Take a walk around the pit at any UCI cyclocross race, and you will see a lot of bike washing, and in just about every team tent, mechanics will be using a Feedback Sports Sprint work stand. While the stand is popular with team mechanics, it does have the drawback of requiring the removal of the bike’s front wheel to mount properly.
U.S. Cyclocross Nationals has been a bike-washing nightmare in several recent years. It is the biggest stage in U.S. cyclocross, so team mechanics at those races have to work overtime to make sure team bikes are clean and perfectly dialed.
As we saw in our Notes from the Pit on bikes, wheels and tires, there are several pro U.S. teams that travel to race weekends with a large haul of bikes and equipment. Although I did not have the chance to talk to the Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld team, but with 12 athletes in Louisville, they have perhaps the toughest task when it comes to cleaning bikes after pre-rides and races.
The team’s mechanics have come up with a creative bike-washing solution that allows them to leave the front wheels on the bikes to save time on the task. I took a closer look at the unique piece of equipment and reached out to Feedback Sports to see if the MacGyvered bike-washing stand will be available for your team in the near future.
The Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld mechanics started with the Sprint stand base (shown in photo), and then they bought a longer base bar from Feedback and then cut it to span roughly the wheelbase of the team’s Cannondale SuperX fleet.
The Feedback Sports Sprint stand features a base for holding the bike and a telescoping stand.
“Honestly we weren’t really fully aware of what they had in mind exactly but were happy to help with sending the parts they requested,” Feedback Sports Vice President Jeff Nitta told us. “Needless to say the end result was pretty cool and something we appreciated seeing them take to that level!”
To hold the bike, they used the stand’s bottom bracket cradle as a front tire chuck and fabricated a fitment for the back of the bike.
The Sprint stand’s bottom bracket cradle is used to hold the front wheel. Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com modified Feedback Sports washstand. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
Starting with another Feedback Sports product, the Pro Truing Stand, Cannondale created a longer, yet still adjustable post to which they could secure the back of the bike. The post uses one full Truing Stand arm and a second cut and attached to add length. The post is mounted to the Sprint stand base bar with a custom water jet cut base.
The truing stand is connected to the Sprint work stand and stands upright. Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com modified Feedback Sports washstand. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
To hold the bike itself, they custom cut a cradle for the non-drive chain and seat stay, which was then riveted into the truing stand.
A Pro Truing Stand stands upright and is outfitted to hold the bike. Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com modified Feedback Sports washstand. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
The end result is an adjustable stand that will readily receive bikes, both wheels attached, for washing or adjustment.
The fabricated cradle holds the bike by the non-drive chain and seat stays. Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com modified Feedback Sports washstand. © B. Grant / Cyclocross Magazine
The telescoping design of the stand also allows them to rotate it, giving access to all sides of the bike without having to manipulate it too much.
I watched the team use the stand in the pits at the muddy race at Devou Park in Cincinnati, and it is clear it does streamline workflow for mechanics when there is a queue of equipment to be cleaned after a course inspection.
While Feedback Sports seems impressed with the idea, don’t expect to be able to buy one anytime soon. “We work on a product development schedule that looks out a few years and I can tell you that this isn’t in our schedule for the foreseeable future,” said Nitta. “I know we’ll see them at [Nationals] shortly so a proper discussion and review I’m sure will take place there which may give us a better perspective on it in us. We also haven’t seen it in person yet.”
With or without an official production schedule, this unique washing stand is a creative solution to a challenge teams face during race weekends, especially those that are muddy. Larger amateur teams may not have access to all the equipment of the pros, but solutions like this bike-washing stand can provide inspiration for pit creativity.
Many thanks to UCI racer Erin Faccone of Team Averica for calling our attention to this creative bike-washing solution. Check out her blog post for more about the stand.
See our continuing coverage of the 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals on our dedicated Nationals page.
