The BikeRadar Podcast

Electric mountain bike development shows no signs of slowing, with high-powered motors arriving from the likes of DJI and Specialized, which offer 850 and 720 watts of power respectively in their ‘regular’ modes. The DJI takes that further with a 1,000-watt boost mode.   But that’s not always a good thing. In this podcast, BikeRadar’s technical editor-in-chief, Rob Weaver, and MBUK TV’s video presenter, Tom Marvin, tell you why.   The duo also chat through what this means for the future of eMTBs, and whether peak power and torque now needs to be capped.   Watch MBUK TV’s review of the new Specialized Turbo Levo 4 – https://youtu.be/vk34BFJQ2xQ?si=o1l5OiRczYSIhnyq [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/cGs0CoOXof54xQjc1fncpCPOQ?domain=youtu.be] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

In this episode, Jack Luke sits down with hardcore roadie turned gravel dad, Simon von Bromley, to discuss the missing 1x version of Shimano’s 12-speed GRX Di2 groupset.   With images of potential new XTR Di2 parts leaking online in recent months, we’ve been wondering what it could mean for the next generation of 1x GRX Di2 – something conspicuous by its absence in Shimano’s gravel line-up.   The duo ponder what a fully wireless XTR could mean for GRX and Shimano’s other 12-speed Di2 ranges, why Shimano’s enormous product ecosystem can appear so confusing from the outside, and what features they think would be essential in any new 1x GRX Di2 groupset.   * Shimano XTR Di2 'leak' reveals the one thing we've been waiting for [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/nHNvCG9WJcEgJQ7cKfpcBIgOd?domain=bikeradar.com] * 12-speed Shimano GRX Di2 is finally here – but it’s 2x only for now [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/xbCnCJPWMHlX8DJcGhjcyihmu?domain=bikeradar.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Tech Q&A is back, with Jack Luke your host, and Tom Marvin and Warren Rossiter fielding your questions. This time around, the trio cover: * Are new bikes actually any better than old bikes?  * How to improve hand comfort on the bike  * Can you convert an MTB to a gravel bike?  * Tips for fitting stiff tubeless tyres  * The perfect brake bleed, according to Shimano  * Carbon vs alloy mountain bikes, what’s better?   Got a tech question for the BikeRadar team? Email us at podcast@bikeradar.com [podcast@bikeradar.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Colnago has launched the V5Rs, claimed to be the lightest bike it has ever made. The new bike is the replacement for the V4Rs, which has just had an enviable send-off at the 2025 Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix under Tadej Pogačar. In this bonus podcast episode, digital editor Jack Luke sits down with road tech lead Ashley Quinlan to discuss Ash’s early impressions of the new bike from a press event on Lake Garda, Italy. Of course, it’s lighter and faster on paper, but is that enough to satisfy these two tech nerds?  Read the V5Rs news story here:  https://www.bikeradar.com/news/colnago-v5rs [https://www.bikeradar.com/news/colnago-v5rs] Read Ash’s first-ride review here:  https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bike-reviews/colnago-v5rs-first-ride [https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bike-reviews/colnago-v5rs-first-ride]  Find out why Ash thinks Colnago might have missed an opportunity to be bolder here: https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/the-colnago-v5rs-has-left-me-feeling-cold [https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/the-colnago-v5rs-has-left-me-feeling-cold]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

George Scott and Simon von Bromley reflect on another classic edition of Paris-Roubaix, dissecting the tech trends that dominated this year’s race. From ever-wider tyres to gravel-inspired hacks, George and Simon chart the latest evolutions in Roubaix tech.   How Zipp’s radically wide 303 wheelset ushered in an aero revolution at Paris-Roubaix – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/icons-of-cycling-zipp-303 [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/EdI9C89KncWJkByfnfxcyJny-?domain=bikeradar.com] Our tech predictions for Paris-Roubaix 2025... and a decade into the future, in 2035 – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/paris-roubaix-2035-tech-predictions [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/LsdKC92YoiAZOrwfEhPcq0f4I?domain=bikeradar.com] Why gravel gearing and clearance for 40mm tyres could be the future of Paris-Roubaix tech – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/gravel-gearing-2025-spring-classics [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/Z29ZC09DNcQEyYAi2i2c9VGVg?domain=bikeradar.com]   Watch all of our Paris-Roubaix tech videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bikeradar [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/GYpICgkMOSKgB4zC3s4c48qIO?domain=youtube.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]