Hi all,
Now that the dust has (a bit) settled, I would like to share a few thoughts about my LEL experience as a mechanic at Barnard Castle. I think this could be cast into recommendations for new riders on LEL 2021. Please feel free to comment or complete.
Of course, I'm perfectly aware that the majority of the riders don't need any of these recommendations, but from my place at the mechanics stand, I probably saw some of the most poorly prepared riders. I saw many problems that could have been avoided with better mechanical preparation. I don't mean at all that all the riders who showed up at the mechanics stand were poorly prepared. Some were just unlucky, but others had clearly inadequate bicycles, and with the continuous growth in the number of riders, we should probably expect to see a larger number of unprepared riders in the future.
So here we go:
1) Brake/shifter levers: All modern brake/shifter levers tend to chew out and destroy the gear cables, especially when exposed to rain and fine grit as you will encounter on the LEL route. This is true no matter you use Shimano, Campagnolo or Sram levers. We had to change cables on all three flavours of levers. Most of them were badly chewed right into the brake lever. The best solution is to use downtube or bar end shifters, but if you really prefer brake/shifter levers, make sure you have new cables fitted and properly lubricated just before LEL.
2) Cable routing: Changing a gear cable on a modern carbon fiber frame with internal cable routing takes many times longer than on a more traditional bicycle with external routing. Actually, internally routed cables are easier to change with the bottom bracket off the frame, but don't expect the basic mechanics stand at the controls to be able to take off your bottom bracket. Many of these bottom brackets are press fit and requires special tooling that you will find in a proper bicycle shop, but not in a control. It is still possible to change a cable without removing the bottom bracket, but it is a very long and tedious job. One of them took more than an hour of work for three volunteers. While the volunteers are working for a long time for one rider, they cannot care for all the others who are waiting behind. The message is: either use a bicycle with external gear cables, or, if you really insist on having internal cables: change them before the ride, and practice changing them yourself!
3) Tubeless tyres: These look really interesting due to their ability to self repair punctures with inner sealant, and their ability to run safely at a lower pressure. However, at the Barnard Castle control, we had to care for two riders with tubeless tyres that were beyond any hope of self repair. A tube was fitted in these tyres, but the job was quite tedious due to the tyres being very tightly fitted on the rim. Another rider came in with a wheel that presumably needed truing, as the bicycle was vibrating dangerously at high speed. Actually, his wheel was reasonably true, the problem was that all the sealant sealed itself for no obvious reason on one end of the tyre, acting as a big weight imbalance. I do not mean that you should not use tubeless tyres, but please take into account what might happens to you.
4) Bicycle parts for sale: Some controls, but not all, will have a basic set of bicycle parts for sale, like tubes, chains, cables, etc. These parts should be seen as an emergency help only, we are not a regular bicycle shop. All riders are expected to carry with them everything they need to complete the ride. So if you ask us for one spare tube, we will happily sell you one, provided that we have one that fits your bicycle. If you ask for 4 or 5 tubes, as some riders did, we will politely tell you to go to the nearest bike shop. If your bicycle needs unusual parts (for example: specific brake pads for carbon rims), bring your own, don't expect to find spares for sale at controls.
5) Electronic shifting: Many riders were let down by the battery of their electronic shifters. These batteries are simply not designed to last for 1400 km in the cold and rainy LEL weather. If you bring your own charger, you may be able to charge your battery, provided a mains socket is available. If you have no charger, the volunteers will not be able to help you.
6) GPS devices: Do not expect the volunteers to be able to solve any problem with your device. If you need charging and have your own charger, you may be able to use a mains socket. If you have no charger, you will not be able to charge your device.
7) Chain oiling and tyres pumping: Riders are expected to show a minimum of self-sufficiency. If your chain needs oiling, or your tyres need pumping, we will happily lend you a bottle of lube or a proper track pump. Asking volunteers to do it for you is probably asking for too much. Volunteers are very busy at solving other problems. If you feel that you are too tired for using a pump by yourself, consider going to bed for an hour or two.
Low spoke count wheels: These wheels are clearly not suitable for a long distance event like LEL. If you have only 16 spokes and break just one of them, chances are that your bicycle will be unrideable. With a more traditional wheel with 28, 32 or 36 spokes, you can break a spoke a keep riding to the next control. Moreover, low spoke count wheels often have special proprietary spokes, and unless you carry your own spare spokes, no one will be able to fix your wheel at the next control.
Alain