How much say have the pros in the kit used?
Do the pros get much say in what equipment 9frames, groupsets etc) that a team uses or is it purely commercial and whatever sponsor provides the best deal, or there is so little between any of the products that it is just marketing hype.
Example, if electronic transmission is so much better I'm sure everyone would want to use it yet OPQS and saxo with Cavendish, Martin, Contador all use SRAM mechanical. If there was that much difference wouldn't these guys want it and wouldnt Shimano want to be associated with them
Similarly for wheels. Zipps are supposedly the fastest but not everyone are using them.
Example, if electronic transmission is so much better I'm sure everyone would want to use it yet OPQS and saxo with Cavendish, Martin, Contador all use SRAM mechanical. If there was that much difference wouldn't these guys want it and wouldnt Shimano want to be associated with them
Similarly for wheels. Zipps are supposedly the fastest but not everyone are using them.
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I was reading on the "secret pro" blog, that they don't get much say at all, they ride what they are given - to a large extent.
Didn't know that not everyone uses electronic, I thought they all did.0 -
On this subject:Adam Myerson wrote:@AdamMyerson 16 Aug
Regarding my switch to discs, you ride what the sponsor asks, you look for the positive attributes, and you are incredibly grateful for it.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
Wiggo didn't seem to impressed with Shimano electronic shifting, I doubt that was his choice.0
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Havent pros ridden saddles that weren't from the sponsor, just with the sponsor's name painted on the side?0
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MrTapir wrote:Havent pros ridden saddles that weren't from the sponsor, just with the sponsor's name painted on the side?
Amongst others Jan Ullrich used to ride a rebadged bike IIRC. I'm sure someone with a better recollection will be able to confirm.
Rule No.10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster0 -
I think Cav was blaming drivetrain a good bit at the start of the season but a little more subtly than Wiggo. Wonder how he is finding moving from Di2 to mechanical
On the saddle thing there are some who carry over sella saddles and the like and just black them out. I read that one guy was using a saddle no longer available and wouldn't change for anything.0 -
In the days of steel frames it was quite common for big name riders to ride on the frame of their choice rebadged to the frame sponsor's name. I always thought that with the advent of clearly identifiable carbon frames this would stop this practise.
A couple of years ago, Eurosort were covering la Vuelta, and this question came up. The commentator replied he'd just had a text/email/tweet from Terry Dolan who claimed there were x number of his frames being ridden in the peleton. I was really surprised. On the whole steel frames look like pretty much every other steel frame - geometry was, and still is, the main difference between different makers' frames. Now compare a Pinarello withh that curly stay and fork combo with an Orbea, or a needle thin seat stayed Cervelo. In the last 18 months frames seems to have become more 'unique' with their aero design so I would imagine it is less easy to use a rebadged frame.
Wheels and tyres are often rebadged.
Doesn't Wiggo use mechanical shifters on his TT bike so he can have achieve a longer reach in the tuck?0 -
MrTapir wrote:Havent pros ridden saddles that weren't from the sponsor, just with the sponsor's name painted on the side?
I've read that a lot of the peloton ride Specialized shoes, although a lot of them with the labels removed.0 -
Boardman rode Dolan frames resprayed in his pro team colours. Kelly wore puma shoes with adidas stripes painted down the side.
I think its a lot harder to do this these days - everything is designed to stand out as much as do the job. So you can't really get away with it.
I'm sure I saw a Euskatel rider in a Kask aero helmet this year though.
I don't think there would be much fuss over electronic v manual gears and often they let riders have their own shoe or saddle sponsors if the team hasn't got one.0 -
cougie wrote:Boardman rode Dolan frames resprayed in his pro team colours. Kelly wore puma shoes with adidas stripes painted down the side.
I think its a lot harder to do this these days - everything is designed to stand out as much as do the job. So you can't really get away with it.
I'm sure I saw a Euskatel rider in a Kask aero helmet this year though.
I don't think there would be much fuss over electronic v manual gears and often they let riders have their own shoe or saddle sponsors if the team hasn't got one.
Earlyish Lance rode a rebranded Litespeed titanium number IIRC?___________________
Strava is not Zen.0 -
Think Ullrich's TT bike was at times not the team-issue bike but a Teschner.0
