EPISODE 108 - The Future of Gravel w/ Former World Tour rider Chad Haga What up party people. Just a quick intro here because I only have 2min before I have to log into an 8hr design review summit sooo here it goes. We’ve got former World Tour rider, Chad Haga, on the show this week to talk about his experience transitioning into the pro gravel scene this season, including his 2nd place finish at Unbound after spending all day in the breakaway with Lachlan Morton. Tune in to hear some of his thoughts on the US vs International gravel scene, what he predicts gravel will look like in the future, and even his thoughts on tires. Speaking of tires, while we don’t have a tire sponsor for the show we do have some great partners that are tire adjacent such as Silca and their Ultimate Tubeless Sealant (code bonkbrosbikewash for 15% off), Dynamic Cyclist which will help you stay nimble and sharp on the bike so you can keep it rubber side down (code BONKBROS for 10% off their fitness plans), and Bolt Skin and Shave to help you remove not only those unnecessary leg hairs but also those pesky hairs from your Cont Race Kings (code BONKBROS15 for 15% off). If you have any questions or feedback for the show you can drop us a note at [email protected] or slide your way into those Bonk Bros instagram DMs (@bonkbros @dylanjawnson @adamsaban6 @tylerclouti @raddaddizzle @scottmcgilljr). Alright let’s get this episode started.   Patreon: http://patreon.com/patreon_bonkbros   Silca (15% discount code: bonkbrosbikewash): https://silca.cc/?utm_source=Bonk+Bros&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=stripchip&utm_id=Bonk+Bros+Podcast Dynamic Cyclist (10% discount code: BONKBROS): https://new.dynamiccyclist.com/a/43703/xkYViFV8 BOLT (15% discount code: BONKBROS15): BOLT Skin + Shaveboltshave.com For more Dylan Johnson content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIf1xvRN8pzyd_VfLgj_dow Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl on Pixabay.com: https://pixabay.com/music/id-111445/  Listener Question Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1T37wGRLk6iYTCF6X_DQ9yfcaYtfAQceKpBJYR5W7DVA/edit?ts=642eb6d6 Summary Chad Haga discusses his transition from road racing to gravel racing and his experience at the Unbound Gravel race. He talks about the differences between European and American gravel racing, including team tactics and the importance of positioning. Chad also shares his thoughts on using aerobars in gravel racing and the challenges of racing as a team in a solo-focused sport. The conversation includes some lighthearted banter about bike brands and equipment choices. Chad discusses his experience racing the Rift and his tire choice for the race. He also talks about his setup for the Migration gravel race and the challenges of racing on rough terrain. The conversation shifts to the changing landscape of professional cycling, with younger riders entering the gravel scene and the transition from road racing to gravel. Chad expresses his satisfaction with racing gravel and the freedom it offers. The conversation concludes with a lighthearted discussion about VO2 max and the perception of age in professional cycling. They joke about their VO2 max scores and how they compare to each other. The conversation then transitions to a discussion about the future of gravel racing in the US, including the potential for teams to become more involved. The conversation concludes with listener questions about tire width preferences and how long the Bonk Bros could hold Tadej Pogacar’s wheel up a climb. In this final part of the conversation, the hosts discuss crank arm length and its impact on performance and comfort. Dylan shares that he switched to 165mm cranks on all his bikes to reduce knee pain and improve his range of motion. Chad mentions that he is considering switching to 170mm cranks on his road and gravel bikes for fit reasons. The hosts conclude the conversation by discussing upcoming races and plans.