Make sure your bike is ready to ride at all times - that way you won't start to put things off or pretend you'll do them later. "Keep your frame clean - it looks better and it makes it easier to spot imperfections or tiny cracks if they appear. You should replace your chain twice, maybe even three times, before you'll need to replace your rear cassette." Keep it clean, like I said, and replace it when it begins to stretch. Look after your chain and everything else will generally be OK. Wipe your chain clean then apply a little chain lube after each ride, and degrease your chain and groupset once a week. When you take into account the power these guys are putting out, and the strain they put through their machines, that's pretty good."īikeRoar: What are some tips you'd offer to those amateur riders who like to tinker with their own bikes? We will generally get by with only two new chains per bike per year, and only one new groupset. If you keep chains, cogs, derailleurs, and cables clean they last much longer. So mostly it's maintenance and cleaning, which go hand in hand anyway. "Groupsets and shifting systems are so advanced now that there's not nearly as much you need to do with them. "It's not really so much a job as a lifestyle," he admits, "but it's definitely worth it."īikeRoar: So what actually takes place in the workshop? It sounds like the work is never-ending, and this impression is confirmed when Ward tells me he only had five days off for the entire racing season last year! And don't forget, when these guys aren't racing they're training, so all their training bikes need to be taken care of, too." "When the team returns, all their bikes need to be unpacked, inspected, serviced, and then re-packed before being sent to the next race destination. Then after it's all over I need to check the bikes and get them ready for the next day, so generally I'm not done until about 9pm."īikeRoar: OK, that's a lot of work - but at least you can take it easy between tours and races, right? I prep the bikes and make adjustments until the race starts, then I'm in the car all day, either driving, swapping out wheels, or handing over food to riders in the feed zones. BikeRoar: What does an average day look like for you?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |