We dive into the controversial Scott prototype at Unbound, argue over what makes the perfect gravel bike, and reveal the top picks from our new Road Bike Buyer's Guide.

Last week Josh missed the pod, but this week it's Logan Jones-Wilkins’ turn. He is currently on the ground in Emporia, Kansas for Unbound 2026, but his Starlink connection failed. That leaves host Mike Levy, Lisa Charlebois, and Josh Ross to hold down the fort.

Without Logan to set the record straight, the crew dives into the newly released Specialized Crux. Things quickly get heated as Charlebois and Ross defend nimble gravel bikes with 40mm tires, while Levy argues we all need slacker front ends and suspension.

Plus, Levy shares his newfound love for the Garmin 1040 Solar, which leads to a shocking confession from Lisa about how she listens to music on ultra-rides. We also analyze the massive 32-inch wheels Cam Jones and Robin Gemperle are racing on their Scott prototypes at Unbound, and finally, Josh breaks down his testing methodology and top picks for the 2026 Road Bike Buyer's Guide.

In This Episode:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:13 a mini review of the Garmin 1040 Solar  

00:09:53 Music and headphones on the ride

00:14:20 Unbound and Cam Jones riding a 32-inch bike

00:22:34 Reader questions 

00:29:14 Road bike buyers guide

00:45:26 Specialized Crux initial discussion