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Old 11-10-03, 04:52 PM
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Smoothie104
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Georgia
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Bikes: Cannondale 2.8, Specialized S-works E5 road, GT Talera

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Professional racers don't pay for thier bicycles, some are given them, some simply use them and have to turn them in when thier contract expires. I think 10K way out of whack for a regular road bike. There are one off custom made Time Trial bikes for that price range, but your everyday stage road bike would price out around 4 to 5K max. (retail pricing)

And it's doubtful that the top teams have to buy the bikes anyways, many manufactures will give the bikes away for the exposure, and some are even willing to pay for the sponsorship rights. They will also make custom geometery for the leaders, if not the whole team. Some guys ride stock geometery.

The top 10 guys in the world will often have prototype stuff, and all sorts of custom made goodies, but the rest of the pro peleton pretty much rides the same stuff you can buy, Dura Ace, Campy record, Ksyrium SSC's etc, Deda Newton Bar/stem, ITM millenium Vittoria Tubulars, etc.......

The teams with the bigger budgets have more trick stuff too.

CSC seems to really have deep pockets, and Tylers bike in particular always seems to have the latest carbon bars, zipp wheels, carbon cranks, etc..

Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Eusakdi) won Alp'e du Huez last year on an Stock Orbea Aluminum Frame with Dura Ace 9 Speed, and Ksyrium SSC's You can buy the identical bike from the website. Proof you don't need carbon rims and unobtainium alloy parts to win, just some Basque blood, and the proper motivation.
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