Escape Collective

Unchained Binge E7: Everything for the Podium

In episode 7, we see a lot of Marc Madiot. So much Marc Madiot. We also get a really close look at how old Geraint Thomas really is, as both Gaudu and Thomas battle for one spot on the Tour de France podium.

Geek Warning: The Eurobike show!

James and Ronan attended the Eurobike trade show last week, and oh boy, did they come back with a lot to talk about. E-bikes were definitely a major theme at this year’s show – again – but there was also a bunch of high-performance goodies, tons of electronic doodads, and as always, cargo bikes galore.
Also: Dave secretly wants to become a firefighter.
7:18 – A convenient way to measure saddle position9:10 – Ronan likes the looks of the new Look12:09 – 3T goes fully internal13:08 – An unlikely new line of bikes from Marcel Kittel and Tony Martin19:26 – So many amazing kid bikes22:58 – Who said electronic shifting has to be expensive?30:10 – Shimano’s 105 mechanical road groupset goes 12-speed33:53 – There’s a revolution in tires coming, courtesy of Schwalbe37:20 – Look, ma, no valve stems!42:15 – A truly promising rethink of the rear derailleur46:30 – Gearboxes and motors go together like peanut butter and jelly54:01 – Cargo bikes galore1:01:30 – NFCs are not the same as NFTs1:03:15 – Cheap e-bike batteries can be very, very sketchy

Wheel Talk: A very chaotic Giro Donne preview

This week, Abby Mickey is joined again by Rebecca Charlton and, for the first time on the Wheel Talk Podcast, the one and only Amy Lauren Jones. The three chat about some of the National Championships over the weekend, especially the storming performance form Pfeiffer Georgi, and preview what’s to come in the Giro Donne.
For a more detailed route preview check out escapecollective.com.

Pretty Serious Bike Racing: An in-depth look at the contenders for the 2023 Tour

With the Tour de France less than a week away, the Pretty Serious Bike Racing Podcast is here to take a closer look at all the big names set to contend this year. The crew takes on the Vingegaard vs. Pogačar debate, names some outsiders, and sizes up the stagehunters for the upcoming Grand Tour.

Unchained Binge E6: Plan B

On this episode of The Unchained Binge Podcast, we watch one of the world's best bike racers be inexplicably bad at bike racing, we learn that one of the world's best sprinters can't remember his shoes or, unfortunately, when there is still a breakaway up the road, and we debate whether there was any real drama inside Jumbo-Visma.

Unchained Binge E5: Breakneck speed

On episode 5 of the Unchained Binge Podcast, we return the focus to EF and to the Ineos Grenadiers. We get a lesson in descending from Tom Pidcock, we warm up to a rider in the twilight of his career, and we learn that Neilson Powless had a good breakfast.

A Tour de France route preview

On this week's Placeholders, the crew takes a closer look at the route of the 2023 Tour de France, a race that will have the climbers looking forward to their chances and that should be entertaining across all three weeks.

Wheel Talk: Gotta love a good time trial

This week on Wheel Talk, Abby Mickey, Matt de Neef, and Gracie Elvin chat about the women’s Tour de Suisse and dive into some listener questions about rider safety and unions.

Geek Warning: The next frontier of XC race tech

For this week’s Geek Warning, James and Ronan were en-route to Eurobike, and so Dave was left talking to himself. After he submitted a three-hour rambling episode about his colour-coding preferences for hex keys, the team suggested that he record a new episode with Brad Copeland.
In the episode, Dave and Brad chat about a lust-worthy new tool from Abbey Bike Tools, Wolf Tooth’s new LoneWolf 1x Road chainguide, and the next frontier of XC race tech. Of course, Brad and Dave also share what’s on their mind, and there’s a PSA that’s likely relevant to many.
3:38 - The biggest things at E-urobike10:03 - Abbey’s biggest tool yet19:23 – 1x chain guides for road26:30 - Bike selection and other tech at the World Cup in Leogang43:30 - What’s on Brad’s mind? Road Tubeless.51:30 - What’s on Dave’s mind? You can probably guess.57:42 – PSA to check those cables! 

Unchained Binge E4: Attack, Counter Attack

Episode 4 offers an inside look at one of the most thrilling Tour stages in recent memory. We see Jumbo-Visma crafting a plan to take on Tadej Pogačar on some of the toughest terrain in the race, and then watch as the action unfolds on the journey from Albertville to the Col du Granon. Also, we discuss the different personalities in the Tour and the ways the show narrows those personalities down, for better or worse. Let's get into it.