Comments on: Season opener, a Belgian Classic http://promechanics.com/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/ Updates from the Mechanics Community Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:34:47 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ricardo http://promechanics.com/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Ricardo Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:55:40 +0000 http://promechanics.com/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/#comment-5 Bernard, the phone number I have for you doesn't work anymore, the email address doesn't work either. Contact me when you get a chance. Richard in Socal. Bernard, the phone number I have for you doesn’t work anymore, the email address doesn’t work either. Contact me when you get a chance. Richard in Socal.

]]> By: velomech http://promechanics.com/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/comment-page-1/#comment-4 velomech Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:31:32 +0000 http://promechanics.com/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/#comment-4 Hi Carlos, Thanks for visiting Promechanics.com. Your question is, what tools should you bring to work for a team? Definitely your tool case. (You can choose some good ones on this site!) Usually teams will have sponsors providing some or all of the things mechanics use everyday. Checking with the Director (DS) or Head mechanic first is the best course. Also ask about clothing, you don't want to show up wearing Colnago when they are riding Trek...or Hutchinson when they use Continental...you get the picture. Usually, cutting/frame tools are not as essential as they were a decade ago...that's not to say they are outdated, just that for teams, frame sponsors usually provide faced and chased frames for fast and easy assembly. For me a truing stand is essential when I'm gluing tires. I will keep one in the truck/trailer but usually spot truing is done on the bike while in the workstand. But to ensure true wheels, running each wheel in a properly dished truing stand is the only way to keep the team safe and true. And again, check with the DS or Head wrench for what they have. Having said all that, teams are vastly different in what they offer mechanics on the road. Local grassroots teams will usually have one rider with some tools, maybe a truing stand and workstand. Regional teams rely heavily on the mechanic to have whatever is needed with perhaps a local bike shop providing tools to use/borrow. Continental, Pro Continental and Pro Tour teams will have increasing levels of support for the mechanic. And of course, any National (USAC) team will be well supported for any event in the world. Good luck and good wrenching! Bernard KOCIS Hi Carlos,
Thanks for visiting Promechanics.com.
Your question is, what tools should you bring to work for a team?
Definitely your tool case. (You can choose some good ones on this site!)
Usually teams will have sponsors providing some or all of the things mechanics use everyday. Checking with the Director (DS) or Head mechanic first is the best course. Also ask about clothing, you don’t want to show up wearing Colnago when they are riding Trek…or Hutchinson when they use Continental…you get the picture.
Usually, cutting/frame tools are not as essential as they were a decade ago…that’s not to say they are outdated, just that for teams, frame sponsors usually provide faced and chased frames for fast and easy assembly. For me a truing stand is essential when I’m gluing tires. I will keep one in the truck/trailer but usually spot truing is done on the bike while in the workstand. But to ensure true wheels, running each wheel in a properly dished truing stand is the only way to keep the team safe and true. And again, check with the DS or Head wrench for what they have.

Having said all that, teams are vastly different in what they offer mechanics on the road. Local grassroots teams will usually have one rider with some tools, maybe a truing stand and workstand. Regional teams rely heavily on the mechanic to have whatever is needed with perhaps a local bike shop providing tools to use/borrow. Continental, Pro Continental and Pro Tour teams will have increasing levels of support for the mechanic. And of course, any National (USAC) team will be well supported for any event in the world.

Good luck and good wrenching!
Bernard KOCIS

]]> By: Carlos Kosienski http://promechanics.com/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Carlos Kosienski Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:52:12 +0000 http://promechanics.com/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/#comment-3 Hi, I'm a USA Cycling mechanic. Last season I helped out at Denver area races (ACA/ ROL Wheel Neutral Support, not USAC-so I couldn't use those races for upgrading, but they compensated with pay, equal to officials pay).Now I'm in Texas, and want to help out as a team mechanic. I was wondering do most US (NRC) teams (men & women) already have, team owned tools like facers, chasers, fork cutting tools, truing stands. I was planning on showing up with just a tool case (adjustments basically) and a work stand. What would you recomend. -Thanks C.K. Hi, I’m a USA Cycling mechanic. Last season I helped out at Denver area races (ACA/ ROL Wheel Neutral Support, not USAC-so I couldn’t use those races for upgrading, but they compensated with pay, equal to officials pay).Now I’m in Texas, and want to help out as a team mechanic. I was wondering do most US (NRC) teams (men & women) already have, team owned tools like facers, chasers, fork cutting tools, truing stands. I was planning on showing up with just a tool case (adjustments basically) and a work stand.
What would you recomend. -Thanks C.K.

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