What is Neutral Support?
Neutral support provides mechanical service, parts, or
bicycles to participants who are unable to use theirs due to damage or misadjustment.
Many promoters hire neutral support, sometimes bike shops send mechanics as
part of their sponsorship package. There are pros and cons to both approaches.
A competent and professional neutral support
mechanic should be able to rapidly fix, repair, or otherwise ensure that a
participant will finish their race or ride if they encounter a problem with
their bicycle. Extra wheels, bikes, and spare parts are considered mandatory
equipment and guarantee that most problems have a happy ending.
There is a HUGE difference between a shop
mechanic and a professional neutral support mechanic. The fast-paced environment,
rules, procedures, and logistics catch many shop mechanics by surprise. Rarely
do they carry spare wheels, bikes, or specialty tools.
It may be more of a liability than asset, riders have
certain expectations when neutral support is on site.
People who use neutral support equipment do not
have a license to abuse the equipment. It should be returned exactly as you got
it (CLEAN) and IMMEDIATELY after your race. Do not collect
prize money, do not change your clothes or shower, do not shoot the breeze with
your friends for three hours. Your selfishness will
deprive others of the opportunity to use the equipment.
In sanctioned events, you can be fined, disqualified, or
have your license suspended if you are disrespectful towards any person or property.
Be considerate to the equipment and the people who lent it to you or you may find
that people are unwilling to help you in the future.
Remember, your equipment is your responsibility. While things break,
improper maintenance is a major cause of equipment failuire. The equipment you
borrow follows the same rules as your own: you break it, you fix it.
Maintaining your bicycle is
important for your safety and the safety of everyone around you. I may not
be able to fix a misadjusted bike in a timely manner or help
someone who neglects their own equipment. The rider has a responsibility
to ensure their equipment is safe and functional.
I'm here for an emergency, not a
lazy convenience. You might be catching the SAG wagon if you use one of these classic
excuses:
I took my bike out of storage last night, it needs
a tune up;
my "friend" put on new components last night and they don't work;
I noticed
shifting problems last month but it's really important NOW because my race
starts in 5 minutes; I bought this used bike yesterday.
There may be dozens of people
who have unforeseen issues, now is not the time to show up (unprepared) with
self-imposed problems.
- Under NO cirsumstances should you help yourself to a mechanic's tools
or equipment without permission. If I catch you in my toolbox without permission,
I will NEVER help you in the future and you will be responsible for any missing
or damaged tools
- WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF SOMEONE "LEANED" THEIR CAR AGAINST YOUR
BIKE? Probably not, please lean your bike elsewhere.
- USAC rules state riders must pull to the right side of road to receive
service: road races, circuit races,
criterium if applicable. There may be a different protocol for multi-sport events
or unique situations.
- For USAC-type events, signal a flat tire or need for assistance
by raising one of your hands. Ideally raise your right hand while
you are pulling over and yell "9 speed" or "10 speed" (jeez,
now we have to worry about 11 speeds?) for a rear wheel switch. For front wheels
raise your left hand and yell "front". If you choose
to remove your rear wheel to hasten a repair, put it in the small gear in the front and
rear before doing so.
- For any type of distress wave a wheel or your hands
in the air when you see a support vehicle coming.
- If everything is OK when asked by a support personal, use a thumbs up signal.
- If you need something more, give a concise three or
four word explanation: seatpost is slipping, frame is broken, handlebars
are crooked, such-and-such bolt needs tightening, etc. Races are often lost
by seconds so every one counts.
- Neutral support is often available at the start line or near the registration area
to make repairs before, between, during, or after races.
- It is OK to offer tips, liquid refreshments, and food; some don't drink
alcohol so 100% fruit juice is a good choice.
- Labor is happily provided for free but some repair parts cost money.
- Don't forget to thank the promoter
for providing neutral support. Shop labor rates for the repairs and equipment
can be expensive; the riders are the ones who don't have to pay their
regular mechanic to do the repairs...but only if the promoter thinks neutral
support service is worth the expense.
A quality
neutral support program/mechanic will have ample wheels and spare bikes but riders are
encouraged to bring their own equipment. Mechanics should have a good stock
of common repair parts like chain links, tubes, cables, housing, and some odds-and-ends.
The neutral mechanic may loan
a wheel, bike, or other part but will hold the rider's equipment as "collateral"
in the interim. The rider is obliged to return borrowed equipment immediately.
There are other rules that apply to USAC events, I have
only listed some of the basic rules below. Consult the rulebook for a complete list.
CRITERIUM: A criterium will have at least one pit
along the race course, sometimes more, which is where you'll find neutral support.
There may be a follow vehicle which, according to the rules, can
transport riders and their bicycles to the pit in the event of a mishap (check with the
Chief Referee regarding this rule). Unless stated in the race flyer or permitted by the
Chief Referee, riders must ride or carry their bikes in the proper direction
or dismount and run backwards along the course to get to the pit. Alternately, the Chief Referee
may allow riders to cut the course to get to the pit.
Riders may put spare wheels,
tools, or even bicycle(s) in each of the pits. Riders may repair a bicycle on the
course but equipment changes must be made in the pit. Most of the time it is
just a flat and the problem wheel is switched for a working one.
One rule that perplexes many people - it seems to take some pro riders by surprise - is the
"free lap" rule. The rider may go to the pit to effect repairs during the race.
As long as there are
more than 5 (five) miles remaining in the race for the leaders, a rider may receive
a "free lap" in the event of a recognized mishap (see the USAC Rulebook
for the specific definition of a recognized mishap). Simply, they will resume their
pre-mishap position in the race field
when the racers pass the pit location.
Depending on the length of the lap, a simple calculation will reveal when the free lap rule
is no longer in effect.
Otherwise, they go back into the race whenever the
repairs are completed and must make up the distance on their own.
CIRCUIT RACE: A circuit race may have one or
more pits along the race course.
There will likely be a follow vehicle consisting of a wheel vehicle or a dedicated
neutral support vehicle.
Riders may put a set of spare wheels in each of the pits or place them in the follow car
according to the rules. Repairs will be
made to the bicycle and the rider will resume the race without any free laps
and must catch up.
ROAD RACE: A road race will probably NOT have any
pits along the course but the rules allow spectators and others to assist in any
mechanical situation short of pushing or pulling the rider. One year in a grand tour
a rider broke his bike and it almost seemed planned as the spectator had the exact bike
in a suitable size - it actually fit pretty darn good - and gave the rider his bike in exchange.
There will likely be a follow vehicle, maybe even a dedicated
neutral support vehicle. Team cars can be here, too.
Riders may put essentially anything they want in the follow car related to and
including complete bikes as required.
Repairs will be made to the bicycle or exchanged for another
and the rider will continue the race.
CYCLOCROSS: A cyclocross race will have at least one
pit along the course but will usually have two. The neutral support
mechanic will be in the main pit and additional mechanics may be placed in
the other pit. All equipment changes must be
made in the pit. The rider can do their own repairs anywhere on the course
as long as no one assists them in any capacity: no tools, no parts, no guidance.
Otherwise the rider
must continue on the race course with their bicycle until they get to the
pit. Cutting the course results in disqualifcation.
Depending on the race, pits may be used for exchanging bicycles and wheels or one
pit may be dedicated as a "wheels only" pit and the other as the main pit.
Riders may put spare wheels in any pit and bicycle(s) in at least one of the pits.
Repairs will be made to the bicycle, mostly just switching
a wheel, and the rider will continue the race.
MULTI-SPORT: Most of the time there
will be a vehicle or few roaming the course to help participants as needed.
There may be pits along the course or a general repair area near the bicycle
transition area. Most riders should have repair kits on their bicycle to fix
their own problems because the race
can be spread over dozens of miles and a mechanic just as far away.
CHARITY: Most of the time there
will be vehicles roaming the course to help participants as needed.
There will probably be mechanics at each of the rest or water stops
along the course and sag wagons to transport riders as needed.
Time is not crucial like it is in timed races so it is a less stressful
environment. The start area will most certainly have mechanics on hand
to assist riders.
GENERAL INFORMATION: For all USAC-sanctioned
events and others that follow these rules and regulations, it is the rider's responsibility
to ensure their equipment is safe, secure, and works properly according to the rules
laid out for the particular event. Otherwise the rider may face a fine, relegation,
disqualification, or a host of other penalties in the event of an incident caused
by said bicycle. The incident may only involve the owner but many times
a crash in a field of riders will take out more than just the owner.
A classic example is rolling a tubular tire from the rim.
There is almost NO acceptable excuse for rolling a tubular. If I should
happen to see tubular tape as opposed to glue on said wheel, there is no
question whatsoever that a rider
is using unsafe equipment that has no place on ANY bike.