I imagine some riders are, um, let's say lacking in social graces, and probably take it out on a mechanic or two when things go wrong on the road. Not sure I'd have the patience to deal with that.
At least they get to work on nice light bikes. I had a summer job as a mechanic and I always worked with dirty heavy 20kg bikes with sh**ty components...
My choice for worst jobs as a pro team mechanic would be: - Routing internal cables - Gluing tubular tires - Repairing bikes during bad weather - Parts inventory management - Washing bikes Nevertheless, these mechanics will always do these jobs even in the toughest conditions. They are the true unsung heroes of pro cycling. Gained my respect forever.
gluing tubs is alright....it's gluing your hand to your leg and your leg to the wheel and your wheel to your other hand and that hand to the tub that sucks
I have a small Business where we put on cycling events and the worst thing is setting up and taking down. Saying that I can only imagine that pulling out the awning in hooking up the generator's houses air compressors and then having to pack everything up and move to the next event is a pain in the butt
Years ago I knew a guy who had been a pro mechanic back when 6 speed free wheels were common. he said he would often have to change about 20 free wheels every night and every rider wanted their own ratios.
Fixing a dropped chain while running alongside a rider that is still moving forward - Orica Scott mechanic did it in the Giro Rosa TT this week for Annemiek Van Vleuten and only chopped up his finger a little bit.
I agree that driving between stages is not fun. As a spectator, I have sat in traffic jams for several hours to get off a mountain to go to the next stage
Hey GCN I need your help! I am 14 and started cycling when i was 11 and i done a few races till i was about 12 and a half then when i wenton holiday I had a foot injury and I got lazy and never went back. I want to go back to training and want to work to be a pro. Any tips on how to get to pro. Thanks very much Connor
Do you guys have a video talking about this stretching of tires and tubes (and gluing, what is that)? I've never heard of that till this video. Is this something the lay cyclist needs to worry about?
Hello, mountain biker here, I want to ask, how could road cyclists got so many puncture in a race? I thought flat smooth tarmac won't "hurt" the tyres. Sfbe
simple, mountain bike tires are designed to be tough and hard wearing the larger tires and generally lower PSI also helps the tire to deform around stones; racing tubs are a softer rubber (to increase grip) and sometimes latex innertubes are used which are lighter and "faster" but again not as hard wearing.
Martyn Ashton I think used a 4 season tire so its a tougher rubber and normal inner tubes I tend to only get a couple of punctures a year, but still its pretty darn amazing seeing when he got up to there.
I'm the type of guy where if someone had set up a bike for me and I could feel the saddle being 1mm off, I would just say "here hand me that wrench" and try to adjust it myself instead of having the mechanic do it. Then again I'd probably want to set it up myself in the first place. I hate when people work on my stuff for me.
Geraint Thomas road half way through the Tour of France on the wrong bike and no one noticed. Bike Fitting is half science and half feel. There is no such thing as the right position. There is a range of what is right. The more adaptable a cyclist is the larger the "range of right". Adaptable can be physical or psychological. So a main factor of bike fitting is personality. There are people who everything must be "just so" up to "rough enough is good enough". MM right or CM right. Cyclists need to forget about small differences. Its training and desire that get results.
So, none of the mechanics mind sticking their body out the back of a moving car in the middle of a race to reach down with their fingers and fix the rear derailleur?
I don't know if you're still looking or not (or which country you're in), but www.itv.com/tourdefrance works in the UK - all stages broadcast live and about 45 minutes of highlights per stage available on demand.
Nice video subject. 2:30 - Is the issue then one of safety of working in an open support-truck area while it is moving/traveling, or one of the fumes from the gluing of the tires? I would think that either issue would be remedied with intelligent support-truck design. Second question - based on the numbers of tires done - are some pros riding on tires they used the day before? I would have thought that they'd get new tires for each new stage. ('tyres' for those who insist on spelling the word incorrectly)
You know how every year someone or team at the TDF is reported as having stomach problems? Well, that someone or team is not washing their own clothes.
Why doesn't the bike industry make enough road tubeless for racing? Lightweight, no gluing and they could be a huge time saver and more economical, even being installed in the back seat of a team car. With sealant can even save a win. After a puncture, Just remove it and donate to a needy person for repair and reuse. a product the pros would more readily adopt than disk brakes.
Gluing tubs? Changing a flat in the rain?! Cry me a river! Be thankful you weren't a bike shop mechanic working during a full Ironman triathlon! Tri bikes are a f*cking nightmare! Insanely expensive bikes are shellacked in dried urine (and sometimes feces)! And triathletes are total shite about even the bare minimum of bike maintenance or cleaning! You haven't lived till you've powerwashed all the dried, corrosive urine off hundreds of tri-bikes (or tried to) before trying to disassemble said Urine-Corroded-Bikes for shipping. Having a neglected $9,000 USD tri bike in your stand, that reeks like urine from several meters away, is quite common.
Yeap, we are a bunch of prima donnas. The guys working the race have it rough too. They always catch flack because they weren't right there when the rider had their problem. One friend of mine was laughing after he came across a guy who had sheared off his rear mech and yelled at him for not having the right hanger and a new Dura Ace DI2 rear mech with him. Yep, prima donnas.
Someone tell this speaker to SLOW DOWN - Breathe - Get some cadence, pause between sentences, emphasis into your speech - don't be Speedy Gonzalez - listeners understand only half of what you're saying !
Strange thing is, at school when getting careers advice, there was never anything like 'mechanic for a pro cycle team' category. It is such a specific job that you could only do if you love the sport so having a worst job within the job itself is comparatively not so bad.
I am sorry, don't have the patience to look for the email icon. My question is, "why is it that the biggest event in cycling is going on and we do not have any video feedback from you or even just a capture of the last 30 mins?" I mean you did that for the HUMMER CHASE. I think this is where it matters the most. All true cyclists want to hear and see feedback of the best from the best.
Let us know what would be your worst or favourite job if you were a Pro Team Mechanic in the comments below 👇
Global Cycling Network my favorite would be a pro cyclist but to be honest probably a mechanical engineer or a mental healthcare services guy
I imagine some riders are, um, let's say lacking in social graces, and probably take it out on a mechanic or two when things go wrong on the road. Not sure I'd have the patience to deal with that.
I'm currently just a kid and in hospital at a really bad condition...
Global Cycling Network cleaning bikes after a wet race.
gluing sounds pretty bad, but so does washing each and every bike after every race D:
talking to the media LOL
I know, what a knob.
@@SteveSUX2BU lmao hahaha he looks like popeye.
Imagine being the laundry guy/ girl after Tom Dumoulin's mishap at the Giro. Living the dream......
CnE At least it was a winning shyte
are you kidding me, I think they threw away the clothing and the saddle after that one. Oh, and power-hose the bike down...
At least they get to work on nice light bikes. I had a summer job as a mechanic and I always worked with dirty heavy 20kg bikes with sh**ty components...
he wasn't even joking when he said the worst is talking to the media lol
My choice for worst jobs as a pro team mechanic would be:
- Routing internal cables
- Gluing tubular tires
- Repairing bikes during bad weather
- Parts inventory management
- Washing bikes
Nevertheless, these mechanics will always do these jobs even in the toughest conditions. They are the true unsung heroes of pro cycling. Gained my respect forever.
My respect to those people!
gluing tubs is the worst
gluing tubs is alright....it's gluing your hand to your leg and your leg to the wheel and your wheel to your other hand and that hand to the tub that sucks
I was referring to what happens if gluing a tub goes REALLY wrong xD
I work a 9-5 job sitting in front of a computer screen. Guess what I'm saying is where do I sign up and what are the required qualifications.
What didn't you like about it?
I have a small Business where we put on cycling events and the worst thing is setting up and taking down. Saying that I can only imagine that pulling out the awning in hooking up the generator's houses air compressors and then having to pack everything up and move to the next event is a pain in the butt
Years ago I knew a guy who had been a pro mechanic back when 6 speed free wheels were common. he said he would often have to change about 20 free wheels every night and every rider wanted their own ratios.
he's right about that millimeter difference. drives me nuts when the seat is 1 high or low. will feel like I'm overworking
yup
if its a massive fuss just use clinchers or tubeless
Fixing a dropped chain while running alongside a rider that is still moving forward - Orica Scott mechanic did it in the Giro Rosa TT this week for Annemiek Van Vleuten and only chopped up his finger a little bit.
Coffee runs would be alright I guess.. 👌💯
#torqueback how do team cars and buses get to different continents? Do they rent cars/buses and apply liviries?
That look bike in the background of the outro was awesome!
Nice video, thanks. Worst job = gluing tubsBest job = Getting to play with the best equipment
I havent watched the video yet, but I would guess setting up the shifters and changing tyres.
I hate anything that requires a lot of upper-body strength. Mainly because I don't have any.
Can't wait to watch the Oltre XR4 video.
I agree that driving between stages is not fun. As a spectator, I have sat in traffic jams for several hours to get off a mountain to go to the next stage
As a home garage bicycle mechanic, I would be honored to go into any pro cycling team and do tire glueing!
If I could work for a pro cycling team, I would be more than happy to do ANY job.... do the laundry, clean the toilet, no problem.
Me too. I want to be a soigneur real bad.
The mm comments made me laugh - I get it - but my first thought was the princess and the pea
Please do a video about that BIANCHI my god..
Hey GCN I need your help! I am 14 and started cycling when i was 11 and i done a few races till i was about 12 and a half then when i wenton holiday I had a foot injury and I got lazy and never went back. I want to go back to training and want to work to be a pro. Any tips on how to get to pro. Thanks very much Connor
my thumbs cried a little at the sight of all those tubulars
Do you guys have a video talking about this stretching of tires and tubes (and gluing, what is that)? I've never heard of that till this video. Is this something the lay cyclist needs to worry about?
Does the manufacturer TIME have any bikes at the 2017 TDF??
No chain keeper being used on that Bianchi? Dan won't be impressed
When travelling between A and B, they should have a workshop in the back of a truck so the mechanics can continue their work whilst on the go.
Hello, mountain biker here, I want to ask, how could road cyclists got so many puncture in a race? I thought flat smooth tarmac won't "hurt" the tyres.
Sfbe
simple, mountain bike tires are designed to be tough and hard wearing the larger tires and generally lower PSI also helps the tire to deform around stones; racing tubs are a softer rubber (to increase grip) and sometimes latex innertubes are used which are lighter and "faster" but again not as hard wearing.
umm all right, thank you. it's quite amazing then to know that Martyn Ashton in his 2nd installment of Road Bike Party only punctures a pair of tyres
Martyn Ashton I think used a 4 season tire so its a tougher rubber and normal inner tubes I tend to only get a couple of punctures a year, but still its pretty darn amazing seeing when he got up to there.
How do i become a worldteam mechanic? I'm young and intrested.
Best job... locking Geoff Brown in the back of the cargo truck so he could stretch tires the whole trip!
surprised the cannondale guys didn't say "getting the bottom brackets to stop creaking"
Big Vegan Jeff that bb30 life
what's wrong with having inner tubes?
nice video
That Dutch bloke at 3:40 clearly wasn't present on media training day.
Whats up with cannondale-drapac team with the zen-ass accents
Worst job: helping the riders
cheat.
Best job: "discarding old parts".
I'm the type of guy where if someone had set up a bike for me and I could feel the saddle being 1mm off, I would just say "here hand me that wrench" and try to adjust it myself instead of having the mechanic do it. Then again I'd probably want to set it up myself in the first place. I hate when people work on my stuff for me.
getting ballpark to the milimeter is the hardest to me
other than a rider getting the spare bike, why would they need their bike measuring up again? dont they keep it as is for the duration of the tour?
Yeh unless they broke a frame and are setting up a new bike, or have a leader on a specific bike I don't see why they need to do it
I hate changing chains. I broke my chain and chain breaker because I buy cheap parts. Not to mention it's also greasy...
Charlie Bennici wear rubber gloves
Geraint Thomas road half way through the Tour of France on the wrong bike and no one noticed.
Bike Fitting is half science and half feel. There is no such thing as the right position. There is a range of what is right. The more adaptable a cyclist is the larger the "range of right". Adaptable can be physical or psychological. So a main factor of bike fitting is personality. There are people who everything must be "just so" up to "rough enough is good enough". MM right or CM right.
Cyclists need to forget about small differences. Its training and desire that get results.
So, none of the mechanics mind sticking their body out the back of a moving car in the middle of a race to reach down with their fingers and fix the rear derailleur?
Why would I hit Cher ?
Igorfun well, why wouldn't you?
Ask Alan Butler! I bet he's got some good ones
Gluing tires, getting the millimeters right, and then having to wash the team cars, buses and trucks after all of that. Sponsors insist.
Ohhhhhh dear.... gluing tubs is one of the worst..
I've always wondered how one can become a pro mechanic, like who picks you??
You would need to contact the teams directly.
Does someone know a website where i can watch tour de france live?
hungryshark97 i will never click on that link idiot.
I don't know if you're still looking or not (or which country you're in), but www.itv.com/tourdefrance works in the UK - all stages broadcast live and about 45 minutes of highlights per stage available on demand.
Dealing with media asking to do a video on bikes...
Why do pros still use tubulars? Aren't they less efficient in every way?
.
Re last point of video (no pun intended) all jobs are equally least favourite and for those mechanics it's just a job 😂
Nice video subject. 2:30 - Is the issue then one of safety of working in an open support-truck area while it is moving/traveling, or one of the fumes from the gluing of the tires? I would think that either issue would be remedied with intelligent support-truck design. Second question - based on the numbers of tires done - are some pros riding on tires they used the day before? I would have thought that they'd get new tires for each new stage. ('tyres' for those who insist on spelling the word incorrectly)
Broken spoke *needs wheel change*
Peeling off the name tag would be the worst.
Putting up with the "Drama Queens", um, I mean Riders BS.
If the mechanics don't like changing a flat in the rain, guess how some of the riders feel after 4+ hours.
Been there, done that. Picky spoiled riders are the worst (;
@MRGRUMPY53 Exactly, maintain the bikes and make sure they are setup to what each rider is comfortable with.....and keep a positive attitude.
I like all bike mechanic
Hello I love bicycles ❤
Am a bike mechanic please I need a job
Surprised no one said bike washing
You know how every year someone or team at the TDF is reported as having stomach problems? Well, that someone or team is not washing their own clothes.
The soigneurs are washing and drying the clothes.
Why doesn't the bike industry make enough road tubeless for racing? Lightweight, no gluing and they could be a huge time saver and more economical, even being installed in the back seat of a team car. With sealant can even save a win. After a puncture, Just remove it and donate to a needy person for repair and reuse. a product the pros would more readily adopt than disk brakes.
This is probably more a job for the soigneurs, but applying chamois cream to riders' bib shorts would be the worst job in pro cycling.
Wouldn't riders do it themselves?
It also wouldn't be a bad job as the knicks are clean
hostesses ... they sufer a lot by mens agressions on the side of the roads.
Gluing tubs? Changing a flat in the rain?! Cry me a river!
Be thankful you weren't a bike shop mechanic working during a full Ironman triathlon!
Tri bikes are a f*cking nightmare! Insanely expensive bikes are shellacked in dried urine (and sometimes feces)! And triathletes are total shite about even the bare minimum of bike maintenance or cleaning!
You haven't lived till you've powerwashed all the dried, corrosive urine off hundreds of tri-bikes (or tried to) before trying to disassemble said Urine-Corroded-Bikes for shipping.
Having a neglected $9,000 USD tri bike in your stand, that reeks like urine from several meters away, is quite common.
I'd guess the amount of work during the triathlon is pretty low, but before and after? yup.
my gosh, that is just horrible. Disgusting!
Oh god. Thank you, on behalf of fellow mechanics everywhere, for bringing light to the serious, hideous reality of tri-bikes and athletes.
Yeap, we are a bunch of prima donnas. The guys working the race have it rough too. They always catch flack because they weren't right there when the rider had their problem. One friend of mine was laughing after he came across a guy who had sheared off his rear mech and yelled at him for not having the right hanger and a new Dura Ace DI2 rear mech with him. Yep, prima donnas.
do they piss on the bike just in racing or training as well?
I'd gladly do repetitive bike maintenance tasks while someone else pays my travel expenses through Europe, whilst still giving me a wage..
Esas son todos las bisikletas
Changing pedals -- ugh!
Someone tell this speaker to SLOW DOWN - Breathe - Get some cadence, pause between sentences, emphasis into your speech - don't be Speedy Gonzalez - listeners understand only half of what you're saying !
that Bora mechanics a cool guy I met him at the Tour of California
glueing tires? learn something new everyday
EHHHH when its really shit weather
Strange thing is, at school when getting careers advice, there was never anything like 'mechanic for a pro cycle team' category. It is such a specific job that you could only do if you love the sport so having a worst job within the job itself is comparatively not so bad.
LoveIt
bad hair day Lastie......
Lasty get some sleep! You really look like you need it...
I am sorry, don't have the patience to look for the email icon. My question is, "why is it that the biggest event in cycling is going on and we do not have any video feedback from you or even just a capture of the last 30 mins?" I mean you did that for the HUMMER CHASE. I think this is where it matters the most. All true cyclists want to hear and see feedback of the best from the best.
You need to buy rights to the footage. It is also hammer.
first?
Tom last is by far and away the most boring presenter
He's fine.
Whats up with cannondale-drapac team with the zen-ass accents