Wrenchin' in the USA: The Chris Davidson diary 2007

Chris joins us again in 2007 to report on life on the road turning the wrench for a variety of teams both in dirt and on the road. Formerly with Ford Cycling in 2006, Chris has also worked for such teams as T-Mobile, Equipe Nurnberger, Quark and Mercury in the past, as well as neutral support programs with Shimano, Pedros and Trek.

As 2007 holds some new challenges for Chris, some things will stay the same. One of those will be his informative diary contributions on Cyclingnews, where you'll often receive the inside scoop on all things tech and a look at life behind the wrench.

• Index to all entries

March 25, 2007

The silly season

Greetings Cyclingnews readers,

Chris Davidson here with more adventures on the road, turning the wrench in 2007. The 2007 season has snuck up pretty quickly, but let me start with a summary of the silly season [the off-season].

At the end of 2006, I knew that my current team [Ford Cycling] was not going to continue in its present form as title sponsor, Ford Motor Company, was at the end of a three year sponsorship contract and the company itself was in a dire financial state [as reported widely in the financial press]. Faced with this prospect I started looking around for other teams for 2007.

I found what looked to be an ideal opportunity not too far away from home in the Trek-VW MTB team; I had discussions with their team manager, Jon Posner, about taking over the mechanic job for their elite women. I really looked forward to this role as I would be working along side good friend Zack Vestal, the Trek men's mechanic, and other experienced staff in a great environment. I operated under this prospect through the Interbike tradeshow and into the late fall.

I was flattered when I got calls from T-Mobile and Webcor with offers for 2007, but I held fast in my commitment to Trek. Both of the other offers were tempting though, as I have worked with a number of the female athletes on both road squads in the past and I really value those relationships.

All looked well until late December when I learned that two people in the Trek team management had recently left the program. I started to scramble to find out details of what would become of the team in 2007. I came to find out that my friend Zack Vestal had ended up with the offer to become the new team manager, with the departure of the others, and that the team structure would be reorganized. No longer did the spot I had negotiated exist in the previous form. I was a little shocked, and worried as it was approaching new years' and I was facing the prospect of looking for a new position.

I quickly called on a number of contacts, including going back to Webcor, to see if any positions still were open. The first round of inquiries turned up nothing substantial. I started to probe my more remote contacts and dig for opportunities. Slowly things started to surface.

First, my formed team, Ford Cycling, had formed a new squad under the banner of three title sponsors: Kenda/X-Fusion/Titus, but would have a greatly reduced budget compared to 2006. There were things that I could do for this team right off the bat, as I had created their infrastructure the previous year. However, with the reduced budget this team would not be putting vehicles on the road and tech space in their program for 2007, so this work would be limited to the off-season and pre-season.

I also got some good news from Jim Williams with TeamSports [Colavita, Advil-Chapstick, formerly running the Quark and Saturn teams]. They would need some help this year and I might fit into their plans. Then most recently I learned that the Lipton squad might need some help. I was really excited as Kristen Armstrong said some good words on my behalf and this started a dialogue with Ed Beamon [director for Navigators, general manager for Lipton]. It turns out the Navigators would need some assistance at various events in the US and Europe and that would help fill the schedule for me.

So 2007 has been somewhat of a scramble for me so far. Parts of it still are, however the events of the past off-season have shown me that:

1) The cycling world is very small, everyone knows everyone else, and a few positive words can go a long way, and

2) your approach to your work and your job performance will open doors for you that you didn't think existed.

Case in point on the latter comment: Kristen Armstrong puts in the good word for me and helps facilitates my opportunity with Navigators. I have worked directly with Kristen three times: first in 2002 at the HP Women's Challenge where Kristen was a local rider transitioning from the sport of triathlon. It was a big race for her as she established that she could ride with the best in the world. At the time I jokingly referred to her as 'local dork'. She would go on to prove that I was way off with this comment.

I worked with her again at T-Mobile in 2004; she was now at a much more advanced point in her career. I could see that she was feeling her place in the world of elite cycling by this point.

Last stop, road World's in Madrid, 2005. I am now tuning Kristen's TT bike for what will be her first [but not last] medal at the World's, she is now a confident player on the world scene, she proves it later that day with a bronze medal. The overall theme through these interactions at different levels is this: I would like to believe that I have approached her and her concerns in prepping the bikes the same way regardless of whether she was an unknown local rider, or a World's medalist.

Treat every athlete like a world champion, because they deserve nothing short of the best mechanical support. And in some cases they will reach the highest levels. For me this has meant that even in times that I struggle to put together jobs turning the wrench, that others are looking out for me. Like this year.

So off I launch into 2007. First up for me is NMBS #1 in Arizona with the Kenda/X-Fusion/Titus team, I am getting the final details sorted for them and getting some bikes built to get them rolling in 2007. Then next it is Tour de Georgia with the Navigators, I can't wait. And maybe a shot at working again with Kristen and Lipton this year [I hope so]. As much as I am uncertain of all the details for 2007, I am excited about the possibilities. See you in Phoenix.

Thanks

Chris Davidson