Professional Cycling For the Fans - Andy Schleck dropped his chain again

In the prologue of the Tour of Switzerland today, Andy dropped his chain and had to finish on his road bike. I replayed it in slow motion a few times and it looked like he was shifting his to his small chainring for a climb and hit a small bump at the same time.

Later, Cancellara possibly dropped his chain (yes I think he was shifting, but to his large chainring) and luckily got his back on right away. He ended up climbing in the big ring, fully cross-chained, which I assume was because he didn't trust the front mech.

Poor technique, bad equipment, or soon-to-be unemployed mechanics?

I think everyone who owns a bike knows that the front derailer can be a little bit tricky when shifting under load. Sometimes shifting works beautifully on the bike stand, but then you get out on the road and there are problems. That's the whole reason some teams are going to electronic shifting systems like Shimano Di2, which are said to be more reliable in terms of front derailer shifts.

I think everyone except Andy Schleck knows that the front derailer can be a little bit tricky when shifting under load.

I'm really starting to wonder if Andy has ever tuned his own front derailleur.

It's as if he keeps running over piles of nails and wondering why he keeps getting flats. If you do something, and it makes your bike 'splode, don't do that thing anymore, and as a bonus learning opportunity, figure out why that thing made your bike 'splode.

I think everyone who owns a bike knows that the front derailer can be a little bit tricky when shifting under load. Sometimes shifting works beautifully on the bike stand, but then you get out on the road and there are problems. That's the whole reason some teams are going to electronic shifting systems like Shimano Di2, which are said to be more reliable in terms of front derailer shifts.

Interesting quote from VeloNews:

"Cancellara did come close to suffering a mechanical problem, the Swiss starting the race in jittery fashion when he experienced a minor problem with his electronic gear shifters."

That team is on Di2 this year. They need some chain catchers or something, since their mechanics can't seem to get the front der's adjusted correctly.

In the prologue of the Tour of Switzerland today, Andy dropped his chain and had to finish on his road bike.

I hope the riders who went off after Andy sat up and waited for a time equal to Andy's loss, it would be unsportsmanlike to do otherwise.

That team is on Di2 this year. They need some chain catchers or something, since their mechanics can't seem to get the front der's adjusted correctly.

I believe the road bikes are Di2, but the TT machines are still mechanical because Shimano has not yet released the Di2 TT system. Unless of course Leopard-Trek has access to prototype pre-release systems.

I'm really starting to wonder if Andy has ever tuned his own front derailleur....
What is he supposed to do, carry a torque wrench during a time trial? ;)

It's not his job to keep the drivetrain tuned, they have professional mechanics for that. He's also using a different bike than last year, different drivetrain, and almost certainly a different mechanic. It's merely a coincidence that he dropped a chain at a somewhat critical moment last year and at an all-but inconsequential moment this week.

Also in this type of situation, it's faster (and smarter) to just hop on a spare bike than to try and fix the drivetrain.

I believe the road bikes are Di2, but the TT machines are still mechanical because Shimano has not yet released the Di2 TT system....
Looks to me like they're using Di2 for their TT bikes: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/team-leopard-trek-kit-revealed/153376

BMC is using Di2 on its TT bikes now: http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/bikes-and-tech/tech-quick-look/spotted-bmcs-new-time-trial-machine-at-the-dauphine_177706/attachment/2-8

I don't know offhand if these are commercially available or prototypes, but my guess is they're past the prototype stage.

What is he supposed to do, carry a torque wrench during a time trial? ;)

It's not his job to keep the drivetrain tuned, they have professional mechanics for that. He's also using a different bike than last year, different drivetrain, and almost certainly a different mechanic. It's merely a coincidence that he dropped a chain at a somewhat critical moment last year and at an all-but inconsequential moment this week.

Also in this type of situation, it's faster (and smarter) to just hop on a spare bike than to try and fix the drivetrain.

They didn't have a spare TT bike on the follow car, so Andy rode the rest of the prologue on his road bike. :eek:

They were using oval chainrings??? If they were, there u have the problem, is really hard to get the FD adjusted using them.

They didn't have a spare TT bike on the follow car, so Andy rode the rest of the prologue on his road bike. :eek:
That's rather lame, on the team's part. Even though AS is not trying to win this race, they really should have had a backup TT bike ready for him.

Still, the days when riders were required to repair their own bikes in the field, and sanctioned if they accepted any help at all, have been over for, what... 70, 80 years now? ;) I just don't think this is AS's fault.

That's rather lame, on the team's part. Even though AC is not trying to win this race, they really should have had a backup TT bike ready for him.

Still, the days when riders were required to repair their own bikes in the field, and sanctioned if they accepted any help at all, have been over for, what... 70, 80 years now? ;) I just don't think this is AC's fault.

I blame AC, even though he's not there.:rolleyes:

AC ? hahaha