1 of {count}##
Back to Start
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
The Saturday before Paris-Roubaix is busy, but not frantic. Most of the hard work has been done; the bikes are prepped, the riders are fit and healthy, the staff knows its duties for the big day. All that's left is the low-hanging fruit — clean the cars, fill the bottles, arrange the spare wheels for easy access, then grab a beer and wait. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Mechanic Gary Blem puts a final tune on one of the team's Pinarello K8s inside Sky's spotless work truck. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Thomas Kousgaard mounts bottle cages covered in grip tape to each bike. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
At least two bikes per rider, and another dozen or more wheels waiting in the wings. That's a lot of equipment for a single race. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Riders make any final request — thicker bar tape, for example — after their last pavé recon ride on Thursday or Friday. By Saturday afternoon, mechanic Alex Banyay (in the background) and his colleagues have the bikes dialed, waiting to be loaded up and brought to the start area. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
The cleaning process is also an inspection process. Each frame is looked over for cracks, chips, or other damage. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
A good wash. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Every team has one of these fit/measurement jigs, used for setting up a rider's bikes so they're each identical to each other, and to make sure bikes fit the UCI's regulations. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
A pile of Mavic wheels, each glued up with a 28mm tire, lays in wait next to Katusha's work truck. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Deep wheels are now common. Aluminum wheels are all but extinct. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Tires are cleaned and checked thoroughly. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Riders hit the cobbles on Thursday and Friday, and go for a short spin on Saturday morning. It was raining off and on in northern France on Saturday, so bikes came back dirty, That meant more work for the mechanics in an already-full schedule. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
What lies ahead. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Roubaix team cars are jacked up a few inches, and many teams run thicker tires as well. Most have steel skid plates installed underneath. All these measures help protect the undercarriage from the crown, the raised center section of the pavé, which can easily take out an oil pan or worse. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Team cars sit ready and waiting to be loaded up. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Tools of the trade. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
A Lotto-Soudal mechanic adds a bit of grip tape to the inside of the team's Tacx bottle cages. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Grip tape for the bottle cages. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Cleaning bikes. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Polishing bikes. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
- View Larger Image.
Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Roubaix
Mechanics keep the pro peloton in motion. They're professional, each with his own style, setup, and attitude. Gruff on first contact, perhaps, but there are no bad souls in a profession that exists, largely out of the limelight, for the lone purpose of helping others succeed. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
The post Gallery: Mechanics prepare for Paris-Roubaix appeared first on VeloNews.com.
View the full article
