Professional Cycling For the Fans - How many spare bikes do the TDF riders have?

With the motorcade and team pace cars so close by, it seems like the riders have all the rolling support they need. But how many extra bikes do most teams have per racer? Barring a crash or serious malfunction, will most riders race the same bike for the entire tour (not including TT stages)? Or at least the same frame and components? I can see wheel changes happening quite often though.

depends on the rider.

They get a new bike to start the Tour on, plus at least one spare, usually their previous race bike.

three.

My non knowledgable bid is on four. ;)

And how come we never see a pro on one of the 'mavic' bikes? Poor old mavic, never getting a look in except on spare wheels...

Because the same guys that get followed by the cameras are the guys who get followed by the team cars. And if somebody does have to grab a Mavic bike, they swap over to a team bike as soon as their car can get to them. Between those two factors, the odds of seeing one on TV is slim......

And how come we never see a pro on one of the 'Mavic' bikes?

It doesn't help that there are so many different non-compatable pedal+cleat systems these days. More than anything else, I think this has made a neutral support bike a last resort choice for a rider.

TCS

Then there are the little details like handlebar size, stem length, seat post height...of course the Mavic bikes are a last resort - that's what they're there for.....

It doesn't help that there are so many different non-compatable pedal+cleat systems these days. More than anything else, I think this has made a neutral support bike a last resort choice for a rider.

TCS



the mavic bikes have clips and straps.

I wondered the same thing when one guy broke two bikes in the first 100 meters or so of the last time trial. First, wtf? How can a bike be so poorly prepared as to break on the first revolution of the pedals? Next, oh my God it happened again. Then, what if he runs out of TT bikes with the start ramp still in view?

I know that Lance had three bikes not including extras. A flat stage bike, a climbing bike that was right at the minimum weight limit and a TT bike. My guess is that they have at least two backups for the GC guys and probably one for the other guys and then a pool of bikes that anyone can ride in a tight spot.

The riders must collect a couple of bikes or more every year. Plus any that they buy on thier own. One video of Levi showed his bikes hanging in his garage at home. He had at least half a dozen nice road bikes hanging from his garage ceiling.

I know that Lance had three bikes not including extras. A flat stage bike, a climbing bike that was right at the minimum weight limit and a TT bike.


Lance Armstrong is not the same as Simon Gerrans when it comes to supplying spares for the Tour de France.

the mavic bikes have clips and straps.

Yep, and depending on what cleat you have on the bottom of your shoe, that can be pretty miserable.

TCS

Yep, and depending on what cleat you have on the bottom of your shoe, that can be pretty miserable.

TCS


better than standing on the side of the road.

the mavic bikes have clips and straps.Do they? Crikey! :p

A mate asked me when was the last time any pro had to ride a Mavic bike in a major race.
????

Do they? Crikey! :p

A mate asked me when was the last time any pro had to ride a Mavic bike in a major race.
????

Last one I remember getting any TV time was Michele Bartoli in (i think) 1997 when up the road in a group of about 4 or 5. Was only on it for about 2km as the team car was up there like a VL Commodore on Saturday night in Dandenong...

There's a guy around here I see every once in awhile on a yellow bike with Mavic decals. I assume it's an old neutral service bike. Looks like a nice bike, actually. I'll have to stop and ask him about it.

Do they? Crikey! :p

A mate asked me when was the last time any pro had to ride a Mavic bike in a major race.
????

It happened last year in one of the classics. I don't remember the specifics except watching the rider trying to get the clips and straps adjusted.

Also, I think Postal/Discovery riders all had to use the "Lance pedals" in spite of whatever else they wanted so Armstrong could get on a teammates bike if necessary.

thanks

does anyone know who makes the Mavic frames?

Cannondale and someone else.

I had no idea that the "mavic" bikes even existed! I take it they are literally badged as a bike made by mavic. So are these team neutral and get to be used by any rider in a pinch or does each team have a few mavic bikes of their own?

I had no idea that the "mavic" bikes even existed! I take it they are literally badged as a bike made by mavic. So are these team neutral and get to be used by any rider in a pinch or does each team have a few mavic bikes of their own?

Here's a good story on them from the 2005 TdG. (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/apr05/georgia05/?id=/features/2005/georgia_mavic)

It happened last year in one of the classics. I don't remember the specifics except watching the rider trying to get the clips and straps adjusted.
.

Yeah, I remember that. The dude looked pretty miserable.

I had no idea that the "mavic" bikes even existed! I take it they are literally badged as a bike made by mavic.

The current Mavic neutral support bikes (http://www.velonews.com/images/tech/12682.19422.f.jpg) are Cannondale CAAD9s and have big "Cannondale" decals on them.

TCS

better than standing on the side of the road.

Well, better than standing on the side of the road and getting broom-wagoned, or DNF-mechanical - i.e. last resort. But better for domestique #5 than standing on the side of the road for a few minutes until the team car gets there?

TCS

I wondered the same thing when one guy broke two bikes in the first 100 meters or so of the last time trial. First, wtf? How can a bike be so poorly prepared as to break on the first revolution of the pedals? Next, oh my God it happened again. Then, what if he runs out of TT bikes with the start ramp still in view?

my vague recollection of this from tv coverage was that in this case the CHAIN broke on both. anyone recall if this is correct? also, what brand of chain?

--

it's always amusing to see (on the tv) a frustrated racer -- stymied at a key moment in the race by a mechanical failure -- slam the broken bike onto the pavement. guess you need a spare after that.

it's always amusing to see (on the tv) a frustrated racer -- stymied at a key moment in the race by a mechanical failure -- slam the broken bike onto the pavement. guess you need a spare after that.


Enjoy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFzteK_y1b4

Did anyone ride with a Mavic Neutral Support bike during the TdF?

I was at a store in Frisco Co about 2-3 years ago, they had three yellow mavic bikes for sale, if i would have been able to i would have ponnied up the 900 bucks

Enjoy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFzteK_y1b4


Too flippen funny. Stephen Roche's quip

"I'm sure his morale is down in his yellow socks about now"

Last one I remember getting any TV time was Michele Bartoli in (i think) 1997 when up the road in a group of about 4 or 5. Was only on it for about 2km as the team car was up there like a VL Commodore on Saturday night in Dandenong...


Could someone please translate into english. :D

Could someone please translate into english. :D



sorry...read "fast, dangerous driving".

On Saturday I saw the guy with the Mavic bike that I mentioned above. He said that this particular bike was Scott CR1 and that he bought the frame from a local bike shop for $600 and built it up with a 9speed DA group he had. I guess this LBS gets a couple each year and you can get them as a frame or as a complete bike. Seems like a pretty good deal, as they're a little dinged up from being loaded and unloaded on the cars but they're hardly ridden at all.