The BikeRadar Podcast

After months of testing, it's time to announce our Road Bike of the Year winners. We've got categories for race, endurance, gravel and budget road bikes, as well as urban electric bikes. We're also announcing an overall winner across all five categories. In this podcast, our test team of Ashley Quinlan, Simon von Bromley and Warren Rossiter discuss the 2024 Bike of the Year test, their top three bikes in each category and, of course, the winners. Read more on our 2024 Road Bike of the Year test: https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-road-bike-of-the-year-winnersCheck out our 2024 Mountain Bike of the Year winners: https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-mountain-bike-of-the-year-winnersListen to our 2024 Mountain Bike of the Year podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oNkfe5x1dzEdov9ajhTUK Here are all 24 bikes featured in our 2024 Road Bike of the Year test: Race Bike of the Year:Focus Izalco Max 9.8 – £6,599 / €6,799 (not available in the US)Specialized Tarmac SL8 Pro - SRAM Force eTap AXS – £8,000 / $8,500 / €8,500Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 Aero – £4,799 / €4,999 / AU$7,649 (model not available in USA)Handsling A1R0evo Classified Powershift – £6,499.99 Endurance Bike of the Year:Canyon Endurace CF SLX 8 Di2 - £4,999 / $5,499Cinelli Pressure ADR (105 Di2 Ksyrium 30 build) - £3,799 / $4,754Specialized Roubaix SL8 Comp - £5,000 / $5,000Lauf Úthald Race Wireless - £4,458.05 ($5,628.00 inc. shipping) / $4,690Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 - £3,499 / $N/A Gravel Bike of the Year:Orbea Terra M41E Team Ix MyO - £4,518 / $4,638GT Grade Carbon Pro LE - £3,600 / $4,200Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 - £4,799 / $4,999Santa Cruz Stigmata Force-1x AXS RSV - £6,999.99 / $7,699Merida Silex 7000 - £3,000 / $N/A Budget Road Bike of the Year:Specialized Allez E5 - £1,000 / $1,200Cube Attain Pro - £1,099 / $N/ATrek Domane AL 2 Gen 4 - £1,050 / $1,199.99Vitus Razor Disc VR - £799.99 Urban Electric Bike of the Year:Cannondale Compact Neo - £2,000 / $1,900Ridgeback Arcus 3 - £2,999.99 / $N/AMerida eSpresso CC 675 EQ 2024 - £4,000 / $N/ASpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0 EQ - £3,400 / $4,499Tern NBD S5i - £4,000 / $4,699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What are the best mountain bikes on sale in 2024? We have the answers.Bike of the Year has come around again, and Tom, Rob and Al have been hard at work testing some of the best mountain bikes around. In this episode, our tech team discuss the best trail, enduro, full-fat and SL ebikes, following three months of dedicated testing.For full reviews, head over to BikeRadar.com as we reveal the winners, or keep an eye on our YouTube channel as we present our top-3 winners on film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this edition of the BikeRadar Podcast, senior technical writer Simon von Bromley and senior technical editor Ashley Quinlan discuss Ash’s recent test of £500 alloy wheelsets.The duo cover off the key winners and losers, deliver some surprising findings and discuss whether a £500 alloy wheelset is worth buying in 2024. Finally, Ash shares some of his key thought-provoking takeaways following the test.Remember, we’d love to hear your opinions about anything discussed in this episode – drop us an email at podcast@bikeradar.com with any questions or comments! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve been paying attention to the pro road-racing scene recently, you may have noticed many riders are increasingly using oversized chainrings. Are today’s pro riders so fast they simply need bigger gears than before, or could there be more to this tech trend than meets the eye? In today’s episode of the BikeRadar podcast, Simon von Bromley sits down with Liam Cahill to discuss this development and whether there’s anything the rest of us can learn from it. If you have any thoughts, questions or feedback, you can contact the team at podcast@bikeradar.com.  https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/why-are-pros-using-such-big-chainrings  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you confused by the jargon you read in our reviews? Find technical terms all a bit much?In this podcast, our technical writer and all-round tech-head Luke Marshall guides you through some of the terms that pop up frequently in our mountain bike reviews.If there are other terms you’re not sure the meaning of, pop us an email, and we’ll do our best to help. Our email address is podcast@bikeradar.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sea Otter 2024, part trade show, part mountain, road and gravel festival, has just wrapped up. The beady eyes of George Scott and Jack Luke have been on the search for the best MTB kit at the show, and they bring you their top picks here.From fancy frames to brand new pedals, via a very fast set of tyres, the 2024 Sea Otter has provided the goods.Our team pushed out a lot of tech content on BikeRadar’s Instagram account, so you can catch up with even more here: https://www.instagram.com/bikeradar/And, of course, there are a host of articles on the site now, and coming soon, covering all aspects of the show.https://www.bikeradar.com/news/sea-otter-classic-2024-mtb-techhttps://www.bikeradar.com/news/maxxis-aspen-sthttps://www.bikeradar.com/news/neko-mulally-bonded-dh-framehttps://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-sea-otter-new-gravel-tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sea Otter 2024 has landed, merging trade-show tech with bike-festival vibes. Our editorial duo of Jack Luke and George Scott are pounding the grounds of Laguna Seca Raceway to bring you the best bits.This podcast focuses on the best of the drop-bar tech seen on day one.Jack Luke almost lost his marbles when he spotted Ritchey’s new Montebello randonneur bike, and was blown away by 5Dev’s scuff-proof cranks. There also were some fancy bikes from the likes of Parlee, while the team got a hands-on look at the new Cane Creek Invert gravel fork that has certainly stirred up plenty of comments.For the most up-to-date news from the show, follow BikeRadar’s Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/bikeradar/And, of course, there are plenty of in-depth features on BikeRadar.com, including the stories below on Ritchey, Parlee, 5Dev and Cane Creek.https://www.bikeradar.com/news/ritchey-montebellohttps://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-parlee-ourayhttps://www.bikeradar.com/news/5dev-diamond-coated-crankshttps://www.bikeradar.com/news/cane-creek-invert-gravel-suspension-forks  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today’s episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, deputy editor Jack Luke and senior technical writer Simon von Bromley discuss the latest tech news in road cycling. Last week saw the launch of the new ENVE Fray and BMC Roadmachine – both endurance road bikes with an all-road slant. As well as sharing details of each new bike the pair discuss whether all-road bikes can really do double duty off and on the tarmac. Next up, Jack and Simon discuss Campagnolo’s new HPPM power meter, and why it took the BikeRadar team by surprise. Finally, this week’s podcast wraps with details about Shimano’s new Essa groupset – an 8-speed 1x-only groupset designed specifically for budget bikes. The duo consider how it fits in with Shimano’s Cues range, and what it could signal for entry-level bikes of the future. As always, if you have any comments, questions or feedback about what was discussed in this podcast, you can email the BikeRadar team at podcast@bikeradar.com. https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/road-bikes/enve-fray-first-ride-review  https://www.bikeradar.com/news/bmc-roadmachine-2024  https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-campagnolo-hppm-power-meter https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-shimano-essa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, Jack Luke, Tom Marvin and Warren Rossiter answer questions sent in by you, our beloved listeners.From average chain life to describing the feel of tyres, the trio shares solutions for your burning tech questions.  Thanks to Steve Wilson, Nicolas Rogowski, Tom Parish, Owen Lockwood and everyone else for sending in your questions! If you have any questions you want answered in a future episode, send them to podcast@bikeradar.com  https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/workshop/how-to-set-up-your-mountain-bike-suspension-video-guides-to-help-you-get-the-most-from-your-bike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the morning after the night before and, with the dust settling on another edition of Paris-Roubaix, George, Liam and Simon sit down to digest this year's tech highlights. Big tyres, bigger chainrings, aero optimisations and even gravel bikes featured over the cobbles of the Hell of the North. Got a question for the team? You can email us at podcast@bikeradar.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices