how does team bikes work
04-28-17, 03:58 PM
#1
commu*ist spy
Thread Starter
how does team bikes work
asking out of curiosity: if you're good enough to be given a bike to race on, it's usually a loaner bike that still belongs to the sponsor, right? they provide the kits, accessories, race fees and travel expenses.
What happens if you break the bike? as well as the kit?
what do they do with the bike when the next year's model comes out and the team gets new bikes?
What happens if you break the bike? as well as the kit?
what do they do with the bike when the next year's model comes out and the team gets new bikes?
04-28-17, 04:15 PM
#2
Nonsense
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As a general rule, the first rider to break his or her frame is made an example of. I have heard that the now long defunct Navigators team was known for making guilty riders race the rest of the year with only one leg shaved, though they would be given a new frame to ride on. I heard through the grape-vine that last year CCB would make frame breakers wear a club cut jersey and non-bib shorts. IIRC Toyota United made their frame breakers use non insulated water bottles on hot days.
04-28-17, 05:22 PM
#3
commu*ist spy
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what they do with the old bikes from previous years? strip it for parts? pawn them off on the used market? let riders buy them at super awesome discounts? combustion furnace for recycling?
04-28-17, 05:33 PM
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Sometimes they sell them to make a few bucks at the end of the season. Phil Gaimon talks about it in his book.
04-28-17, 11:00 PM
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You can buy a lot of them on eBay. I know a guy who races a jelly belly team bike he bought from a local pro when he changed teams.
04-28-17, 11:26 PM
#8
**** that
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As a general rule, the first rider to break his or her frame is made an example of. I have heard that the now long defunct Navigators team was known for making guilty riders race the rest of the year with only one leg shaved, though they would be given a new frame to ride on. I heard through the grape-vine that last year CCB would make frame breakers wear a club cut jersey and non-bib shorts. IIRC Toyota United made their frame breakers use non insulated water bottles on hot days.
04-28-17, 11:26 PM
#9
Senior Member
I got an ex pros bike for free... she hadn't touched it for like a decade lol. But it saw another season of track. Now it's prob gonna sit here in my house until I realize I'm not gonna do track again.
04-29-17, 07:35 AM
#11
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I know that JB pros can buy their own bikes from the team at end of season.
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"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
04-29-17, 07:36 AM
#12
Senior Member
oh, to answer the wreck part, when I helped a bit with JB put on their roof rack and peppered them with questions it seemed that riders got 1 training bike, 1 race bike, 1 tt bike. I think you got a replacement if you wrecked a bike. When I helped them the training bike got lower components than the race bike.
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"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
04-29-17, 08:32 AM
#14
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UC Cyclery does this for the 1/2's, and when I was on Spy they did this too for the 3's (wtf???) so I got one 
At the end of the season they sell them. Either to the riders at super discount (~40-50% MSRP) or to the general public for a little more.
At the end of the season they sell them. Either to the riders at super discount (~40-50% MSRP) or to the general public for a little more.
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so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
04-30-17, 04:57 AM
#16
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from what i've seen it's a lot more about "who you know" and ending up on a well supported team than how good you actually are. i know cat 3s with "team bikes" and cat 1s who still buy their own bikes.
04-30-17, 06:46 AM
#17
no cat contains
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Why did you leave Spy? There's a local Masters guy here who won the Scottish Vets Champs last year and this year switched teams and has a brand new Venge Vias to ride. Some of my teammates questioned him being a sell out. I told them I'd jump ship in a heartbeat for a free bike.
04-30-17, 11:58 AM
#18
Senior Member
It's not uncommon at the pro level for the riders to be given the bikes. Not as a loaner. Many sell them at the end of the season to make a little extra cash. But of course there are other teams where they are team property and they have to be given back.
Eh, most of the Cat 3s with "team bikes" don't get them gratis, they're getting basically a factory deal. Obviously there are exceptions, but IME this is very rare.
Eh, most of the Cat 3s with "team bikes" don't get them gratis, they're getting basically a factory deal. Obviously there are exceptions, but IME this is very rare.
04-30-17, 01:40 PM
#20
Senior Member
YES YOU DID ADMIT IT MIKEY.
Edit: Boo, it didn't let me use all caps.
Edit-edit: HA that did the trick!
Edit: Boo, it didn't let me use all caps.
Edit-edit: HA that did the trick!
04-30-17, 05:28 PM
#21
Senior Member
For the record I've never gotten a free bike. Or a free frame. Or any free bike gear. From a club/team.
Full disclosure: I've gotten free stuff at Interbike and as a bike shop owner, most expensive thing was probably some Castelli super-snug bib shorts, and I got a couple demo helmets from reps (most expensive - Bell pump helmet). Heck, I didn't even use the free merchandise I got for my Spring Series unless I legit won it myself, so no Mavic helmet for me, no frameset giveaway, no wheelsets, not even the xBox or other electronics we gave away one year.
I did get a jersey three times from my current team. Sounds good but I think everyone got a jersey.
Full disclosure: I've gotten free stuff at Interbike and as a bike shop owner, most expensive thing was probably some Castelli super-snug bib shorts, and I got a couple demo helmets from reps (most expensive - Bell pump helmet). Heck, I didn't even use the free merchandise I got for my Spring Series unless I legit won it myself, so no Mavic helmet for me, no frameset giveaway, no wheelsets, not even the xBox or other electronics we gave away one year.
I did get a jersey three times from my current team. Sounds good but I think everyone got a jersey.
__________________
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
04-30-17, 06:14 PM
#22
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Why did you leave Spy? There's a local Masters guy here who won the Scottish Vets Champs last year and this year switched teams and has a brand new Venge Vias to ride. Some of my teammates questioned him being a sell out. I told them I'd jump ship in a heartbeat for a free bike.
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"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
04-30-17, 06:17 PM
#23
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SDBC does (partial) race reimbursement and (1) free team kit (or skinsuit) for 3's who have been in good standing for over a full season. Commitments include 10+ races and like 8-10 volunteer hours.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
04-30-17, 09:53 PM
#24
commu*ist spy
Thread Starter
i think mikey has a point in that it is a lot of who you know. the more connections you have, more potential sponsors, more money, higher budget for free **** for the race team. the difference is the amount gotten from each sponsor is probably going to be substantially smaller, because nobody cares about cat 3, and the p/1/2 is what captures people's attention, and would be more likely to get better roi (or so they think). it probably won't be enough to give everyone bikes, but as I understand most teams don't pay for their racers' kits, so more connected team is definitely better.
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