Howdy geeks! It’s Unbound race week, and with that, we’ve seen an expected amount of fresh new tech in the gravel space.

This week, Escape’s senior tech editors Dave Rome and Ronan Mc Laughlin discuss Specalized’s long-awaited update to the Crux. There’s, of course, a bit of big wheel chatter. A fun new project product from Wheels Manufacturing. And plenty more.

As a reminder, members of Escape Collective also get access to Ask a Wrench, where member questions are answered by Dave Rome and a quest mechanic (this week, Colorado-based Colin Williams returns).  


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Time stamps:


  • 00:00:30 - Ronan went racing
  • 00:07:15 - Ronan rides the new Specialized Crux
  • 00:14:50 - But is it actually aero?
  • 00:23:47  - Are pure aero gravel bikes what we need? 
  • 00:30:05  - Scott’s 32in gravel bike for Unbound
  • 00:36:50  - Wheels Manufacturing’s better mud stick 
  • 00:42:29  - Paragon Machine Works has been acquired
  • 00:43:56 - Good thing: Mechanics you can trust
  • 00:51:00 - Ask a Wrench (Members-Only feed) 
  • 00:52:30 - Weird pulley wheel wear 
  • 1:03:00 - When is it time to replace a wheel? 
  • 1:12:00 - A Dangerholm-inspired Full-Suspension gravel bike? 

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