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Photo: © Park Tool
Garage Days: Calvin Jones' 2004 MTB World's
As MTB equipment becomes more sophisticated and specialized, a mechanic's
life becomes proportionately more complicated. Especially if that mechanic
is travelling on the road - or harder still, out at an event like this
year's MTB World Championships in Les Gets, France, where Park
Tool's Calvin Jones found himself as manager of the Team USA mechanics.
2004 MTB World championships, Les Gets, France, September 8-12, 2004
Sunday, September 12
XC Elite Men and Women's Championships, Trials Elite Men and Junior Championships.
After that, tear down and packing begins.
Rain, a slow farmers' soaking rain.
But, this is Europe and this is the World's, and we are ready. TJ Grove
is at the starting pit with Matt Eames, while Calvin and Chip man the
garage... the easy, dry work.
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The team van is a mess, with sport
drink all over the floor. Keeping the vehicles clean is important, as
it adds to a professional look, and shows we are proud to be here.
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The medical staff also brings a
lot of equipment. This is one of their "tool boxes", full of things to
patch up injured riders.
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Tubeless tires are common at this
level, and many riders like the sealant, Stan's NotubesŪ. It takes practice
to install, but Adam Craig here does it without spilling a drop.
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The women's elite race is just over, and we hear on our team radio that
Gunn-Rita Dahle of Norway wins.
The bikes are actually cleaner
than the riders. This one is in need of a good wash.
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One the race starts, the mechanic
are not allow to do help the rider. We have spare wheels and pump at hand
just in case there is a problem, right up to the starting gate. Chip and
TJ have the job of standing in the rain.
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The downhillers have a day off,
but still some cannot resist going for a ride on the downhill course again,
mud and all. When you get this muddy, don't bother with a shower, just
use the hose.
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The new Park Tool bucket, an accessory
for the PRS-15, is very useful. It keeps parts from getting lost in any
service, provides a small work tray, and if you need to get around the
venue with a laptop, it keeps things water proof. Calvin was showing the
TCC spreadsheet to some other mechanics.
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Trials finals are today, again
in the rain. The crowd is quite for these efforts, as this is the "golf"
of cycling. There is a lot of strategy involved and concentration.
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We begin the packing. The mechanics
will organize this and help, but the riders pack their own bikes. Even
the coaches pack. Juri Mainus, International Competition Director, washes
the bike and then packs it.
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I must now leave for Zurich, and then home on Monday, so I can post no
more. Tonight, the bikes are loaded on a truck. The athletes will get
a 03:00 hour wake up call, and then leave for the airport.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing life from the garage.
C. Calvin Jones,
Park Tool
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