CyclingTips Podcast
365 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★ - 747 ratingsCyclingTips is a podcast that seeks to share the beauty of cycling and to inspire cyclists of all levels to become better and more knowledgeable riders.
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Episodes
What if schools had a bike mechanic class?
February 06, 2020 15:33 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBNeal, Dane, Abby, James, and Caley are back in Vecchio's are run through the latest news, including the young stars of cyclocross worlds and San Juan, and then put the Ferrari allegations in context. In this week's Nerd Alert, James brings back a report from the Outdoor Retailer show about a bike mechanic class that's coming to American schools. Finally, we find out which podcast host is the best (and worst) mechanic.
The things we saw at Tour Down Under
January 29, 2020 23:18 - 47 minutes - 44.3 MBNeal, James, Dane, and Caley are back at Vecchio's following a chat through the week's pro cycling news, including discussion of the Tour Down Under, coronavirus, and the craziness at the Vuelta San Juan. Then, James debunks the concerns around racing with disc brakes, once and for all.
Live from TDU: Pro mechanics share their secrets
January 25, 2020 07:20 - 43 minutes - 38 MBWe're back from the Specialized/Blacksheep Chateau in Adelaide, this time with a pair of pro mechanics and a lot of questions. James Huang and Dave Rome lead this episode, which delves into the world of team mechanics. How do they keep white bar tape clean? How often are they swapping chains? We get tips and tricks to keep your own bike running smoothly.
TDU Live: Pro mechanics share their secrets
January 25, 2020 07:20 - 43 minutes - 38 MBWe're back from the Specialized/Blacksheep Chateau in Adelaide, this time with a pair of pro mechanics and a lot of questions. James Huang and Dave Rome lead this episode, which delves into the world of team mechanics. How do they keep white bar tape clean? How often are they swapping chains? We get tips and tricks to keep your own bike running smoothly.
Live from TDU: Coaching world champions
January 23, 2020 02:31 - 44 minutes - 41.4 MBWe're back again from the Specialized/Blacksheep Chateau in Adelaide, this time with Neal Henderson, the head of sports science at Wahoo and a coach who has helped 47 athletes (including Rohan Dennis) win world championships. We ask him about Dennis, how to get Shoddy Dave to the finish line of the Strade Bianche sportive, and about his coaching philosophy and use of data.
Live from TDU: Ruth Winder and Brodie Chapman
January 22, 2020 01:14 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBThis week, the CyclingTips Podcast comes to you live from Adelaide, Australia, where we've set up at the Specialized/Blacksheep Chateau for the Tour Down Under. This episode includes a chat with TDU winner Ruth Winder and one of its key animators, Brodie Chapman.
The band is back together
January 16, 2020 01:25 - 54 minutes - 54.5 MBJames, Neal, Caley, Dane, and Abby are all back in Vecchio's for this week's episode, the first of 2020 with the whole CyclingTips Podcast crew. The episode opens with a news roundup, discussing Bernie Eisel's retirement, Lorena Wiebes' contract controversy, and more. Neal sits down with Tim Johnson to discuss the place of national governing bodies in the growth of gravel racing. Matt de Neef calls in from Melbourne, just back from covering Aussie nationals. Finally, James discusses...
Froome, Dennis, and the Movistar Nothingburger
January 09, 2020 16:07 - 46 minutes - 42.1 MBWe're back! The first CyclingTips Podcast of 2020 runs through major storylines we're keeping an eye on ahead of the coming race season, including Rohan Dennis opening up about an unhealthy relationship with food, Chris Froome's time at team camp (or lack thereof) and the sponsor search of the world's best women's team. In this week's Nerd Alert, James discusses the value of WorldTour sponsorship for cycling brands following the announcement that SRAM will now sponsor Movistar, ending the...
CyclingTips Awards: The best bikes and riders of the decade
December 19, 2019 02:22 - 52 minutes - 47.1 MBIt's awards season! And we're about to click ov er into a new decade. So we put two and two together, and this episode awards the best rides, riders, controversies, and bikes of the twenty-teens. Oh, and we pick a few of the worst things, too.
Micro-mobility in the age of ebikes (and scooters)
December 11, 2019 22:51 - 1 hour - 64 MBThis week's episode opens with discussions of the latest news, including Rohan Dennis' move to Ineos, the new Women's WorldTour teams, and WADA's move against Russia. Then, Jonathan Vaughters talks about his attempt to hire the winner of Dirty Kanza. In this week's Nerd Alert, James dives into the subject of micro-mobility, and we talk scooters and ebikes.
Sneak preview: Nerd Alert podcast
December 09, 2019 15:39 - 35 minutes - 41.7 MBThis is a sneak preview of our new Nerd Alert podcast, so if you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Although we’ve done all-tech podcasts in the past, the new Nerd Alert will now come to you on a more regular basis — every other week — and will be co-hosted by global tech editor James Huang, Australian tech editor Dave Rome, editor-in-chief Caley Fretz, and professional mechanic Zach Edwards, who owns and operates Boulder Grupetto in Boulder, Col...
Doping in the women's peloton and a chat with JV
December 04, 2019 00:18 - 57 minutes - 54.2 MBThis week's episode features special guest Jonathan Vaughters of EF-Education First. He's in town ahead of his impending Flagstaff climbing showdown with Neal Rogers. The show opens with a discussion of Egan Bernal's decision to race the Giro and Tour, and then pivots to Sofie de Vuyst and doping in the women's peloton. Finally, James laments the lack of winterized helmet options on the market.
What is RED-S? And why does it matter?
November 28, 2019 04:39 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBThis is the first episode of Freewheeling, a new podcast from Abby Mickey and the editors of CyclingTips. Please note that Freewheeling will exist on the regular CyclingTips Podcast channel this week only. In the future, you'll have to subscribe to Freewheeling separately. This episode tackles important angles on athlete health and nutrition, and delves into RED-S, or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports. Abby speaks with Ruth Winder, current US National Road Champion, about her fight to ...
Carbon forks keep breaking. Why?
November 20, 2019 23:57 - 55 minutes - 51.4 MBThis week's episode opens with a discussion of team allocations for the Tokyo Olympics, then delves into the proper pronunciation of Mads Pedersen. In this week's Nerd Alert, James speaks with a carbon expert about carbon fiber fork steerer failures - sparked by last week's BMC recall. Is the push for integration making bikes less safe?
Poulidor, mandatory helmets, and a Shimano gearbox
November 14, 2019 15:06 - 52 minutes - 43.7 MBThis week's show opens with a remembrance of Raymond Poulidor, who passed away this week. Then, we dive headfirst into the tribunal of Richard Freeman and the sordid testimony this week of Shane Sutton. In this week's Nerd Alert, we discuss mandatory helmet laws and a patent for a Shimano gearbox.
California's hiatus and pro mechanic's toolboxes
October 30, 2019 06:18 - 50 minutes - 53.8 MBThe Tour of California is going on hiatus - or is it done for good? Caley and Neal discuss the news that America's biggest road race won't happen in 2020. Former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman is finally testifying. What do we expect to hear? In this week's Nerd Alert, Dave Rome talks through a pro mechanic's toolbox - what they use, what they don't, and why. And then Caley's true feelings about torque wrenches slip out.
A Tour de France for millennials
October 17, 2019 19:05 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBThe 2020 Tour de France is low on sprint stages, low on time trials, low on long stages, and is full of climbs from end to end. It's a Tour that looks more like a Vuelta - more dynamic, less formulaic. It's a great match for today's ever-shortening attention spans. Is that a good thing? In this week's Nerd Alert, James looks into some strange moves at Strava and the failure of cars to stop when they're supposed to.
Finding the right saddle and disqualifying Zwifters
October 09, 2019 00:29 - 1 hour - 85.5 MBThis week's episode opens with a discussion of the British Zwift eRacing national champion who had his title stripped and was given a 6-month ban after he cheated on his way to his national title. Then, we look ahead to Lombardia, the last of the Monuments. Finally, James takes a look at a new system from WTB that claims it can guess which saddle you need based on, of all things, the width of your wrists.
What NASA knows about tires
October 02, 2019 21:58 - 47 minutes - 45 MBThis week's episode opens with our final thoughts on the World Championships, including the controversy surrounding the disqualification of Nils Eekhoff in the men's U23 race. In this week's Nerd Alert, James pulls out a study from NASA that provides some insight into why some tires might be better than others on wet roads.
The end of the Worlds
September 29, 2019 19:42 - 34 minutes - 47.1 MBIn our final Worlds episode, Dave and Caley chat with Abby Mickey about Annemiek van Vleuten's dominant performance in the elite women's race, then break down a thrilling, brutally difficult men's race. Then Caley tries more English foods, and Dave's mum makes an appearance.
The Worlds: Jumping from junior racing to the WorldTour
September 27, 2019 21:14 - 59 minutes - 82.2 MBThe Worlds roll on. The time trials, juniors, and espoirs are behind us, and only the elites remain. Caley and Dave are in Harrogate, trying out all sorts of local delicacies, and open this week's episode with a discussion of junior world champion Quinn Simmons' quick jump up to the WorldTour. Then, Caley sits down with Abby Mickey to preview the elite women's race and talk about the junior road race winner, Megan Jastrab.
The Worlds: Time trials and Yorkshire food products
September 25, 2019 22:03 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBThis week's episode comes straight from Harrogate, where the Yorkshire worlds kicked off on Monday and continue through Sunday. Caley Fretz and Dave Everett are on the ground and discuss Chloe Dygert's dominant win, Rohan Dennis' redemption ride, Yorkshire accents, Yorkshire food products, a rider from Ghana, and much more.
Reporter alleges embarrassingly outdated bike "works just fine"
September 19, 2019 18:07 - 1 hour - 68.5 MBThis week's episode opens with a discussion of Iain Treloar's recent column on his old Cannondale CaadX, which, contrary to all known marketing, still shreds. Where has the bike industry gotten it right, and where has it inflated claims of technological advancement? James and Caley discuss. Then, Marshall Opel sits down with Dirty Kanza winner Colin Strickland for a wide-ranging chat about all things gravel.
Riding outside is dead. Long live riding outside.
September 11, 2019 00:23 - 1 hour - 77.1 MBJames is back from a Eurobike show full of bikes with motors and bikes for riding nowhere, and it feels like an existential moment for the bike world. How do we feel about these changes to the fundamental nature of cycling? Plus, we hear from Sepp Kuss and Nielson Powless on their time at cycling's new juggernaut, Jumbo-Visma, and discuss Mathieu van der Poel's insane Tour of Britain sprint.
Eurobike, Movistar's infighting and Roglic's Vuelta lead
September 05, 2019 21:38 - 38 minutes - 52.9 MBIn this week's episode, Caley and Neal are joined by Dane Cash to discuss the ongoing Vuelta a Espana, now in its second week. Can Primoz Roglic hold his lead? Is Movistar's lack of cohesion actually a good thing? Then we hear, briefly, from CyclingTips' reporters in Germany, where the Eurobike tradeshow just kicked off.
Gremlins in electronic drivetrains
August 29, 2019 14:09 - 40 minutes - 38.5 MBThis week's episode comes to you from Rapha's Boulder, Colorado clubhouse. We talk Vuelta, Marcel Kittel, Colorado Classic, and then James brings up something a bit controversial: Electronic drivetrains aren't always reliable.
Where are they now: A Tyler Hamilton interview
August 27, 2019 18:40 - 40 minutes - 40.9 MBIn this special episode of the CyclingTips Podcast, Marshall Opel sits down with Tyler Hamilton. Hamilton raced for two of the most notorious teams of cycling's doping era, US Postal and CSC, and wrote a tell-all book called The Secret Race after he was banned for doping for a second time. He moved to Montana, largely to escape the pro cycling world. Marshall caught up with him there and found out what he's been up to, and what his relationship to the sport looks like now.
Finding a good mechanic and Tom Dumoulin’s move
August 20, 2019 18:54 - 53 minutes - 46.6 MBThis week’s Podcast comes to you from a Boulder institution, Vecchio’s Bicicletteria, where Neal, James, and Caley first talk about Tom Dumoulin’s move to Jumbo Visma (is that team as strong as Ineos now?) and then dig into the best way to find a good mechanic.
Tech rants and raves
August 14, 2019 19:27 - 50 minutes - 53.3 MBThere's a lot to rave about in modern bike tech, and a lot to rant about, too. James Huang leads this episode off with a Nerd Alert segment discussing the best and worst of the bike industry. This week's episode is recorded from our Endless Gravel van, and we have chief gravel correspondent (and van driver) Marshall Opel on the show to discuss gravel racing and victory - and whether the two belong together. Finally, Matt de Neef is in Boulder all the way from CT's Melbourne office and ...
NEW TECH SERIES: Nerd Alert (Ep 1): Go faster with aerodynamics made simple
July 29, 2019 22:53 - 46 minutes - 63.4 MBAs cyclists, we are forever chasing the elusive free watts of power, extra few kilometers per hour and a few less grams on the scales, all with the goal of going faster. In our new dedicated Tech series we're calling 'Nerd Alert', we aim to dispel the myths, understand the technology, and bring you the information you need to go faster.The first episode sees James Huang and Caley Fretz sit down with Specialized’s director of integrated technologies, Chris Yu, and Professor Robert Chung to ...
Tour Daily: The end of the Tour
July 29, 2019 18:36 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBThe best Tour de France in years is over. Caley and Rupert are in Paris, joined by Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal and Matt White, director sportif at Mitchelton-Scott, to discuss the last three weeks.
Tour Daily: Bernal secures yellow
July 28, 2019 02:18 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBEgan Bernal secures yellow for Paris as Vincenzo Nibali wins Tour de France stage 20 from the break. Caley, Iain, Rupert, and the Wall Street Journal's Josh Robinson talk about Bernal's Tour performance, what it means for Colombia, and what it means for the race.
Tour Daily: An extraordinary day in the Alps
July 27, 2019 00:33 - 47 minutes - 64.6 MBEgan Bernal is in the yellow jersey after a wild stage 19 at the Tour de France, which was cut short due to extreme weather and hazardous road conditions. Caley, Rupert, Iain, and the Wall Street Journal's Josh Robinson discuss the day's dramatic events and where the race stands with two days left.
Tour Daily: Strange tactics
July 25, 2019 22:41 - 1 hour - 68.9 MBNairo Quintana won the stage, but did Movistar even want him to? And Egan Bernal got a gap, only to have his teammate try to bridge across. It was a day for odd tactics, and Rupert and Caley are joined by ESPN.com's Bonnie Ford and the Wall Street Journal's Josh Robinson to talk through a spectacular day of racing. Plus, James Huang calls in for a Nerd Alert segment on climbing bikes.
Tour Daily, Updated: Booted from the Tour
July 24, 2019 22:00 - 45 minutes - 62.5 MBLuke Rowe and Tony Martin were kicked out of the Tour following an incident. Did they deserve it? Can they appeal? Caley, Rupe, and Iain are once again joined by Josh Robinson of the Wall Street Journal to talk about the day's racing, and the day's controversy. Then, they discuss Josh's Thursday front page story on the two men in charge of artfully adjusting inappropriate road paint.
Tour Daily: The heat of Nîmes
July 23, 2019 20:56 - 43 minutes - 40.7 MBThe Tour de France rolled out of its second rest day and into baking temperatures and a relatively straightforward sprint stage. But nothing at the Tour is every truly straightforward. Geraint Thomas fell down again. Caleb Ewan proved he's the man to beat in Paris, if he can get there. Iain Treloar only got two keychains from the caravan. Caley, Rupert, and Josh Robinson break down the heat-soaked action and look ahead to the looming Alps.
Tour Daily: The Tour caravan and the second rest day
July 22, 2019 21:01 - 44 minutes - 60.9 MBIt's hot in Nîmes. Very hot. Caley, Rupert and Iain are joined by Joshua Robinson of the Wall Street Journal in the shade of a square in this southern French city to discuss the legacy of this year's Tour de France winner. To wrap things up, Iain takes us deep into a Tour de France caravan schwag experience.
Tour Daily: The battle for yellow tightens
July 22, 2019 02:01 - 55 minutes - 76.7 MBSimon Yates nabs his second Tour stage win as Julian Alaphilippe cedes time on stage 15. Caley, Rupert, and Iain delve into the wide-open general classification battle at the Tour de France, with insights on rising star Emanuel Buchmann from Felix Mattis. Also, hear from Richie Porte after an action-packed day in the Pyrenees.
Tour Daily: Pinot soars to a Tourmalet triumph
July 21, 2019 01:47 - 1 hour - 88.7 MBThibaut Pinot powered to the stage 14 victory on the Tourmalet, while Julian Alaphilippe continued to shine as big names like Geraint Thomas lost time. Caley, Rupert, and Iain wonder if it's time to start believing in Alaphilippe and consider who else might be able to knock him out of yellow. Also hear from Abby Mickey and Marianne Vos after a compelling race at La Course.
Tour Daily: Alaphilippe amazes
July 20, 2019 01:32 - 56 minutes - 77.1 MBJulian Alaphilippe takes an impressive stage 13 time trial win to extend his Tour de France lead. Marianne Vos storms to victory at La Course. Caley, Rupert, and Iain talk with Bonnie Ford and Joshua Robinson about a compelling day in France.
Tour Daily: Dennis abandons
July 19, 2019 01:48 - 34 minutes - 47 MBSimon Yates got his first Tour de France stage win, Rohan Dennis abandoned the race under unusual circumstances. Caley, Rupert, and Iain discuss the day's events from Pau with some insights from other Tour journalists as well, plus a brief appearance by Dave Everett.
Tour Daily: Sprint stages
July 18, 2019 03:53 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBCaleb Ewan took his first Tour de France victory, Richie Porte was part of a big crash, and Jens Keukeleire defended the Hour Classification with exceptional panache. Caley, Rupert, and Iain check in from a restaurant in Toulouse and talk through the day's big stories, plus look ahead to the Pyrenees and beyond.
Tour Daily: Rest day rides with Alaphilippe
July 16, 2019 20:59 - 36 minutes - 36.5 MBRupert, Caley and Iain Treloar, and a pile of special guests, are in Albi, France for the first rest day of the Tour de France. They discuss the new ebike from Specialized, and riding with the Quickstep team to a coffee shop. Then the conversation turns to the upcoming Pyrenees and Alps, what yesterday's splits mean for the overall and for Ineos' dominance, and whether Thibaut Pinot still has a chance.
Tour Daily: Crosswinds
July 15, 2019 22:16 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBWhat could have been a mellow sprint stage was anything but. The GC was flipped on its head, all thanks to a bit of wind. Caley and Rupert are joined by Ann Braeckman, Iain Treloar, and Ian Parker to break down the day's racing, and what it might mean for the Tour ahead. More importantly, we rate the press buffet and determine the current leader in the hour classification.
Tour Daily: The Hour Classification
July 14, 2019 21:16 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBDaryl Impey stole the show in the Tour's 9th stage, taking a breakaway win. Julian Alaphilippe remains in yellow. Luke Durbridge has the coveted Hour Classification. Can he defend it through tomorrow? The Giro Rosa wrapped up with a somewhat predictable result. Abby calls in with the latest, and then looks ahead to La Course, which takes place in Pau this week.
Tour Daily: A new type of Tour stage
July 14, 2019 03:41 - 46 minutes - 63.2 MBThomas De Gendt did what he does best to nab stage 8 of the Tour de France from the breakaway, while Julian Alaphilippe retook the yellow jersey in Saint-Étienne. Caley and Rupert talk panache, Alaphilippe's chances to stay in yellow, Thibaut Pinot's overall hopes, and more. At the Giro Rosa, Anna van der Breggen topped Annemiek van Vleuten to take a mountaintop victory on stage 9. Van Vleuten still leads as the race heads into its final stage.
Tour Daily: Technical difficulties
July 13, 2019 09:52 - 14 minutes - 20 MBIf you listened to stage 7’s episode and were annoying by interference noises, we do apologize. We’ve pulled that episode down (so if you listened, congrats, you experienced an extinct episode!). Thankfully, our Giro Rosa coverage survived. So here’s that. We’ll be back to normal after stage 8 of the Toue wraps up.
Tour Daily: La Planche des Belles Filles
July 11, 2019 21:23 - 44 minutes - 44.3 MBThe first true test of the Tour de France left almost every team a winner - with one notable exception - and provided a look into the next two weeks of racing. The standouts? Geraint Thomas and Julian Alaphilippe. Caley and Rupert discuss the day's racing, and what it all means. At the Giro Rosa, a lumpy stage ended as a few others have before. Abby Mickey calls in with the details.
Tour Daily: Ineos' curious wheel choice
July 10, 2019 21:58 - 49 minutes - 52.6 MBOn the eve of the Tour's first foray in the mountains, Ineos decided to test out some new wheels: Lightweights. Every rider on the team was on the super light carbon hoops. But is that a good idea? James calls in and offers his perspective. Caley and Rupe and in Colmar, where today's stage finished, and run through the green jersey battle and look ahead to La Planche des Belles Filles tomorrow. At the Giro Rosa, it's a story of dominance.
Tour Daily: Viviani's first Tour stage win
July 09, 2019 23:37 - 39 minutes - 53.7 MBElia Viviani sprinted to his first ever Tour de France stage victory with a strong display of speed and great lead-out from his Deceuninck-QuickStep teammates. Caley and Rupert talk sprint battles and we hear from Caleb Ewan, third on the day, before looking ahead to the hills and mountains on the horizon. At the Giro Rosa, Annemiek van Vleuten powered to a queen stage victory and took a commanding overall lead.