Road Bike Racing - Best way to attach your bib number?

Winnar!


http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/giro08/giro0817/bettiniphoto_0027870_1_full.jpg (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/giro08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/giro08/giro0817/bettiniphoto_0027870_1_full)

Makes my 3M spray adhesive look like amateur hour.

one of the perks of being a world champ?

I think those are on his jersey.

Yes, that's obvious. They're sublimated on his jersey.

Yeah, I think Dr. WJOD recommended Super77 at some point... anyone else use this? Does it hold up in the rain? Wind?

Pinning seems to take me forever...

77? Good luck cleaning that off, that stuff is strong.

you don't... seriously?

Srslsly1!1!!!!!!111


I got it for TT's. I end up using it more often.

77? Good luck cleaning that off, that stuff is strong.

If you do it right, there's nothing to clean off. I intentionally do it wrong most of the time, as I don't care if there's a little glue residue on my jersey. If you're worried - it comes off after about ten loads through the laundry.


It's unfathomably convenient for skinsuits.

I'm running my first race ever this evening and was wondering the same thing!

How the heck are you supposed to wear it? I dont think I have pins at home and even if I did I'd be worried that they'd get loose while I'm running and poke me!

How do you guys do it?

In the number, in the jersey, out the jersey, out the number.

Ignore the holes in the number sheet. Pins pierce: paper, jersey, jersey, paper. Don't skip going back through the paper before you lock it. Pin near the four corners, and the middle of any edges that lead into the wind.

Most bibs #s go on one side or the other, so I align the bottom edge of the number with the side seam of the jersey, below the arm pit, above the pockets.

In the number, in the jersey, out the jersey, out the number.

+1

Don't forget to use 6 pins! 4 corners + 1 leading edge + middle.

I actually tried Grizzy Grip on El Diablo Rojo's testimony that the stuff works, and I was sorely disappointed with the result. Funny thing was that it worked just fine for my 140lb skinny climber teammate. I guess its just not designed for a hulk like me.

:lol:

anyone else use this? Does it hold up in the rain? Wind?

Yes, Yes, Yes.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q83/landonlesserjones/argh-Picard.jpg

Don't knock it 'til you tried it, Jean-Luc. It adheres to year-2200 unitards almost as well as it does to skinsuits.

Forget the 3M spray, Grizzy Tape rocks and doesn't leave all the residue on your jersey. One caveat it won't stick to most skin suit material.

The 'correct' way to use the 3M spray:

1. Put number on ground.
2. Spray. The first second or so, it's blowing off nozzle-lodged residuals, so I generally keep it pointed away the number, then bring the spray to the number, about ten inches away or so. This entire step should take less than five seconds; I'd guess about 2-3 seconds.
3. Wait fifteen seconds.
4. Apply.


When I'm TT'ing, I usually put more adhesive on and don't wait as long.

Thanks bdcheung, waterrockets and carlfreddy! I felt a bit embarrassed after posting that question...

Most bibs #s go on one side or the other, so I align the bottom edge of the number with the side seam of the jersey, below the arm pit, above the pockets.

Ask which side the number goes on when you get your number at signup. It'll change depending on the course.
Put the number on so its readable from the side when you are in the drops, especially if it's a sprint finish.

Around here race organizers always have a box of pins at signup. When you're done put the pins in your race bag so you have some for next time. Save the number and cut it up for tire boots.

Don't wrinkle the number up. We all did that in the 80s but it makes the number hard to read and officials frown on it. It's tough picking a finish; you want to make it as easy as possible for them to place you correctly.

It's against USAC rules to wrinkle the number, if the official who yelled at me is to be believed. I think the act of balling up the number is considered a "modification", which is the exact term used in the rulebook.

Why is it called a bib number?

You guys are spoiled with fresh numbers for each race. Here we are given UCI body numbers and you're stuck with it for the full year, unless you upgrade.

Needless to say the things get plenty crumpled without any help.

In OBRAland we get a pair of cloth numbers for the year. I like them better than paper numbers, and it is nice to be able to pin your number on before you head to the race.

^^^
I'm getting to be kinda glad I'm in OBRAland...

And what is the point of crumpling the number? If anyone says aerodynamics I may stab myself.

And what is the point of crumpling the number? If anyone says aerodynamics I may stab myself.


It's more aero....stab away!

And what is the point of crumpling the number? If anyone says aerodynamics I may stab myself.

can i has ur stuffs?

can i has ur stuffs?

No way dude, I pushed him to kill himself I should get first dibs...you can have what I don't want.

All this time you guys have been crumpling your numbers and I had no clue.

What is grizzy tape?

Also, how do you pin the number on your jersey? If I do it with the jersey off, it's too tight, if I do it with the jersey on, it's too loose. Bleh.

At the first crit of the year the race official gave us a lecture about crumpling numbers. He said that it was illegal and this is your warning and if I catch any of your weenies crumpling your numbers after today I'm going to DQ you.

I had never heard of number crumpling until then. Of course, I was immediately obsessed with it.

And what is the point of crumpling the number? If anyone says aerodynamics I may stab myself.

If a crumphed edge catches wind it will fold over on itself rather than making the number into a parachute.

What is grizzy tape?

Also, how do you pin the number on your jersey? If I do it with the jersey off, it's too tight, if I do it with the jersey on, it's too loose. Bleh.

I stretch the jersey over the steering wheel.

Helmet under the jersey...

On the floor in the back of my station wagon.

Hey, it was a road race, not a bike race and it definitely wasnt a sprint finish for me :D

This was my first race ever and my objective was just to complete! I'm a better cyclist but not thaat much

Thanks for all the advice!


Ask which side the number goes on when you get your number at signup. It'll change depending on the course.
Put the number on so its readable from the side when you are in the drops, especially if it's a sprint finish.

Around here race organizers always have a box of pins at signup. When you're done put the pins in your race bag so you have some for next time. Save the number and cut it up for tire boots.

Don't wrinkle the number up. We all did that in the 80s but it makes the number hard to read and officials frown on it. It's tough picking a finish; you want to make it as easy as possible for them to place you correctly.

I read a recommendation on biketechreview that Spray and Fix 404 is better than 3M Super 77, unfortunately it isn't available in Australia unlike the 3M product. :(

where as i have to return my number, printed or spray-painted on to vinyl, after the race.

guess that's one, of several, reasons that it's dirt cheap to race over here.

My first ever race (it was in the US) gave out numbers brushed onto the back of squares of vinyl table cloths. You had to give your number back. That was in 1983.

The next time I saw the same set up was when I raced in Belgium. Ditto, but you got pretty much all your money back when you turned the number in. (300 francs? I don't remember, but I do remember you'd be left paying 10 francs, i.e. a dime, if you gave your number back - and since I got dropped quickly, they'd usually just give me all my money back).

Of course a Belgian license cost $300 back then, whereas a US one cost about $35. You gotta pay somewhere.

cdr

My first ever race (it was in the US) gave out numbers brushed onto the back of squares of vinyl table cloths. You had to give your number back. That was in 1983.

The next time I saw the same set up was when I raced in Belgium. Ditto, but you got pretty much all your money back when you turned the number in. (300 francs? I don't remember, but I do remember you'd be left paying 10 francs, i.e. a dime, if you gave your number back - and since I got dropped quickly, they'd usually just give me all my money back).

Of course a Belgian license cost $300 back then, whereas a US one cost about $35. You gotta pay somewhere.

cdr

iirc it cost +/- 300 francs to race, and you got 200 francs back when you gave the number back.

this was in the spring of '93 (have yet to go down again and get my ass whupped).

did you get a belgian license? i used my USCF international license.

Anyone else pin their number so that the leading edge is actually a corner of the number? Instead of having the bottom edge parallel to the ground so that the whole thing becomes a sail, I put the top right corner essentially in my armpit. Seems to work great with no wrinkling and no spray mounting your jersey to your back.

I'm running my first race ever this evening and was wondering the same thing!

How the heck are you supposed to wear it? I dont think I have pins at home and even if I did I'd be worried that they'd get loose while I'm running and poke me!

How do you guys do it?

We use safety pins, not straight pins

and we don't run

Jersey + Pillow and 8 pins for the win. Never had a flappy number, ever. Sometimes I even take my pillow to the races... Plus, I tend to stick the number right up in my armpit, since I have small jerseys... That leads to it crumpling itself, and not getting stuck out in the wind.

Approve.

iirc it cost +/- 300 francs to race, and you got 200 francs back when you gave the number back.

this was in the spring of '93 (have yet to go down again and get my ass whupped).

did you get a belgian license? i used my USCF international license.

I think your numbers are righter than mine :) I do recall the pitiful look in the registration people's eyes and they'd just give me back all my money. lol. I must have been a depressing sight, me with my wacky Cannondale, Aerolites, "light" wheels, and off the back in a lap.

I used an international USCF license. I even got letters from the USCF saying I could race in Holland and Belgium. Maybe France too, but I never raced anywhere but Belgium. That was enough for me. The letters were to verify that I was a racer in good standing, i.e. I wasn't racing out a drug/behavior suspension by racing where no one could verify that I was suspended.

On the other hand I remember a bunch of Dutch pros in NY. When they found out I lived in Holland for a while they suddenly decided they could ask me all sorts of questions (in English). Some of the ones that were a bit disconcerting:

"That race you just told me about, do they drug test there?" (lol - dinky crits in NY/NJ, drug test?)

"Is that race a UCI race? Do I have to have a letter from my federation saying I can race?" - this after I mentioned the above letter (and their reason) I had when racing in Belgium.

"How much money is at that race" or "Which race has more money"

They won everything, and I mean everything. Insanely strong, aggressive, and fast. But their focus on drug testing questions sort of made me wonder.

cdr

impressive, especially considering this is what? your second season racing?

no botto, that's me. the other (formerly) spoiled college kid with more schwag than sense and experience combined.

What is grizzy tape?

Also, how do you pin the number on your jersey? If I do it with the jersey off, it's too tight, if I do it with the jersey on, it's too loose. Bleh.

I put it over the pillow of the bed I will sleep in the night before the race, pinned accordingly. I take it off the pillow and lay it on top of all my other kit I have already laid out for morning.

Next question.

where as i have to return my number, printed or spray-painted on to vinyl, after the race.

guess that's one, of several, reasons that it's dirt cheap to race over here.

Me, too. But they give you lunch for it in exchange.;)

Sweet, I have officially put botto on my ignore list. First person, hooray!

Sweet, I have officially put botto on my ignore list. First person, hooray!


You are ignoring him because he said


impressive, especially considering this is what? your second season racing?


:roflmao2::roflmao2::lol: :lol:

Play nice, kids.