With all the factors that make up a race like this it can be easy to overlook the machines which the racers use to get them through it. Much of the focus can go on the mental and physical effort of the racers. And rightly so, but for the duration of the race their bikes are the weapons which they take into battle. For a solo racer the bike becomes his or her home.
Over the years we’ve seen all kinds of machines, from flat-barred hybrids to full aero TT bikes. Last year we even had a tandem. A racers bike choice is led by a number of different factors. Comfort, speed, weight and sponsorship are all aspects which must be considered and these decisions will also be a viewed in tandem with the category they are racing in and the aspirations they have for the race.
A solo racer will generally go for a standard road bike with a few tweeks. The handlebars will usually be raised quite a bit to give a higher resting position on time trial bars. This provides a more comfortable position over long distances and in theory can reduce the threat of shermers neck. As a racers hands and backside are the points of contact with the bike, these are areas where problems can regularly arise. Sometimes we will see racers with pipe insulation on their bars to reduce impact and racers saddles can be quite unusual.
In the team event it is possible to see anything. The great thing about a team event like this is that anybody with a bit of structured preparation and training can take part. It is a great opportunity for people without much experience to take part in a massive event. Over the years it has been popular with corporate teams who use it as a team building exercise. There is no doubt that the cycle to work scheme has opened up many people to the world of cycling and this in turn has opened up the possibility of taking part in events like the Race Around Ireland. As a racer on an 8-person team need only cycle for 3 hours a day, this reduces the need for super-fast carbon fibre bikes and gives them an opportunity to use the same bike they may use on their daily commute.
The larger the team the larger the issues of logistics can become. While it makes perfect sense for a solo racer to have one or two spare bikes, it can be less feasible for every racer on a team to have a spare bike. To counteract this issue during this years Race Across America, the Generali Race Around Ireland team split into 2 pods of 4 racers. These pods weren’t based on ability but in height. By having racers of a similar size in the same pod it meant that a spare bike could be shared more easily, if need be.
Having said all that, there are some things which all bikes in the race will have in common. They are all required to have reflective tape attached and have front and rear lights for night cycling. Safety is a massive part of an event like this so for this reason every precaution is taken to reduce risk.
Top tip: Reflective tape can be super sticky, so rather than attach it to your bike and be unable to take it off afterwards, put electrical tape on the frame first and then the reflective tape over it.