Review of podcasts: Real Peloton

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The Real Peloton podcast has reached it’s 10th episode. A review is long overdue, so, inspired by a blog post by Alex Murray (@leguape), who was inspired by my cycling podcast reviews, I have got my act together.

It’s hosted by Ned Boulting (ITV football/cycling presenter) and Matt Rendell (writer, journalist, Eurosport commentator). First of all, the podcast has a well-balanced mixture of presentation styles: it clearly benefits from (where some other podcasts fail) from Ned’s experience as a professional presenter, but it has a strong vein of banter, sarcasm and tomfoolery to keep it relaxed. The personality comes through and they seem to really enjoy doing it (which occasionally can’t be said for other ‘casts).

The production has been truly shoddy at times but all of that is excused because of the content. Interviews with Cavendish, Haussler, Gilbert and others have left the pro cycling fan drooling for more. The fact that the sound quality varies doesn’t matter. People have complained that the cyclingnews podcast could improve greatly by adding more interviews. In their defence, Daniel Benson tweeted me, saying that phone quality is poor but if the Two Johns, Velocast, Fredcast and Bicycle Radio can do it over skype…

No review would be complete without a mention of ‘Sod Off Corner’, the part of the show where Matt and Ned lambast the latest liar or dope cheat to emerge from the pro peloton. While vilifying banned riders isn’t always the best way to challenge the doping problem, it’s refreshing (and entertaining) to see two professional journalists laying it bare with no holds barred. After all, there is still work to do to change the doping culture in cycling, to get to the point where it is totally unacceptable. Matt and Ned have hinted that Sod Off Corner may itself be cast into Sod Off Corner, which may be a bit too self-referential but shows the whole show does not take it too seriously.

Criticisms — did I mention the sound quality, mislaid music, dodgy edits and repeated segments? None of that really matters for me though — I prefer my podcasts a lot less polished but with something of substance at the heart. The humour is something that might not be to everyone’s taste — healthy doses of sarcasm and irony, sometimes might try to be a bit too clever, but these are minor gripes.

It’s clear that this podcast was not a flash in the pan though and has taken the UK podcast market (is there a ‘market’?) by storm — in only one or two episodes it had generated quite a buzz. Please leave a comment, but most people who read my blog have already said what they wanted to say in my tirade against the Guardian Bike Podcast.

Key words:
Sod Off
Woof woof! Rar rar!
Vackin brillian

Links
Real Peloton website
iTunes feed

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  • http://veloclubdonlogan.blogspot.com bmfw

    This very quickly made its way onto my list of “must listen now” podcasts – you know, the ones where, as soon as it shows up in iTunes, you just have to listen.

    I have long been a fan of Matt Rendell, enjoying his books and his input on the ITV TDF podcasts. He seems to be one of the most knowledgeable (and outrageously multi-lingual) cycling journos about as well as an all-round nice guy. He and Ned spark off each other very well and I, too, can ignore the dodgy editing when the content & entertainment value is this good. And they still remind me of cycling's answer to Derek & Clive!

  • http://www.atomicecho.com Alex Murray

    Sorry but Daniel is simply wrong and his explanation simply doesn't pass muster. Phone quality is perfectly acceptable and is used by every major news outlet when someone is not available via ISDN/Radio Car/Other remote facility “in quality”.

    He has either forgotten or ignores that up until the introduction of ISDN most live sports commentary was done via old-fashioned copper wire phone lines.

    Or that a huge number of interviews broadcast on Radio networks internationally are done via mobile phone. I hear phone quality material every day and while it can be a bit harsh sometimes, properly recorded there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

    Sorry, but for me that excuse simply doesn't wash.

  • http://www.irishpeloton.com/ Cillian Kelly

    Completely agree with Alex.

    Sky Sports News conduct countless amounts of live interviews with sportsmen/journalists/experts over the phone.

    As for the podcast, I've given most of the ones you've reviewed a listen Owen but Real Peloton is the only one I would genuinely look forward to listening to. Very informative with a good level of banter.

  • owen_p

    I pretty much agree with you both, just in a milder way. I cut them a bit of slack as there are things in CN podcast I enjoy. I suspect they are saving the best stuff for the website, but my trouble is I don't have time to read reports, (let alone watch live racing or highlights) so listening is my medium of choice.

  • Simon E

    I like the 'slightly less polished' tone, it goes with the slightly irreverant tone and genuinely comical interaction between the two stars.

    I have little patience for self-indulgent banter whether verbally, in print or online. I like my info presented concisely, without florid decoration. So I wasn't sure whether I'd bother downloaded the most recent 3 and was enthralled. They're knowledgeable and bring plenty of humour to the show. And crucially, they ask the right questions in the interviews!

  • owen_p

    Hi Simon, many thanks for commenting. I think you are in tune with the general consensus view of Real Peloton. Me too, I usually can't be bothered with self indulgence but these two pull it off.

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  • David Irvine

    Might be in danger of “spitting in the soup” here but the Real Peloton is terrible. Dire sound (no excuse) – a kid with an Early Learning Centre Cassette Player could do better, Dire jokes – very matey, bloky, self-indulgent twaddle and wasn't Matt Rendell the *head who rubbished Paul Kimmage's Sunday Times piece on David Millar, calling him a hapless hack – only for Millar to be arrested 6 weeks later by the French Police…
    Rendell was notably silent on the letters page after that!
    Sorry Drum-Up, but is there such a lack of good cycling Podcasts out there that we have to put up with this dross.

  • owen_p

    Not a problem David, I'm all for forthright opinions. Fair do's over the sound, but it doesn't bother me overly. If it was a commercial enterprise then that'd be different.

    You have a point about the humour- in recent week it has become more self-indulgent than previously and there have been more misses than hits with the gags. Like some commenters have said elsewhere, you either like the humour or you don't with a podcast, which is a risk the presenters take.

    I wasn't aware about Matt Rendell laying into Kimmage before Millar got busted? Do you have a link? If it was on the letters page I guess that wouldn't be archived.

    This week on the podcast they read out an email from Kimmage about his altercation with Armstrong at the 2009 ToC.

    Are there any you like? What about Velocast?

  • http://www.therotor.com David Irvine

    Didn't know about Velocast until I read your page. Just listened to the last two episodes. Brilliant!

    Thanks Owen – I have subscribed… So much better and funny. Might be better to listen to this rather than trawl CyclingNews!

    I think Kimmage mentions the altercation in Rough Ride, if you have a copy.

  • owen_p

    Glad you like @Velocast David. They are widely regarded to be one of the best podcasts (at least amongst the people I chat to online). Tweet them or post on their blog- they're nice blokes and will interact with you.