The Shimano camp
Photo: © Chris Davidson

The Chris Davidson diary

Chris Davidson is a former mechanic for Bontrager Racing Service, now in the service of Shimano Multi-Service.

His diary entries give us a look inside the pits and an insight into the mind of a mechanic.

2003 diary entries

NORBA Series #4, Mt. Schweizer, ID, USA

•Day 1 - Thursday, July 26: R&D day
•Day 2 - Friday, July 27: The power of a second, third or fourth opinion
•Day 3 - Saturday, July 28: Dust-fest royale
•Day 4 - Sunday, July 28: Hmmm... interesting, very interesting...

NORBA #1 - Big Bear, California

•Day one and two at Big Bear, NORBA #1
•Days three and four at Big Bear

2002 diary entries

Tour of the Gila

•Getting prepped for Day One - loading the truck for the prologue
•An easy day at the TT - working stage 1
•Flat fixing frenzy - A tough day at the stage 2 road race
•Thorny issues at the Inner loop RR
•Gila Monster road race - Wherry's amazing exploding derailleur

HP Women's Challenge

•The battle of the parking lot - jockeying for dominance at the team hotel
•Brooke & the giant killers - sleeplessness rewarded by riders massive efforts in Stage 1
•Saturn turns it up - and it's quiet. Too quiet
•Crash city - after the calm, the storm
•Saturn train a-coming - the powerhouse asserts itself
•Diesel power - bad stuff down the drain

Interbike 2002

•Demo Day at Interbike - Can I ride a bike mister?

24 Hours of Moab

(Almost) no sleep 'til Sunday - 24 hour racing is nearly as much work for the wrenches as the riders