The 2 second bike change
Mon, September 24, 2012 Jauregui from Jacky Durand on Vimeo.
Sometimes in bike racing it's necessary to change bike for some mechanical reason or other. In the Junior World Road Championship two weekends ago French rider Quentin Jauregui required a bike change; he did so in no more than 2 seconds.
The bike switch is so fast in the above video that if you blink you will miss it. The trick is to mount and dismount cyclo-cross style; that is to unclip both feet and jump off the bike while it is still moving, hitting the ground running.
In the video you will see a helper in a blue jacket grab the incoming bike; the helper in the white jacket hands off the replacement bike. The rider takes a couple more steps then jumps back into the saddle. Executed properly it is just one fluid motion without stopping.
However, it is one thing to do this on grass as is usually the case in cyclo-cross; but to do it on a hard paved road while wearing road shoes and cleats is another matter. Quentin Jauregui eventually finished in 46th place.
In a similar move in this next video, (Above.) Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara swaps bikes in the same fashion during the 2010 Tour of Flanders in 2010. He went on to win the race.
Reader Comments (4)
This slick move reminds me of track men in the 50s that would dismount in the same way un clip then push the bike forward and catch it by the saddle, also the dismount by throwning the leg over the bars, easy to do on track iron with the low bars and stem.I use to always dismount this way on my road bike but now with a hip replacement its nor possible. Looks good when you do it right
Just saw an add in Bicycling Oct 2012 for a new shoe, "a really big shoe! " as Ed Sullivan would have said. S Works made, says Get in Get Out! Looks like a QICK release heal, Sure would be good for the Tri guys. Anyone else but me interested in this topic DAVE?
Ballet dancer poise/precision required, for sure. But a much greater risk to the Crown Jewels, I would think, than a for a ballet guy. They must surely have to throw themselves on the saddle before cleating in. Now if they were the old toe clips...
Speaking of toe clips, a MAMIL work colleague missed his cleat hook-in a few weeks ago; 10 sutures in shin. I'm sticking with toe clips until my toes curl permanently skyward.
Wow, amazingly fast! I'd like to see the practice spills taken in perfecting those swaps!