the poorest maintained group of bikes I have ever seen headed to an Ironman.
We have a bunch of bikes here for pick-up by Tri-Bike transport. The people who own them are telling us, "They are fine- ready to go.... I had it all tuned up!"
This is what we found this morning:
I don't want to come off as uppety or snobish or a know-it-all, but these people trained hard and long and paid big money for these bikes and to be in the race. They are paying good money to get their bikes to the race- but they are not performing even the most basic PMCS (Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services) on them.
It seems like people would learn from wathcing the Tour de France on TV. That they would get used t the idea that the bikes are washed and maintained. I know the average athlete can't do that after every long ride- it isn't even necessary. But it is a good idea before a big, important event like Ironman.
It bothered us so bad we just decided to wash the bikes, lube them, safety check them and re-tape the ones that are done backwards. I just couldn't stand to see these bikes sent to the race in this condition.
And yes, I did photograph them all.... But i am too busy working on them right now to put up the photos. they are ugly.....
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
We have a bunch of bikes here for pick-up by Tri-Bike transport. The people who own them are telling us, "They are fine- ready to go.... I had it all tuned up!"
This is what we found this morning:
- One broken frame (severly dented and cracked under top tube at seat tube).
- Three bikes with more spacers on the steer tube than any fork manufacturer would be comfortable with.
- Six (6!) rear brake cables with housing seriously kinked at the rear brake barrel adjust making the brakes feel very stiff and sluggish.
- One seized BB producing an incredible amount of drag.
- Two bikes with the handlebar tape on backwards so that it rolls up when you grip the base bars.
- One bike with the elbow pads on backwards.
- A bike headed to Ironman Florida for a 10:10 finisher but equipped with a 12-27 cogset. This cogset nearly exceeds the limit of the rear derailleur on the bike and actually rubs the top jockey wheel in the 27 tooth cog with the "B" screw turned all the way in. Who needs a 12-27 in Florida? the course is flat!
- All bikes are not just dirty- they are filthy.
- Numerous corroded stem bolts.
I don't want to come off as uppety or snobish or a know-it-all, but these people trained hard and long and paid big money for these bikes and to be in the race. They are paying good money to get their bikes to the race- but they are not performing even the most basic PMCS (Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services) on them.
It seems like people would learn from wathcing the Tour de France on TV. That they would get used t the idea that the bikes are washed and maintained. I know the average athlete can't do that after every long ride- it isn't even necessary. But it is a good idea before a big, important event like Ironman.
It bothered us so bad we just decided to wash the bikes, lube them, safety check them and re-tape the ones that are done backwards. I just couldn't stand to see these bikes sent to the race in this condition.
And yes, I did photograph them all.... But i am too busy working on them right now to put up the photos. they are ugly.....
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com