[Closed] Pro Road Cycling Questions

Regarding geometry

No, they're not custom built frames for each rider. Time was they were, but these days, they all ride production frames, cos Pro Tour Cycling is as relevant, if not more so, to sales of bikes within the ranges from each respective company, as anything else. A Pro rider will to an extent know what TT length, Headtube length, and stem length suits them best, and will pick out a frame size from a range of sizes (most top end frames come in maybe 6 or more sizes with perhaps only 15mm between each size in the TT length) that comes closest to that, and then adapt position to suit. Stem lengths are easily interchangeable in 10mm increments, saddle height and fore/aft position is infinitely adjustable, so custom fit is largely irrelevant to them to be honest. They almost all run frames way too small for them with overly long stems (to get a lower, racier front end position) anyway, so it's also largely irrelevant to the public anyway as we all run 100-110mm stems for the mostpart on our road bikes, and they're running 130-150mm stems on small frames, with no top caps on their headsets to further lower the position!

For a customer of say 5ft10, I could take a 54cm and a 56cm bike version of the same bike, adjust saddle position and stem length and height for both bikes, and effectively replicate the same position on both bikes anyway. There is built in crossover between each size on purpose...

EDIT: The spec of each bike will be, from within a range of products that the sponsors make, custom specced for each rider within a team though. For instance, Cav runs heavy components and wheels able to withstand his enormous power when sprinting, and as a result, his bike is usually closer to 8kg than the 6.8kg UCI minimum weight limit. Anorexic climbers often have to ballast their bikes to make sure they're over the minimum weight limit, because they can get away with much lighter equipment because of their lack of weight and strength in comparison to the Cav's of this world.

alot to learn my pupil, alot to learn.

Most if not all pro team bikes are measured and made to fit. Cavendishes old Scott for instance used to be beefed up in certain areas like BB and stem/fork to handle his power. You wont find many differneces in geometry between there old team and new team bikes. They do adjust throughout races/tours. Mechanics are known to lower seat heights by an inch between stages depending on pro's needs.
You'll find all camera/safety motorcyclists are equivalent to out NEG trained riders, (national escort group) these guys are all trained to be able to ride alongside, ahead, behind riders safely and effciently.
If a rider gets a mechanical then it is illegal to draft behind the cars to get back on to the groups. The commonsieur normally allows this to happen because it doesn't affect the race results up to a certain point or if he's in contention. So.... if he has a machanical 50km out then its generally o.k. to happen but if its 5km out then its a no no. Generally if a contendor has a mechanical then his whole team will drop back to get him back on which if your only 10km is pretty tough going and most times a team rider will just hand the TL his bike/front wheel. If they crash within 3km then they get the same time as the bunch who finish ahead

If your in a break you occasionally get a tiny bit of drafting behind a motorcyclist but its a no no, so the commonseiur will be instructing the motorbikes to move out the way. They'll generally stay about 20 bike lengths ahead so they cant draft, or beside them. Up a climb going at 12km/ph is different cos drafting is negligible. photographers on bikes generally are allowed in for 3 or 4 photos then drive away so nothing happens towards drafting. .

Once you understand tactics, who the riders are, who's the contendors, how the teams work, road racing is very exciting

It's a requirement for motorcycle riders and team car drivers to drive like lunatics. They occasionally hit a rider and get told off for it. Most of the drivers/riders are ex road pros anyway so have an idea of what the racers are going to do and when.

Bike fit is important, but the majority use standard size frames, but there are a number of riders who like a custom fit.
Crashes with motorbikes and team cars do happen but their all very experienced and it doesn't happen to often.
Commissairs are the refferies and police the race. Drafting behind team cars is against the rules but is often tolerated in the interest of having a sporting race. Drafting behind a motorbike to establish a break would be jumped upon straight away, not to say they don't grap a sneaky pull as the bikes go by.

Once you understand tactics, who the riders are, who's the contendors, how the teams work, road racing is very exciting

See, I didn't get this for many many years...

As soon as I finally took the time to begin to understand it, it becomes addictive following races like the TdF! I'll admit it makes cricket look as simple as football by comparison (and I know most people don't like cricket cos it's seen as being too complicated), but it's riveting once you begin to understand whats going on.

cricket????? get off this bloody forum 🙂

Thanks all for clearing that up, I know that components and bikes change to suit the race but interesting to learn that most of them are riding "Off the shelf" frames.
I've watched most of Paris Nice among other races and have really enjoyed it. Guess it's a good time to learn because its just the start of the season.

The best races of the season are the one day Classics,and the best of those are the Tour of Flanders this Sunday and the Paris Roubaix next Sunday,well worth a look.

On the equipment side, don't assume because someone is sponsored to use something that they are actually using it. I suspect you will see a few riders in black jerseys on sunday as they pull out the Castelli Gabba's again. Against all the rules that demand colours and numbers are visible but the fines aren't that much.

Tyres, not unusual to see felt tip on the sidewalls or prototypes that no one outside the pro-tour will ever use. Kit may not be the top line stuff it may be lighter but weight is actually not really a problem, hence you see some riders with power meters. One common result is Campagnolo riders on Record not Super Record. and the cheaper steel casettes not the Ti ones.

A lot of the change to off the shelf has been driven by outsourcing frames to the far east and the use of carbon, steel is easy to tailor to a rider, laying up a carbon frame not so.

The majority of frames are off-the-peg, same with components. However if you look carefully, you can sometimes see a team using parts which they've gone out and bought in preference to using a part from a sponsor. Saddles are commonly changed as riders will have their own preferences and sometimes you can see teams using plain wheels which usually means they'll have gone out and bought a load of Zipp wheels or something cos their own wheel sponsor doesn't cater for that particular race requirement.

Driving within a convoy is an incredible skill. I've done it a few times and it's exhilarating but also mentally exhausting. Some of what you see you cringe at but actually it's (almost always) pretty safe. Most of the drivers are ex riders and all the riders are used to riding with cars/bikes around them so they all know what each other are doing.

Have a watch of this video for some great descending and some "interesting" driving (and spare a thought for the moto pilot and cameraman following him - unbelievable riding!)

You can see some of the cars stopping before the bend to allow him to use the full width of the road - shows how aware they are of riders moving up through the convoy. That and the fact that they're all linked in by radio so they'll be told that a rider is coming through.

cricket????? get off this bloody forum

It's a game of skill

Played by gentlemen

On a nice summer's day

To be fair, 3 things I'd not expect anyone from north of the border to understand anyway! 😉

Mrmo it's interesting you said that, that stage I just watched (Paris Nice) the commentator said that a number of riders were fined for not displaying numbers because they had rain jackets over.

It's a game of skill

Played by gentlemen

On a nice summer's day

To be fair, 3 things I'd not expect anyone from north of the border to understand anyway!

touche

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don't all drive well[/url]...(2011 tdf)

The top UCI teams will have frame and equipment sponsors. For Sky it is Pinarello and Shimano - the whole team race on Dura Ace Di2 11 speed. The lower ranking teams may not have a bike sponsor and have to pay for their own equipment. Hence Record or last years 10 speed Dura Ace. Contact points can be riders own, and it is pretty common to ride with alloy handlebars. Weight is not an issue for the bikes.

As said, frames are normally off the peg. And you can buy exactly the same frames (say a TCR Advanced SL as per [s]Rabobank [/s]Bianco). You can't buy big George Hincapies though

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There are exceptions, and it was fairly common to ride on camouflaged frames from one;s Favorited maker in years gone by. Much less common in the age of carbon. Here's Lance on a Trek branded Litespeed

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Of course the all the bikes roll on tubs because there is a car (or Mavic motorbike) to provide a change for punctures. Expect to see team mates sacrifice a wheel, or even a bike if the need arises - say team car is too far back or held up in the congestion.

That BMC is such a lovely bike.

Nearest I've ever come to riding in a convoy was in South Africa when my riding buddies and I got caught up with a slow-moving motorbike club. It was very fast, hot, smelly and funny to see the contrast between the skiiny little cyclists and the big fat bikers all dressed in black leathers.

there's some great go-pro footage of the cars in chasing legends. The whole film is worth a watch IMO.