This morning VeloNation sent out a reminder that time is running out to get your riders’ saddles and thus positions figured out.

The ruling states “This angle must be less than 2.5 degrees with an error tolerance of 0.5 degree,”. According to the article the UCI is going to allow up to 3 degrees, relaxing their zero tolerance stance. However, we recommend that team mechanics work with their team director and corresponding federations to insure they aren’t caught by surprise when next confronted by this test. The UCI has a habit of leaving things up to interpretation and various officials interpret differently.

Read the article here: One month until UCI saddle rules are enforced across all events.

Wire Twisting Pliers A little over a decade ago those of us working on mountain bikes found wire tools to be optimal for keeping grips from slipping from the bar. Luckily, a short time later, grip manufacturers began including hardware that secured the grips to the bar allowing us to remove that hefty tool and the small bail of wire. An example can be found here.

Recently we were introduced to rim protectors and rim shields. Tires for downhill bikes are not always the easiest to install and tend to ...]]> A lot of specialty tools exist for bicycles, tools you can’t find at your local hardware store. These tools tend to come from companies like Park Tool and Pedros who specialize in bicycle specific solutions. Once in a while we find a solution from another industry and many times that comes from motorcycles.

Wire Twisting Pliers

A little over a decade ago those of us working on mountain bikes found wire tools to be optimal for keeping grips from slipping from the bar. Luckily, a short time later, grip manufacturers began including hardware that secured the grips to the bar allowing us to remove that hefty tool and the small bail of wire. An example can be found here.

Recently we were introduced to rim protectors and rim shields. Tires for downhill bikes are not always the easiest to install and tend to require metal over plastic tire levers. These harder levers are more likely to scratch and/or damage the thin aluminum rims found on DH bikes. Motorcycle mechanics have been experiencing the same issues for some time and created a couple solutions to protect the rims.

Rim Protectors

These plastic sleeves slide over the lip of the rim providing a surface for the lever to lay against preventing scratches and dings. They are fairly inexpensive. Example here.

Rim Shields

These take rim protection to another level by adding a shield that also covers spokes. This prevents the mechanic from smacking his hands on the spokes as well as protecting the spoke finish from the tool. Also, a fairly inexpensive addition to your tool box and samples can be found here.

Have you found a tool that we should cover, that needs to be a race mechanic’s tool box? Use the form below and let us know.

According to the folks in the UK, the UCI has stated they will begin regular enforcement of the saddle tilt rule as well as the new bottle size and placement rule starting March 1st. Issues related to saddle tilt popped up this year with random enforcement of a rarely discussed rule. The bottle issue is new and sounds like an attempt to keep riders using bottles for hydration and not for aerodynamic enhancement.

Read more at BikeBiz: UCI to enforce saddle tilt rule in 2012

The UCI today released their list of Elite mountain bike teams, both the Endurance (cross country) and the Gravity (downhill and 4-cross). We’ve made those changes to our team page and now need your help. If you are working for one of those teams or know their mechanic, please use the form at the bottom of this page to let us know. We’d like to complete this list and provide additional recognition for those mechanics.

To read more, visit Union Cycliste Internationale.

The UCI has released their latest list of Professional Continental teams for 2012. Amongst those listed are three North American teams:

The Remaining teams can be found on today’s press release: Union Cycliste Internationale.

We are adding UCI registered teams to our Team Mechanics page as information becomes available. To keep this page up to date, we could use your help. If you know the mechanical staff for any of the teams listed, please let us know using the form at the bottom of this page.

Here are some ideas for last minute, useful gifts for the mechanic in your life.

Bladed spokes have a tendency to wind up increasing the time it takes to true or adjust a wheel. This tool provides four slots to hold spokes from 0.8mm to over 2mm width.

http://www.parktool.com/product/bladed-spoke-holder-BSH-4

The Screw Gripper sits on the end of your screwdriver and holds the screw in place removing the need to squeeze your fingers in tight spaces.

http://www-uk.wera.de/

Looking for a way to impress your mechanic friends? How about a tool related set of utensils. No, the pliers don’t work and we don’t know what size the wrenches are. But does it really matter?

http://wrenchwareinc.com/Wrenchware/wrenchware.php

Funny utensils not your deal? How about a utensil that can actually be used as a tool?  ...]]>

Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/atranman/">Atran Photography</a> via Flickr

Its that time of year again. Did you remember your mechanic friends?

Here are some ideas for last minute, useful gifts for the mechanic in your life.

Park Tool Bladed Spoke Holder

Bladed spokes have a tendency to wind up increasing the time it takes to true or adjust a wheel. This tool provides four slots to hold spokes from 0.8mm to over 2mm width.

http://www.parktool.com/product/bladed-spoke-holder-BSH-4

Screw Gripper

The Screw Gripper sits on the end of your screwdriver and holds the screw in place removing the need to squeeze your fingers in tight spaces.

http://www-uk.wera.de/

Wrenchware

Looking for a way to impress your mechanic friends? How about a tool related set of utensils. No, the pliers don’t work and we don’t know what size the wrenches are. But does it really matter?

http://wrenchwareinc.com/Wrenchware/wrenchware.php

Eat’N Tool

Funny utensils not your deal? How about a utensil that can actually be used as a tool?  The Eat’n Tool offers a spork with three metric wrenches, bottle opener, screwdriver and a d-ring so it can be attached to keys and always at hand.

http://www.crkt.com/EatN-Tool—Spoon-Fork-Bottle-Opener-ScrewdriverPry-Tip-Metric-Wrenches-Carabiner-Clam-Only

Hirame Pump Head

Crack pipe disc adapter driving you nuts? This head locks onto valves allowing you to pump tires where tight spaces typically require additional hands. Yes, a little expensive…but think of the time savings.

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=Hirame+pump+head

Helmet Cam

Bragging is so much more beleivable when its followed with a video. Record the important occurences in your day with a helmet cam from Oregon Scientific, Go Pro and others.

Helmet Cams on Google

Stainless Steel Sharpie

Prepare yourself for the “ooohs” and “ahhhs” when you whip out your new stainless steel Sharpie writing instrument. Its refillable and less likely to pop in your pocket.

http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Pages/stainless-steel-marker.aspx

Four Way Hex Wrench

We’ve been big fans of the four-way tools for some time as they provide more sizes, allow for more torque and offer replaceable bits. These are available from quite a few manufacturers and from distributors. Here’s a quick review from Singletrack:

http://singletrack.competitor.com/2010/11/bikes-tech/60-second-tech-topeak-toolstick_11367

Portable Cooking Top

Don’t limit your heating to a single cup of coffee! This roll-up will allow you to heat a variety of size containers and focus the heat on just that container due to a pressure sensors and heating coils in the surface.

http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/12/14/no-fruit-allowed/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+yankodesign+%28Yanko+Design+-+Form+Beyond+Function%29

Super Scissors

Fiscars is now producing the Cuts+More model which provides more than just typical scissor blades. This pair includes a notch for cutting twine and rope, wire cutters, an awl, and a bottle opener. Also includes a fancy sheath.

http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Hardware/Hardware-Scissors/Cuts-More-Scissors-9

What are you hoping appears this holiday season?

I can’t wait for my first experience with a racer on this system. I think it might go like this:

Rider pulls up next to support card.

Rider: “My bike’s not shifting correctly”

Mechanic: “We can help. Hey, where are your shifters?”

Rider: “In my head. This bike is neural.”

Mechanic: “Sorry, we didn’t bring spare brains.”

Don’t get me wrong, this is an intriguing idea and I’d like to check it out in person. I just wonder if the UCI would quickly make up a new rule stating that athletes were not allowed to shift with their brains, that this is cheating when properly used by smarter athletes. Neural Doping?

The Toyota Prius X Parlee Concept Bike – YouTube.

30 Days of Giveaways from Kilz

Visit the Kilz Facebook page and “Like” them. this will open their main page where you can fill in their form for your chance to win.

Win a Festool Saw

Visit festoolsweepstakes.com/ for a chance to win a Festool Kapex Sliding Compound Miter Saw. Three simple fields and you are in.

Have a team staff update? Hit us up using the form at the bottom of this page.

Young juniors must use mass start legal bikes in all races, including time trials: Beginning in 2012,youth and junior riders in the 12 and under age categories will be restricted to mass start legal bikes in all races. These legal bikes cannot have aero bars. The wheels must have no covers and must have at least 16 spokes. These rules will apply to the 13-14 age group in 2013.

More information to be found on their website via 2012 Rule Changes; 30-34 age group ...]]> USA Cycling recently released 2012 changes to the rule book. It appears there aren’t any significant changes that relate to mechanics. Notable changes are the removal of a master category, removal of a tandem championship category and the addition of a youth class. One point of interests is the change in usable bikes for juniors 12 and under:

Young juniors must use mass start legal bikes in all races, including time trials: Beginning in 2012,youth and junior riders in the 12 and under age categories will be restricted to mass start legal bikes in all races. These legal bikes cannot have aero bars. The wheels must have no covers and must have at least 16 spokes. These rules will apply to the 13-14 age group in 2013.

More information to be found on their website via 2012 Rule Changes; 30-34 age group removed from Masters Nationals – USA Cycling.