra minutes it might take up a longer climb. And I just empty a bottle before climbing so I lighten my aero bike anyway so it’s probably the same weight as the road bike version with two full bottles. Ride what makes you happy!!!!!
Nick the Mechanic should respond to Zero Friction Cycling 😂
Zero friction cycling thumbsdown
When the dog appeared was a great moment. Nice looking pooch. Underrated !
Bike sizing frustration: Very few brands have geometry for short reach and tall stack. Heck, most frames do not shorten reach enough on smaller sized with reach only decreasing 5-8 mm per 2 cm frame size change. Smaller frames should get slacker to both shorten reach and handle better with shorter stems (2 birds and all).
I bike as part of a coaching business I run. Fitting smaller riders can be very difficult.
bike sales down 1/3 relative to pre pandemic!!!! maybe something to do with the ridiculous price for a decent bike post pandemic
The elephant in the room: geopolitics. Things are more expensive not just because of corporate greed. Many of these companies are losing money but they can’t lower prices due to cost of operation.
The real Fuff up of the week is Nick deciding to go back to Petrol.
Yep, diesel all the way.
because he can't plan a trip properly and check charger status before hand... I've been stranded out of petrol by a malfunctioning pump before too. He was just looking for an excuse, not solution.
Nick is right on about long flat rides. I live in missouri in the US and we have the Katy Trail. It's a 276 mile rail to trail crushed gravel path. Largely flat. People always come into our shop thrilled to share the news that they are going to ride the whole thing and I have to pretend to be excited about it. I don't even like being on it for ten miles for exactly the reasons put forth: one or two gears needed. In the saddle the whole time. Hell the Katy even looks the same most of the time. No thanks. Love your podcast!!!!!!
39:09 you don't need disc brakes but they are arguably superior in just mechanical terms - so why not just accept the change for better? Nic is right, the statement is correct. I'm a roadie. but i'm an engineer as well. and roadies are definitely stuck in the past :)
The old ones are, younger roadies are far more open-minded
Jingles please!!!! Another great episode cheers 🤙🏼
I did Ragbrai L 2 years ago. There were 2 young men on unicycles. They did have a freehub, coasting downhill!
Nick is right, I am down to 20psi on 45mm gravel tyres and feel I could go lower, I am 94kg, so I am no lightweight! I started at 35psi, but the bike was stotting all over the place🥺
Congrats Mason! That hill looked so familiar in the picture - I used to longboard down it 15 years ago 😅 wahoowa!
Who'd have thought Nic would be an "Archers" fan.
Also, really like the 'Unpopular Opinion' segment. I think that'll be a great addition in the long term as there's a lot of opinions about cycling.
17:20 The tire pressure sensors are not only for racing. imagine you are on a bike packing trip and you only need a small pump and no tire pressure indicator on it. One thing less to take with you, and more space for other stuff and a bike computer you will always have with you.
I had loads of people riding with me during my Everesting effort in 2021, local riders, viewers, family - yes agreeing with Nick there is still a lot, a lot of time you end having to ride alone with a pair of headphones stuck in your ear.
My Everesting was in Lincolnshire, my home county, 106 reps of the same hill, over and over again. 😀
Nice to see so much of Bella
When I'm riding or running outside I don't listen to music purely for safety reasons. If I'm on the bike trainer I ALWAYS listen to music but through a soundbar so my long endurance workout doesn't make my ears sore as any on ear devices eventual do. I can't count how many times using music to distract me from my exhaustion has helped get to my distance target no matter how my body feels.
15:22 I damn near spit out my wine at the concept of a full bike faring helmet 😂
Thanks for another entertaining podcast.
I can't believe there hasn't been a Cade Media tandem bikepacking trip yet.
Whey aye, Emily! Loved this bit from 53:20! Emily's Geordie accent is one of the things I look forward to each podcast! Sorry, Jimmi / Francis.
Words to add to the list: rollercoaster, oompaloompa, pooper scooper. Also Kawasaki!
Brilliant episode
As a lifelong roadie uncle, I resemble that opinion!
Climbing is MUCH harder (on my 42/25 low gear classic steelie road bike)
I’m with Emily on this one, I love the aero racing look. And let’s be honest you can make a bike just as light as a hill climbing bike also. So might as well have a bike you like. You guys talked about that very point on a previous podcast I believe :)
Alright troops! Great pod (as always)❤ ah been thinking aboot Nick ditching electric. I'm not big fan of them either (I live in Norway where having electric isnae bad), but why going back to pure petrol? Hybrids are pretty cool. Electric for most of the time, petrol when needed. Best of the both worlds.
Anyway, cheers!
Oh you guys were talking about "the good roll" toilet paper! my mother in law buys those and yeah the paper wrappings are super fun, some have bicycles on them.
I really want to see that faring helmet idea become reality. The timetrial scene needs it. 😂
When Producer Emily read that music can be considered doping, I definitely considered that a legit statement. When I ride on an indoor trainer or if I'm in a spinning class, music helps me hit and maintain a cadence. Racers could put together a playlist with songs of certain BPMs to help them maintain or push themselves during a ride.
I agree with Nick. Back to a petrol car, electric cars are fine for around town but as soon as you go on a road trip they just don't work and they cost more.
Listening to the Archers yep have been since I was 8 years old, I am now 68 nice one Nick.
When I first wore my ProViz jacket at night, I have never been given more space by the cars… I assume the bright glow was the reason.
Warning re spacers over stems: you have to make sure your expander plug goes long enough down the steerer to support the stem clamp. Shoulda mentioned that guys..!
Awesome show as always - see you guys at Rouelur tonight then 👍🏻
I was one of those pandemic cyclists, and I went head first in with a relatively inexpensive road bike; all the Lycra; and just made the most out of my one-hour exercise. Continued this into ‘21, ‘22, and in ‘23 even went international and started basing some holidays around cycling.
I took a break this year because of what happened in May. As a cyclist in the South East, a bit of heckling and revving is pretty standard even on a short ride. But on one of the May Bank Holidays this year, I got heckled so many times that I ended up finishing the ride incredibly frustrated, instead of enjoying that “runner’s high” effect I’d normally get.
This day meant that cycling turned from being easily the best thing to do on a Sunday morning, to something that I had to psych myself up to get my head out of the door.
I’m determined to carry on cycling, considering going gravel to get away from the cars and footpaths in general. But I’ve barely touched my bike this year, or made upgrades, or bought any new clothes. What’s even more terrible is that I’ve been playing golf instead. Yuck.
I think the pandemic reprieve has finished. There’s definitely been a rise in road rage.
Try indoor cycling if you haven't, good workout with stress or bad weather . Zwift or Rouvy are good, the races and group rides are immersive and fun.
"I got heckled so many times that I ended up finishing the ride incredibly frustrated, instead of enjoying that “runner’s high” effect I’d normally get. "
What do you mean by "HECKLED"?
So in other words you fell hook line and sinker for all the COVID BS and we're a good person and did whatever nonsense they told you!
@@hcw199 I missed the bit where we were told to go out and buy lycra to beat COVID. Are you a bot?
Been there, iI got shoved into the hedge by a driver who just apologised and laughed at me, I got a mountain bike instead and found it much more enjoyable and safe.
Music Dopping. If it is the same as in the running world, then it is because of the use of pacing tracks, where the BPM of the music is at your desired cadence. I used them as a training aid when switching to a shorter running stride with a higher cadence.
Can you make an aero helmet for the tandem that covers both riders to go with that backpack😂🗻
@28:25 I completely agree with this point. For example, I got more into cycling during the Pandemic. I cycled 40-100 miles on my 2012 Trek Marlin, 2-3 times a week for almost two years. Then two years ago I got a Trek Checkpoint as my do-it-all bike. Earlier this year I got my first Carbon bike, my "outside/sportive bike". Now my Checkpoint has been retired to Zwift and my Marlin is my "I want to leisurely cycle someplace fun and explore. Not worried if someone steals it bike". In my experience from riding at my local decided cycling loop and chatting with cyclists at the loop/park and events. There's more and more people joining cycling but most of us only need one or two bikes. My girlfriend just purchased a lightly used Cannondale Synapse a month ago. She wants to lose weight and get in shape. She's expressed great interest in joining my during my next Gran Fondo and we're starting her training after Xmas.
I would love to get the new Trek Madone. But why? I already have three bikes.
Cheers! Thanks for all you do! I look forward to these podcasts/vids!
Bioracer is bigger , just under 29m pounds for the moment post pandemic , they also have a rain jacket with event label that is fully sublimated and with backpockets . And you can put it in your backpockets .
Every time Emily goes ‘Maybe I should look that up quick.’ Jimmi goes ‘No, I like not knowing.’ and I’m always the opposite where I would like for her to look it up and tell us. 😂
I was only *looking* at a tandem online and my partner glanced over my shoulder and said, "You're not getting me on that!"
I always tune in when Nick is on the podcast 👍🏻
I think you guys should address ZFC's comments on Nic's waxing in the rain opinions. :P
Hundred percent "post show" livestream vibe with you lot eating lunch and chatting in a less structured format would be great. I think people love the podcast so much mainly because of you guys' personalities, not necessarily the specific segments/tight editing so I think an unedited/unscripted section would be a lot of good content without too much extra effort:)
Great episode! Re: bike sales - do the stats about bike sales include the second hand market? Because we shouldn't forget that there are a ton of bikes that got ridden for two months in 2020 and then sat in a garage for a few years that are going quite cheaply now. As an enthusiast with a family, we have six bikes in the garage that are new since 2020 and all of them were purchased used.
Poor nick didn’t get the front or back joke bless him. Good show
great content! thanks.
Manolo Sainz mounted speakers on the team car with music blaring riding behind Erik Breukink training on his tt bike.
I would love to do that event! 15km every hour on the bike is probably the sweet spot for me. Please make it happen!
Suggestion for comment or chat following earlier episodes when you discussed your worst crashes and injuries. How about looking for clothing which protects a roadi against serious grazing from crashes and also how to heal these injuries. I have crashed twice this week on my dad's fixi , once getting cut up and second time on indoor track when tyres slide out from underneath me. Poor prep I had no knowledge of. I presently have a badly grazed hip and forearm, these are wet wounds, also deep graze to knee which is thankfully dry.
Mtn biker here, I crashed three times yesterday, haven't crashed on my road bike in 15 years.
I would definitely argue, that square taper vanish for good reason of being sensitive to elements. And salt.
Just shot (again) another square / power spline one after 16months, while real hollow one, with larger crank covering the bearing (up to some extent) runs flawlessly for 3y and 20k already
Same for disc brakes, used to stick to rim brakes, just got tired of cleaning them constantly and replacing worn rims...
The world deaerves a Francis and Jimmi tandem tour
Question for Nic - what is the max amount of spacers to run below the stem if there even is a max? For example could I run 50mm of spacers if i have enough tube left or is that to much? Could I go higher or lower?
TPU tubes where accepted by roadies straight away.
If there is a real advantage then it's adopted but when the issues it solves are less than the new created one's then there is resistance to new tech.
The whole music while riding was so 2011… nearly all headphones have ANC and so you have the choice of “transparent mode” which actually amplifies exterior noises…
as far as music goes; I'm fully against using earphones while riding (for the reasons mentioned, it distracts you from your surroundings); however, when I do ride longer rides, I do like to have music going--but I use the bond-conducting earphone technology that does not block your ears, so you can hear your surroundings---it still distracts a bit of course, but you can still fully hear things around you which just isn't possible in standard earphones (especially if they have noise-cancelling).
the EV issue, try using Tesla charging it's much cheaper (even for a non-tesla)
the headphone issue, bone conduction headphones are amazing for this
Loved the new unpopular opinion segment. Was thinking literally yesterday "Has the overrated/underrated well run a bit dry? What else could they do to mix it up a bit?" Great minds think alike, Emily.
I don't think anyone disagrees that cyling is safer in London than the rest of the UK. It's just that London feels like the 4 riders of the apocalypse are after you, compared to other euro cities.
Guitar industry went through the same cycle during the pandemic. Huge boom, price inflation, low stock, then slowing demand, over stock, heavy discounts.
Yes. Bring back the cotter pin.
Soooo agree with Emily re running ruining you… every friend who does, has eventually had multiple knee operations!!
Are there any videos of Vieri cycling? I want to see these routes
Agreed about London cycling. I used to commute from east to west London every day and the drivers in central London were (mostly) great. And whenever I go back there are even more bikes and I feel even more safe. Except from bloody tourists on hire bikes, obvs.
When I moved the The Sticks in '14 the state of the driving and the attitude to cyclists shared the living shit out of me at the start.
with that mustache, you look like you should know how to ride a unicycle 😂
not microplastics, It's T E F L O N,
check the pricey chain lube before wax emulsions, it has PTFE in it, that's the same thing as in cookware non stick and gore tex membrane fabric.
Unpopular opinions: Don't think you HAVE to ride clipless pedals. Now in my 70's I have used clips and straps also clipless ( since they were introduced) and now, recently, I'm on flat non clip in (cleat-less) pedals on my gravel, mountain and hack because my arthritic knees won't let me unclip quick enough......but I; still riding. BTW they're pretty good at my speed too.
Can you get the spaceballs helmet on the backpack cyclist in the wind tunnel?
The archers 😂
I feel like the price hike after pandemic has killed the cycling boom as a lot of people feel like they are priced out of starting cycling with the prices they push right now.
Batteries in your wheels is a good idea. This coming from the guy who said mud guards actually make your bike dirtier 😂
no lie, i felt safer in the chaos of ho chi minh city on a bike with all the motorcycles zooming in every direction than i do on the road here in Atlanta GA USA, even in our bike lanes.
Arbitrary tech like the wheel technology is invented to create more variables that a customer will look to upgrade due to relentless marketing. It works for everything. Bonkers
I live in Miami, we are flat. After moving here from the UK, I realised I needed to change my pedalling style. You can not pedal here like you do in the UK. It took me a year to find what works for me. It is a constant pedal, at a moderate to higher RPM, with avg power. I was always trying to put too much power down, and too low of an RPM, as you would in the UK for hills etc, and then coast. You can not coast here. If you stop pedalling, you stop rolling. This of course is for your average riding. Racing is a whole other thing, I'm sure.
To build on the hills vs flats: Overrated/Underrated: Gears.... I see so many people that start off at a light or on a hill in a hard gear. Dude(s), you have gears, use them!
I agree with Nick. Back to a petrol car, electric cars are fine for around town but as soon as you go on a road trip they just don't work and they cost more.