USAC Mechanic Clinic Summary

Now that the Mid Atlantic is getting pounded with snow I finally have the chance to update about my journey to Colorado Springs to become a USA Cycling licensed race mechanic.

On the first day of the course we meet in one of the conference rooms of the Olympic Training Center. We were greeted and divided up randomly into 4 groups and then got our learn on!

The Olympic walk

I got to see some Olympic Athletes playing some Ping Pong

Mechanics can from all over the country to take part in the race mechanic clinic. some mechanics traveled from Japan, New Zealand, and United Kingdom.

On the second day of the clinic we took a field trip to the 7-11 Velodrome

These banked turns are steeper than NASCAR's!

My classes mates in the velodrome

We got to check out the shop area of the velodrome

Cool posters on the wall

Mavic Neutral Support was there and taught us how to properly exchange wheels in a race situation

Mark from Mavic taught us the proper technique

Pro mechanics don't get on their knees

Calvin from park tools showed us how to wash bikes

This is how dirty bikes get clean

The last day of the course we had a expo with all the manufacturers and instructors

DI2 TT controls

These controlers are much cooler than the drop handle bar shifter that I installed at the shop

My 15 minutes of fame on usacycling.org
Here I am with Dave from Shimano learning how to use the diagnostic tool for the DA-7970 (DI2)

Certificate time!!!

Here I am with TJ Grove one of the best and most respected mechanics in the USA
TJ has been to the Olympics and World Championships for the US National team

USA Cycling Bill Woodul Race Mechanic Clinic Class of 2009

The 2009 USA Cycling Bill Woodul Race Mechanic Clinic has been something I have wanted to go to the past 2 years. It was completely worth it. I'm proud of myself that I finally went and became certified.

Now I am just waiting to get my License in the mail

USAC Mechanic Clinic Day 1

Day 1 of the course is over. Alot of information has been gone over and there is still 3 more days left. 2maro we get to take a field trip to the 7-11 Velodrome.

USAC Mechanic Clinic

So this winter instead of heading to the west to go snowboarding I decided to take the USA Cycling Race Mechanic Clinic held at the Olympic Traning Center in Colorado Spring, CO.

Iron Maiden dropped me off at PHL at 5am to head to ORD and then COS. While wander around O'Hare airport(ORD) I met one of my instructors, Calvin of Park Tools.

A hour delay and a new plane later we were on our way to Colorado Springs(COS).
Got a ride from the OTC shuttle van with more instructors and checked into the Days Inn and took a nap.

When I woke up I headed to the dinner next to the Days Inn, Maggy Mae's.
I had the whole restaurant to myself

Seriously! Nobody else was there besides the staff.

Off to the OTC 2maro to start the course.
I know I'm very prepared, but
Wish me luck!

DI2

DI2

I just started installing the Shimano 7970 DI2 electronic shifting system. It is the most amazing bicycle technology I have ever scene!
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Barge Dirt Jumps What Will Red Bull Think of Next

Barge Dirt Jumps in San Francisco Bay - NWD 10 - Pinkbike.com

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Barge Dirt Jumps What Will Red Bull Think of Next

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Whiteface 5K. It has been one wet race season this year. Got some runs in yesterday when is was dry and fun. Today I'm just here for mechanical support. Basically replacing shift housing/cables.
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Sicky Gnar, Broh!

A Tale of 3 DH Forks

These are the DH forks that I own.

This is the 2005 Manitou Dorado
Carbon fiber bodied inverted 7" travel fork

Pretty cutting edge for its time.
Inverted stanchions just like dirtbikes
2005 was the last year they produced the Dorado, but in 2009 they reintroduced them

The Fox 40RC2
8" travel

As you may know I love Fox suspension!
This fork works great and has an excellent damping system, but the location of the dampening adjusters is on the bottom of the fork. Since it hangs down about an inch the adjusters are subject to impacts, so Fox developed a cover to "protect" it.

Once you impact the cap it is really hard to be removed because the bottom nut that secures the lower on to the dampening rod is threaded on the outside as well as the inside, so the protective cap can thread onto the bottom of the fork and protect the fancy RC2 adjusters. So, when trying to remove the protective cap by unscrewing it counter clock wise the bottom nut un-threads with the cap. (suggestion: reverse the thread on the outside of the nut, so when the cap is un-screwed it keeps the bolt tight, if not tightening it more)
After the realization that my fork was slightly damaged I ordered a new cap.
The most effective way to remove this protective cap stuck on to the bottom nut is to use a dremel to cut it off carefully!!! I used a process of making cuts then using a small flat blade screw driver and hammer to pry the cap off.
20 minutes later Fork fixxed
....2 months later it happens again plus a strained right rotator cuff...FML
So I order the parts this time 2 caps and a new bottom nut(just in case)

The first time this happened I was explaining my problem to Jacy, Monster Energy/Specialized World Cup TeamMechanic. He said "Hmmm I don't have this problem because Sam and Brendan run Rock Shox(Black Box World Cup Boxxer), you should get a 2010 Boxxer Team."

Enter The 2010 Boxxer Team
8" travel

After debating getting this fork for the past 2 weeks I pulled the trigger once QBP had 1 left in stock. Not only am I happy to have this fork because I'm a whiz at servicing Rock Shox forks now, but the fork came with a soft, a medium, and a firm spring to tune the suspension. Fox sells them extra.

The Boxxer a tried and true DH fork.
Recommended by East Coast DH Legend Todd Bosch

Look at the difference between these 2 adjuster knobs!

Whiteface 5K DH race is going to be my first time riding the Boxxer!
I hope the Fox Racing Shox tech support van is there to fix my shitted up 40 for free!
They can deal with servicing my fork and getting the cap off this time,
while I'm riding my new Rock Shox 2010 Boxxer Team!

Cross Practice Wednesday Night!
Oh Yeah!!!

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The pot season starts on August 19th!
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Mobile blogging

Now live mobile blogging! Via blackberry
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The Prince of Brandywine Cyclery

I'm Rad

Ok the secret is that Brandywine Cyclery is advertising during The Tour de France

The stars of the commerial: Specialized Tarmac, Iron Maiden, and KJ

Here is the Commercial. If you don't live in Delaware, Southern NJ, or South East PA you won't see it! Only here it is available to the world!

Sorry...check back july 5

Well because of a glitch in the contractual paper work I can not reveal any information about my previous post "July 4 2009". So check back on Sunday July 5th.
Be ready to be totally blown away!

So here is a great photo from one of the repairs from the Brandywine Cyclery.
The Dirt Diggler BMX tire

Last weekend I had a DH race @ Windham, NY home to the 2010 World Cup Finals.
They received 9 inches of rain during the week resulting in a weekend of riding in the mud. So much mud I had to was my bike every 2 runs because it was completely covered in brown mud.
I could have used a tire named the Mud Diggler (Maxxis 2.5 Wet Screams), but my Kenda Excavators worked fine.

NJ RT 29 TT

Our Point Of Sale system at the Brandywine Cyclery is pretty cool. When we take money out of the register it asks for a reason to way someone in taking out money.
These are the programed reasons

Pretty funny

Iron Maiden and I did the Route 29 Time Trial in Jersey over the weekend. It was 36k and my first road race. It was pretty cool I'm do it again.

Here's Iron Maiden....we'll this was from May when she did the TT. They didn't get any photos of her this time.
She beat her previous time by 4 secs. She did great!!!
1:01:31

I like the idea of being pinn'd for an hour! It is good training for DH.
I beat the hour
59:13

Did you here that the USA is getting a World Cup race next year!!!! 8/ 28-29/2010!!!!
Round 6 World Cup Finals!!!!
DH/4X/XC
It going to be in Windham, NY. I'm racing there this weekend!!!
From the course video I saw it looks like a ton of pedaling, not much gnar :(

I still like to look like this,
when I race

TTs are cool and all. I'm going to do more of them
But, DH is still King of the Castle

July 4th 2009

Here's a teaser photo

On 7/4/2009 it will come full circle

Make sure to check back on the 4th

Capital Cup 2009

The 2009 Capital Cup has ended. No crashes all weekend! Bike is working great. And I beat last years times, Saturday's course by 10 seconds and Sunday's by 15 seconds.

I found a new favorite tire the Kenda ExCavator.

It hooks up is the grease, roots,and rocks.

It was the tire of choice last weekend @ Blue MTN.

Iron Maiden finally got a video of me....See the post: Iron Maiden's DH filming Adventure


The step up...Rider unkown


What happens when you miss your start time, because you were to busy talking to 2 girls (HardTail and ShortTravel) in the pits . You go dead last and your friends that normally don't get to watch you race Heckle the shit out of you!


Good weekend

US Open of MTB 2009

This past weekend was the 2009 US Open of MTB @ Diablo Freeride Park. I was a blast! The top racers in the world cup series were there to win....and Iron Maiden and I were there to watch.

I got to meet Monster/Specialized Mechanic, Jacey.

Saw one of my Favorite photographers, Sven Martin

Iron Maiden was truly hard core this weekend

She Tried Down Hill. Not only did she try it for the first time. She was the 1st woman on the East Coast to ride the Prototype Turner DHR w/ DW Link. She got so lucky b/c Dave Weagle was under our umbrella walking back to the pits in the rain after the giant slalom finals and convinced her to try out his new bike.

She loved Down Hill...All the trills and the spills

Aww!

She still loves Down Hill even with her "Sprained" wrist...
She's in alot of pain and is getting a second opinion b/c the first doctor was a fucking jack ass!

The Iron Sheik was on hand to view the bicycle spectacle

Pro Podium
1. Sam Hill 2. Gee Atherton 3. Brendan Fairclough

On Memorial Day Crazy Steve had a "Monster" Picnic @ his house.
It was pretty rad being in the presence of 2 of the world's fastest Down Hill racers.
It was sensory overload eating at the same table as Sam Hill and his mechanic, Jacey.

Once the bikes started getting worked on was the best part for me.

This is Brendan's bike. both bikes are totally titzed out! Complete with Sram black box world cup boxxer fork, 1.5" headtube, 150mm rear spacing(production demo 8s are 135mm), lower BB w/ secret geometry, custom laser etched suspension hardware and anodized green, and prototype specialized tires

I wish my Demo 8 was this cool!