GCN Tech Clinic: Why are race radios so big?

It’s almost time to wave goodbye to May but before we do there’s time to squeeze in one more GCN Tech Clinic. Our dynamic tech duo this week is Ollie and Manon as they team up to answer your most pressing questions. Without further ado, let’s take a look at this week’s topics.

Why are race radios so big?

We start by delving into the world of pro racing to question why, in a time of aero gains, race radios are so big? Large sums of money and extensive hours of testing  are combined to ensure pros have the most aerodynamic setups possible. However, race radios haven’t received much attention and have remained fairly large and cumbersome. Research suggests that the radios don’t account for much of an aero penalty but could it still be time for them to receive an aero makeover?

Is olive oil the most environmentally-friendly way of oiling a chain?

Olive oil may not spring to mind as the most obvious lubricant but it offers surprisingly good performance, not to mention it’s safe for the environment. Don’t go grabbing olive oil from your kitchen just yet though as there are many other environmentally-friendly lubricants out there that you may want to consider first.

Entry-level rim vs disc brakes: which are better?

It’s a topic that is sure to cause a stir as we dig up one of the biggest debates in modern cycling - rim versus disc brakes (entry-level edition). Which setup is better? It’s a topic that always polarises opinion and it’s no different with our presenters who both had differing answers.

It's a topic that's always going to divide opinion and it's one Ollie has weighed up in a video before. You can check that out below.

Why don't pros use bigger bottles?

Why do the pros only use 500ml bottles? After all, wouldn’t larger 750ml bottles be more efficient as it’d mean less time spent carrying bottles from the car to the peloton? Like many bike tech considerations, it ultimately comes down to weight. Why carry more weight than you need to when getting new bottles is relatively easy? There are usually soigneurs dotted along the road and the team car is close behind, meaning a bottle is never too far away.

How do I wash my bike with a waxed chain?

As Ollie explains, start by applying some degreaser or alcohol to the chain and run a microfibre cloth along it. This will clear away any muck or grime and you can then top up the wax with a drip-on lube without having to worry about dirt dripping down into the chain links.

Have a question you need answering? Head over to this week’s Tech Clinic video over on the GCN Tech YouTube channel and add your question to the comments along with #ASKGCNTECH.