Pre-Planned Bike Switch during a race. Why?

[Polish]

In the last couple of years, some of the Top Pro Riders have made pre-planned bike switch/swaps during the race. EG Fabian, Lance, Alberto, etc

And these switches are deliberate - not due to mechanicals.

Leaving the topic of "mechanical doping" conspiracy to the thread in the Clinic, what would be some legit reasons to swap your bike out?

I would think....

1) Different gearing, crank/cassette
2) Different wheels
3) Different frameset
4) Lighter saddle, and or a combo of all above
5) What else?

Of course swapping an entire bike is quicker than trying to change a wheelset or gearing correctly adjusted on the fly.

Has anyone seen any discussions by the DS/Teams as to why they are switching bikes? Being kept secret for competitive advantage?

What type of spec would be appropriate for different segments of the day's race? Flatland comfort versus lighter weight climbing spec would seem obvious. Maybe descending bikes too?

 

[Oldman]

maybe a different color for photo ops...

 

[Oldman]

I'm not serious, Polish. Or am I?

 

[Polish]

maybe a different color for photo ops...

Good idea. Suprised the Marketing Guys have not thought of that.
Something Cipo would do. Or maybe RadioShack.

But you would think they would publicize the switch.
Or would they? Maybe build some buzz first...

 

[brianf7]

Sponsors want to show off a new bike.

 

[Polish]

Sponsors want to show off a new bike.

But they are not showing them off.
At least as far as I have noticed.
Keeping it low key. Ignoring the switch.

And the bikes have to be different in some way.
They are not switching for the sake of switching are they?

Different tires? Helium?
Nitrogen cooled saddles?
Something that is legal but a competitive advantage they do not want to share.

Maybe the riders are just acting like rock stars?
"This bike is 100km old. I want a new one."

 

[ElChingon]

If you really think about it, riders USUALLY switch due to a mechanical. So that being said, every time they switch a bike it says their current bike is not ride worthy and therefor putting all equipment sponsor's name in a bad light. Who would buy a bike you would need three of to finish a ride?

We need to start saying things like this to the local vendors, that'll put an end to this swap out issue.

 

[Polish]

If you really think about it, riders USUALLY switch due to a mechanical. So that being said, every time they switch a bike it says their current bike is not ride worthy and therefor putting all equipment sponsor's name in a bad light. Who would buy a bike you would need three of to finish a ride?

We need to start saying things like this to the local vendors, that'll put an end to this swap out issue.

That actually might be the answer yikes.

The current crop of crappy carbon components/frames can not even stay properly adjusted for a complete race yikes again.

That would explain the hush hush response from the teams/sponsors

 

[egtalbot]

I recall Cav switching out bikes because of wheels - I think at the Giro this year. Wanted a more aero and stiffer wheel for the sprint than for the earlier clinbs. That certainly makes sense for a sprinter. I could also see a climber who liked high cadence (no hidden meaning intended for once) wanting a compact for a steep finishing climb, though there are also some pretty wide ranges available in the back to go with a 39 these days instead.

 

[Orvieto]

I vaguely recall Cancellara switching bikes at the end of one of his Paris-Roubaix wins. I may be wrong, but my impression was that he'd switched from a Specialized Roubaix to a Tarmac. Presumably this would be a switch from a bike that would absorb the cobbles to something stiffer for his final 'time-trial' to the finish.
Specialized work hard to associate the Roubaix bike with the Paris-Roubaix race, so it makes sense that they would play down a switch to the Tarmac for the finale.

 

[nightfend]

On seriously hard climbs like Zoncolan at the Giro, switching bikes makes complete sense. You run most of the race with a 53x39 and 11-25 casette, then before the last climb, switch to your bike with a compact crank and an 11-28 cassette.

 

[ElChingon]

On seriously hard climbs like Zoncolan at the Giro, switching bikes makes complete sense. You run most of the race with a 53x39 and 11-25 casette, then before the last climb, switch to your bike with a compact crank and an 11-28 cassette.

Look they've solved this problem years ago and even Contador started a trend for a semi-compact setup for climbing stages (53x36 rings and 11x27 cassette) and I think SRAM ended up making such a group (maybe it was Shimano?) so I doubt a pro team with their resources couldn't come up with a drive train to satisfy these requirements otherwise it would be extremely sad.

 

[Boeing]

ever been to a cyclocross race?

 

[Notso Swift]

^^^ and MTB, pits are there to be used!

I vaguely recall Cancellara switching bikes at the end of one of his Paris-Roubaix wins. I may be wrong, but my impression was that he'd switched from a Specialized Roubaix to a Tarmac. Presumably this would be a switch from a bike that would absorb the cobbles to something stiffer for his final 'time-trial' to the finish.
Specialized work hard to associate the Roubaix bike with the Paris-Roubaix race, so it makes sense that they would play down a switch to the Tarmac for the finale.

Yes you are right
.... that was part of the mechanical doping theories, he always change bikes before the finale because the motor was in the other bike

 

[ambrose]

i'm not sure of the incidents which you are refering to specifically, but alot of the time they are swap backs, opposed to swaps. ie they've had a mechanical and jumped on a spare bike (which might not be their prefered set up). they then wait for a good opporunity get back onto their prefered bike.

 

[MR_Sarcastic]

I don't believe that I would care to do a 55 mph decent on a 15 pound bike. Specially if the finish of the race, after the downhill was mostly flat.