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
• 00:43:00 - How a drivetrain wears
• 00:50:30 - Tubeless is great, but not for everyone
• 00:57:30 - Don’t ignore your front tyre wear
• 1:05:00 - Ask a Wrench (members-only podcast feed)
• 1:05:30 - Welcome back to Zach Edwards
• 1:06:15 - Chasing a forward-offset seatpost
• 1:14:20 - A weird sound in older AXS front shifting
• 1:21:45 - Pedals with a top-out knock