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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 finals - Durango, Colorado, August 26-29, 2004
Day 3: Cool tech rolls out
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Every day I head to the tent in the morning and check the batteries in my digital camera. I am never sure exactly what the day will hold, sometimes I am worried that there won't be enough interesting stuff to photograph and send in to cyclingnews.com. Usually the weekends at a NORBA event bring the interesting stuff right to me in the Shimano tent. Today was one of those days that started out slow, but then the interesting stuff just kept coming. Here goes:
Celebrity watch: Lots more legends were in the pits today. Leigh Donovan (GT) was seen rolling around early on a GT gravity machine. Then Bob Roll cruised through the pits on his Harley. Tomac's old personal mechanic, Bobo G, was seen checking out new bottom bracket tools in the Shimano tent, he road up to the venue on his road bike and was looking pretty fit. Deadly 49 year old Ned Overend (Specialized) was called up for a start in the front row of the men's XC race. Durango really is the 'Mecca' of mountain biking.
Lots of cool bikes as well. Brian Schmith of Mongoose/Hyundai brought his MTNX bike in for a brake adjustment. He has some interesting modifications specifically for the rigor of 4-up racing. Check out the photos.
In the Trek tent next to ours, Travis Brown had a single speed set up for tomorrow. Ti fork and cog guides keep the weight down and the style up. Finally Ariel Lindsey (Maverick/Klein) was sporting a new inverted Maverick XC fork up front. The Maverick stuff does not disappoint, and this fork felt super smooth. It will be in production for 2005. Take a look.
Insanity dominated the early evening, as Shimano Multi-Service boss Chad Roberts got on the microphone to comment on the MTNX finals. After Chad's improv, the evening turned to the podium for awards, then to the Smith mechanical bull for more silliness. The event has the best 'party' feel of the series.
Day Four always holds STXC and DH excitement, I a going to try and get to bed early tonight so I am fresh for all of it.
Until tomorrow, thanks for reading,
CD
Photography
Images by Chris Davidson
- Willow Keorber (RLX Polo Sport) leads the women’s XC
- Katerina Hanusova (Luna Chix) charges in the XC
- Greg ‘Chopper’ Randolph (Smith Optics) brought the bull for this weekend
- Brian Schmith (Mongoose/Hyundai) runs a single ring up front on an XT crank on his MTNX bike
- Schmith runs a tightly spaced 12-23 road cogset on his MTNX bike
- The new Rock Shox Reba on Brian Schmith's bike
- Brian Schmith (Mongoose/Hyundai) had his MTNX bike in the Shimano tent today
- Travis Brown (Trek/VW) has a single speed bike set up for the short track
- Check out the custom machined titanium guides for the single cog in back on Travis Brown’s Trek
- Amon Pease (Intense) had a tough day mechanically in the XC
- a new prototype single crown Maverick fork on the bike of Ariel Lindsey (Maverick/Klein)
- The new XC Maverick fork uses a 20mm front axle on a custom hub
- The XC Maverick fork features an inverted design