Among the glitz and glamour of the World Tour, the riders get all the glory for their on-road performances, but the mechanics are the true heroes. Without them, the bikes would likely fall into greasy disrepair.
Everything from last minute saddle height adjustments and glueing tires to cleaning up to nine bikes after a training ride in the rain, the wrenches are what keep the team going.
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Not everything they do applies to the everyman: they clean bikes with power washers, sometimes in the process blowing the grease out of bottom brackets, wheel bearings and headsets — but they're going to have to overhaul or replace them before the end of the week anyway, so it's not a huge loss. They also cut into expensive gear, file, tape, drill, bend and melt if necessary to make the riders happy.
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They are a clever bunch as well, often coming up with solutions to problems such as incompatible parts to keep sponsors happy and making their own jobs easier. They're pretty patient too with the bikes perpetually moving towards integrated this and hidden that.
So here are a few of the pro mechanic hacks we spotted at the Tour Down Under recently.
1. Shrink-wrapped cables
2. Rattly tire valves
3. Internal batteries
4. Ultegra cassettes
5. Storage lockers
6. Cleaning tips
7. Keeping the riders comfortable
8. Nailing the bike fit
9. DIY number holders
10. Keep the sponsors happy
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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