Amgen tour of California 2012

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A day in the life of a Tour de France race bike

  • Next on the list is checking the shift performance of Tyler Farrar's bike.

    Next on the list is checking the shift performance of Tyler Farrar's bike.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • After just 13 minutes on the stand, Tyler Farrar's bike is tuned, adjusted, and ready for another day of work.

    After just 13 minutes on the stand, Tyler Farrar's bike is tuned, adjusted, and ready for another day of work.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu mounts Tyler Farrar's bike on the repair stand to begin its servicing for the night.

    Inaki Goiburu mounts Tyler Farrar's bike on the repair stand to begin its servicing for the night.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • If you tilt your head just right, it almost looks like Tyler Farrar has just crossed the finish line.

    If you tilt your head just right, it almost looks like Tyler Farrar has just crossed the finish line.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tyler Farrar's bike is clean and ready for adjustments but still has to wait its turn.

    Tyler Farrar's bike is clean and ready for adjustments but still has to wait its turn.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tools of the trade for team mechanic Inaki Goiburu.

    Tools of the trade for team mechanic Inaki Goiburu.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Finally, the rest of the bike is scrubbed and rinsed, leaving it ready to tune.

    Finally, the rest of the bike is scrubbed and rinsed, leaving it ready to tune.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Afterwards, Geoff Brown scrubs the drivetrain squeaky clean.

    Afterwards, Geoff Brown scrubs the drivetrain squeaky clean.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Wheels are removed and cleaned first.

    Wheels are removed and cleaned first.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Team mechanic Geoff Brown gets to work cleaning Tyler Farrar's bike.

    Team mechanic Geoff Brown gets to work cleaning Tyler Farrar's bike.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tyler Farrar's bike is one of the last to be tended to after the end of the stage.

    Tyler Farrar's bike is one of the last to be tended to after the end of the stage.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Kris Withington tends to the spare wheels after the stage.

    Kris Withington tends to the spare wheels after the stage.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Stage 7 was especially hot and left melted tar and pebbles stuck to the tires.

    Stage 7 was especially hot and left melted tar and pebbles stuck to the tires.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu uses an air gun to thoroughly dry Tyler Farrar's bike.

    Inaki Goiburu uses an air gun to thoroughly dry Tyler Farrar's bike.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu makes sure that all of the water is removed, especially in the drivetrain.

    Inaki Goiburu makes sure that all of the water is removed, especially in the drivetrain.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • One final wipedown.

    One final wipedown.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu seals in the oil he applied earlier with a layer of grease.

    Inaki Goiburu seals in the oil he applied earlier with a layer of grease.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu wasn't satisfied with the rear brake feel so he opted to replace the cable - which took less than two minutes from start to finish.

    Inaki Goiburu wasn't satisfied with the rear brake feel so he opted to replace the cable - which took less than two minutes from start to finish.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu checks the adjustment of Tyler Farrar's brakes.

    Inaki Goiburu checks the adjustment of Tyler Farrar's brakes.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • As extra insurance, Inaki Goiburu squirts a bit of WD-40 to remove any lingering bits of water then follows with proper oil or grease at all critical points.

    As extra insurance, Inaki Goiburu squirts a bit of WD-40 to remove any lingering bits of water then follows with proper oil or grease at all critical points.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • What the air gun doesn't get, Inaki Goiburu wipes clean with a dry rag.

    What the air gun doesn't get, Inaki Goiburu wipes clean with a dry rag.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu also uses the air gun to dry off the cassette.

    Inaki Goiburu also uses the air gun to dry off the cassette.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu wipes off and inspects the tires.

    Inaki Goiburu wipes off and inspects the tires.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Displacing water is a key step that most consumers neglect post-washing. Even if lube is applied, it can't get where it needs to go if water's in the way.

    Displacing water is a key step that most consumers neglect post-washing. Even if lube is applied, it can't get where it needs to go if water's in the way.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • No nook or cranny is left untouched - team mechanic Inaki Goiburu spends almost as much time drying Tyler Farrar's bike as Victor Villalba spent washing it.

    No nook or cranny is left untouched - team mechanic Inaki Goiburu spends almost as much time drying Tyler Farrar's bike as Victor Villalba spent washing it.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tyler Farrar and his bike have now parted ways for the day but both still have work to do.

    Tyler Farrar and his bike have now parted ways for the day but both still have work to do.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Team mechanic Inaki Goiburu wastes no time in getting Tyler Farrar's bike loaded on top of the team car for the journey to that night's hotel.

    Team mechanic Inaki Goiburu wastes no time in getting Tyler Farrar's bike loaded on top of the team car for the journey to that night's hotel.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tools of the trade: a rag and a leather toe strap come in handy at times.

    Tools of the trade: a rag and a leather toe strap come in handy at times.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Team soigneurs are busy early in the day, too, with each rider having their own bag of personal stuff for the day.

    Team soigneurs are busy early in the day, too, with each rider having their own bag of personal stuff for the day.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Spare bikes are always easily identified by their lack of race numbers.

    Spare bikes are always easily identified by their lack of race numbers.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tyler Farrar's bike is loaded on to the team car for its trip to the stage start.

    Tyler Farrar's bike is loaded on to the team car for its trip to the stage start.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Team mechanic Kris Withington loads bikes on to the car.

    Team mechanic Kris Withington loads bikes on to the car.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Teams place bikes in designated positions based on their roles for the race overall and for that particular day.

    Teams place bikes in designated positions based on their roles for the race overall and for that particular day.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Garmin-Transitions mechanics Kris Withington and Inaki Goiburu start things off by inflating all of the tires for the day.

    Garmin-Transitions mechanics Kris Withington and Inaki Goiburu start things off by inflating all of the tires for the day.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Team mechanics fix bikes, of course, but also spend a lot of their time cleaning other stuff including team cars, trucks and buses - everyday.

    Team mechanics fix bikes, of course, but also spend a lot of their time cleaning other stuff including team cars, trucks and buses - everyday.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Theft is a big problem during a race - aside from the monetary loss, imagine what would happen if key team bikes were stolen, too.

    Theft is a big problem during a race - aside from the monetary loss, imagine what would happen if key team bikes were stolen, too.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Teams have to constantly worry about theft - even the radio antennae are removed from the cars each night.

    Teams have to constantly worry about theft - even the radio antennae are removed from the cars each night.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Garmin-Transitions team mechanics move the cars and crack the truck open after an early breakfast.

    Garmin-Transitions team mechanics move the cars and crack the truck open after an early breakfast.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Taking car of bikes is just part of the story - mechanics have to tend to the cars, too, both inside and out.

    Taking car of bikes is just part of the story - mechanics have to tend to the cars, too, both inside and out.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The back of this Garmin-Transitions team car is loaded up with a lot of water and calories.

    The back of this Garmin-Transitions team car is loaded up with a lot of water and calories.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tyler Farrar arrives at the team bus after a tough stage 7.

    Tyler Farrar arrives at the team bus after a tough stage 7.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Team cars are lined up behind the bus in the designated parking area after the finish.

    Team cars are lined up behind the bus in the designated parking area after the finish.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tyler Farrar stops for a quick interview with Cyclingnews managing editor Daniel Benson after signing in.

    Tyler Farrar stops for a quick interview with Cyclingnews managing editor Daniel Benson after signing in.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tyler Farrar grabs his bike and heads to rider sign-in.

    Tyler Farrar grabs his bike and heads to rider sign-in.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tyler Farrar's Felt F1 Team is set beside the team bus for now.

    Tyler Farrar's Felt F1 Team is set beside the team bus for now.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • After a brief stint of traffic - and a convenient police escort - Garmin-Transitions arrives at the stage start and bikes are immediately unloaded.

    After a brief stint of traffic - and a convenient police escort - Garmin-Transitions arrives at the stage start and bikes are immediately unloaded.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Team vehicles caravan to the stage start.

    Team vehicles caravan to the stage start.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Garmin-Transitions directeur sportif Jonathan Vaughters checks his Blackberry before leaving the team hotel.

    Garmin-Transitions directeur sportif Jonathan Vaughters checks his Blackberry before leaving the team hotel.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Not all of the team vehicles will head to the start. The team chef and mechanic truck generally go straight to the hotel for that night.

    Not all of the team vehicles will head to the start. The team chef and mechanic truck generally go straight to the hotel for that night.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Team cars are loaded up and ready to roll.

    Team cars are loaded up and ready to roll.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Inaki Goiburu even cleans off the spare wheels that got dusty the day before. We can't help but wonder what frame polish does to wet weather traction, though.

    Inaki Goiburu even cleans off the spare wheels that got dusty the day before. We can't help but wonder what frame polish does to wet weather traction, though.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The team truck is obviously locked overnight but an additional car is also parked in front of the rear door so it can't be opened.

    The team truck is obviously locked overnight but an additional car is also parked in front of the rear door so it can't be opened.

    Photo credit © James Huang