Going back to basics

We’re going back to basics in this week’s episode. While Geek Warning is usually for tech-obsessed cyclists, this edition covers the common conversations a bicycle mechanic would have with a client. It’s for everyone and anyone who does a little of their own bike maintenance.

Many road cyclists are still relatively new to disc brakes, so Jack Duncan and Dave Rome start the episode with a deep dive into many facets of ownership. The basics of chain lube and drivetrain wear are covered later on, as are some thoughts about tyre wear and who tubeless may be right for.

After all that, members of Escape Collective get the usual Ask a Wrench segment, this time with the return of a familiar voice.

Time stamps:

00:03:45 - The biggest red flag for when something is wrong

00:06:20 - Brakes usually shouldn’t squeak or squeal

00:16:00 - Disc brake pad wear

00:20:00 - Pad spacers and travel

00:24:00 - Burning brakes is questionable at best

00:26:15 - The importance of brake bed-in

00:29:20 - Why brakes need scheduled bleeding

00:35:00 - Shifting to chain lube basics