Professional Cycling - Mavic yellow neutral service car?

I just noticed in some video coverage that the Mavic car has two or three complete bikes on it - what is this for? The bikes are bright yellow like the car, but I've never seen one being ridden.

neutral support. the bikes are for anyone that crashes and needs a bike. the big names get the team cars for support but there are not enough cars to support all the riders if there is a breakaway and serveral chase groups. the tricky part of the bikes are the pedals. often times all the riders need is a wheel change...campy or shimano? I've also seen them at local races...many local boys don't have a team car supporting them.

That's what I thought - the bikes were for riders on a breakaway who crashed and needed a whole bike... But there's so many types of pedals in use - SPD-SL, Look, Time, and Crank Brothers Quattro. A practiced mechanic could probably do a pedal change from crashed bike to neutral bike in under 30 seconds.

That's what I thought - the bikes were for riders on a breakaway who crashed and needed a whole bike... But there's so many types of pedals in use - SPD-SL, Look, Time, and Crank Brothers Quattro. A practiced mechanic could probably do a pedal change from crashed bike to neutral bike in under 30 seconds.

They have clips and straps. The riders just have to deal with it. Riders typically loathe riding neutral support bikes.

They have clips and straps. The riders just have to deal with it. Riders typically loathe riding neutral support bikes.

If I crashed hard enough to need a new frame - I'd probably be loathing the pain more than the clips & straps...

Though they loathe riding the neutral support bike I bet it beats standing on the side of the road watching the peleton catch and pass you. ;)

If I crashed hard enough to need a new frame - I'd probably be loathing the pain more than the clips & straps...

It's not just crashes that may force them to ride the yellow. Broken chains, jammed shifters, stuck brakes, something jammed in the wheels, etc all may be the reason. I'm trying to think of the last time I saw someone crash who was forced to use a neutral bike.

They have clips and straps. The riders just have to deal with it. Riders typically loathe riding neutral support bikes.



I remember Bartoli had to ride one of these in a break for a few km in the 1997 Tour (I think..)

Funny.

I can't remember the rider's name, but in the '05 Paris-Roubaix a rider used one while the Mavic mechainc repaired his saddle while stanging on the roof off the car while going down the road!

I can't remember the rider's name, but in the '05 Paris-Roubaix a rider used one while the Mavic mechainc repaired his saddle while stanging on the roof off the car while going down the road!

Yes, I remember that. The rider looked none too pleased.

The Mavic cars were at the Tour de Toona. The bikes are pretty sweet. Scott CR1's with Centuar and Ksyrium Elite's. They even have the fizik arione saddle with a yellow stripe down the middle.





They have clips and straps. The riders just have to deal with it. Riders typically loathe riding neutral support bikes.



They didnt have pedals installed.

They didnt have pedals installed.

I'd like to see video of the Mavic neutral mechanic practicing quick pedal swaps with a Park pedal wrench - after dozens of repetitions they can probably do it as quickly as a marine field-stripping his rifle blindfolded.

My new understanding is that they may have three bikes on top with different pedals on each bike. They then try and match rider with bike.

What is for sure is that Mavic mechanics do not change pedals during the race. I've seen riders stopped on the road and the mavic guys instantly pull up, take a bike off the rack and hand it to the rider.

This mechanic has just pulled the bike off the rack.

Different builders supply the bikes.
I know that Serotta supplied neutral support bikes for the
Tour back in the late 80's early 90's.

Marty

no mention of size? what if you have someone like george or magnus 6'+ and all they have is 52cm frames, how plush would that be for another hour?

I can't remember the rider's name, but in the '05 Paris-Roubaix a rider used one while the Mavic mechainc repaired his saddle while stanging on the roof off the car while going down the road!


that happened in the 04 or 03 tour I think. I think the bike was a time... Those damn mechanics are crazy! The're like up on the roof while the car is going 30 and hes like fixing the bike! WOWO!

You know what I may be talking about the 05 roubaix...Ehhh W/e!

I think it was as recent as last year that Frankie Andreu (sp?) talked about the neutral support. They were C'dales and the pedals were clips/straps. I remember thinking that getting a shoe with a Look cleat in the straps wouldn't be easy.

Maybe they've tried to get a selection of clipless pedals but it seems strps would be the quickest thing.


:beer: