Pros and their equipment

tailwindhome

Do pros get attached to their equipment in the same way a golfer or snooker player might?

Presumably most of the components are just consumable items, but would the likes of a saddle go from bike to bike or a particular make/model of say stem, bar tape, pedal/cleat combination?

The_Boy

Didn't Lance use the same saddle throughout his career, but with a branded cover defending on who the team sponsor was?

larkim

Funnily enough this was a topic of conversation for me the other day - curious as to how amateur riders get their knickers in a twist about which bike to buy, yet pros ride whatever frame their team gives them. Or do they? I did hear an allegation that riders will ride the bike (frame) they like, but have it re-painted to match the team preferred supplier bike.

bobmcstuff

larkim wrote:

I did hear an allegation that riders will ride the bike (frame) they like, but have it re-painted to match the team preferred supplier bike.

Races or training? They often get tyres etc. that they like blacked out so as not to offend sponsors but I don't see them riding an entirely different frame in a race or team training as that would be very obvious - even with a respray. So far as I know while some ride blacked out tyres, clothing and occasionally components from non-sponsors I haven't seen frames from other manufacturers used at races.

Training at home etc. might be a different matter.

salsiccia1

larkim wrote:

I did hear an allegation that riders will ride the bike (frame) they like, but have it re-painted to match the team preferred supplier bike.

Not sure it's as common as it used to be, given the distinctive shape of carbon frames etc, but I think that used to be pretty common. Robert Millar talks about it in the TDF Rouleur issue.

fenix

larkim wrote:

Funnily enough this was a topic of conversation for me the other day - curious as to how amateur riders get their knickers in a twist about which bike to buy, yet pros ride whatever frame their team gives them. Or do they? I did hear an allegation that riders will ride the bike (frame) they like, but have it re-painted to match the team preferred supplier bike.

You used to be able to get away with this when everything was steel - but nowadays the quirks of carbon quickly give away the true identity of the frame. Amateurs often fall for the marketing spiel. Pros get to ride a lot of bikes and you'll notice it's not one bike that wins all of the races - at the top level the bike won't make the difference.

larkim

None of that surprises me, but thanks for confirming - I did think that pro race enthusiasts would have a keen eye to spot someone riding something that wasn't the same as the badging.

rick_chasey

The_Boy wrote:

Didn't Lance use the same saddle throughout his career, but with a branded cover defending on who the team sponsor was?

San Marco.







Can't say it looks the comfiest, but what works works.

rick_chasey

Armstrong was also a fan of HED front wheels in his TTs, despite the bontranger sponsors.

Matthewfalle

Didn't he also use Lightweights with the logos blacked out? Ullrich did and I remember somewhere saying that Armstrong tried to jump the queue for some but he was told to jog on.

rick_chasey

Matthewfalle wrote:

Didn't he also use Lightweights with the logos blacked out? Ullrich did and I remember somewhere saying that Armstrong tried to jump the queue for some but he was told to jog on.

Story here: https://rouleur.cc/journal/bicycles/lig ... nufacturer

Ben6899

Sarto makes a lot of frames, to this day, for professional teams. Yet how many teams actually ride Sarto bikes?

greasedscotsman

fenix wrote:

Amateurs often fall for the marketing spiel. Pros get to ride a lot of bikes and you'll notice it's not one bike that wins all of the races - at the top level the bike won't make the difference.

OK, it's from a few years back, but I'm sure there are as many pros who have the same outlook as Lemond did.

LeMond explained the harsh reality:
“Let’s say I’m riding a bike that’s heavier than Indurain’s bike. Assuming that we’re in the same condition and we’re climbing Alpe d’Huez — if Indurain is on a lighter bike and I know this, I’m going to give up. I won’t push myself as hard. I need to have the best bike.”

http://www.calfeedesign.com/wp-content/ ... Lemond.pdf

DeVlaeminck

How many pros get custom frames made for them these days ? I know Sagan and Boonen both have at times but I don't know if they do now.

As far as amateurs go I don't think it's necessarily marketing spiel - bikes really do ride differently and if it's your own money why not spend a bit of time getting one that suits the way you ride and the fit and looks you want. OK so it is easy to overstate the differences but some bikes do feel inherently stiffer, smooter, more stable etc. It probably is a difference in feel more than actual performance but it all helps.

Even with the pros you'll see some choosing one model and others another so personal preference does play a part - Venge or Tarmac if you ride specialised and the same for other manufacturers that produce different race worthy models.

fenix

Indurain was a fair few inches taller than Lemond. I'd have thought he should be focusing on that rather than giving up cos a bigger boy had a "better bike" ;-)