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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.
NORBA #3 - Deer Valley, Utah, June 17-19
Day Four at Deer Valley - STXC time
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Another perfect day of weather in Deer Valley for the NORBA event today, we have been really fortunate this week. It will be hard to find a cloud in the background of any the photos I took today.
It was STXC time, and again Luna dominated the front - Shonny cruised to her second victory of the weekend after some Luna teamwork worked over Sue Haywood (Trek-VW). I worked on a problem with her rear brake on Thursday and was happy to see her sail smoothly through the races on both days.
On the men's side there was a $125 'hot lap' prime on the first lap which got it going real hard out of the gate. After that Todd Wells (Hyundai/GT) attacked at the right time and got the solo victory. Geoff Kabush showed up on the start line with the 'cool vest', he is the master of the pre-race attire in all settings - check out his choice in this instance...
The Haro boys were both going good on the new gold bikes - both Seamus and Chris Sheppard were top 10. Bling Bling, boys!
In other news, I managed to get inside the Trek trailer and get some more pics of Jeremiah Bishop's prologue bike. The race Friday night was up the bobsled run at the 2002 winter Olympic venue. Bishop rode an approximately 14 pound old school Trek OCLV frame with Bontrager carbon road wheels and a single cog. Bishop has a knack for creativity with equipment. Crazy light - check out the pics.
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Our Japanese friends were here again this weekend; Bridgestone Anchor riders Riata Suzuki and Keiichi Tsujiura. Since their last NORBA race in the US at Sedona, they have been killing it on the Japanese MTB circuit at home, with three wins between them. The two are currently ranked #1 and #2 overall in Japan. Team mechanic 'Bassman' was here as well and he is always a pleasure to work with.
No sooner than the day of MTB wrenching was finished my cell phone was ringing with the next tasks at hand: road nationals start here in Park City on Tuesday. So far I have been contacted by women from the Subway, Webcor, Quark and Buitenport teams about a little assistance in getting bikes rolling for this week. It is going to be busy here on the home court in the next week, but this is a chance for me to help out a number of riders that I have a huge respect for, so I am honored by the requests.
Back to work I go with a smile-
Chris Davidson
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Chris Davidson
- Abigail Hippley (Maverick) waits to get called up for the STXC
- Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-VW) contemplates the ‘hot lap’ prime in the STXC
- Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) sports a new Canadian national champ kit
- Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) waits for the start of the STXC in an ice filled ‘cool vest’
- Chris Sheppard’s new gold 2005 Haro rig
- Bling Bling paint for Chris Sheppard’s Haro
- The Haro boys both in the top 10 in the STXC
- Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) giving some stick in the STXC
- Kashi Leuchs (Bianchi) gets the call up after winning the XC yesterday
- Jeremiah Bishop’s super light Trek prologue bike. Carbon everywhere, one brake and a single cog
- Bishop went with a Dura Ace road crank on the drive side so he could get a 39X19 gear to fit in the vertical dropouts of the OCLV frame
- A single 19 tooth cog and a ton of spacers on some Bontrager carbon road wheels
- Carbon riser bar and a stem drilled for a single cantilever brake
- An old school 9800 hardtail frame formed the base of the ~14 pound bike for Jeremiah Bishop
- Sue Haywood (Trek-VW) in the shade before the start of the STXC
- Ryan Trebon (Kona) waits in the shade for the start of the STXC
- Todd Wells (Hyundai/GT) started the STXC hard and attacked at the right time to solo in for the victory in the STXC
