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!

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

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?

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

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