tubesocksFred

When watching pro races with team car support and a rider has an issue with the bike. I was always wondering why when the support car arrives, the rider stops and they grab a spare bike, roll it to the rider who is waiting, then swap the bike. Wouldn't it be advantageous for the support car to pass the rider, prepare the spare bike, and have the rider ride up to the bike and do a quick swap? This became more obvious during the time trial where they have decided ahead of time that they will do a bike swap, and every second counts.

I know there seem to be some rule on time trial where the car has to follow behind a certain distance, but speeding ahead and leading by 1000 ft does not seem to violate any rule that gives the rider an aerodynamic advantage. Not sure if there is such a rule in peleton racing.

_ForceD_

Sometimes they will do what you pointed out…drive ahead of the rider, and have the replacement bike ready for him when he arrives. With regard to the rider drafting behind the team support car…there are written regulations that disallow that. However, there are instances when the officials look the other way, and allow it. For example, when a rider flats, or other individual mechanical problem…once he re-mounts, he might draft behind the car until he’s back up to speed, or back in contact of the group that he was riding with. The same goes for medical attention. Technically a rider isn’t allowed to hold on to the team car and be pulled along. But, if medical personnel in the car are tending to a injury, he can hold on and coast while the car pulls him.

Dan

Steve B.

If the mechanical issue prevents the rider from riding ahead to wherever the team car is located, the rider is SOL. Best to have the team car behind so as to allow the car to find the rider.

gpsblake

And of course, those darn sticky water bottles for 10 to 15 seconds..

Calsun

The pro teams know what works the best for providing support and a lot of the time they are providing more food and water for their riders.

tubesocksFred

I don't know if I have ever seen that, and if they do it, it seems pretty rare. I would have expected every time trialist that chose to change bike to do it this way, but none did, thus losing at least 5 seconds compared to the drive ahead method.

I don't mean have the car ahead of its riders, but drive ahead of the rider that is having mechanical or fit issues (such as riding a teammate's bike), and have a bike ready so the swap is as easy as hopping off one bike and onto another. There were times when race favorites lost at least 30 sec when they had to get off a teammate's bike and wait for theirs to be brought to them.

gpsblake

Thought about this but it's better for them to be behind, because the mechanic can simply jump out of the car and push the bike right to the cyclist in trouble with perhaps the car even moving slightly forward.

If ahead of them, the car would have to stop, the mechanic get the new bike and have to either carry it to flip it in the wrong directon to the cyclist in trouble, then have to flip it again in the right directon taking up a perhaps a few seconds of time.

Also the car ahead of them just can't stop and go backwards to help them, but being behind, they can pull right up to the cyclist in need. And being behind, the car can see them in trouble but ahead they would be completely reliant on radio communications.

tubesocksFred

I am assuming the bike is still rideable, maybe slower (low air or flat on tubulars) or wrong size bike. If the car, which is currently behind the rider, pass the rider and goes ahead and come to a stop by maybe 400ft ahead of the rider, the mechanic could jump out to take the bike off the rack. By then, the rider would have rolled up to the car with his spare bike ready, facing forward.

slcbob

In a TT, other than the very rare exceptions where, for example, there is a designated bike swap area where where equipment can be prepositioned, service must come from behind. Here is a relevant section of the USA Cycling rules. UCI rules are different and more excruciating.



In an individual road race, it is a little sloppier and there are more permutations where a rider might come up on a stopped team car from behind and be legally serviced. However, the limited number of cars and the prohibition on servicing in front of a group mean that there isn't a lot of getting the car up front by design.



Also the limitations on what can be serviced from folks on the ground (as opposed to in the car) mean that there is almost never a bike pre-positioned. If the CR grants exceptions, it will be feeding or wheels.



Again, USA Cycling here. See also UCI.

tubesocksFred

I guess there are specific rules and reasons why bike changes are done the way they are.