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Wrenchin' in the USA: The Chris Davidson diary 2005
Chris Davidson is a mechanic for Shimano Multi-Service doing neutral tech support at road and mountain bike races..
Chris' diary entries show us what life is like inside the pits and give an insight into the mind of a mechanic.
Grand Tour de Montreal and Montreal World Cup - May 27-29, 2005
Day four, May 29: A pro quality rest day
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Sunday dawned with a break in the racing; the World Cup race was yesterday and tomorrow starts the Tour de Grand Montreal. An easy day for the girls, short ride at 10:00am and the rest of the day off. With two stages tomorrow, the rest is welcomed.
For me the day started with a once-over on the bikes, then polish, pump tires and roll outside for the 10:00 am ride. I was going on the ride today with a couple of extra tubulars in my pockets, as we were headed to the bike path on the canal and the car cannot follow. I was all ready to go at five minutes to 10:00 when Petra sees me and says that she set out a complete kit of Nurnberger gear for me so that I look the same as the riders. I quickly run upstairs to change when I know that I will be the last one out for the ride. No one wants to be the last one out. I find the clothes and Petra has left me, her German national champion jersey, bibs, arm warmers and vest. I am thankful and unworthy, and now I am the biggest poser in Montreal. I streak out the door with one arm warmer to go as the team rolls out, Petra just smiles at me and says that I look 'good'.
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The ride takes us out to the prologue course in about one hour. At the course our leisurely pace demands a stop for coffee and a cake. Anke Wichmann leads the way. The pros really know how to do a day off. Awesome weather today as well. On the ride I chat with the new leader of the women's World Cup, Oenone Wood. She is looking forward to a trip home after Philly and some time off in Oz. Oddly enough we talk about nordic skiing for a good deal of the ride and Wood seems to have a great interest in the idea of winter sports.
The rest of the day is bike work. Washing was easy, the tire gluing took some more time that planned and it was time for one chain to be replaced. For the prologue tomorrow the team will be riding just road bikes, no special or aerobars. The course is a straight out and back with a couple of turns for a total of 3km. I think that the winning time last year was under four minutes. At the end of the tour it should have little impact on the final GC, but Nurnberger is looking for a commanding team performance, so don't be surprised if the girls all go max.
The double stage tomorrow finishes with a crit in the 'Little Italy' section of Montreal. Always really big crowds and lots of primes. Nothing gets the blood flowing like cash primes. The day tomorrow will be long; we are planning to return to the residence after 11:00pm, so no team meeting tomorrow due to the long day.
As I was finishing up with the bikes tonight, one of the other mechanics brought some beer into the bike room. As I live in Utah, I am used to beer with 3.2 percent alcohol. This was closer to 10 percent One was enough, time to put away the tools.
The wireless internet got fixed today in the dorm, so I should have more photos tomorrow for the racing. In the meantime, Mitch Friedman has been watching my back with the camera. We did some photos with Judith's bike today.
By the way, I've included a few photos tonight of the team's clothing. I think that Nurnberger must be unique as a cycling team, in that the girls are from all over the world, and many of them are former national champions. So instead of the laundry being difficult to sort, everyone has their own version of the clothing, with their country's stripes! More tomorrow. Racing times two.
I love my job.
Chris Davidson
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Chris Davidson
- The calm before the Montreal WC Race
- Petra talks to eventual 2nd place finisher Oenone Wood
- Nurnberger clothing standard issue...
- ... Swedish style ...
- ... German champion stripes ...
- ... Australian green-and-gold...
- ... and Judith's world champion UCI stripes.
- Judith's bike also gets rainbow stripes.
- A white SRM head unit for Judith’s bike
