In the world of pro-team mechanics, there is one constant in terms of being a quality tech…organization.   I regularly spend time making a college-level attempt at being organized.  This actually happens everyday I’m on the road.  However, I have Beast to contend with.  Beast is tough to keep organized.  Remember Beast…

The byproduct of a lack of said organization= making work for one’s self.

While the team was racing in Arkansas for two weeks, I had a brief lull between races which allowed me to catch up on things.  Because organizing your equipment can sometimes be boring and tedious, I opted to spice things up a bit.  SO, I thought to myself, “self, now would be a good time to make some work for yourself”….and so I did.

I ran over Mike Lange’s bike.  This is what Mike Lange’s bicycle looks like when it gets run over by a two ton Ford duallie…

Frontal….

YUP, that’s a $1600 rear wheel.

Bikes don’t normally have any ‘twist’ to them, in case you were wondering.  Although this aerodynamic rotation of the tubing is a very nice feature of this particular bike, I made work for myself.  If you asked what my attitude was like after this ordeal, you’d get a pretty consistent answer from all those present.  I tend to send off this “don’t talk to me right now” vibe.  I have no idea what that is supposed to mean?

So, want to be a solid mechanic?  Don’t make work for yourself.  Simple.  Make sure the bike is secured to the roof properly.  Simple.  Don’t run over it on the highway.  (NOTE:  no one was harmed in the making of this presentation).

On the other hand, how many people can say they’ve locked up a 2ton duallie at 75mph in the middle of the highway trying to avoid a doomed $4K bike?  That’s right…

I was asked by the guys at missingsaddle.com back at the Tour of Cali to put together a blog, from the perspective of a team mechanic.  It’s taken this long to get things together, mostly due to my own procrastination.  Honestly, I kept thinking that what few things I had to say about cycling would be of any interest to…well, anybody.

Fortunately however, for the benefit of the entire world I have changed my mind, expressed my ego and found that it’s absolutely necessary for all the missingsaddle.com readers to be enlightened to my life.  Seriously, what could be any more entertaining than reading race reports,  stories about the next race….or better yet, a common training day?  Stories of being exhausted, greasy, and what it feels like to do the same thing-day after day…  That’s exactly what people need!

Actually, I’m hoping in the deepest of my heart that this blog becomes the forum for Mike Jones and Bird to nest for a while.  I think I’d truly feel like somebody if those two would give me a bit of affirmation by being a part of my blog

My boss…

Mike Lange this is for you….

Some of you may know Mike.  He likes guns, and killin’ stuff.  I think it’s makes him a better cyclist….and future mass assasin.