Have you ever wondered how many days it takes the mechanics to build up the race bikes? When the guys showed up at training camp on Monday and had to have everything ready for 30 riders to go on Thursday, I was a little nervous. After all there was only three guys to build 45 bikes. We are not talking bike shop pre-built bikes either, this was completely from scratch with parts in boxes. Well they pulled it off. In an assembly line kind of build, these guys were done Wednesday before 5pm. It was pretty incredible to watch.
Here is a photo of the build crew, 3 mechanics, and some support from Sram and from Trek
Keith Russell
Fastest I ever managed to put together a road bike (including fitting headset, cutting steerer tube/star nut, fitting groupset, cables, bottom bracket, tyres/tubes/cassette etc.) was 90 minutes. I cannot even begin to imagine having to build 30, even with three guys, in a day!! Fantastic achievement guys.
February 19, 2008 at 01:57 AM
Uzair
Hi there,
I wonder why not all he team members at the ToC are using the new TTX SSL 9.9 as I saw a picture of the warm up prior to the prologue and it caught my eye when one of the riders was on an older model of the TTX (the one Lance Armstrong used) where the seatpost was still a traditional version and not the aearo post on the newer models.
Were there a lack of bikes so to speak?
Good look. Jani rides a an old TT bike by choice. His knees hit the wider top tube on the TTX. He really wants to ride the TTX but has not been able to change his pedaling style. Jani has incredibly narrow hips, not usual at all.
Ben Coates: Team Liaison
February 19, 2008 at 06:22 AM
Uzair
Hi there Ben,
I was wondering if there are 'required' or 'recommended' spacer amounts for the TTX to have between the aerobars and the the headset as I have heard that it is recommended to have at least 5mm of spacers on the older Madones (with the straight top tube ala the 5.9 SSL models back then).
Is this true or a concern?
It is alway better to put a spacer below the stem, it reduces the stress on the steer tube, however all Trek forks are certified to use up to a 140mm stem with no spacers below. On a tt bike, the head tube is more aero dynamic than the spacer so the less you use the faster your bike will be, but remember that a comfortable rider usually produces more power.
Ben Coates: Team Liaison
February 21, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Justin
As a developing bike mechanic stories like these are a true inspiration. Looking at the prep photos is amazing, seeing all the frames and groupsets waiting to be fitted... the Park Tools website has a nice couple of stories with the Discovery mechanics from last year team camps, showing the assembly of bikes for last season, in the carpark of the hotel. Not bad for such a professional outcome!
Love the insights Ben, keep it up!
February 23, 2008 at 12:47 AM