Review of podcasts: Veloreviews

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This is a new podcast, that has been finding its feet a little bit. It has a very welcoming, inclusive feel that I don’t think this is a symptom of it’s youth- there is a deliberately anti-elitist ethos there that is intended to tie in with the Veloreviews website and community forum.

If you are not a fan of pro cycling news and comment, and can’t be bothered with the nuances of bike culture and the various sub-niches within cycling, this is the podcast for you. As I see it, the ideal listener is mainly into riding and buying bits for their own bike, as well as improving their fitness, rather than wondering why last year’s Paris-Roubaix runner-up is is running a carbon or aluminium bottle cages this year.

The podcast is a supplement to the Veloreviews.com website and community, which have dipped into and seems cool. It’s the sort of thing that is working to build up long-term relationships and a resource of really useful information. The presenters of the podcast all interact on the Veloreviews forum, giving fitness, mechanics and product advice.

The interviews are pretty good but tend to push the episode length way up. Neil Browne was good as always, ditto Fun Run Robbie, great to hear a popular twitter user getting time ‘on air’. The podcast is looking to interview Veloreviews.com community members which I think is great in my opinion.

The fitness section is also good- they have Al Painter, a coach from Integrate Fitness, to answer listener emails and once they get going, there’s some very good, in depth bike-fit and biomechanical advice.

The Pro bike wrench segment, with experienced mechanic Josh Boggs (@probikewrench), is great for learning maintenance, and again Veloreviews is building a strong community by answering listener’s questions. Josh is also pretty experienced in bike fit.

I don’t want to descend into personal abuse but after listening to Velocast and Real Peloton, the bar for funny and engaging presentation has been raised, and Veloreviews does move along pretty slowly. I feel bad to say this but Jeff Helfand does sound a bit like he is about to fall asleep at times and Boggs’ southern drawl, while charming, makes me want to go for a relaxing beer rather than concentrate on his excellent bike maintenance tips.

I rediscovered my passion for cycling two years ago and have learnt a massive amount in that time. Without sounding bigheaded I already feel I have outgrown a few podcasts that tend to over-explain things or aim at the beginner/intermediate. There are still really useful points that I have taken away from this show, but I’m not sure I’ll be listening every single week.

Another negative point for me is that the chat is very friendly (as would befit an inclusive community podcast), but being a lewd and foul-mouthed Scot I prefer my banter a little edgier, along the lines of Velocast, Real Peloton and Two Johns.

Links
Veloreviews website
Subscribe on iTunes
Jeff Helfand/Veloreviews twitter
Al Painter Integrate Fitness
Josh Boggs the Pro Bike Wrench
Jen Moore

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  • http://twitter.com/steve_s_t Steve_S_T

    Thanks for the heads up on the Veloreviews podcast Owen. I'm riding 120km into Mid Wales tomorrow on my own and have run out of spoken word podcasts to funnel into my left ear en route, so I'm now downloading a few of these onto my BlackBerry and will give them a listen.

  • CarlGumeson

    Owen, the only points I disagree with you are The Two Johns and you being a “lewd and foul mouthed Scot”. I find the The Two Johns often too long and slow moving and best listened at 2x speed. As for you, I have yet to see a tweet or post here with off color language.

  • http://twitter.com/steve_s_t Steve_S_T

    Ditto Carl, I couldn't take to The Two Johns Podcast and gave up trying in the end. Also I listen to Podcasts on my Smartphone and those long pauses taht they do mid conversation kept making me think I'd got a phone call and that got a bit irritating after a while.

  • owen_p

    fair point, the 2 Johns are as ponderous as any other podcast out there, but I maybe meant it was the slight edgy feel that I prefer from them. RP, velocast and cyclingnews have got the length right I think.

    I do try hard not to curse on twitter, it's sort of like a public place with lots of people you don't know, but in private I am partial to lots of sweary words and think creative cursing can be very eloquent when used well.

    Do you listen to Veloreviews though? if so what do you think of it?

  • CarlGumeson

    I do, and I sometimes feel like Jeff is not totally focused on the task at hand. As you said the podcast is still quite new and is ironing out the kinks. I don't know if they will get them all or if I want them to. Josh is good to a point, I have found some problems with his advice in the fact that he is focused on the new and feels he has the correct answer when there are other resources for info out there. The late Sheldon Brown comes to mind.

    I like the formats of the Velocast and Real Peloton as well as Veloreviews with the friends at bar of cafe feel. I haven't listened to CN so cannot speak to that.

  • http://veloclubdonlogan.blogspot.com bmfw

    This one just didn't do it for me. I stuck with the first handful of episodes but the length was a bit of an issue for me and I didn't really feel any sense of engagement. As you allude to, Owen, it may just be that I do not fall within their target demographic.

    Not only did I find them devoid of humour, I would say that I actually found them devoid of personality (with the exception of Josh, I have to say, whom I found dry, but in a good way) and this detracted from the content.

    I never went to the website & so did not see what there was by way of a community there which may help to tie in the podcast a bit better. I always felt that the ultimate aim was to monetise the whole operation but I don't know if that is overly cynical of me.

  • Tlottrike

    I really enjoy Real Peleton and Velocast but from what I have read here both your piece Owen and the comments, I'm not sure I can make any more time for another podcast even at 1.5x or 2x speed.

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    Knowledge gives weight, gives glory to achievement, most people only see the glory, not to weigh the weight!
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  • http://twitter.com/veloreviews VeloReviews

    Hi Owen, thanks so much for reviewing our show. I appreciate that you have picked up on the fact that we are intentionally anti-elitist and the concept at a high level is to build friendships and share knowledge. I think we are achieving that and making strides to continue to improve the show.

    That said, I also concur with the criticisms. Totally fair. The show is way too long. Please take a listen to the new episode 12 http://www.veloreviews.com/group/VeloReviews_Cy… I intentionally slimmed down the segments and threw the cast a wrench by switching their focus throughout the show. I think it produced a more lively and spontaneous conversation, but I'm biased and could really use some more feedback.

    I will also acknowledge that I have a very monotone voice. It's quite obvious I lack radio training. This is a labor of love for me and is admittedly, a group of entertainment amateurs who share the same passion for cycling. At the end of the day, it's all about expressing our love for the simple act of riding our bikes!

    I've even given the thought of seeking professional voice training, but I'm not sure if there is a Howard Stern lurking within me. I'm guessing not. But, I'm/we're trying!

    Cheers,

    Jeff Helfand
    Founder, VeloReviews.com

  • owen_p

    Thanks for commenting Jeff. Sorry if I came over as a bit harsh but I have donned my critical hat for these podcast reviews.

    I'm at the point now where I have my two or three favourites, and I am dipping in and out of the others. I am still subscribing to yours but not copying all to my ipod by defauly- will check out 12.

    The passion defintely come through with yours and this does make up for some of the flaws. One of my faves- Real Peloton- has some shocking production standards and occasionally goes off on a painfully unfunny tangent but we let that go 'cos they are doing it for the love of cycling.

    With the voice- careful not to overdo it, or you will turn into David Bernstein whose style is not everybody's cup of tea (but then again his podcast is very succesful)

    Good to cut down a bit though. Less can be more.

  • http://twitter.com/veloreviews VeloReviews

    Hey Owen,

    I didn't think you came across hard at all. Nothing to apologize for. It's the best and most fair critique I have read about our show. I appreciate that you would even mention us!

    Cheers!