"Ask Nick" on velonews.com is a fantabulous column...

['Dale]

Nick is a former pro mechanic that now answers questions from readers on velonews.com.

 

Really interesting and insightful.

Go checkit out!

 

Here's an example:

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Q. Nick,

As of late, I’ve noticed that whenever a rider gets into a tour jersey, be it yellow, green or polka-dot, he usually shows up to the line the next day with a matching bike, shorts, helmet, and other accessories to celebrate the occasion.

 

I was wondering where these products come from. Do teams with CG riders bring a “just in case” yellow bike and helmet. If so, does that put a lot of pressure on riders knowing that it’s in the truck? What happens to unused yellow bike for a rider who never takes the jersey? The practice seems a little presumptuous.

— Tim Shanahan

 

A.Tim,

Mario Cipollini can be credited with introducing bikes and helmets to match a grand tour jersey. It wasn’t uncommon for his team to bring yellow and green bikes and accessories to the Tour. He also changed into tailored suits for the podium, arrived in a horse-drawn chariot to a stage wearing a toga, and won more stages of the Giro d’Italia than anyone thought possible.

 

Amazingly, in Cipo’s time the UCI assessed a fine for each clothing “violation.” Cipollini had enough forethought to include a clause in his contract that required his team to pay all his UCI fines. It was money well spent, though. He was larger than life and his sponsors loved it.

 

That’s also why teams and their sponsors continue to build special bikes for jersey wearers. Before a grand tour, the team and its sponsor organize the special goods. Just as you say, the team predicts who will wear a jersey and orders up the corresponding frame and helmet sizes.

 

At the Tour this year, we (RadioShack) were parked next to Saxo Bank in the Tour’s opening week. The night after the prologue, mechanics were busy building up Cancellara’s yellow bike for the following day. In the truck the mechanics also had Andy Schleck’s Luxembourg national champion bike, a Specialized promo bike covered in contestants’ names that Andy rode, as well as a yellow frame for Andy. We happened to share hotels the night after Andy took the yellow jersey. Sure enough, another late night for his mechanics.

 

I’m not sure how these items affect a rider’s psychological state. On some teams, the bikes are a surprise; they simply appear on the appropriate day for the rider. Many teams are superstitious about items like this. I was. It’s bad luck to build the bike before the jersey is won (it’s also a waste of work if your team never manages to grab a jersey…).

 

Often, the bike will go to the rider. Sometimes it will go on display at the bicycle manufacturer’s office. I’ve heard of them being auctioned for charity as well. If the frame goes unused, it’s up to the manufacturer or team to decide where it goes.

 

Is it presumptuous? Yes, a bit. Is it more work for the sponsors and mechanics? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Of course. There is nothing more resplendent than the leader of cycling’s greatest race aboard a custom yellow bicycle.