GCN Tech Clinic: How do pros get custom-painted bikes so quickly?

Another week has passed and our inbox is full of tech questions which can only mean one thing, it’s time for GCN Tech Clinic. This week there’s a new face in the studio as GMBN’s Isaac Mundy joins Alex to provide all of the answers. Let’s take a look at what’s in store.

How do pro frames get painted so quickly?

At grand tours, the leader of the race wears a special jersey and their bike is painted to match that colour. The lead can switch multiple times within the race, so how do pro bikes get painted ready for the next day of racing so quickly?

Teams with a big favourite often just take a frame painted in the colour to the race in preparation and then hide it away to avoid looking over confident. As Alex points out, there are often unexpected leaders and for these riders a bike is prepared in the factory and flown over to the race the night before the next stage.

What’s my best option for easier gears?

Next up, when altering gear setup for climbing, is it easier to change to a cassette with larger cogs and use a mech hanger extender (if required) or swap to a more compact crankset?

Alex and Isaac had differing views on this one with Isaac preferring to swap out the crankset to avoid interfering with the derailleur, while Alex thinks changing the cassette is a more cost-effective option.

How do I clean my cleaning brushes?

Beyond a small rinsing after each use, brushes shouldn’t require specific cleaning. You may find that brushes are getting clogged up with grease and aren’t doing a particularly good job of cleaning your bike. This is more likely to be a problem with the degreaser you’re using than the brushes and we’d recommend investing in a more powerful one.

How do I program multiple power meters to one bike computer?

It’s common for riders to have multiple power meters spread across a number of bikes but only one bike computer. Is it possible to program all of them into that one computer?

Yes! Most bike computers can be paired with multiple devices and you simply select the device you want to pair with at the beginning of each ride.

Why is cross-chaining so bad?

Cross-chaining is the process of riding in a high cog in the cassette plus the largest chainring, or a low cog in the cassette and the small chainring. Cross-chaining is commonly frowned upon as it’s less efficient than a straighter chainline and can accelerate chain wear.

But why is cross-chaining bad for 2x setups but not for a 1x setup? Isaac provides all of the answers.

How do I clean a waxed chain after 1000km?

Simply melt the existing wax using boiling water and then apply wax again - it’s that simple!

Need help waxing a chain? Check out our guide below.

Should I wait to do zone 2 training when I’m fitter?

We end this week with a training question. For new riders, what’s the best way to get fitter faster? We’ve looked at the benefits of zone 2 training multiple times on our channel (including in this interview with Tadej Pogačar’s coach), but is it an effective method for newer riders? Or should they focus on high-intensity training early on?

Like anything in life, it’s all about balance. Lots of high-intensity training may lead to quick gains but won’t be as beneficial in the long term, so try to include plenty of zone 2 training too.

We’ll end this week with one of Alex’s top tips. Don’t worry too much about training if you’re new to cycling, just get out on your bike as much as possible and enjoy riding. You can even go out with people who are slightly faster than you as that will naturally lead to fitness gains.

Have a question you need answering? Head over to this week’s Tech Clinic video over on the GCN Tech YouTube channel and add your question to the comments along with #ASKGCNTECH.