Best Caley Fretz Podcasts (2024)

1
Caley Fretz | Is This An Extinction-Level Moment For Endurance Sports Journalism? 1:08:05

8d ago1:08:05

1:08:05

Caley Fretz is the Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Escape Collective, a member-funded independent cycling media company. As Caley says in his LinkedIn bio, he's “used everything learned over a decade in journalism to build a more sustainable media company”. And that’s what we discuss in this episode - whether his experiences in the cycling space …

1
Michael Versteeg | 2024 Cocodona 250, Reflections On The Soul Of Ultrarunning 3:28:50

2h ago3:28:50

3:28:50

Michael Versteeg joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about ultrarunning. Timestamps: (0:52) - the story behind 2021 Cocodona 250 race report, Arizona trail running ambassadorship, countercultural tendencies (15:11) - more Cocodona 250 discussion - the direction the race is headed in, popularity, what makes it special, 2024 experience rac…

1
Bonus ep: Kids might need nicer bikes more than we do 32:28

3h ago32:28

32:28

Ever feel like you’d like a lighter bike? Now imagine what your current bike would feel like if it was half of your body weight. For all too many kids who are learning to ride bikes, that’s exactly what it feels like to them. Premium kids’ bikes are a relatively new category, but also one that’s rapidly growing with more brands, models, sizes, and …

1
Is new Shimano GRX enough? 1:15:42

11h ago1:15:42

1:15:42

It’s just a regular week in May, but you can bet the bike industry is its usual buzz of activity. James Huang and Dave Rome offer some strong thoughts related to Shimano’s latest release of GRX Di2. There’s chat about Felt clawing its way back into the spotlight. Of course the geeks can't ignore the return of Kona Bikes. And there are rumblings tha…

1
Placeholders: King Pogačar the Benevolent, Giver of Sunnies 58:01

2h ago58:01

58:01

Kit Nicholson and Jonny Long join Caley Fretz on this week's Placeholders to discuss Pogačar's benevolent dominance, Vingegaard's tattoo, and more. Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.…

1
Your bikes have secretly been getting longer, and no one told you 59:27

2h ago59:27

59:27

Not surprisingly given the big product launch this week, Dave and James have a lot to dive into with SRAM’s new Red AXS wireless road groupset: what’s different about it, what’s not so different, what’s been improved, and what’s stayed the same – and the thing everyone will invariably ask us, whether we’d choose that or the latest Shimano Dura-Ace.…

1
Thriving in their post-brown shorts era 59:32

6h ago59:32

59:32

Kit Nicholson, Jonny Long, and Abby Mickey join Caley Fretz to discuss Decathlon's recent success, the Intergiro, transfers in the women's peloton, and more ... Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.…

1
Bonus ep: A deep-dive with SRAM on new Red AXS 1:15:16

9d ago1:15:16

1:15:16

Much leaked and recently teased, SRAM has now officially unveiled the latest iteration of its Red AXS road groupset. This top-tier offering introduces a new approach to shifter ergonomics and braking, along with a number of other smaller changes. Shile at the product launch, tech editor Dave Rome sat down with a few key members of SRAM’s road produ…

1
Finn Melanson | 2024 Cocodona 250 Recap 1:34:07

15d ago1:34:07

1:34:07

This episode is dedicated to my crew: Julia Campanelli, Sherman, Ned Melanson, Jeremiah Mullane, Joey Campanelli, Caleb Olson, Morgan Olson, and Scott Hickenlooper. Without you all, this wouldn't have been possible. I'm forever grateful. - Finn Timestamps: 02:02 - The Physical and Mental Challenges of a 200-Mile Race 09:06 - The Importance of Crew …

1
Bonus ep: Ask a Wrench is back! 30:30

1h ago30:30

30:30

We know, we know, it’s been ages since we did our last Ask a Wrench episode – late January, in fact. Guilty as charged. Better late than never? But as a nice bonus, our panel of geeks had an extra-long list of repair and maintenance questions to answer this time around, like why bedding in your new brakes is important, what not to do with your fanc…

1
Wireless 13-speed Di2? 1:09:55

7h ago1:09:55

1:09:55

Welcome back to Geek Warning! This week, James and Dave have a varied conversation covering tech related to road, gravel, and mountain bike. The Giro has begun and Tadej Pogačar took a little tumble that many were quick to blame the equipment for. James and Dave discuss that such finger pointing was not warranted this time. At the opposite end of U…

1
The Giro's Happy Gilmore 49:30

19h ago49:30

49:30

On this week's Placeholders, Kit Nicholson and Jonny Long join Caley Fretz to talk Tadej Pogačar's Giro approach, Demi Vollering's Nike deal, and more. Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/member to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.…

1
Ansel Dickey | Making The Jim Walmsley Film 1:24:15

24d ago1:24:15

1:24:15

Ansel Dickey joins the show to talk about his experience making “Walmsley”, what it was like getting to know and work with Jim, what it’s like working as a creative in the endurance sports industry, and his role as a Race Director for Vermont Overland. Sponsors: Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to g…

1
Cervelo redesigned its Aspero gravel bike, and thankfully didn’t screw it up 1:10:39

3d ago1:10:39

1:10:39

The Sea Otter Classic just wrapped up literally a few days ago, but clearly someone forgot to turn off the tap of new bikes and gear. Cervelo just announced a redesign of its ultra-popular Aspero gravel bike, and clearly put a lot of thought into what needed to change – and perhaps more importantly, what didn’t. Colnago also just dropped a new grav…

1
Who will win the Giro? 1:00:26

5d ago1:00:26

1:00:26

On this week's podcast, the crew looks ahead to the Giro d'Italia, where Tadej Pogačar looks like the favorite on a course that should provide wire-to-wire excitement. Escape Collective's podcasts are made possible by our members. Head on over to escapecollective.com/join to support this show and everything else on our podcast network.…

1
Long Run Archives #17 | Canyons 100K Highlights, Jim Walmsley Returning To UTMB?, Spring Energy Controversy 1:47:43

27d ago1:47:43

1:47:43

Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt join Singletrack to riff on the latest news in the ultra-trail running world. Timestamps: (1:42) - Canyons 100K Highlights (32:35) - Regional Trail Team Competitions (Like Boulder vs Salt Lake) (52:36) - UTMB Americas Major Moving From Canyons To Kodiak In 2025 (63:49) - Merrell's Campaign To Get Trail Running In The Olym…

1
Chasing noises and the better way to apply chain lube 1:09:10

1M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

In this episode of Geek Warning, James is just back from the Sea Otter Classic and Dave is still thinking about chain lube and tools. On the Sea Otter front, James and Dave discuss new eco-friendlier tyres from Vittoria, new metal bikes from Ritchey and Digit, parts from 5Dev and Xpedo, along with new tools from PrestaCycle and Stan’s NoTubes. Chec…

1
How do you solve a problem like Pogačar? 51:07

12d ago51:07

51:07

With Classics season in the rearview mirror, Kit Nicholson, Dane Cash, and Ronan Mc Laughlin join Caley Fretz on this week's Placeholders to ponder whether anything can or should be done to make it harder for riders to attack from so far out.By Escape Collective

1
2024 Canyons 100K Preview | Analysis, Storylines, Predictions 1:49:32

1M ago1:49:32

1:49:32

Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at the 2024 Canyons 100K. Timestamps: (0:00) - course strategy, weather conditions, historical performance data, competitive race context (30:22) - women's field preview, storylines, analysis, predictions (66:07) - men's field p…

1
Rear Radars need to work 100% of the time 59:19

1M ago59:19

59:19

In this jam-packed episode, James and Dave discuss a handful of new gravel and road bikes that caught their attention during the week. Trek enters the rear Radar game to compete with Garmin, yet James’ early impressions of the CarBack raises more questions than answers. DT Swiss has just released a new mountain bike rear hub with a wholly new ratch…

1
Bonus ep: A deep dive on the new DT Swiss Ratchet DEG 1:21:07

1M ago1:21:07

1:21:07

It’s time for another bonus episode of the Geek Warning podcast. Typically only Escape Collective members have access to the full versions of these, but this week we’re feeling generous. This episode coincides with the release of DT Swiss’ Ratchet DEG system (link to review), effectively an oversized 90T version of the famous Star Ratchet design. H…

1
Let's chug our podium lager 49:10

19d ago49:10

49:10

Jonny Long, Kit Nicholson, and Dane Cash join Caley Fretz to ponder whether the Ardennes Classics might merit some reevaluation, to discuss World Cup mountain bike racing and the NCL going on hiauts, and to look ahead to a clash between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar.By Escape Collective

1
Jeff Browning | Cocodona 250 Insights, Competitive Longevity, Ultrarunning History 1:19:45

1M ago1:19:45

1:19:45

Jeff Browning joins the show to talk about his history in the sport, competitive relevance over the last two decades, and insights on his training and preparation leading into the 2024 Cocodona 250. Timestamps: (0:00) - Wasatch 100 Reflections (11:49) - Competitive Relevance of Older Ultrarunners (29:19) - Patagonia Days (36:55) - 200 Mile Racing D…

1
Everyone loves a magnetic personality 49:37

2M ago49:37

49:37

The 2024 Sea Otter Classic hasn’t even kicked off yet, but the Geek Warning crew has already got a ton of new bikes and gear to talk about this week. All-road/endurance road bikes are clearly enjoying a moment in the sun with the launch of the new BMC Roadmachine and Enve Fray, and Liv has another fresh full-suspension mountain bike landing in shop…

1
Don't throw things at the bike racers 50:33

1M ago50:33

50:33

Caley Fretz, Jonny Long, and Kit Nicholson talk through some of the side stories that came out of the last weekend of cobbled classics and wonder aloud what can be done to make the sport safer and less full of dumb people who want to throw things at bike racers. Plus, Iain Treloar interviews two confused deer mascots.…

1
Simon Freeman | Behind The Print - Like The Wind Magazine 1:37:03

2M ago1:37:03

1:37:03

Simon Freeman is the Co-Founder of Like The Wind Magazine. In this episode, we talk about differences in running culture across the globe, the nuts and bolts of building and maintaining a media brand in the sport, and conclude with some of his insights on the professional scene in Iten, Kenya. Timestamps: (0:26) - US Tour, Differences In Running Cu…

1
The Paris-Roubaix preview 1:05:13

1M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

From a bar in Belgium straight to your ears: The Placeholders crew preview both of this weekend's Paris-Roubaix races, discuss the Arenberg chicane and the crashes in the Basque Country, and we hear from Emma Norsgaard on what Roubaix means and how to ride it.By Escape Collective

1
When they go high, we go low (with a $160 drivetrain) 56:40

2M ago56:40

56:40

Whew, so much new product news to discuss today, and Sea Otter is still two weeks away! Shimano looks to strengthen its stranglehold on the entry-level market with a new range called Essa, while some updates to the CUES collection may provide some hints at higher-end bits to come, too. Campagnolo finally announces a power meter to go along with the…

1
You take Boonen, I'll take Van der Poel 47:11

1M ago47:11

47:11

The Placeholders crew comes to you live from Kortrijk, Belgium, this week, where they tackle life's greatest questions (who's better, Boonen or Van der Poel?), debate the merits of goat-based cobble upkeep, and have some Weekly Pain with a real live member.By Escape Collective

1
Jasmin Paris | Achieving "The Impossible" At The 2024 Barkley Marathons 46:37

2M ago46:37

46:37

Jasmin Paris returns to the Singletrack Podcast to talk about her historic, limits-defying finish at the 2024 Barkley Marathons. Timestamps: 1:59 The Story Behind the Gear 6:57 Sponsorship Status, The Green Runners, Promoting Sustainability 10:13 Hardrock 100, Future Races and Travel 13:31 Harnessing the Media Spotlight 23:25 Discovering the Barkle…

1
The rain and pain in Flanders 49:44

2M ago49:44

49:44

We're back with a special on-the-ground episode from Oudenaarde, the finish town of the Tour of Flanders. It's wet, it's cold, but we've found a bar and a fire and are ready to talk about a spectacular bike race (even if the last 50 km were slightly less spectacular). As always, for a deep run-through of the women's Flanders, don't miss Abby and th…

1
Jared Campbell | 2024 Barkley Marathons Insights 1:28:34

2M ago1:28:34

1:28:34

Jared Campbell is a 4-time finisher of the Barkley Marathons, a past winner of the Hardrock 100, the creator of the Running Up For Air series, and the genius behind classic FKT routes like the Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup and Millwood 100. Timestamps: (1:39) - Barkley Marathons Insights (52:09) - Wasatch FKT Scene, Under-The-Radar Cool Races (66:1…

1
Bonus ep: A carbon fork nearly broke Bridge Bike Works before it even got started 40:27

2M ago40:27

40:27

Bridge Bike Works is an upstart brand that's trying to make a go at building premium carbon fiber bikes in Canada. It's not just a geographic thing or a point of national pride here, though. Bridge says it's obviously proud of making bikes in its own backyard, but it's also striving to make better product, period, by keeping the entire process – fr…

1
A pointless trend in what people carry 1:04:48

2M ago1:04:48

1:04:48

Welcome back to Geek Warning! In this week’s edition of the regular show, Ronan and Dave discuss why current road bikes may not be ready for emerging trends in seated positions. Later Ronan shares a PSA related to multi-tools that turns out to be more of a Pick One and a rant. On the news side, the geeks discuss the new Cannondale Scalpel cross-cou…

1
Is it safer at altitude? 52:56

2M ago52:56

52:56

This week's episode of Placeholders, recorded after a busy weekend of racing – but before Dwars door Vlaanderen ... – ponders which men's Classics team is best right now, riders skipping races to go to altitude, and whether the "Big Six" is really a thing.By Escape Collective

1
2024 Barkley Marathons Recap | Jasmin Paris Makes History, Five Runners Finish, Lazarus Lake Report 1:18:15

2M ago1:18:15

1:18:15

This episode was recorded in-person at Brooks HQ in Seattle, Washington with Joe McConaughy at the Brooks Trail Team training camp shortly after the 2024 Barkley Marathons. We recount Jasmin Paris’ finish and the historical significance of that moment for our sport, the impact of 5 finishers this year, what makes Barkley so interesting, Joe’s race …

1
Bonus ep: Question time with Zipp on the how and why of Thomas De Gendt's crash 1:19:39

2M ago1:19:39

1:19:39

Four weeks on from Thomas De Gendt's now infamous crash, Zipp has released its findings and explanation, but many questions still remain. In this podcast, Ronan is joined by David Morse and Nathan Schickel from Zipp as he seeks the answers to the questions many have been asking.By Escape Collective

1
Bikes aren't actually more expensive than they used to be 1:01:18

2M ago1:01:18

1:01:18

There’s certainly been a lot of outrage over the price of bikes in recent years, and for sure, when the price of a new bike falls inline with a new Ducati, it’s bound to give people pause. There are more ultra-expensive flagship bikes than ever before, but are mainstream bikes more expensive in general? Not really. And in fact, you can pretty easil…

1
Van der Poel is in it for the long haul 52:24

2M ago52:24

52:24

Kit Nicholson and Dane Cash join Caley Fretz to discuss Mathieu van der Poel's longterm deal with Canyon and extension with Alpecin-Deceuninck, whether the pros should be friends, and what's coming up in the Spring Classics.By Escape Collective

1
Why are modern bikes so expensive? 1:17:45

2M ago1:17:45

1:17:45

Why are bikes so expensive? In this episode, Factor's Rob Gitelis speaks openly, providing an insight deep into the world of premium bicycle manufacturing and breaking down the costs of making a modern high-end bike. More broadly, Gitelis talks us through some of the inner workings of the manufacturing facilities brands employ, staffing models and …

1
Long Run Archives #16 | Lululemon FURTHER Recap, Multi-Day Race Strategy, Ultrarunning Research 1:41:54

2M ago1:41:54

1:41:54

Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling join Singletrack to recap the Lululemon-backed FURTHER event which took place outside of Palm Springs, CA about a week ago. It was equal parts interesting from performance, research, technology, marketing, and lifestyle standpoints and we touch on a lot of that in this episode through the lens of Leah’s experience log…

1
Christian Meier | Pro Trail Running vs Pro Cycling, Norwegian Training Methods, Finding New Athletic Peaks 1:21:08

2M ago1:21:08

1:21:08

Christian Meier is a professional trail runner for Salomon and an entrepreneur based in Girona, Spain. In this discussion, Christian shares insights on the contrasting levels of professionalism in cycling and trail running. He delves into the integration of Norwegian training techniques into ultra-trail running, achieving excellence across diverse …

1
To be, or not to be 1:05:30

2M ago1:05:30

1:05:30

So many new bikes to talk about this week! Giant’s new TCR is a meaningful evolution of the previous one, but should it have been a revolution instead? Meanwhile, the new Liv Pique offers a preview of the next-generation Giant Anthem, and Specialized’s new Epic and Epic Evo genuinely push the envelope of what XC bikes are supposed to be. And do ele…

1
The best generation of American racers since ... ? 57:01

2M ago57:01

57:01

Dane Cash, Jonny Long, and Kit Nicholson join Caley Fretz on the Placeholders this week to discuss this generation of Americans after Matteo Jorgensen's Paris-Nice win, where things stand for the WorldTour sprinters, and what's on tap this coming weekend at Milan-San Remo.By Escape Collective

1
Bonus ep: Precision, process, press-fits, and pandemics with Framework Bicycles 42:50

3M ago42:50

42:50

Framework Bicycles isn’t afraid to say it’s making its frames a little differently from usual. In fact, the Canadian company is not only extremely proud of that, but feels its unusual methods are also integral to what makes its frames what they are. In this week’s members-only episode, James sits down with Framework founder – and one-person fabrica…

1
The future of bike servicing is already here 59:00

3M ago59:00

59:00

Geek Warning is back, with Dave and Ronan on hand to discuss the latest happenings from the world of cycling tech. James is currently roaming the halls of the Taipei show, so this week, you get two-thirds of our geeky Geek Warning trio discussing the Fraser Group's acquisition of whatever is left at Wiggle-CRC after another round of layoffs and the…

1
Automating Ultrarunning Hydration Strategy And Execution | Meridith Cass (Nix Biosensors) 45:50

3M ago45:50

45:50

Meridith Cass - the Founder-CEO of Nix BioSensors - joins the show to talk about the self-health movement, the latest technology behind hydration intelligence, and the prospect of completely automating your hydration strategy and execution at an ultra-trail race like the Western States 100. One thing to note before we get started - Singletrack has …

1
What is this thing? 1:02:14

3M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

Ronan Mc Laughlin, Jonny Long, and Kit Nicholson join Caley Fretz on this week's Placeholders to discuss new helmets and new helmet regulations, Tadej Pogačar's talent, and hookless rims. The crew also gives the BikeGrid game a go.By Escape Collective

1
Paul Huddle | UTMB Whistler, Ironman Group Influence, Future of Trail Running 1:17:36

3M ago1:17:36

1:17:36

Paul Huddle is the Senior Director of Global Trail Running Operations for the Ironman Group. Beyond that, Paul is a former elite triathlete, he got a silver buckle at the 1997 Western States 100, he’s been a race director, and he’s worked extensively in endurance sports media. In this conversation, we talk about the ongoing controversy surrounding …

1
Getting our hooks into hookless road 51:41

3M ago51:41

51:41

The time has come for the geeks to share their strong opinions on road tubeless and the movement toward hookless rims. In this episode, and off the back of a high-profile failure, James, Ronan, and Dave dive into the growing concerns related to the many caveats around hookless road rims. Later in the episode, the conversation changes to fancier way…

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Caley Fretz Podcasts

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