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The Chris Davidson diary
Chris Davidson is a former mechanic for Bontrager Racing Service, now in the service of Shimano Multi-Service.
Chris' diary entries will show you what life is like inside the pits and an insight into the mind of a mechanic.
NORBA National Series #5 - Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho, July 29-August 2, 2004
A plethora of MTB tech-porn
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Greetings from Idaho, on a clear cool night after a day of exciting racing. Before the start, a number of riders were seen warming up with disposable dust masks around their necks in response to the conditions on the mountain. The course seems to be getting worse (more dusty) as the weekend progresses. Indeed, at the end of the race, there were a number of very dirty faces and bodies, the only way to stay clean was to stay out front. The pro races were both shortened by one lap today, as the course was shortened from last year's race, but the additional lap originally added was deemed too much by most.
I was pinned down in the trailer most of the day with service work; I only got over the start line for the beginning of the women's race. I got one good shot of the current leader in the series, Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna). The good thing about being in the trailer all day was that lots of interesting stuff came my way, and I tried to get the camera out for all of it.
First up was the paint on men's race winner Ryder Hesjedal's Gary Fisher. It was a masterpiece of airbrush: clouds, mountains, the Canadian flag, etc. Check it out. Next up was the new 2005 Haro rig of Chris Sheppard. Fresh off getting creamed by a car a couple of days ago, Chris was ridding a new race rig. The Haro hardtail for 2005 has a carbon rear end and some cool frame reinforcements and welding. Really light as well.
The Skunk works guys were handing around again in the tent. Both Joe Murray and Paul Thomasberg were sporting the new Shimano Hone groups on their bikes. This group is a new freeride group (like Saint), but more equivalent to the current LX group. It has some super beefy design elements that leave the parts up for almost any type of riding. I got some shots of the shifters, the disc brake calipers, the thru-axle bolt on rear derailleur and the crankset. The crankset has the bottom bracket spindle as a part of the drive side crankarm (like Dura-Ace and XTR), however, the Hone spindle is aluminum. I immediately questioned the strength and durability of this choice upon hearing of the material change, but once I put my finger in the hole in the spindle, I realized how thick the new aluminum axle was, and I was impressed. The whole group just oozes one word: solid. The Skunk guys have already put a ton of miles on it, so watch for production parts coming to your store soon.
Today, I also saw photos of the new Ultegra 10 parts. For all those traditionalists that did not like the look of the new Dura-Ace 10 speed crankset, hold on for the new Ultegra crank. I think that a lot of hard-to-please people are going to be impressed.
Last today was a unique modification I saw on Joe Murray's bike. Are you tired of readjusting your aheadset after taking off the stem for travel? Well Murray's bike sported a low-tech solution. As primitive as it was, the wood screw in the aluminum spacers does hold the headset adjustment. I am not sure I am going to start recommending this modification to everyone.
I had a few readers come by today and say 'hi'; it was good to meet them. Stop by if you are at the race.
Until tomorrow, thanks for reading,
CD
Photography
Images by Chris Davidson
- Hone shifter/brake levers feature XTR-type paddle-shifting and hydraulic braking.
- The two-piston calipers are beefy.
- The bottom bracket spindle on the Hone crank is oversized aluminium.
- The bolt-on rear derailleur is solidly built
- Amazing paint-job on Ryder's bike.
- Ryder's name is etched as clouds in the mountains.
- Carbon rear end on the 2005 Haro hardtail of Chris Sheppard.
- Check out the gussets and the welds on Sheppard's Haro.
- Series leader Shonny Vanlandingham at the start.
- Joe Murray uses a wood screw to hold his aheadset adjustment.