AJA #37: Oval Chainrings, Squeaky Wheels, and Everesting Hypotheticals
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
Release Date: 12/09/2024
AJA #47: Aluminum Velodromes, Forever Chemicals, Big-Wheel Aesthetics, and valve stem nerdery
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
This Ask Josh Anything grab-bag starts with Tucson’s new aluminum velodrome, evolves (devolves?) into altitude hacks for hour records, “no-rules” speed dreams, and holiday gift picks. From buying a kid’s first bike (and why chain waxing might be the cleanest parenting win) to ESG-minded shop habits, Roubaix wheel diameter fever dreams to, aero brake-hose routing, and the Clik Valve debate—this episode covers the weird, practical, and wildly opinionated. Happy Holidays!
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Melisa Rollins: From Hand-Me-Downs to Leadville Champ
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
Fatty sits down with 2024 Leadville champion (and his daughter) Melisa Rollins to discuss her meteoric rise from riding borrowed bikes to the professional peloton. Joined by fitter Barry Anderson, they dig into the biomechanical challenges of world-class power, the dangers of athletic stoicism, and the chaotic reality of stage racing in Africa.
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AJA #46: Safety Pins, TPU Wins & Indoor Suffering
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
Josh tackles why we’re still pinning race numbers instead of printing them on jerseys, then dives into the tech story behind Silca’s translucent TPU tubes. We talk about real-world marginal gains for everyday riders, and Fatty's recommendations for indoor training setups. Last but not least, you do NOT want to miss Josh’s unfiltered take on the UCI–SRAM 10-tooth cog controversy.
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32er Test Ride with Daniel Yang
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
We rarely chase trends or product announcements on the Marginal Gains Podcast. The news of the day we mostly leave to other shows. So allow us while we make an exception to our normal behavior and take a stab at the 32 inch wheel. The wheel size is not the new thing here. It's the tire that's creating some buzz. A viable, tubeless mountain bike tire to be precise. When Maxxis started showing its 32 inch Aspen, bike builders took notice. Some fired up their CAD programs to see if they could make it work. Using heat and steel, drawings were then turned into something rideable. One of those...
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AJA #45: Pump Accuracy & Cheap Carbon Parts
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
Hear why that “psst” when you pull the chuck is just hose air (not lost PSI), how to set smarter pressures for tandems and “big-butt” weight splits using a bathroom scale, and what tread actually grips on loose-over-hard. Josh also demystifies analog vs. digital gauge accuracy (and drift) and tackles the carbon-on-the-cheap question—when a bargain is fine, and when it’s a dentist bill waiting to happen.
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Best Bike Split Founder Ryan Cooper
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
Marginal Gainers are familiar with Best Bike Split -- the website where using rider data you can forecast a finish time on a specific course. It has been a great tool for years for amateurs and pros alike. Josh has frequently referenced BBS on the show. Fatty and Hottie have discussed it on their Leadville Podcast. But we wanted to know what is under the hood. For that we turn to its founder Ryan Cooper. Before Best Bike Split, Ryan was a lot like us: a competitor with the hopes of going faster. Unlike most of us, he's really good at math. His ability to come up with equations and sus out...
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AJA #44: Hookless Controversy, Tire Myths, and Aero Hacks
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
Josh tackles the fallout from his viral “hookless is a scam” comment, clarifies the real risks and physics behind hookless rims, and dives deep into tire pressures, gauges at altitude, and disc wheel aerodynamics.
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Brendan Johnston: Racing, Resilience, and Results
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
Australian cycling champ and Grand Prix contender Brendan Johnston shares the races that shaped him, the setbacks that tested him, and an upcoming project that may become his ultimate proving ground.
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3X Natl Champ Lauren Stephens
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
Lauren Stephens has been easy to spot in both Road and Gravel events; just look for the stars and stripes. She has won three US titles: two gravel and one road. Oh, but there's so much more to her career. How about more than 30 UCI road race victories? She has twice won the Joe Martin Stage Race, the Tour of the Gila and Unbound 100. Lauren has also raced Track, Time Trials, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross. Not bad for a former high school math teacher who wasn't a serious cyclist until 2008. In addition to reviewing her career, Josh and Hottie also talk to Lauren about her nicknames, her...
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AJA #43: CRR/CDA and Hookless plus The Magnus Effect
Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
We take a look at what has become a dilemma for some Marginal Gains seekers and that is optimizing aero, rolling resistance on a tubeless, hookless rim. Josh has an admittedly unpopular take on the subject. We also get into the aerodymanic idea known as the Magnus Effect. The principle says that a spinning object will develop unequal pressure on either side as it moves throught air. Josh expains how -- if at all -- the Magnus Effect, affects that rotating thing we love; the bicycle wheel. We also have questions on hot waxing in a vacum oven, the aero cost of external cables, and...
info_outlineIf the premise of these Q&A episodes is that you can Ask Josh Anything, and we continue asking questions forever, shouldn't we really change the name of this series to "Ask Josh Everything?"
The answer to that question is, of course, "it depends."
In this installment, Josh addresses the surprisingly contentious oval chainring, speculates on why a squeaky wheel is squeaking, talks about the present and future of TPU tube recyling...but not before Fatty line-jumps with his current fascination: how, with an unlimited budget, you could build the perfect Everesting route and bike.
This is a fun — and as always, sneakily educational — episode. Enjoy!