Comments for ProMechanics http://promechanics.com Updates from the Professional Race Mechanics Community Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:55:28 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Lessons Learned from Moto Mechanics by Dave Gilbert http://promechanics.com/lessons-learned-from-moto-mechanics/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Dave Gilbert Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:55:28 +0000 http://promechanics.com/?p=1916#comment-244 Love Those Wire Twisting Pliers. They were USAF issue. I have not seen a set of those in almost 20 years. Really awesome tool. Past experience working as an EMT at the motocross track...funny that I don't ever remeber seeing those rim protectors being used. Great idea and I wonder if they could be adapted to work on really nice road bike rims. Thanks For The Article. Love Those Wire Twisting Pliers. They were USAF issue. I have not seen a set of those in almost 20 years. Really awesome tool. Past experience working as an EMT at the motocross track…funny that I don’t ever remeber seeing those rim protectors being used. Great idea and I wonder if they could be adapted to work on really nice road bike rims. Thanks For The Article.

]]> Comment on Last Minute Gifts for Mechanics by Utility Warehouse Review http://promechanics.com/last-minute-gifts-for-mechanics/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Utility Warehouse Review Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:35:13 +0000 http://s88691088.onlinehome.us/pm2011/?p=1239#comment-34 I'm not sure why but this website is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I'll check back later and see if the problem still exists. Great post on Last Minute Gifts for Mechanics | ProMechanics by the way! I’m not sure why but this website is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists. Great post on Last Minute Gifts for Mechanics | ProMechanics by the way!

]]> Comment on Hurray for Team Mechanics! by tim gray http://promechanics.com/hurray-for-team-mechanics/comment-page-1/#comment-11 tim gray Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:13:47 +0000 http://s88691088.onlinehome.us/pm2011/blog/2009/05/31/hurray-for-team-mechanics/#comment-11 WOW! That's what we all aspire to be, that quick and that smooth... WOW! That’s what we all aspire to be, that quick and that smooth…

]]> Comment on Opportunities are here…. by Shawn Carroll http://promechanics.com/opportunities-are-here/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Shawn Carroll Thu, 07 May 2009 23:11:43 +0000 http://s88691088.onlinehome.us/pm2011/blog/2009/05/06/opportunities-are-here/#comment-5 I had the fortunate opportunity to work with Bernard at the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, AL. Bernard is a top notch mechanic. Best of all, he is willing to share his knowledge and introduce you to other mechanics that happen by. I highly recommend taking any opportunity to work events. I look forward to working with SRAM NRS more this year. I had the fortunate opportunity to work with Bernard at the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, AL. Bernard is a top notch mechanic. Best of all, he is willing to share his knowledge and introduce you to other mechanics that happen by. I highly recommend taking any opportunity to work events. I look forward to working with SRAM NRS more this year.

]]> Comment on Season opener, a Belgian Classic by Ricardo http://promechanics.com/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Ricardo Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:55:40 +0000 http://s88691088.onlinehome.us/pm2011/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/#comment-4 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.

]]> Comment on Season opener, a Belgian Classic by velomech http://promechanics.com/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/comment-page-1/#comment-3 velomech Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:31:32 +0000 http://s88691088.onlinehome.us/pm2011/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/#comment-3 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

]]> Comment on Season opener, a Belgian Classic by Carlos Kosienski http://promechanics.com/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Carlos Kosienski Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:52:12 +0000 http://s88691088.onlinehome.us/pm2011/blog/2008/02/29/season-opener-a-belgian-classic/#comment-2 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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