Escape Collective

Unchained Binge E2: Welcome to Hell

Episode 2 is focused on the team of the Tour, Jumbo-Visma. We get an at-home visit with Wout van Aert, plus a training day with Primoz Roglic, and then a glimpse into the tension between Van Aert’s desire and ability to win stages and his role working for Jonas Vingegaard for the overall. Plus Kit's Grand Lord of the Rings Theory of Unchained. Let’s get into it. 

Unchained Binge E1: The Grand Départ

Welcome to the Unchained Binge Podcast, where we'll go deep on all eight episodes of Netflix's new Tour de France docuseries.
This first episode comes in fast and crashy, focusing on EF's time trial, a farmer's son, and the incredible return of Fabio Jakobsen.

Placeholders: Early Dauphiné takeaways and a Luke Rowe fanclub

On this week's Placeholders, Jonny Long, Kit Nicholson, and Dane Cash join Caley Fretz (with Iain Treloar also making an appearance) to cover:
What we've learned so far from the Dauphiné
Whether Roglič and Evenepoel should race the Tour
Scam websites in cycling
Luke Rowe vibes

Geek Warning: Shimano GRX going 12, and a flurry of new bikes

There is so much new stuff to talk about this week! Unbound Gravel was a smorgasbord of fresh gravel good, including new bikes from Canyon and Santa Cruz, and a sneak preview of Shimano’s new 12-speed GRX groupset.
We’ve also recently spotted new road bikes from BMC and Factor, and Silca aims to make chain waxing (a lot!) easier. And speaking of Unbound, what was the true material cost of entry for this year’s event? Hint: It's almost certainly much, much more than most participants expected.
Timestamps:
6:40 – What’s this new BMC race bike?13:20 – Will the new Factor 02 VAM be even lighter?17:44 – Shimano GRX 12-speed spotted at Unbound, plus our thoughts on 1x vs 2x for gravel.28:05 – A more mountain bike-like Santa Cruz Stigmata on the way?30:05 – Canyon Grail is due to get one less handlebar.34:30 – Silca’s new Chain Stripper, the future of chain lubes, and why Caley is back on wax.45:15 – Highlights of the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia.54:12 – On your mind, and over the head of your family: Caley gives a shout-out to modern mountain bikes.58:42 – James asks whether event participants consider the true cost of entry.1:08:32 – PSA for your spare inner tube.

Wheel Talk: A mid-season Q&A, part 1

This week Abby Mickey, Loren Rowney, and Gracie Elvin answer some listener questions about whether they can sing or prefer to dance, hot pants, SD Worx dominance, and more.

Pretty Serious Bike Racing: The Dauphiné is underway

This week on the Pretty Serious Bike Racing Podcast, Abby Mickey joins Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano to...
Break down the action so far at the Critérium du Dauphiné
Look ahead to the brewing GC battle in the Tour's biggest tune-up race
Discuss the evolution of rules and regulations in gravel racing as seen at Unbound

Placeholders: Rating the Giro and good vibes

This week on the Placeholders, Jonny Long, Kit Nicholson, and Dane Cash join Caley Fretz to ...
Rate the Giro
Celebrate the undiluted good vibes
Consider Jumbo-Visma's plan for the Tour
Talk about the Evenepoel to Ineos rumors

Geek Warning: Dropped chains, dropped thumbs, and how to buy your first handmade bike

Our trio of diehard in-house tech geeks – James, Dave, and Ronan – are on hand this week to talk about the dropped chain that nearly derailed Primož Roglič’s Giro d’Italia, Campagnolo’s new (and outrageously expensive) Super Record Wireless electronic road groupset, fancy new spokes from DT Swiss, and our new comprehensive guide to buying your first custom bike.
Also, all three of us apparently have issues staying upright, Ronan has thoughts on disc brakes in road racing, and a PSA on hidden caffeine.
6:58 — Roglic’s nearly disastrous chain drop20:37 — Campagnolo goes wireless and ditches the thumb buttons43:40 — New high-end MTB spokes from DT Swiss48:37 — The impending return of the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia49:59 — The return of Matt Wikstrom!52:10 — Dave fell down53:41 — James fell down54:43 — Ronan fell down55:12 — Ronan has thoughts on road racing with disc brakes1:00:03 — Seat tube angles aren’t always what they seem1:02:20 — Ronan needs to start reading the fine print

Wheel Talk: The RideLondon vs. Thüringen problem

This week we chat all about the three days of action at the RideLondon Classique, a conversation made even better by the presence of Rebecca Charlton! We also talk about the SD Worx clean sweep at LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour and the ongoing WorldTour relegation battle.

Pretty Serous Bike Racing: The Giro’s thrilling finale

On the heels of a thrilling finale at the 2023 Giro d'Italia as well as a weekend of racing on British roads at the RideLondon Classique, Kit Nicholson joined Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano for the Pretty Serious Bike Racing Podcast to cover the action. The crew talks:
Roglič's winning tactics when it all mattered at the Giro
The unheralded riders of the race
The moments that made the Giro
Charlotte Kool establishing herself in sprinting's top tier