Strange Postal Team Bike
08-27-22, 10:35 AM
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Strange Postal Team Bike
So what's going on with this Trek Postal Team bike, which L**** is on, and what was it used for:
Clip-ons, not permitted on road stages, so it must be for a time trial. But Postal had time trial bikes, so why configure a road bike with clip-ons?
Front shift lever replaced with a down tube lever, but why? To save weight?
Maybe for the 2004 l'Alpe d'Huez time trial? But L**** didn't use clip-ons for that.
Maybe it was something they tried, but decided against using.
Clip-ons, not permitted on road stages, so it must be for a time trial. But Postal had time trial bikes, so why configure a road bike with clip-ons?
Front shift lever replaced with a down tube lever, but why? To save weight?
Maybe for the 2004 l'Alpe d'Huez time trial? But L**** didn't use clip-ons for that.
Maybe it was something they tried, but decided against using.
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08-27-22, 11:04 AM
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Photo is also old enough to just simply say things have changed since then and cover most all the questions asked.
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08-27-22, 12:28 PM
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08-27-22, 01:44 PM
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08-27-22, 10:48 PM
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Had to check the date.
Yep, a brand new necro thread.
Yep, a brand new necro thread.
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08-28-22, 12:50 AM
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Yes, I figured it was for a mountain time trial.
But which mountain time trial? There was only TdF mountain time trial when Lance was riding (2004, up l'Alpe d'Huez), and he didn't use clip-ons for that.
I'm guessing this was an early publicity photo of a bike configured as they might use, but they made subsequent changes (like dumping the clip-ons).
Interesting to see that they were shaving grams by using a down tube shift lever, to get down to the UCI weight limit. But nowadays, it's trivial to build a bike that's well below the UCI limit, without doing silly component swaps.
But which mountain time trial? There was only TdF mountain time trial when Lance was riding (2004, up l'Alpe d'Huez), and he didn't use clip-ons for that.
I'm guessing this was an early publicity photo of a bike configured as they might use, but they made subsequent changes (like dumping the clip-ons).
Interesting to see that they were shaving grams by using a down tube shift lever, to get down to the UCI weight limit. But nowadays, it's trivial to build a bike that's well below the UCI limit, without doing silly component swaps.
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08-28-22, 10:09 AM
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The eagle-eyed will note that this isn’t actually Armstrong’s Tour bike, it’s one set up for a mountain time trial in the 2004 Critérium du Dauphiné, hence the aero bars.
If you look really closely, there’s also a weight-shaving down tube shifter for the front derailleur – a favourite Armstrong mod if you believe the lore.
If you look really closely, there’s also a weight-shaving down tube shifter for the front derailleur – a favourite Armstrong mod if you believe the lore.
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08-28-22, 06:44 PM
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^ Yep. It's looks like one of the first Trek Madone series, the successor to the Trek 5900 (and 5500/5200 bikes).
There aren't many photos of it set up with the clip-on TT bars, as I think it was a setup Lance only used in one or two races.
There aren't many photos of it set up with the clip-on TT bars, as I think it was a setup Lance only used in one or two races.
08-30-22, 12:51 PM
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08-30-22, 04:54 PM
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Yes, I figured it was for a mountain time trial.
But which mountain time trial? There was only TdF mountain time trial when Lance was riding (2004, up l'Alpe d'Huez), and he didn't use clip-ons for that.
I'm guessing this was an early publicity photo of a bike configured as they might use, but they made subsequent changes (like dumping the clip-ons).
Interesting to see that they were shaving grams by using a down tube shift lever, to get down to the UCI weight limit. But nowadays, it's trivial to build a bike that's well below the UCI limit, without doing silly component swaps.
But which mountain time trial? There was only TdF mountain time trial when Lance was riding (2004, up l'Alpe d'Huez), and he didn't use clip-ons for that.
I'm guessing this was an early publicity photo of a bike configured as they might use, but they made subsequent changes (like dumping the clip-ons).
Interesting to see that they were shaving grams by using a down tube shift lever, to get down to the UCI weight limit. But nowadays, it's trivial to build a bike that's well below the UCI limit, without doing silly component swaps.
He did the downtube shifter thing quite a bit in order to save weight. I couldn't imagine it would be all that different from an STi lever setup, but I guess every gram counts!
08-30-22, 06:08 PM
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The DT shifter may have more to do with being able to trim the FD however he wants and have complete control of shifting up front than weight.
08-30-22, 08:21 PM
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Found the photo finally! 😁
US Postal Service rider Lance Armstrong of the US is encouraged by a fan dressed in a devil's costume as he makes his way into the 11th stage of the Tour de France, a time trial from Grenoble to Chamrousse, July 18, 2001.
Taking the start in fourth from last position, the U.S. Postal Service rider pedaled at a tempo that made the 5,019-foot climb high into the French Alps look effortless. Some 2 and a half miles from the finish, he had set a time 42 seconds faster than Ullrich. In the final uphill stretch, he extended the margin by a further 18 seconds, clocking a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, 27 seconds. But it wasn't enough to satisfy the two-time champion.
"I still believe that there's another level of Lance Armstrong..." he said.
US Postal Service rider Lance Armstrong of the US is encouraged by a fan dressed in a devil's costume as he makes his way into the 11th stage of the Tour de France, a time trial from Grenoble to Chamrousse, July 18, 2001.
Taking the start in fourth from last position, the U.S. Postal Service rider pedaled at a tempo that made the 5,019-foot climb high into the French Alps look effortless. Some 2 and a half miles from the finish, he had set a time 42 seconds faster than Ullrich. In the final uphill stretch, he extended the margin by a further 18 seconds, clocking a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, 27 seconds. But it wasn't enough to satisfy the two-time champion.
"I still believe that there's another level of Lance Armstrong..." he said.
Last edited by tempocyclist; 08-30-22 at 08:30 PM. Reason: additional info
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08-31-22, 06:33 AM
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Probably also can attribute some of this stuff you see in photos to the fact he used to a triathlon stud. So bringing over some of that thinking for setting up the mountain time trial.
