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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.
US National NORBA Championships - Mammoth Mountain, California, USA , September 23-26, 2004
Last NORBA, so they put us beside SRAM
Hi readers, Chris Davidson checking in after a whirlwind weekend at the US NORBA Championships in Mammoth Lakes, California. After a little snow earlier in the week, the weather was awesome for the four days of competition. Mammoth is a little difficult to get to; it is a long drive from anywhere significant. I had to fly into Reno on Wednesday night a drive the remaining three hours down US Hwy 395 to get to the venue. If you were coming up from SoCal, the drive was longer. The condo we had for the weekend did not have phone service, so no daily updates. I even headed to the Starbucks in town one night to try and get some pics out, but I was foiled by the last of a HotSpot. Anyhow, here is how it went-
The Venue
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Mammoth is a legendary place in US mountain biking history and the riding here is up to the moniker. Most pros describe the course here as "pretty roadie" which means not too technical and fast. The elevation is a factor as well; the start/finish is at nearly 9000ft. The Shimano tent got a unique place; we were setup right in the middle of Hwy 203, across from the main ski lift. They divert traffic during the course of the weekend. We were also situated next to our rival/friends SRAM. Interesting pairing.
The Riders
Lots of legends and new faces in Mammoth, I will start with the legends first. Johnny T was around all weekend; he suited up and won the Kamikaze Downhill like he had not missed a beat in the 8 years since he won it last. Ned Overend (Specialized) was there too, he was given number plate #49 (his age) and proved that his placings in Aspen and Durango were no joke; he got 7th here in the XC. This guy is nothing short of amazing. And he will be 50 next year. David Weins (RLX) proved that retiring 3 times does not slow you down; he won another national jersey in the Marathon. Kim Anderson (TMobile) showed up too, she has not ridden a NORBA since Waco this spring. She has concentrated on the road this Olympic year. I worked on her almost brand new hardtail for before the XC, she had not ridden off road since the spring. She had also just returned from Italy after finishing a stage race on Sunday. Not matter the details, she rocked in the XC and came home 7th, imagine if she did this full-time? She also introduced me to her current man, Aaron Olson (Colavita) a roadie pro out at his first NORBA event. He was fitted up on Kim's dual suspension bike in his road shoes and pedals. Aaron suited up for the STXC and held his own, quite impressive. Another pure roadie in attendance was Mike Sayers (Healthnet). He came dressed in a Maxxis kit and gave it some stick in both the XC and STXC. It looks like he had a little blood on his hip after one of the laps in the STXC, but it did not slow him down.
On the women's side, Alison Dunlap (LUNA Chix) made it clear who is the best female US racer, winning the XC and STXC solo. Dara Marks-Marino (Ford) proved again that she is having the best year of her career with solid podium finishes. Dara does it week after week with no team trailer, no mechanic and no soigner. But you would never guess it talking to her, she is a real professional.
Bikes and Equipment
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Lost of weird combinations with the single speed category and the Super D. Barry Wicks made the weekend tuff on his mechanic by participating in the XC, STXC, Super D and Single Speed. He podiumed in Super D and Single Speed and was top ten in the XC, then took out the $100 hot lap on the first lap of the STXC before blowing sky high. He should get some overall award, he can ride a bike. Todd Wells (GT) and JHK (RLX) had their Olympic SID forks from RockShox, Todd was also wearing new Oakley's with and MP3 player around all weekend. Finally, for the STXC, Wells pulled out some 700c disc wheels with cross tires. Seen in disguise on a freeride bike, Canadian Chris Sheppard (Haro) was seen all weekend trying to get in to the Super D under the radar. Someone checked the passports and Shepp was denied a number plate due to his citizenship. No worries, as he was having a good time just riding the mountain all weekend.
Last in the equipment wars, the organizers put Shimano and rival SRAM next to each other in the tech area. Sounds like a good excuse to barbeque some dogs and crack open a few brews, as we are good friends with the tech guys from the other company. The party turned out to be quite a hit in the pit area, keeping the competition friendly. Good times.
Next up for me, Vegas and Interbike. Then it is 24 Hours of Moab. The Moab race is reported have the largest number of entrants in the US, so there will be no lack of work or excitement. Until then, thanks for reading
CD
Photos
Images by Chris Davidson
- Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix) goes solo early in the STXC and stays away for the victory
- Dara Marks-Marino gets called up to the front row for the XC
- Dara Marks-Marino (Ford) routes her hair out the vents of her helmet for the STXC
- The Boss at Shimano (Matt Eames) gets his new custom painted full-face helmet delievered at Mammoth. I bet this is on the only Giro with a Simpson’s character on it.
- Mark Gullickson (Redline) gets ready to start the single-speed race
- Lots of RockShox Reba forks showing up on XC bikes at Mammoth
- Kim Anderson (T-Mobile) shows up for a rare appearance in the dirt. She got 7th in the XC.
- Roadie Kim Anderson (T-Mobile) whips through the 180 turn near the start/finish in the STXC
- Brian Lopes (GT/Oakley) always sporting the new racing clothing
- A little snow was left on the top of the peaks at Mammoth when the weekend started.
- Aaron Olson (Colavita) borrows girlfriend Kim Anderson’s bike for the STXC
- JHK and Todd Wells got special versions of RockShox SID fork with Greek lettering for Athens
- Who says Shimano and SRAM don’t get along? This party bridged the gap between the two trailers
- Robin Sansom, the Kona team mechanic, gets excited about the $100 hot lap for the first lap of the STXC
- Mike Sayers (Healthnet) showed up for a late-season run at the dirt. He was sporting a Maxxis kit from his tire sponsor
- The Shimano tent was set up in the middle of California Hwy 203 for the Mammoth weekend.
- Plenty of horsepower on the front row of the STXC
- …and the gun goes off for the pro men in the STXC
- The Kona boys go the front early in the STXC, there was a $100 prime for the leader of the first lap
- Sue Haywood (Trek) rode her 9.8 hardtail for the STXC
- Decaled up with an American flag… Sue Haywood’s Trek 9.8
- Ryan Trebon (Kona) gets a front row spot for the XC.
- Ryan ‘Pork Chop’ Trebon continues to tower over the men’s field
- Cody Warren’s Haro gravity bike
- Cody Warren’s custom Haro
- Todd Wells (GT) ran 700c disc wheels with CX tires for the STXC
- Todd Wells gets a custom hardtail for Athens
- Todd Wells carries the torch for the USA in Athens
- Todd Wells sports Oakley’s new glasses with built in MP3 player
- Todd Wells was sporting the Oakley’s with the MP3 player for the STXC
- Barry Wicks (Kona) goes ballistic for the $100 opening prime in the STXC
- Barry Wicks runs a single cog with two larger cogs as chainguides
- Barry Wicks strips down the XTR to compete in the single speed race
- The women unleash the fury at the start of the STXC