The BikeRadar Podcast

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, we have a quick look back at four key bikes that have launched in the past week.There's the new Giant Reign, which has seen an overhaul to bring it right up to date, as well as Ridley's new Grifn – a bike that blurs the line between road and gravel. In addition, we talk about the new Scott Lumen eMTB. The top-spec model comes in at an eye-watering £14,699, but don't worry, there are cheaper versions too.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With bike and gear already sorted, in the third part of our Getting Into Mountain Biking mini-series we’re chatting with MTB legend Tracy Moseley about the really fun bit – all about the experience of riding a mountain bike.We cover where to head with your mountain bike, who to go riding with, what kind of mountain biking events there are and why you might want to consider getting some coaching.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Senior technical editor Warren Rossiter talks to Ridley product manager Bert Kenens on the eave of the launch of their new N+1 killing all road bike the Grifn (sic). A bike that aims to be as at home on gravel as it is on the roadHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re well into smart trainer season now, which means Simon von Bromley, BikeRadar’s senior technical writer, has been doing his annual tests of the latest models. As ever, Simon has come out the other side of this testing with some more strongly held opinions – this time, it’s that ERG mode (an optional setting used by smart trainers to automatically adjust the resistance to match your cadence, to hold you at a prescribed power output during a workout) is overrated.But why does he think that, and does anyone else agree? In this episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Simon sits down with Ashley Quinlan, BikeRadar’s senior technical editor, to explain how ERG mode can potentially affect your pedalling style, why this matters, and what you might consider doing instead.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SRAM took the fight to Shimano in 2021 when it launched Rival eTap AXS – a 12-speed, wireless electronic groupset at a relatively affordable price point. After years of telling us that 105 Di2 wouldn’t happen, Shimano was forced to react and create a rival for Rival eTap AXS. And now it has – Shimano 105 Di2 R7120 launched earlier this year. Having had plenty of time to put both groupsets through their paces, BikeRadar’s senior technical editor, Warren Rossiter, sits down with senior technical writer, Simon von Bromley, to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each system, and see if they can crown one the king of budget electronic road groupsets.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New bikes are still making their way onto the market, and our MTB test team is hard at work getting the miles in on a host of new rides, across a broad range of prices!In this News Review episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Alex Evans tells us about a new Marin Rift Zone, Luke Marshall has been riding a box-fresh Orbea Wild FS, and Tom Marvin has been pedalling the new Yeti SB120 around the South West's hills - they've also launched a new SB140 and SB160.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week we looked at buying your first mountain bike, but it turns out that’s just part of the equation: you’re gonna need a few more things before you can take to the trails. We’re joined by our Tech Editor in Chief Robin Weaver and Senior Tech Ed Tom Marvin to sort through what really are trail essentials and what extra things are nice to have. Listen in for our thoughts on the best safety gear, what to wear, what tools and spares to carry, and what extra bits to kit out your bike with. Head over to BikeRadar.com for loads of handy buyer’s guides on this topic, from the best pedals to toolkits, helmets to baggy shorts, and click here for our 20 essentials for epic MTB rides: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/20-essentials-for-epic-mountain-bike-rides/.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, deputy editor Jack Luke sits down with former pro-cyclist-turned-presenter, Adam Blythe.Blythe is famously unafraid to air his opinions on tech, notably singling out Aqua Blue Sport’s decision to race on 3T’s 1x-specific Strada bikes as a key reason for his former team’s downfall in 2018. Following the recent release of the new 3T Strada ICR – which is available in a 2x configuration – We asked Adam whether he thought 1x will ever offer a competitive advantage.Blythe also comes from a generation where riders were able to customize bikes to suit their riding, and by extension, personalities. In the podcast, Blythe bemoans the homogeneity of the modern peloton and highlights who he thinks are today’s most stylish riders on and off the bike. Finally, we hear his personal view on the UCI tech rules today.  Blythe shares his thought on whether he thinks 1x will ever offer a competitive advantage, the homogeneous aesthetic of tech in the pro peloton today (and why he thinks that’s a bad thing), who he thinks is the most stylish rider on and off the bike, and his thoughts on UCI tech rules. ·         Read more about the 3T Strada ICR: https://www.bikeradar.com/news/3t-strada-icr/·         Watch BikeRadar’s Gravel Diaries: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLhX4qGpWXV9vU_zmhOJyAABezN_22dy0B  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the northern hemisphere plunged into darkness, BikeRadar’s George Scott, Ashley Quinlan and Jack Luke discuss one of winter’s must-have cycling accessories – lights. George, Ash and Jack discuss the key things to look out for when buying lights for a road bike, to help keep you riding through winter.You can also listen to our MTB lights podcast https://play.acast.com/s/bikeradarpodcast/our-guide-to-mountain-bike-night-riding Best bike lights for road cycling https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-bike-lights-for-road-cycling/Best MTB lights https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-mountain-bike-lights/Flashing vs steady lights – what’s better? https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/flashing-bike-lights/StVZO lights explained https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/stvzo-bike-lights/UK bike light laws explained https://www.bikeradar.com/features/bike-light-laws-in-the-uk-what-you-need-to-know/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first of our four-part series all about getting into mountain biking, we’re joined by Tom Marvin and Alex Evans to chat everything you need to know about buying your first mountain bike. From which mountain bike discipline suits you best to how much travel you need, what to look for in geometry and components we’d recommend.Besides this podcast, we’ve got heaps of buyer’s guides to check out on BikeRadar.com to help you choose your first mountain bike. Check them out here: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-mountain-bike/.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices