Descripción
The Specialized Tarmac SL9 might get called "boring" by critics, but not every bike needs to look like a wild spaceship Factor One to be an absolute weapon. On this week's episode of the Velo Podcast, Mike Levy returns from the wilderness to talk about his Tour Divide attempt, while Lisa Charlebois and Josh Ross join him to recap a chaotic first week of the Tour de France.
We kick things off with the absolute carnage of the opening Tour de France team time trial (TTT). Two crashes in the exact same spot on a manhole cover beg the question: is this the UCI's fault for not securing the course, or the teams' fault for not scouting a public road? Plus, we discuss that terrifying Wile E. Coyote-style crash from the XDS-Astana rider and the UCI's controversial decision to ban ice socks in the middle of a historic heatwave.
Then, we dive back into the Specialized Tarmac SL9 discourse. Josh responds to a listener who compared the SL9’s iterative updates to the Porsche 911. We are defending the bike against the "boring" allegations—everyone says they want a refined, incredible-riding bike, so why complain when a brand delivers exactly that? Not every bike needs to be an outrageous Factor One.
Finally, the real heart of the show is Levy detailing his abbreviated Tour Divide attempt. He walks us through the sleep deprivation, the cement mud, the brutal realities of pushing a 55-pound bike for hours, and the catastrophic rock strike that cracked his frame. It’s a raw, humbling look at what happens when you hit the physical and mental breaking point, the absolute relief of finally stopping, and why he’s already thinking about trying it again next year.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:04 Tour de France discussion (TTT crashes & UCI ice sock ban)
00:12:04 Listener questions & Defending the Specialized Tarmac SL9
00:32:53 The brutal reality of Mike Levy's Tour Divide attempt