The BikeRadar Podcast

Over-biking or under-biking – which should you do? Is it best to buy a bike that can definitely handle every trail you’re going to throw its way, or is doing so going to lead to an uninspiring ride on more mellow, every-day terrain?If your bike isn’t built for the toughest trails, are you going to be left in a terrified heap, or grinning from ear to ear, as you wrestle it over hostile terrain? Our tech writers battle it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some of the world’s top professional cyclists are taking sodium bicarbonate to improve their performance in high-intensity efforts.  To find out why, Jack Evans, BikeRadar’s digital writer and one of the team's strongest athletes, recently took part in the first independent trial of the Maurten Bicarb System used by Team Jumbo-Visma. In this episode, Jack explains how sodium bicarbonate can potentially improve cycling performance and reveals what happened when he took 20 bicarb capsules.Joined by senior technical editor Ashley Quinlan and senior technical writer Simon von Bromley, Jack discusses what else he discovered about the legal, performance-enhancing supplement while researching an in-depth feature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Specialized Tarmac SL8 and Canyon Endurace CFR discussed, including aerodynamics, adjustable cockpits, handlebar design, mudguard mounts, and a new go fast bike for bikepacking. The improvements and features of the Tarmac Essalate are analyzed, along with a detailed comparison of the Tarmac SL8 to the S-Works Venge. The suitability of the Tarmac SL8 for different types of riders is also explored.

We’re lucky at BikeRadar to be able to try out tons of new gear, whether that be bike components or riding kit. This means we rarely need to buy our own kit, which is a lovely problem to have.However, we’re not immune to the occasional purchase – perhaps a well-loved bit of test kit that’s been returned, or something a colleague has been raving about catches our eyes.In this episode, senior technical editor Tom Marvin is joined by technical writers Luke Marshall and Nick Clark to discuss the kit and clothing they’ve spent their own money on – if they’ve dug into their pockets, it must be pretty good! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 A professional road cyclist’s bike is clearly different from yours – but is that always a good thing?At BikeRadar, we have plenty of expertise and opinions on pro bike tech. In this podcast, senior mountain bike technical editor Tom Marvin is joined by road and gravel video presenter Liam Cahill and digital writer Jack Evans. From handlebar width and bike weight to component choice, the trio discuss the peculiarities of pro bike setup. It turns out, they don’t always envy what elite cyclists have to ride. https://www.bikeradar.com/features/pro-bike/pro-bikes-are-different-to-yours/https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/best-value-aero-upgrades/https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/2013-pinarello-dogma-vs-2023-cervelo-r5-s5/https://www.bikeradar.com/features/pro-bike/einer-rubio-canyon-aeroad-cfr/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gravel race bikes and gravel bikepacking bikes are two very different things, so why do we still call both of them 'gravel bikes'? In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, senior technical editor Warren Rossiter argues that the gravel bike genre needs splitting up into sub-sections, to help riders better distinguish between the increasingly diverse set of bikes labelled as ‘gravel’.For his full review, head to https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/gravel-bike-categorisation/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In between seeking out new tech and eating the finest fayre of his home nation, deputy editor Jack Luke enjoyed the track racing action at the 2023 World Championships in Glasgow. Sunday found him watching the qualifications for the men’s elite individual pursuit, where Australia’s Conor Leahy put in a storming effort onboard an unreleased Factor track bike, seeding sixth ahead of the final event.This led to some enthusiastic cheering from a group of Australians in the stands, and who should be in their midst but Paul Collins – the technical director for the Australian cycling team. In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, we hear what Collins thinks could be behind Jumbo-Visma’s success at the 2023 Men’s Tour de France and the hottest trends in track tech today.Do you have any questions, comments or ideas for the BikeRadar Podcast? Please send them through to Podcast@BikeRadar.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In recent weeks we’ve seen five notable electric mountain bikes being launched onto the market. Our senior technical editors Tom Marvin and Alex Evans bring you all the hot gossip on these new bikes, as well as some riding insights on a few of them too.The bikes range from under £4000 all the way up to just shy of £15000, making the selection as broad as they come.The bikes come from Vitus, Pivot, Mondraker, Intense and Trek, there’s plenty more information available on all the models on BIkeRadar.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bikepacking has exploded in recent years – social media feeds seem filled with aesthetically pleasing pictures of people setting off into the distance on a bike loaded with camping kit.Here at BikeRadar, we’re not averse to the odd bit of bikepacking. Tom Marvin is joined by digital writer Oscar Huckle and videographer Robyn Furtado – between them they’ve spent plenty of nights under canvas.The team talk all things bikepacking, from route selection and kit picks, to how to load your bike up with equipment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deputy editor Jack Luke has just reinvigorated his love for mountain bikes after slinging his leg over a Pivot LES XC hardtail. In doing so, he’s realised there’s much to love about the modern mountain bike. But, there’s also lots that needs changing. In this episode, Jack condenses his rekindled love affair into three great recent developments and three adjustments that still need to happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices