TDF Bikes Maintenance Schedule
Calamity Al
Posts: 19
Got thinking about this the other day, do they test components in-between stages or just change things as a matter of course?
What about tyres and tubes, do riders get a brand new set for each stage?
In F1 the drivers have a certain amount of tyres that have to last the full race weekend, and a certain amount of engine components to last the season, are there any limitations like this in the TDF?
What about tyres and tubes, do riders get a brand new set for each stage?
In F1 the drivers have a certain amount of tyres that have to last the full race weekend, and a certain amount of engine components to last the season, are there any limitations like this in the TDF?
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Bikes are stripped & rebuilt every night with new tyres tubes blocks cables chain rings cassette & bar tape + anything else that looks like it needs changing. There are no limitations in what they can use within the UCI definitions of a bicycle; a bike swap mid-stage is a common sight, either through damage etc or different terrain - Froome swapped his halfway round the TT last year.
All of those things are consumables and a minuscule cost of doing an event like the TdF, and the manufacturers want their shiny kit to look like new on the tv. They don't skimp on the small cost of that sort of stuff, and the rules allow riders to continue in case of mechanical issues - the emphasis on not just the tour but all other events is on the rider, not the bike.0 -
Cool, good info thanks.0
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Bikes are stripped & rebuilt every night with new tyres tubes blocks cables chain rings cassette & bar tape + anything else that looks like it needs changing.
Just to be clear - all those things are not all routinely replaced every day - that would be ridiculous.0 -
yeah I'm pretty sure some of that is wrong
I think it revolves around cleaning, they clean the bikes and check them at the same time, a clean bike is easier to spot defects
they don't change tires and tubes after every stage as they use tubulars and spend 3 days gluing each of them on, when the tires are clean they check them and if they're scuffed/cut/damaged enough they swap the wheel - the old wheel will go off to have a new tubular glued on
they check the wheels are true, check the torque of all the important bolts etc - safety check sort of stuff
they change the cassette/cranks if the next stage demands different gearing
they don't change cables as almost all of them are on electronic, for those that are still using cables I think they just make sure they're indexed rather than change them every day, though it's a very quick and cheap job to do the inners so I imagine that will be done at regular intervals
they put new chains on at regular intervals but not every day, brake blocks as needed
they re-lube the chain and pivots after every clean
however I think it's true they have fresh bar tape for every stage0 -
I thought they just replaced every bike with a brand new one every day.I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles0
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When Chris Froome starts looking a bit tatty, Sky replace him with a new one. What do you think they have those huge buses for?0
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Going off a slight - or poss big - tangent, when a rider commandeers a domestique's bike after a crash and makes up five minutes to get back to the pack, it does make the idea of forking out hundreds of pounds on a bike fitting seem slightly ridiculous...Job: Job, n,. A frustratingly long period of time separating two shorter than usual training rides0
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[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658438#p19658438]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:Going off a slight - or poss big - tangent, when a rider commandeers a domestique's bike after a crash and makes up five minutes to get back to the pack, it does make the idea of forking out hundreds of pounds on a bike fitting seem slightly ridiculous...
It wasn't already?0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658441#p19658441]Simon Masterson[/url] wrote:[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658438#p19658438]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:Going off a slight - or poss big - tangent, when a rider commandeers a domestique's bike after a crash and makes up five minutes to get back to the pack, it does make the idea of forking out hundreds of pounds on a bike fitting seem slightly ridiculous...
It wasn't already?
Touché...Job: Job, n,. A frustratingly long period of time separating two shorter than usual training rides0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658438#p19658438]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:Going off a slight - or poss big - tangent, when a rider commandeers a domestique's bike after a crash and makes up five minutes to get back to the pack, it does make the idea of forking out hundreds of pounds on a bike fitting seem slightly ridiculous...
Tony Martin won a stage and took the Yellow jersey on his team mates bike with the brakes round the wrong way.
Pretty much everything CiB said is wrong, Froome swapped during the TT (I'm assuming you mean the Vuelta) as it was a mountain one and the TT bike with disc etc is too heavy.0 -
Froome switched during 2013 TdF TT from a climbing bike to a TT bike mid-stage.
http://road.cc/content/news/88591-tour-de-france-stage-17-chris-froome-wins-time-trial-alberto-contador-moves2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658359#p19658359]SloppySchleckonds[/url] wrote:I thought they just replaced every bike with a brand new one every day.
only after wet stages...carbon dissolves you know
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Most are - Ned B does a regular piece showing how the mechanics strip & clean each bike. Why would you reuse a couple of quid's worth of brake cable, or brake blocks that have done a mountain descent? And the point stands that the manufacturers want shiny as-new bikes to be seen on the coverage.Bikes are stripped & rebuilt every night with new tyres tubes blocks cables chain rings cassette & bar tape + anything else that looks like it needs changing.
Just to be clear - all those things are not all routinely replaced every day - that would be ridiculous.
The detail is irrelevant - the point was that riders can and do swap bikes mid-stage, either for mechanical probs or because one bike is a compromise on a substantial part of a stage. They're not limited in the way that F1 teams are, which was the original question.[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658438#p19658438]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:Going off a slight - or poss big - tangent, when a rider commandeers a domestique's bike after a crash and makes up five minutes to get back to the pack, it does make the idea of forking out hundreds of pounds on a bike fitting seem slightly ridiculous...
Tony Martin won a stage and took the Yellow jersey on his team mates bike with the brakes round the wrong way.
Pretty much everything CiB said is wrong, Froome swapped during the TT (I'm assuming you mean the Vuelta) as it was a mountain one and the TT bike with disc etc is too heavy.0 -
I've often wondered what happens to the bikes when they upgrade to the next year's models. I assume they're passed down the ranks to the newbie pro's etc, but even when they're finished with them, they could still potentially be worth getting hold of if the price is right. Yes, they'll have seen a lot of hard use and probably the odd crash or 15, but you know the maintenance will have been top-notch.Job: Job, n,. A frustratingly long period of time separating two shorter than usual training rides0
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[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658930#p19658930]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:I've often wondered what happens to the bikes when they upgrade to the next year's models. I assume they're passed down the ranks to the newbie pro's etc, but even when they're finished with them, they could still potentially be worth getting hold of if the price is right. Yes, they'll have seen a lot of hard use and probably the odd crash or 15, but you know the maintenance will have been top-notch.
some definitely make it as corporate gifts / charity raffle prizes etc at end of season.Bianchi Infinito CV
Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
Brompton S Type
Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
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Tubulars... I rember seeing a documentary about the US Postal Cycling Team, it showed they got all tubulars from one eccentric Belgian bloke with a cottage industry. This Belgian had a dark cold cellar full of tubulars that were maturing like a fine wine or cheese !!! He made out they perform better after being stored and a tubular he had hung up would be winning the TDF in a few years time. So bizarre it was like a parody joke."The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby0
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[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658930#p19658930]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:I've often wondered what happens to the bikes when they upgrade to the next year's models. I assume they're passed down the ranks to the newbie pro's etc, but even when they're finished with them, they could still potentially be worth getting hold of if the price is right. Yes, they'll have seen a lot of hard use and probably the odd crash or 15, but you know the maintenance will have been top-notch.
Merlin have had some ex-Lotto-Soudal/Bellisol Ridleys for sale sometimes as well as some ex-race cross bikes.
They did have some things swapped out though like wheels ,stems etc but think they still had Record eps on some of them.Ridley Helium SL (Dura-Ace/Wheelsmith Aero-dimpled 45 wheels)
Light Blue Robinson(105 +lots of Hope)
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Graham Weigh 105/Ultegra0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658930#p19658930]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:Yes, they'll have seen a lot of hard use and probably the odd crash or 15, but you know the maintenance will have been top-notch.
Don't count on that.0 -
He made out they perform better after being stored and a tubular he had hung up would be winning the TDF in a few years time. So bizarre it was like a parody joke.
Bizarre?
EVERYBODY did that > 30 years ago.0 -
He made out they perform better after being stored and a tubular he had hung up would be winning the TDF in a few years time. So bizarre it was like a parody joke.
Bizarre?
EVERYBODY did that > 30 years ago.
Still know some people that do it with clinchers! Old habits I guess...0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658930#p19658930]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:I've often wondered what happens to the bikes when they upgrade to the next year's models. I assume they're passed down the ranks to the newbie pro's etc, but even when they're finished with them, they could still potentially be worth getting hold of if the price is right. Yes, they'll have seen a lot of hard use and probably the odd crash or 15, but you know the maintenance will have been top-notch.
Merlin have had some ex-Lotto-Soudal/Bellisol Ridleys for sale sometimes as well as some ex-race cross bikes.
They did have some things swapped out though like wheels ,stems etc but think they still had Record eps on some of them.
Slipstream have an annual sale of bikes at the end of the year. Up until the end of last year it was anything from an R3, R5, S3, S5 and even P5's as either a spare bike or a used bike. I suspect the Cannondale's will be up at the end of this year too.
http://www.shopslipstreamsports.com/bikes-equipment0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658930#p19658930]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:I've often wondered what happens to the bikes when they upgrade to the next year's models. I assume they're passed down the ranks to the newbie pro's etc, but even when they're finished with them, they could still potentially be worth getting hold of if the price is right. Yes, they'll have seen a lot of hard use and probably the odd crash or 15, but you know the maintenance will have been top-notch.
Merlin have had some ex-Lotto-Soudal/Bellisol Ridleys for sale sometimes as well as some ex-race cross bikes.
They did have some things swapped out though like wheels ,stems etc but think they still had Record eps on some of them.
Slipstream have an annual sale of bikes at the end of the year. Up until the end of last year it was anything from an R3, R5, S3, S5 and even P5's as either a spare bike or a used bike. I suspect the Cannondale's will be up at the end of this year too.
http://www.shopslipstreamsports.com/bikes-equipment
Any idea how the prices compare with new? Not that I need another bike, but just for curiosity's sake... Job: Job, n,. A frustratingly long period of time separating two shorter than usual training rides0 -
Most are
No - most aren't. That's simply not correct. Clean, re-lube and re-adjust is all most get. Unless they actually need something replaced, it is not replaced routinely. I've no idea where you are getting your information from (apart from Ned Boulting).0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658374#p19658374]Simon Masterson[/url] wrote:When Chris Froome starts looking a bit tatty, Sky replace him with a new one. What do you think they have those huge buses for?
They don't replace the whole one, just the blood ;-)0 -
Most are - Ned B does a regular piece showing how the mechanics strip & clean each bike. Why would you reuse a couple of quid's worth of brake cable, or brake blocks that have done a mountain descent? And the point stands that the manufacturers want shiny as-new bikes to be seen on the coverage.Bikes are stripped & rebuilt every night with new tyres tubes blocks cables chain rings cassette & bar tape + anything else that looks like it needs changing.
Just to be clear - all those things are not all routinely replaced every day - that would be ridiculous.
Why would they strip down a bike just after one stage? It's just not neccessary, creates extra workload and increases the chances of something being installed incorrectly or a faulty part being installed. If it's not worn enough to affect performance or broken, then why risk replacing it with another part? It doesn't make sense.
Read this:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/bikes-and-tech/ask-nick/ask-nick-pros-replacement-parts-where-to-carry-your-stuff-carbon-brake-pads-and-more_1885330 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19659211#p19659211]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658930#p19658930]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:I've often wondered what happens to the bikes when they upgrade to the next year's models. I assume they're passed down the ranks to the newbie pro's etc, but even when they're finished with them, they could still potentially be worth getting hold of if the price is right. Yes, they'll have seen a lot of hard use and probably the odd crash or 15, but you know the maintenance will have been top-notch.
Merlin have had some ex-Lotto-Soudal/Bellisol Ridleys for sale sometimes as well as some ex-race cross bikes.
They did have some things swapped out though like wheels ,stems etc but think they still had Record eps on some of them.
Slipstream have an annual sale of bikes at the end of the year. Up until the end of last year it was anything from an R3, R5, S3, S5 and even P5's as either a spare bike or a used bike. I suspect the Cannondale's will be up at the end of this year too.
http://www.shopslipstreamsports.com/bikes-equipment
Any idea how the prices compare with new? Not that I need another bike, but just for curiosity's sake...
I can't remember exact prices but I know that with the exchange rate (prices were in dollars) I was very tempted. Bikes come with full DA (some with Di2) but tubular wheels had mostly been swapped out for Mavic clinchers.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658438#p19658438]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:Going off a slight - or poss big - tangent, when a rider commandeers a domestique's bike after a crash and makes up five minutes to get back to the pack, it does make the idea of forking out hundreds of pounds on a bike fitting seem slightly ridiculous...
Tony Martin won a stage and took the Yellow jersey on his team mates bike with the brakes round the wrong way..
And don't forget Jens on the child's bike in 2010. Bike 24 sizes too small and he was still a billion times cooler than Froomedog.Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honoursmithy21 wrote:
He's right you know.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658438#p19658438]steadyrollingman[/url] wrote:Going off a slight - or poss big - tangent, when a rider commandeers a domestique's bike after a crash and makes up five minutes to get back to the pack, it does make the idea of forking out hundreds of pounds on a bike fitting seem slightly ridiculous...
Tony Martin won a stage and took the Yellow jersey on his team mates bike with the brakes round the wrong way.
Some riders are far more susceptible to changes in position than others. There was an interview with Gary Blem one of the Sky mechanics who said that Luke Rowe, for example would complain if his seatpost was 3mm too high but you could probably put G on a bmx and he wouldn't notice.0 -
Generally it's new chain/bar tape on rest days unless the tape has been crash damaged. The trucks have a large amount of cassettes and these are changed to suit to terrain/riders and with the advent of interchangeable chain rings it means riders have access to eg 52/36 with 11-32 or 53/39 with 11-25 qithout much difficulty. A piece on Sky last year showed they used Ultegra cassettes as they were cheaper and the cassettes were swapped about so they didn't get too much wear.M.Rushton0
