Would you like to work for Shimano Neutral Service? 👀

@bremnet1812

4 күн бұрын

I'd love to be a part of that team. How does one apply?

@bikecommuter24

3 күн бұрын

after 46 years of being a mechanic I'm retired although part of me would love to give it a go I'm the sure the Adrenaline kicks in at crunch time.

@cardboardcrawlersrc8805

Күн бұрын

Dream job.

@peterdraper1478

7 сағат бұрын

If you saw the state of my garage you would know better than ask....

I'd love to see a similar video about the camera operator on the back of the motorcycles. ❤

@goldenretriever6261

3 күн бұрын

I'd like to see a video about the motorcycle drivers. They have to be very skilled to follow riders down the mountains with a cameraman on the back.

@D34dlyTidsy

3 күн бұрын

Great idea

@alexpeartree2019

3 күн бұрын

​@@goldenretriever6261and getting bollocked by Cab for being in the way! 😂

@JGCycling

Күн бұрын

Same

@gcn

5 сағат бұрын

That could be cool! We would love to do more behind the scenes videos 🙌

Outfitting the neutral bikes with dropper posts for quick saddle height adjustment is super clever!

@gcn

Күн бұрын

Would you ride one of these? 👀

Having worked as a neutral service mechanic for about 20 years, on and off, you're only ever 2nd choice: riders always look for their team car first, and you quite often get blamed for not having the exactly correct thing they need, at exactly the moment they need it. But sometimes you receive the gratitude that makes the job worth doing. I've been sworn at and had things thrown at me by wound-up prima donnas of both sexes (they get slow wheel changes ever after those sorts of dummy spits) , but also, bottles of champagne, cakes, gift bags & team kit given to me by grateful riders who I've helped to a better finish than they expected. It's a funny little niche of the cycling world.

@zeiss72

3 күн бұрын

Awesome! Would love to hear some of your stories.

@jonasvieth

Күн бұрын

Just out of interest what tire pressures do you prepare? Especially for races like Roubaix.

@vipergtsrgt1

19 сағат бұрын

This was the first thing I thought about before even seeing your reply. The way I've seen neutral service treated sometimes is pretty abysmal. Like you said, a lot of riders don't even want it. We do have a stage race here where two of the stages are on tight circuits where team cars are not allowed. For those stages, neutral service is critical.

I really enjoy these types of videos. The insights into the behind-the-scenes logistics are appreciated.

@gcn

Күн бұрын

The logistics are super impressive! 🤯

Imagine winning a stage using a neutral bike. Must be an awesome achievement.

@gcn

4 күн бұрын

Would be so cool 🙌

@Baerinho

3 күн бұрын

Michael Rogers won the Tour down under i think in 2002ish on a spectators bike. There is video on youtube with the original commentary, its hilarious, spectator is jsut there, randomly, with i think even the same bike model

@morosis82

3 күн бұрын

​@@Baerinhoyeah it was almost exactly the same bike I think, even the right size frame but slightly different saddle height I believe. Got a pic with the guy and his bike after the race.

@kaspershaupt

3 күн бұрын

@@Baerinho importantly the same petels one of the wildest coincidences in sports

@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589

3 күн бұрын

The dropper post is much better used here than what it was invented for.

Konstanza is a SHINING STAR!!! I am truly impressed! Cheers to the TEAM!!

Thanks Dan and crew...very cool to see that stuff !

@gcn

Күн бұрын

Thanks to Neutral Service for letting us film with them 🙌

My favourite sort of GCN video, love to see the background content!

@gcn

Күн бұрын

We love brining our audience along with us to the wider cycling world 🙌

This was really interesting. The blue cars are a familiar site but I’ve never really thought about the logistics of what they actually do.

@gcn

Күн бұрын

Now you know 🙌

How often does someone actually take a bike or wheel from neutral service, seems like something we see very rarely.

@andrewmcalister3462

3 күн бұрын

Probably you don't see it, because the cameras and the team cars are amongst the leaders. A rider who has been dropped and is struggling to make the time cut (and the team cars a long way in front) may well rely on neutral service in the event of a puncture, but there are no cameras there to witness it.

@filiphajek4103

Күн бұрын

Yep just like today .. stage 9. E.g. We did not see Vingegaards bike change, but we saw neutral car with Jan Tratnik with Vingegaard´s bike. Cameras are not everywhere and mechanical/punctures are happening all the time in normal stages not just this gravel one .. we just do not see them in TV so often unless the puncture happens to GC rider or some sprinter.

It's more historic if Mark Cavendish get his 36th with a neutral service bike.

@gcn

Күн бұрын

Oh that would be cool!

Love the analogy of every day preparing like a team but without their own riders. ❤😊🎉 Go neutral service! It's every rider's team!

I'd love to own one of those blue Shimano bikes!

She's great!!! Much RESPECT to those guys and ladies! Amazing job they have to pull off!!! Thanks for your neutral service!

Thank you. Great information

Fascinating ! Love this behind the scenes content, keep it up.

@gcn

Күн бұрын

Anything else you would like to see on the channel?

Very nice video ! Well done !!!

That's a really interesting insight!!

Loved the insight into the neutral service team. Great video

I love you all so much for doing this video! Have been curious about this forever. Thank you. Love that you can do these videos now since you are independent.

@gcn

Күн бұрын

We'll keep the videos coming 🔥

So interesting to gain some insight as to what keeps the machine running. That was 100% new and cool info for me. Thank you GCN for making this and all of your fantastic content.

This is a great video. Very interesting to learn more about the neutral services!

@gcn

Күн бұрын

It's a cool side of cycling lots of people don't think about 🙌

Great video, i always suspected some of the tricks theyd need but cool to see it from the source. That trick with dropper posts is brilliant, such a lateral thinking move! Would be cool to see some stats on how often they are used and what types of equipment gets used the most.

Great informative video, Thank You! 🙂👍

And who are the guys in the white bikes giving away water bottles, unsung heros on the first 2 stages 👏

Superb behind the scenes. Kudos GCN crew & Shimano.

@gcn

Күн бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! 🙌

Good bit of competitor analysis they get to do, whilst preparing to support all the teams!

great stuff, thank you!

Very interesting video on some thing se rarely hear about

Nice one - really learnt something from this🙂

I don’t know how possible this is, but would love to get a tour of the medical tour (especially for a grand tour/tdf). Race doctors are so important and vital for all riders, curious to see what they have to help out.

Nice Very interesting and Dan just getting on with the interviews.

@mariahamilton5305

3 күн бұрын

Some very interesting stuff coming out! But it's weird seeing Dan on his own. I can't put my finger on why I feel he needs a buddy, but I do!

Not sure why this was an ad, as it was incredibly insightful! Looking forward to tours of the team buses, and perhaps similar episodes on the first aid cars and the broom truck/van/wagon.

@gcn

Күн бұрын

That's the sign of a good ad 😉

Very cool pulling back the curtain on neutral service! thx

Thanks! Great video to watch while waiting for live coverage to begin! :P

@gcn

Күн бұрын

Did you find yourself looking for the neutral service team?

What tire pressures do they prepare? Especially for races like Roubaix.

Fascinating. What a logistical puzzle. They should receive a prize after every race!

@gcn

Күн бұрын

Hahaha the logistics could be the toughest part of the tour 🙌

Great insight video about more of the Tour's unsung heroes.

@gcn

Күн бұрын

The logistical heroes 🙌

Awesome job

Great video.

Huzzah for these heroes and heroines!

Brilliant video…..never knew what went into it.

by far the coolest job in sports

Great video!! You should do one about the camera crew on motorcycles.

Great story GCN! Really interesting so thanks so much for filming and producing. Keep this sort of content coming! Thank you so much

I remember last year someone in the break broke a chain his team car was behind another group so the Shimano car tried to help him. The mechanic got one bike after another none of them fit for either size or pedal reasons. So he had to wait a long time for his team car to get to him. I just don't remember seeing a neutral actually helping someone out, maybe I don't watch enough cycling tho

What about an episode following one of the tdf-team chefs for a day? For example Uno-X has a food truck following them the whole race, with a danish chef doing everything by himself. He posted a photo of him filling two full carts, and that was just two days feeding the riders😮

I would love one of those blue bikes!

@AaronI-wz4ok

Күн бұрын

Canyon Ultimate

Interesting video. There are so many ‘unseen’ parts of cycling racing that would be interesting to see. What about things like who puts up the barriers and when, what does the carnival before the race do, filling in all the potholes, how is the decision on the stage and route made?

I can honestly say I have never seen a rider use the Shimano neutral service, really interesting video though!

@gcn

6 сағат бұрын

You'll be looking out for it now?

How does the team move from stage to stage? The team logistics movements. Hope to see a video similar on how F1 teams move about.

Never noticed but I guess following a swap from a NS bike back to a team one, the team keeps the NS bike on the car? Then does an exchange for the broken one when next possible? Logistical nightmare in a race situation. Stunning work.

Aside from the motocams, can we please have a live production behind the scenes? Thank you!

I switched to Shimano pedals from Look in May......I gotta say, I'm surprised the pedals are fantastic and so much easier to slip into, my guess is the cleat design because I could never get it right with the Look pedals. So, yeah, I'm please with the change.

Mavic neutral service assisted at several of our local bicycle races. Due to legal concerns, Shimano service can't be used.

All of this is exactly why I continue to remember the time Nathan van Hooydonck was rude to the Neutral Service people and they walked away without giving a wheel. His name was pretty much permanently scarred with that for me because they have a hard job and the stress of a race is no excuse for that attitude to people who are trying to juggle so many different needs and so many different sets of componentry.

I had no idea

I miss Mavic 🥺

@a1white

3 күн бұрын

Yes, it was Mavic before wasn’t it?

@andrewmcalister3462

3 күн бұрын

Yeah, somehow yellow being Mavic's brand colour just worked at the TdF.

Awesome video, every time during a race I can't wait to see your video about the neutral service, such a cool job

@gcn

Күн бұрын

You'll keep an eye out for neutral service now 😉

64 wheels suprises me.thought it would of been more

@AaronI-wz4ok

Күн бұрын

They get them back at the end of the stage

Dan really wanted a blue Shimano Bottle...poor guy

❤

The Shimano neutral service bike frames, saddles, handlebars, stems and wheels are sourced from separate suppliers as white label products. It appears that the outsourced components are painted Shimano blue with a Shimano decal on everything they didn't manufacture. Is the neutral service a contracted component of select UCI races that would be open to bids from companies that compete directly with Shimano - like L-TWOO?

Did we hear what brand the neutral bikes are? curious who shimano is suing for frames. Great video btw.

@amoradyl

3 күн бұрын

It's a french bike brand called Origine and the model is named Axome. Pretty cool ones.

@AaronI-wz4ok

Күн бұрын

Canyon Ultimate

Alpecin Deceuninick still on QR? I thought they’d all be on through-axles now

The bike is an Origine Axxome ; a great bike.

@canadiancat420

2 күн бұрын

The bikes are now Canyon.

@francois9163

2 күн бұрын

@@canadiancat420 The bikes we can see on the video, for exemple at 4'08" or 3'44" or 1'55", are 100% Origine Axxome. If they changed (but I can't verify this anywhere), they did so after the video was shot.

I am really curious what frame set they use

Interesting. I don't think it was mentioned but what type of frames they are using (which brand)... does anybody know?

It would make things a lot easier for the neutral team if all the teams at least used the same through axle and rear disc size.

I wonder, do any (Shimano assisted) riders actually change BACK when their team car gets close enough? Maybe just if things come to a stop for some reason...

Does Shimano make those frames or are they from another manufacturer but with Shimano logos?

@supnongl

3 күн бұрын

I saw elsewhere that they are previous season canyons .. although officially, Shimano will never say

@a1white

3 күн бұрын

@@supnonglthanks. I was wondering that too. I guess Dan wasn’t allowed to ask that 😅

@francois9163

3 күн бұрын

The bike is an Origine Axxome. Origine is a french manufacturer ; they sell very good bikes, only online.

Why is the light on the Shimano motorcycle always broken? Seems like just the right hand side light is working… I’m wondering for ages now! 😅

Which bike brand do they use?

What brand are the frames they use for these neutral bikes?

Wonder how much Shimanoi pay to be the neutral service asthey get a lot of coverage for basically handing out bottles - very rare to see them doing wheel change or handing out a bike as I guess they cover the back of the race a lot more than the front.

How is the neutral services funded? Does each team pay a certain amount?

What happens to the bikes after the season? Do they sell that somewhere?

@elscruffomcscruffy8371

3 күн бұрын

Hey, they're are volunteers too. Not exactly on a duty

Do they bring wheel set with sram cassette and rotors?

Never mind the 5 mm thru-axle -- who's still using quick release!?

Is Shimano the only company that provides this service? Is it under contract? Is it more of a philanthropic ambassadorship premise?

@gcullen5331

3 күн бұрын

Shimano pays to do so, its a sponsorship.

What about power meters?

@Slaitoor

3 күн бұрын

Wouldn’t make to much sense to put power meters on these

@whitehorsebricks2670

2 күн бұрын

I think pairing your Garmin to a different power meter would be low down on your list when chasing back on after a bike swap.

They need a Shimano El Camino (El Shamino?) so the mechanic can start preparing a bike before they arrive to the rider!

GCN. TDF, Shimano and all by a busy Supercharger. All my KZread worlds collide..

thanks shimano, i still miss mavic yellow.

One of the best parts of any tour is watching the neutral service give someone help only for the entitled weasel receiving it to flap around and scream

The question I would have asked: what frameset and cockpit are your bikes using?

are they paid by shimano or by the organizer of the tournament? i mean costs incurred*

@refard

4 күн бұрын

most probably just there for advertising

@refard

4 күн бұрын

and probably most costs covered by shimano

@MediaProConcept

3 күн бұрын

It is paid by us!! (Shimano users/customers)

@RustyCardboard

3 күн бұрын

@@MediaProConcept not me i use sram jk xD

Interview must have been behind a Tesla super charger, hence the random Teslas passing in background.

Noooo don't bring mountainbike tech to the roadies 😂 it's ours and we are proud of it 😂 drop that post!

did anyone ever used their service in the race? i dont record

Has anyone ever won a stage on a neutral service bike?

What happens if one of the cars decides to go off course to a restaurant and just kick back for most of the race?

Either Mark Bell or Les Fleetwood punctured in Birkenhead Park and took a kids bike to win. The kid even brought the bike down to the finish. Not all scousers are thief's

Being an amateur. But why don’t the service cars use larger cars? Like vans? To fit more bikes/wheels? Sitting in regular cars with wheels in the backseat😂😂looks a bit weird

Too many cars and motobikes in the peloton , something should really be done about it

It seems like a lot of work for what is essentially a rolling billboard. I’ve never seen neutral service be much help. The water bottle and energy items they carry would likely be of much more help if that was their sole focus throughout the race.

@robflel

3 күн бұрын

Ultimately everything in professional cycling are moving billboards.

@noptimized

3 күн бұрын

*professional sports 😂

@andrewmcalister3462

3 күн бұрын

The cameras and team cars tend to follow the race leaders. The dropped rider struggling to make the time cut may depend on neutral service in the event of a puncture, but there are no cameras there to witness it.

Seems like a mad thing this is still a thing.. every team has cars behind them. these neutral services cars and bikes are just extra traffic no? if anything they are getting in the way of the actual team car……it’s all just marketing. and that’s ok.

Just keep away from the racers Shimano's car.......don't try to run one over or send him to a barbwire fence.

Listening to her, I would suggest Shimano makes a considerable effort to reduce all those standards...

@andrewmcalister3462

3 күн бұрын

Yeah, they are probably stuck with supporting different groupsets. But they could certainly take a stand by saying "neutral wheels will have 160mm rotors fitted", and it's up to teams to decide if they want to risk no neutral support.

@WaechterDerNacht

2 күн бұрын

@@andrewmcalister3462 disc brakes would not be the challenge. But there what feels like 20 axle systems, 50 BBs and 15 steerer tubes. Sure, each will have it's strengths and downfalls, but it's main impact is complicting things for everyone - including manufacturers.

@whitehorsebricks2670

2 күн бұрын

@@andrewmcalister3462 At least they don't have to worry about bringing Campag wheels to the tour any more.