To what extent are pro riders bikes customized to the rider?

[Cyclopathic]

Does it vary on how high up they are in the team? Are the frames all built for the individual rider? Can they choose what sort of bike they ride as long as it's badged up according to their team? Or do they all have to ride what they are given?

 

[jack smith]

my understanding is they can only choose from their sponsors items as they pay for their items to be used. for example specialized. they run three main road bikes for competition roubaix ( comfort) tarmac (general riding and climbing) venge ( sprinters and full on speed) and a rider can choose which bike ( along with the teams advice) depending on the stage or conditions. cav is a sprinter and uses the venge alot but this year for the tour ( if he didnt muck it up) he would of used all three bikes depending on the stage

 

[NorvernRob]

There was an article on someone's bike from the tour on one of the FB pages recently, he used a Fizik saddle but as they weren't a sponsor the logos had to be covered with tape.

As far as customisation, setup goes, I think the big dogs get to choose whether they use mechanical or electronic gears plus other preferences, whereas lower down riders to a large extent ride what they're given.

 

[Rob3rt]

Depends on loads of things. However, largely they ride whatever their sponsor provides unless they have a very good reason. Context depending, they are not even allowed to say another brand is good as this is seen as an endorsement never mind ride another brand, they ride what they are given and they say it is the best bike they have ever used. Also they generally ride stock kit assembled to suit, not fully custom frames.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Here's some pics I took at the start of the Giro this year in Belfast. it'll maybe give you an idea of how "different" "the same" can be:

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Oops, some appear to have posted twice

 

[StuAff]

All frames have to carry UCI approval and comply to their regulations, which includes (amongst other things) being on sale to the public. For that reason, full custom sizing, let alone custom carbon layup (as offered by Parlee, Legend and others) are not options available to even the best riders. Cannondale does custom frames for Peter Sagan, which are in effect front end of one frame size, back end of another (and as they're monocoques that's ££££ in tooling etc)- not sure how that gets the OK from the UCI, but that's only the size that's custom.

 

[cyberknight]

Of course you GC rider needs a domestique whos bike set up is the same as the star in the event of a spare being needed asap .........

 

[HF2300]

All frames have to carry UCI approval and comply to their regulations, which includes (amongst other things) being on sale to the public. For that reason, full custom sizing, let alone custom carbon layup (as offered by Parlee, Legend and others) are not options available to even the best riders. Cannondale does custom frames for Peter Sagan, which are in effect front end of one frame size, back end of another (and as they're monocoques that's ££££ in tooling etc)- not sure how that gets the OK from the UCI, but that's only the size that's custom.

The regs just say the bike has to be available (or will become available in the next 9 months) to buy. I haven't seen any homologation requirements (a requirement that a minimum number be produced). That means presumably the manufacturer can list them in a catalogue somewhere and if anyone insists on buying a Cannondale Peter Sagan they'll build one.

 

[Cyclopathic]

Thanks for all the posts. All very interesting.

 

[rliu]

The regs just say the bike has to be available (or will become available in the next 9 months) to buy. I haven't seen any homologation requirements (a requirement that a minimum number be produced). That means presumably the manufacturer can list them in a catalogue somewhere and if anyone insists on buying a Cannondale Peter Sagan they'll build one.

Would personalised logos on a mass manufactured model count as 'not available on the mass market'?

 

[Rob3rt]

No.