ShiftLess

Reach out and touch us: [email protected] hosts record at Dusty Roads after heavy rain makes local trails uncertain, while one describes being busy with home projects and planning a curing room for salamis, cheeses, and preserving food for future dinners and grazing tables. They discuss scheduling March and April dinner events and a possible Easter-week scouting trip to California. One recounts riding San Diego’s Coast-to-Crest Trail, destroying a tubeless tire from suspected trail debris, and outfitting a Trek Tributary e-bike with chunkier tires; they troubleshoot a nonworking Bosch display likely due to a coin battery. Conversation shifts to rumors of higher-power DJI motors, demand for longer-range and modular-battery e-bikes, and concerns about e-bike regulations. They also cover 32-inch wheel speculation (including a rumored titanium Salsa Fargo rework), Sea Otter/Taipei/Tour Divide expectations, a new Kona drop-bar MTB, Revel rehiring Chris Riel, import trends, and brief Valley of Tears results discussion.00:00 Are We Recording01:03 Back at Dusty Roads01:54 Home Projects Overload02:45 Curing Room Dream04:54 Paula and Bikes07:34 April Dates and Travel09:19 Coast to Crest Flat12:13 New Tires and Display15:54 California Van Plan18:18 DJI Motor Rumors22:53 Swappable Battery Wish26:10 Fargo Goes 3232:15 Surly Builds and KM37:17 Revel Brings Back Chris38:36 Revel Ride Plans39:00 Ebike Imports Surge39:56 Made in USA Debate42:02 Kona Drop Bar MTB44:21 N Plus One Wishlist46:30 Next Gen Ebike Tech48:42 Ebikes Rules Enforcement52:23 Trail Impact Reality54:49 Forum Culture Echoes57:22 Who Buys Ebikes01:06:05 Valley of Tears Check01:12:54 Gear Dates Rumors01:14:23 Trinity Trio Plans01:17:22 Wrap Up and Share

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00:00 Cold Open Setup00:29 Trip Scheduling Mixup01:21 Neighbors Dogs Talk02:16 North Shore Ride Recap02:59 Heart Rate Monitor Worries06:27 Bike World Check In07:01 Curling Olympics Rabbit Hole13:12 Olympics Coverage Algorithms15:12 Garmin Gadget Tangent18:21 CarMax Van Jeep Update19:42 Motorcycle Scouting Plans21:47 Butterfield Buster Food Plans22:53 FAM Dinner Rave Review28:40 Menu Breakdown Course By Course33:35 Theme Love And Technique45:00 Booking March Events46:51 Sous Vide Prep Logistics48:01 Sous Vide Memories48:53 Seafood Time and Temp50:01 Butter Poached Salmon Hack50:29 Holding Temps for Service51:08 Pork Belly Stress Free53:10 Picking the Right Belly54:48 Oxtails and Reheat Wins56:46 New Menu Takeaways59:51 Booking Spring Dates01:02:40 St Joe Event Planning01:04:11 Bar H and Devil Backbone01:05:31 Cross Country Comeback01:08:03 El Mariachi Collector Talk01:11:02 Steel Bikes and Surly Rumors01:16:13 Cannondale Teaser Letdown01:20:50 UCI Rules and Marginal Gains01:23:46 US Road Racing Reality01:26:21 Movies and Black Mirror01:32:01 Weather Prep and Gear01:35:29 Final Dates and Sign Off

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The hosts record at Casa Verde after recent technical issues and discuss upcoming Fam Food Adventure Memories dinners. Bike topics include Schwalbe entering the 32-inch tire market across mountain, gravel, and reportedly road, plus a rumor of a major brand debuting a 32-inch bike at Sea Otter. They discuss a theory that brands are trying to convert post-COVID gravel buyers who aren’t “N+1” riders by offering more stable, confidence-inspiring mountain bikes to expand participation. They talk about the Salsa full-suspension gravel e-bike (Class 3, ~40 lb, 2.2" tires, ~50-mile range) with a high price, and debate who the market is for. They also review the Salsa Stormchaser (frameset vs complete pricing, sliding dropouts, ability to fit 2.2" tires) and discuss bottom bracket standards (criticizing press-fit). The episode covers New Jersey’s new law treating any e-bike as a motorcycle (lights, mirror, DOT helmet, plate/registration, insurance) and predicts more sweeping enforcement elsewhere due to high-speed e-bike accidents. The conversation branches into parallels with the gun industry’s COVID boom, long-range shooting training to 800 yards, safety and education, and how event organizers manage participant risk. They close with planning notes for Trinity Trio (moved to Sunday the 15th, ~100 miles full route) and conclude with the host heading to Whitesboro to document the kitchen and refrigeration setup.00:00 Mic Check Mayhem: Are We Actually Recording?00:38 Welcome to Shiftless at Casa Verde (Weather, Vibes, Pool Talk)01:21 What’s on the Agenda: 32-inch Wheels, E-Bikes & New Laws02:43 FAM Food Adventure Memories Sponsor + Dinner Schedule Updates04:50 January Dinners Canceled: Snow Forecasts, Ice, and Event Chaos07:11 Gravel Road Conditions After the Storm: Potholes, Chunk & Predictions10:21 February 28 FAM Dinner Promo + Menu Tease12:38 Sbarro in New York: The ‘Good Slice’ Misunderstanding Storytime16:58 Back to Bikes: Schwalbe Enters 32-Inch Tires + Road/UCI Speculation18:37 The Big Theory: Turning Gravel Newbies into N+1 Riders via MTB22:13 Training Slump & Sick Weeks: Getting Back on the Bike23:16 Salsa Stormchaser Deep Dive: Dropouts, 2.2" Clearance & Build Options28:39 New Salsa Wander: Full-Suspension Gravel E-Bike Arrives29:13 Teal Talk & First Impressions of Salsa’s New Gravel E‑Bike30:02 Specs Breakdown: Range, Weight, Tires, Class 3 Speed—and the $13K Question33:46 Salsa Lineup Rumors: Warbird, Spearfish, Name Changes & What’s “Coming Soon”35:47 All‑Road vs Gravel: Surly Midnight Special, Industry Identity Crisis & COVID Hangover36:47 SHOT Show Parallels: Forecasting, N+1 Culture, and the ‘Year of the Suppressor’40:15 Range Life: Long‑Range Qualification, Training Layers, and Why Suppressors Rule47:00 Insurance, Scuba Tragedy & Event Risk—From Cave Diving Rules to Gravel Shenanigans54:05 Running Safer Gravel Events: New Rider Handholding, Self‑Responsibility & 101 Clinics01:00:12 Beginner Progression: Gear Overwhelm, Skill Layering, and Building a Real Training Program01:03:09 Back to Riding: Garmin Recovery Shock & Texas Chainring Massacre Weather Check01:05:05 Windy, deceptively cold night ride (wet bulb & layering mistakes)01:06:45 Whitesboro food service plan + kitchen/fridge scouting01:07:54 Locking in March dates & moving Trinity Trio to Sunday01:09:06 Trinity Trio route breakdown: Gateway–Sansom–River Legacy mileage01:09:48 What bike (or e-bike) works? Drop-bar MTB, battery range, and trail rules01:12:32 North Shore e-bike permits & class confusion (Class 1 vs Class 3)01:15:16 New Jersey’s sweeping e-bike law—and why more places may follow01:23:49 Kids, risk, and consequences: storms, accidents, and learning the hard way01:32:51 Urban legends & the information age (Screaming Bridge)01:33:58 Industry news roundup: Eurobike drama, layoffs, Sea Otter, and trade shows01:39:49 Wrap-up: off to Whitesboro and closing thoughts

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In this episode, the hosts delve into various topics including the potential rise of 32-inch wheel bikes and their advantages in different terrain and bike categories such as mountain biking and gravel riding. They discuss upcoming events and speculate on which brands and components will adopt the new wheel size. The conversation also touches upon bike gear tech, such as Wolf Tooth's adjustable Q factor pedals, Shimano's market presence, and thoughts on racing formats including drop bar mountain bike races. Discussions are enriched with insights from industry insiders and past experiences, offering a comprehensive look at the emerging trends and future directions in the biking world.00:00 Introduction and Weather Talk00:27 Episode Number Confusion00:59 Guest Introduction: Caleb Wills01:19 Hanging Out at Dusty Roads01:55 Axe Troubles and Solutions02:54 Fat Biking in Winter04:30 Winter Riding Gear Discussion05:42 Flat Pedals vs Clipless Pedals21:39 Retail Trends in Pedals31:06 Shimano's Market Strategy32:17 The Future of Bike Components36:31 The Rise of 32-Inch Wheels37:57 Industry Disruptions and Innovations47:17 Market Predictions and Speculations49:56 Sea Otter and the 32-Inch Wheel Debate53:52 Top Bike Brands and Market Shares01:00:07 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts01:03:00 Road Trip Enthusiasm01:03:07 Market Analysis and Retailer Stops01:03:22 Ingrid Components Discussion01:04:46 Crank Length and Efficiency Debate01:07:11 Dylan Johnson's Insights01:09:19 North Carolina Road Trip Plans01:10:08 Drop Bar Mountain Bike Race01:24:17 32-Inch Wheels Speculation01:30:03 Wrapping Up and Shop Dogs

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In this episode, the team discusses a variety of topics including their experiences stepping on dogs, a series of bike races, and the importance of drop bar mountain bikes in gravel racing. They delve into their past and upcoming events such as the Texas Chain Ring Massacre and the Dusty Roads event, and highlight the challenges in organizing these events amidst changing weather and logistical barriers. The discourse also touches upon the potential of 32-inch wheels in the biking world and their impact on performance, as well as planning future bike races and events. Special guest Austin Whittington shares his unique insights into bike racing, training, and the ongoing 'bike industry conspiratorial illness.'00:00 Getting Started: Technical Difficulties and Introductions00:28 Episode Confusion and Service Appreciation01:29 Welcoming Austin Whittington03:13 Drop Bar Controversy in Leadville14:30 Weather Challenges and Event Planning17:15 Venue Change for Texas Chain Ring Massacre20:42 Gravel Roads and Event Logistics31:28 Grassroots Racing and Participation Trends43:01 The Competitive Edge in Gravel Racing43:56 Reflecting on Past Races and Events45:08 Aspirations and Future Race Concepts48:49 Defining the Drop Bar Mountain Bike52:21 Time Trial Format and Logistics01:02:03 Challenges of Multi-Surface Racing01:14:35 Balancing Challenge and Accessibility in Race Design01:19:23 Discussing the Big Topic: Austin's Opinion01:19:51 Advantages and Shortcomings of 32-Inch Wheels01:20:09 Comparing 29er and 32-Inch Wheels01:21:00 Market Trends and Bike Companies01:21:41 Gravel Riding and Traction01:22:12 Technological Advancements in Bike Design01:25:13 Preferred Mountain Bike Platforms01:27:17 Suspension and Travel Preferences01:33:28 Race Strategies and Experiences01:37:24 Upcoming Races and Events01:46:33 Weather Concerns and Preparation01:51:40 Concluding Remarks and Future Plans