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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.
World Championships - Spain, September 23, 2005
D-day for the road race at Worlds
Wow, I don't know where the last 48 hours went, but now it's the eve of the road race at worlds. Wacky day with too many things to remember. Here are some of the highlights:
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'Official training' on the road course - they shut down the entire road course through the city of Madrid at 11:00am for the riders to ride one lap and see the course. This is insane in a city this large, I'm sure that a half a million people were caught in the traffic jam caused by the 'official training'. The entire men's, women's and U23 field followed by about 80 team cars. Insane, like a huge grand fondo though Madrid.
Bike tuning: I can't say that I'm not a little nervous; I want things to go smoothly tomorrow. Today was the full monty: wash, bolt check, tune, lube, polish. Everyone's race wheels, new tyres, special brake pads, the hold farm. It seems like I spent the entire day after we got back from the official training getting ready.
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Bad news: My friend and fellow mechanic, Ken Whelpdale (Gerolsteiner), had his wallet stolen last night. It contains important stuff like his travel documents. This is super bad news as he was to head home to the USA after worlds on Tuesday. About the worst thing that can happen to you in a foreign country. Except jail.
Men's team: The rest of the men's flew in today; at dinner were Jason McCartney, Guido Trenti, Saul Raisin, Fred Rodiguez, John Lieswyn, etc. Those guys face 280km on Sunday on a course that is hillier than expected. Should be a leg breaker. I hope that I get to watch the race before I have to drive back to Belgium.
Lost laundry: I seem to have lost my official team issue blue shirt in a laundry snafu today. Not good, as director Jim Miller said we wear blue for the race tomorrow. I look good in red as well; I hope that it will fly.
I tried to take a lot of pictures today, enjoy. Tomorrow is for all the marbles.
Chris Davidson
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Chris Davidson
- Fresh from the TT, Yaro Popovych’s Trek TTX time trial bike
- Custom name decal... must be PRO
- Custom Trek/Bontrager carbon TT base/TT bars for Popo
- The Formula 1 team worked on the TTX for the Discovery Channel team
- Phil Zajicek’s (Navigators) C-50 Colnago in the service course
- George Noyes (USA U-23 mechanic) works in the service course
- The USA women’s team waits outside the Real Madrid stadium for the ‘official training’ to begin
- Madrid ground to a halt at midday for the ‘official training’ course preview. Only for cycling, only in Europe.
- The heavy hitters Noel Dejonkhere (USA U-23) talks to Patrick Lefevre (Quick Step)
- Roger Hammond (Discovery Channel) chases back through the caravan during ‘official training’
- The big favourite... Tom Boonen (Belgium/Quick Step)
- Wait, what do we have here?
- Hmmm, looks light, stiff and fast. Shimano, carbon, tubular? Coming soon to a store near you?
- Kori Seehafer’s (USA/TMobile) rig ready for the big day.
