Top Five Mechanical FAQ's for the Triple Bypass

Pro Bike Express will provide you the athlete a convenient transportation service for your bicycles and race gear to Colorado for the west bound (Evergreen) or east bound (Avon) Triple bypass starts! For athletes coming from out of town we ask that you ship your bike 7 to 10 prior to the event for prep, rebuild, and tuning.
 
The White Glove Treatment
•  Transportation and support to build of bike to include Bike Clean-kit, Bike tuning prior to the event, bike breakdown for shipment back to customer. $ 399.00
• 10% off components/parts
If you are looking for just transport for the start of the east bound route (Avon, CO) we ask that you drop off your bike 2 days prior to the event.

The Transporter
Transportation only, of athletes bike to Avon,  CO $115.00
We will professionally transport your bicycle and race gear in our secure High End custom bike transport trailer, aiding you in a worry-free and excess luggage-free trip. Space will be limited to the first 46 bikes that take advantage of this worry free transport, so you can foucs on the ride!

For more information, click here.

Top Five Mechanical FAQ's for the Triple Bypass

Courtesy of Tony Song, Owner, Bicycle Outfitters, Evergreen

Q: What kind of gearing should I be using?

A: With the dizzying array of gearing choices out there today, it can be a tough question to answer, but with regard to the Triple Bypass, I think having the widest gear spread is a good idea for most riders. A triple crank (typically 30/39/52t) with an 11-28t cassette will allow most anyone to grind up those passes with relative ease while still allowing blazing descents without spinning out too quickly.
For those who currently have a compact double (34/50t) and aren't looking to significantly change their drivetrain, I would simply recommend making sure the cassette is an 11-28t for easier climbing, while a standard 11-25 or 11-26 would also work well.
Racers and masochists who are running full size double chainrings (typically 39/53 tooth) often use either a 12-23 or 12-25 tooth cassette, but not necessarily recommended for the Triple Bypass.

Q: What gear should I bring?

A: As many who attempted the Triple in 2006 will attest, the weather can get pretty nasty and unpredictable; as such, the minimum gear recommended is:

1. PUMP - many riders carry co2 inflators (& extra co2) for their light weight and compact dimensions
2. TUBE - for obvious reasons
3. PATCH KIT - for those cases where the spare tube is used, a patch kit is a great last line of defense!
4. TIRE LEVERS - these little things will allow much easier tire removal for those pesky flats
5. ARM/LEG WARMERS - who knows....it could snow!
6. LONG SLEEVE JACKET - ideally something light that can be stuffed in a jersey pocket.
7. WATER BOTTLES - at least 2 large (20 oz) water bottles.....this ain't no short ride.
8. ENERGY GEL - take one of these every 45 minutes or so and you'll never bonk!
9. FOLDING TOOLKIT - a slipping seatpost, crooked stem, loose saddle, or host of other potentially hazardous problems can easily be fixed with a small folding tookit.
10. MONEY - never know when you'll need to call a cab ;)

Q: How should I train?

A: Simply ride your bike.......a lot!

Q: What do I need to do to prepare my bike?

A: Make sure it's tuned properly.......there's nothing worse than riding a squeaky, poor-shifting, ill-braking bike all day! Bring it to your local bike shop and let them know what you're planning.

What we will typically check are:

1. Tire condition. If there's a flat spot, serious cuts, or dry rot, it's time for a new set of meats.
2. Wheel true-ness. Wheels that are out of round, true, or dish are potentially hazardous and in cases where the wheel is seriously out of true, the rim will rub against the brake.
3. Shifting. A poor shifting bike will ruin a ride, especially one as long as the Triple. Causes are myriad, but any decent shop will be able to diagnose your particular bike's issues. A word of warning......changing shift cables prior to a big ride can make your bike shift poorly due to new cable stretch.
4. Check your chain! An overly stretched chain will eventually wreak havoc on the entire drivetrain. Best case scenario is simply a new chain, but if you've been running an old stretched chain for too long, the worst case scenario becomes new chainrings, chain, & cassette.......painfully expensive.
5. Check bearings. Loose bearings, especially in the hubs &/or headset are dangerous, but more often they are inefficient. If you're wondering why your bike feels like it's pulling an anchor, it could be bad bearings; or it could be the beer you've been drinking all winter:)
6. Bar tape. It may sound like a minor thing, but putting some fresh tape on a bike always makes it feel fresh!
7. Brake pads. If the pads are at or close to the wear indicator, replace them.

Q: What tire pressure should I run?

A: The recommended tire pressure for tires is printed on the sidewall of any tire. The recommended range is typically 100 - 120 psi, however there are tires that will handle up to 175psi. Definitely check the pressure before you ride as tires with low pressure will tend to flat easily and will be less efficient.