Not sure how this will affect US retailers; however, this acquisition could definitely help Shimano’s PRO component business. Let the speculation begin:

Could we see a move that ties Shimano and PRO into one fitting program?
New fitting lectures from this major component supplier?
PRO branded fitting tools?

We’ll have to wait and see.

More are the acquisition here:

Shimano acquires BikeFitting.com BV | Bicycle Business | BikeBiz.
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/6653.html

And the company website is here:
http://www.bikefitting.com/English/Systems/Introduction.aspx

Where mechanics and items related to mechanics appeared on the web during March.

British Triathlon updates their rulebook: http://www.britishtriathlon.org/news/new-british-triathlon-rule-book-now-published_1969

Ralf Medloff’s transition from ballroom dancer to head mechanic for the Jelly Belly pro cycling team:

http://www.marinij.com/sports/ci_20152643/cycling-marin-from-ballroom-bike-corte-maderas-medloff

Design review of Bike Repair Tool Kits

http://www.core77.com/blog/tools/bike_repair_tools_and_kits_21902.asp?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+core77%2Fblog+%28Core77.com%27s+design+blog%29

Some pretty cool photos and video of the Radio Shack Nissan Trek team preparing for early season races.. Includes shots inside their team truck.

http://www.bdc-forum.it/dietro-le-quinte-il-team-radioshack-nissan-trek-alla-tirreno-adriatico/

Review of UCI’supdated regulations on bikes, including sizing and drop out. (let us know if you need a copy, the UCI has been asking sites to pull their copies from the web)

http://inrng.com/2012/03/uci-rules-regulation-bikes-clothing/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+inrng%2Finrng0+%28The+Inner+Ring%29

BikeRadar’s suggestions for best bicycle tool kits

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/best-tool-kits-for-cyclists-33539/?CPN=RSS&SOURCE=BRGENHOME

Could it be time to throw away your gapping tools? Based on this article on Velonews the UCI will be enforcing the rule against modifying products for racing. In most cases, this is a given and shouldn’t affect teams using stock items. However, they specifically call out the task of filing the lawyer tabs from forks as this “cancels the warranty of the fork in case of crash”.

What would this mean for you in the future? Slower wheel changes!
This could also lead to bicycle vendors supplying two versions of forks, one for general consumers, one for racing.What this means for UCI frame/fork approvals…who knows. All speculation at this point.

Read more here:
UCI to require lawyer tabs, dictate Camelbak placement and sock length.

Where mechanics and items related to mechanics appeared on the web during February.

Top ten zombie killing tools and how to use them:

http://homefixated.com/the-top-10-zombie-killing-tools-and-how-to-properly-use-them/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+homefixated+%28HomeFixated.com+Feed%29#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed

Interview with Park Tool’s Director of Education Calvin Jones:

http://www.usacycling.org/2012-this-valentines-day-love-your-bike.htm

List of top tool blogs for those seeking more sites to track:

http://homefixated.com/top-tool-blogs/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+homefixated+%28HomeFixated.com+Feed%29#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed

Where mechanics and items related to mechanics appeared on the web during January.

Experiences of a race mechanic when traveling overseas:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/videos/the-challenges-for-mechanics-at-the-tour-down-under-1387465979001

A designer’s look at tool wraps:

http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/a_look_at_tool_rolls_21535.asp?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+core77%2Fblog+%28Core77.com%27s+design+blog%29

Continuing Education. VeloNews’ Nick Legan reviews the Georgia round of the Park Tool  Tech Summit:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/01/bikes-and-tech/continuing-education_204383

Tool-dots – hang your tools how you want them, where you want them:

http://www.laboratory424.com/project/tool-dot

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.

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 …

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

And more at velonation.com

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.

Image via Wikipedia

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

Spidertech Powered by C10
Team Type 1 – Sanofi
United Health Case Pro Cycling Team

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.