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Techs-Mechs: Bike mods of Paris-Roubaix

[editor's note, by Mr Van P] Gravel Road, hope you don't mind, but I couldn't resist adding the Techs-Mechs stamp. Nice piece.

Winning at Paris-Roubaix requires the perfect combination of strength, will, and luck.  Luck being elusive and often cruel, teams try to stack the odds in their favor by implementing all kinds of special adaptations to their bikes and racing tactics.

Each year, one of my favorite things is to watch for the latest 'Roubaix tech'.  Velonews has a story about Slipstream-Chipotle's 'Roubaix tech' and how they have relied on Magnus Backstedt for technical recommendations.
link here

What else is out there?

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If you really want to get technical
L'equipe has the order of the team cars on its website. viz
  1. Saunier Duval
  2. Tinkoff
  3. Française des Jeux
  4. Barloworld
  5. Quick Step
  6. Slipstream
  7. Cofidis
  8. CSC
  9. Cycle Collstrop
  10. Agritubel
  11. Milram
  12. Crédit Agricole
  13. Caisse d'Epargne
  14. Rabobank
  15. Euskaltel
  16. Bouygues Telecom
  17. AG2R
  18. Gerolsteiner
  19. Lampre
  20. Landbouwkrediet
  21. Liquigas
  22. Silence
  23. Skil
  24. High Road
  25. Topsport
Bit of a shame for High Road and Silence, and I'm not sure it will do much good for Tinkoff and SD, but who knows.

by Monty. on Apr 12, 2008 2:39 PM EDT reply actions  

Wrenching at Chez Sui Juris, today
Keeps alternating between downpours and bright sun outside.  Just like Hawaii, except, you know, I'm in DC. Killin' me.

So it's A Sunday in Hell on the screen and a wrench in hand (fine tuning my own ride, and rechecking the Resident Triathlete's bike.)

*T-shirt:  I Don't Do Triathlons.  I Do a Triathlete.*

**Nixed T-shirt (I have no idea why): I Don't Do Triathlons.  I Do Triathletes.  

by Sui Juris on Apr 12, 2008 4:27 PM EDT reply actions  

Check out the piece on Ballan's bike over on CN
Cross bike rear stays, 27mm tires 53/46 chain rings. pracitically everyone is using traditional box rimes.  I love this week.
Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on Apr 12, 2008 5:54 PM EDT reply actions  

Anyone else notice Ballan's wheels
are using non-butted 14 gauge spokes and brass nipples?  I get the impression each year that wheel failure is one thing the riders cannot tolerate.  Also, some guys are still on steel bikes.  
Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on Apr 12, 2008 7:03 PM EDT reply actions  

Van P
If you love wheels, you have to click over to read Radio Freddy's brilliant site
Thousand Islanders: Time to sink or swim, guys!

by Jiggs on Apr 12, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

tag, you're it
Okay, if you're BKW's ambassador (and you probably aren't, but I'm trying to make this your problem anyway), please explain why we need to suffer the grammatical offence that is Belgium Knee Warmers.  And don't try and pass this off as some translation thing.  Je spreche solamente una bisen Euro, but I'm certain that the Continent isn't as illiterate as the phrase "Belgium Knee Warmers" makes it sound.

by Sui Juris on Apr 12, 2008 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

I loved it.
Ambrosio rims have and continue to be hugely popular in the pro ranks in Europe.  They aren't very popular in the states.  Anyone knows who sells them?
Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on Apr 13, 2008 6:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

Did you
have to freeze frame the picture to spot that?

I bet that I originally found Italian Cycling Journal from a link of yours, but if by chance you don't know it then enjoy. hoghlights include a visit to the Pegoretti "factory" (read shed in the hills) and the maker of wooden wheels.

by Monty. on Apr 13, 2008 7:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

Plumbing and cycling?
I love the contributions from the plumbing world.  Metal hose clamps on the seat posts so they don't drop from the constant pounding.  Backstedt likes having a layer of pipe insulation tucked under his tape on the drops of his handlebars.
"Race radios in Cat 4?"

by gravel road on Apr 12, 2008 7:42 PM EDT reply actions  

old school solution
for not-so-rigid rims . . .  (I'm thinking of Wolber Arc-en-ciels and the like)

The theory (remember I'm not Sheldon Brown, Jobst Brandt OR Joe Young):

The point of crossing spokes is to increase lateral rigidity (remember when radial spokes were viewed with horror by all good wheel-builders?).  Tieing and soldering responds to that worry, mainly.  

by R Mc on Apr 13, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

And Hincappie
is essentially on a cross bike minus the knobby tires.  Something tells me I should bring my cross bike when I go in a couple years.
Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on Apr 13, 2008 6:52 AM EDT reply actions  

Speaking of Hincapie
wasn't he using a carbon steerer when it snapped in 2006? And Slipstream is using them today? Eek.
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 13, 2008 7:14 AM EDT reply actions  

shhhhh
if you don't tell the carbon it won't know
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 13, 2008 7:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

It was an aluminum steerer
that actually broke, but not the regular Bonti XXX-Lite race that was standard issue on the Madone's.
Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on Apr 13, 2008 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

Brain fade, but...
Wasn't it an aluminum steerer on a carbon fork -- something from a far less expensive Trek?

"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill"
-- Fausto Coppi

by TCWriter on Apr 13, 2008 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

it was a carbon
fork with aluminum steerer but from a lesser line (dufferent rake).  Aluminum can fail too...
Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on Apr 13, 2008 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

NO
'twas a stock aluminum steerer straight out of the "Pilot" bins.

Not sure what Trek was thinking with THAT one . . .

by R Mc on Apr 13, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ooops
I thought I was responding to a different post--you're correct.

by R Mc on Apr 13, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

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