Mavic TDF bikes, what are they and do they ever get used?

[jamiebae]

I'm pretty sure I've never seen one being ridden, but what are they? They look like a fairly standard road bike, and obviously have nice carbon rims but what about the rest? Shimano, Campag or SRAM? I assume they're carbon but they look like alu frames from a distance.

If you're used to using Di2 and these have SRAM Red you'd probably find it a bit tricky I guess. Or vice versa!

[caul pope]

Not sure this year but in the past they've used Cannondale's.
In the car they'll have shimano/look/speedplay pedals and will put them on depending on the rider. I've never actually seen one being ridden.

This story is almost related to it and is a good read;
http://www.bicycling.com/news/2010-tour-de-france/...

[Get Karter]

All the Mavic bikes on the Mavic car that went past us in York had cheap pedals with toe clips and straps.

I assumed they are purely for marketing??

[theboymoon]

Not purely marketing, if replacement bike needed and team car is miles away then mavic car and mavic bike it is!

Jens has been know to dabble

[Get Karter]

Interesting. Note the pedals with toe clips and straps being used with his clipless shoes.
Wonder how the cleats don't make it uncomfortable/impossible??

[Engineer1]

Its probably easier to make a pedal and toe strap combo that works round the various cleats rather than swap pedals in a hurry.

[Gizmoish]

Like using PE kit from the lost and found box. Riders/teams will try and avoid them wherever possible.

Neutral service essential in keeping riders in the race though sometimes.

[upsidedownmark]

Get Karter said:

Interesting. Note the pedals with toe clips and straps being used with his clipless shoes.
Wonder how the cleats don't make it uncomfortable/impossible??

I guess it's better than walking, and if you've just slid down the road at great speed, the discomfort of the shoes is the least of your concerns

[jamiebae]

I've seen riders take wheels from the Mavic car but never a whole bike. I guess the straps and pedals make some sense as you're going to want to ditch the bike ASAP and get onto a proper team one so it's all about speed of the changeover. I tried to get a good look at them as the cars came past in the Vosges but didn't clock the pedals.

I wonder just how annoyed a bike sponsor would be if a rider in a break won a stage on a Mavic bike

Still no idea on groupsets though

[yellowjack]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2007/07/bikes-and-t...

It's from 2007, but I'd hazard a guess that, aside from the bike technology, little will have changed.