Velo Podcast

Featuring: Mike Levy and Lisa Charlebois

How much time does "bra maxing" actually save in a pro peloton? This week, we dive into the Tour de France Femmes tech controversy that could alter podiums, look at the brutal reality of 32-inch gravel bikes, and check in on a 700-mile Century Week.

With Josh and Logan out this week, Lisa Charlebois and Mike Levy hold down the studio to discuss the big, dumb rides they are both doing and the biggest aero news of the week.

First up: Mike’s ongoing saga with 32-inch wheels. He tackled a 160km Fraser Valley “gravel” epic in continuous rain on his Salsa Fargo 32. He breaks down why the massive wheels continue to impress him, where a rigid fork falls short, and how a stranger's campfire saved his ride.

Then, a welfare check on Lisa. She is in the middle of a self-imposed "Century Week"—riding 100 miles a day for seven days straight. She gets into the reality of surviving a 700-mile week while trying to maintain basic human functions off the bike, plus the unexpected rig she chose for this crazy challenge.

Finally, the pair tackle the "bra maxxing" (or bra doping) controversy. They run the math on exactly how much time a rider stands to gain with a chest fairing and debate whether the UCI should step in or consider it fair game.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 - Intro

02:13 - Mike Levy does a huge ride on a 32-inch bike

11:22 - Lisa and the daily century week

28:37 - Bra doping at the TDFF

Featuring: Mike Levy, Josh Ross, Lisa Charlebois, and Logan Jones-Wilkins

Episode Description:

We rank the fastest aero road bikes, discuss Lisa’s plan to ride 700 miles in a week, and unpack how the giant Salsa Fargo actually handles in the woods of BC.

We missed last week because we were all deep in the woods in British Columbia testing, among other things, a 32-inch bike. We actually recorded a podcast while together but you will have to wait for that one. For now, the team is back in our home studios to discuss some of what we found in the forest.

We get rolling with news that Charlebois is riding seven centuries next week. That’s right, she had a surplus of fitness after a planned event fell through, so… why not? Think you could do seven centuries in seven days? We talk to her about how she plans to motivate for it and we all go around the room to share our much lower highest-mileage weeks.

Next we answer listener questions but it’s primarily about the big three aero bikes. I’ve ridden the Factor One, the Cervelo S5, and the Colnago Y1RS, plus we throw the Specialized Tarmac SL9 into the mix. One of you out there wanted to know what I would choose to ride and why given those choices. The team graciously gave me a chance to sit in my happy place and discuss those aero bikes.

Not for too long though. Pretty soon we rolled into questioning marketing vs. engineering in terms of bike design. We all have pretty strong feelings about who drives the conversation and why. Which is, of course, a perfect segue into discussing the 32-inch Salsa Fargo that we rode in Squamish.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Introductions

00:00:50 - Lisa and 7 centuries

00:13:30 - Riding in British Columbia

00:29:55 - Listener questions and aero bikes

00:41:20 - More listener questions and marketing vs. engineering

01:00:00 - Riding the Salsa Fargo 32

Is the Tour de France actually a circus, and how do riders survive the extreme heat? Plus, why you shouldn't put luggage on a race bike.

This week, the whole gang is in the virtual studio to talk about everything happening in the cycling world right now. Logan Jones-Wilkins kicks things off with his firsthand account of the Tour de France and shares a radical take on why moving race start times to beat the heat is harder than it sounds.

Then, Mike Levy pulls a listener question that sparks a debate on why we push gear testing past the 1,000-mile mark. That leads perfectly into a recap of the 200-mile Seattle to Portland (STP) event, where Lisa Charlebois pedaled a traditional round-tube metal bike while I coasted past on a fully-kitted aero Factor One.

Finally, we break down my review of the Pinarello Dogma X and explain why its "endurance" label masks a bike that still fundamentally wants to race.

In This Episode We Cover:

The Tour de France: The reality of the circus and how the peloton handles scorching temperatures.

Extreme Heat Strategies: Why starting races earlier isn't an easy fix, plus tips for surviving hot weather rides.

Gear Testing: Why a saddle that feels great at 100 miles might fail at 1,000.

The STP Ride: Aero bikes vs. round-tube metal frames over 200 miles.

The Luggage Debate: Why race bikes and frame storage (or saddlebags) don't mix.

Pinarello Dogma X: A deep dive into the quirks of Italian bike reviews and racing heritage.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Guest Introductions

01:35 – Survival Tips for Riding in Extreme Heat

06:47 – Heat Training & Hydration Strategies

12:15 – How the Tour de France Peloton Handles the Heat

16:26 – Should the Cycling Calendar Change Due to Climate?

24:00 – Listener Question: Finding the Perfect Long-Distance Saddle

30:05 – Recapping the Seattle to Portland (STP) 200-Mile Ride

40:05 – On-Bike Nutrition: The Magic of Tums for Cramps

45:40 – Pinarello Dogma X Review: Race Performance vs. Endurance

55:00 – The Great Debate: Frame Storage vs. Bike Luggage

And we’re back, everyone. Mike Levy returns from the wilderness, and Lisa Charlebois and I join him to unpack exactly where he’s been. But before we get to the heartbreak of ultra-endurance racing, the Tour de France is in full swing, and we’ve got a wild first week to discuss.

Tour de France Carnage & UCI Rulings

We kick things off with the absolute chaos of the opening team time trial. Two crashes in the exact same spot on a manhole cover beg the question: is this the UCI's fault for not securing the course, or the teams' fault for not scouting a public road? Plus, we break down the Wile E. Coyote-style crash from the XDS-Astana rider, and the UCI's controversial decision to ban ice socks in the middle of a historic heatwave.

Defending the Tarmac SL9

We also dive back into the Specialized Tarmac SL9 discourse. I respond to a listener who compared the SL9’s iterative updates to the Porsche 911. I’m defending the bike against the "boring" allegations—everyone says they want a refined, incredible-riding bike, so why complain when a brand delivers exactly that? Not every bike needs to be the Factor One.

Mike Levy's Tour Divide Reality Check

The real heart of the show is Levy detailing his abbreviated Tour Divide attempt. He walks us through the sleep deprivation, the cement mud, the brutal realities of pushing a 55-pound bike for hours, and the catastrophic rock strike that ultimately ended his ride. It’s a raw look at what happens when the physical matches the mental breaking point, the absolute relief of finally stopping, and why he’s already thinking about trying it again next year.

Episode Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:04 Tour de France discussion

00:12:04 Listener questions including about the Tarmac SL9

00:32:53 Mike Levy attempts the Tour Divide

In this week's episode, we question whether the Specialized Tarmac SL9 is a true upgrade or just an iPhone-style micro-update, look at the shrinking footprint of Eurobike, and talk Tour de France storylines.

Show Notes:

This week is a big one for me. Logan is out doing the Tour de France thing, and Mike is nursing his wounds somewhere. That leaves just myself and Lisa Charlebois running the studio, which means after all this time, this is officially my first time hosting the podcast.

Of course we have to talk about the Tour, so that is where we start. Charlebois is the one who knows the most about the ins and outs of the riders, so I ask her to explain some of what we should be looking for. She’s all-in on the Paul Seixas hype train, wondering if the 19-year-old rookie can snag a stage win for Decathlon. Meanwhile, I ask about Tadej Pogačar and she tells me about potential inner drama over at UAE compared to the clear roles at Visma. Since the Tour is going to get plenty of coverage soon, we kept this light.

Before we get into the real meat of the episode though, I have to talk about San Francisco and traffic. Charlebois spends her time riding there and, like everyone else in San Francisco, she seems happy to deal with cars. I take a minute to say I dislike Mt. Tam and we veer into some unexpected tips for riding in traffic.

Next, we get into Eurobike. I just got back from Frankfurt, and the main takeaway is that the show is shrinking down to just a couple of halls. However, there were still talking points. Canyon showed up with a 3D-printed concept bike loaded with integrated cameras and a radar system that looks suspiciously like their next aero bike. I also break down a panel on women in cycling, discussing how the industry continues to overlook a demographic with massive spending power.

Finally, we tackle the Specialized Tarmac SL9. Logan reviewed it on the site, but Charlebois and I dig into the reality of a bike that claims to be four watts faster but weighs and looks nearly identical to the last generation. We talk about the new "win fin" and whether consumers should be hyped about incremental micro-updates or if there is simply an expectation that the new model has to exist, much like the newest iPhone.

Listen to the full episode for all the details, and let us know if you think the SL9 is worth the squeeze.