USA Cycling graduates 49 from 2009 Bill Woodul Mechanics Clinic

by VeloNews.com

December 17, 2009Comments

Press Release

USA Cycling is pleased to congratulate the 49 graduates of the 2009 Bill Woodul Mechanics Clinic which took place at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Dec. 9-13.

Mechanics came from around the country to take part in the clinic which covered everything from wheel changes to bicycle design fundamentals, and from team mechanic responsibilities to tubular tire fundamentals. Three full days at the only instructional seminar of its kind in the world gave students the unique opportunity to learn from industry experts, receive hands-on experience, and network with leaders in the cycling industry.

“I thought it was important for me to come here. I‘ve done some race support, both neutral and with teams over the past two years, and I really thought this would be a good opportunity to fill in some of the gaps and flesh out what I already knew,” student Max Thomas, from Minneapolis, explained during a wheel change class. “There are a lot of little techniques that will make it go faster and I knew I would get those here.”

The students come from a variety of backgrounds and goals, but all left with an enhanced ability to provide the best tools possible, for all types of riders. World-class race mechanics with national, as well as international, experience served as instructors and made presentations on topics including:

·        Race support across all disciplines of cycling

·        Team and neutral mechanic responsibilities

·        Coach and soigneur interaction

·        Wheel changes

·        Team inventory procedures

·        Bike inspection and wash

·        Tool, equipment, and supply needs

·        Bicycle design and material fundamentals

·        Fork theory and tuning

·        Wheel theory

·        Tubular tire fundamentals

·        DOT compliance

·        Packing and transportation

“The overall goal of the clinic is to increase mechanics’ skill sets in order to keep riders and spectators safe and also to raise the professionalism of the sport,” said Calvin Jones, who has been an instructor for the clinic every year since 1988. “And the number one thing that the license gives to mechanics is the education that they had to come through the clinic to get, as well as the networking and the opportunities to work at various USA Cycling events.”

The 49 graduates of this year’s clinic have now earned the right to carry a USA Cycling mechanic’s license – a right which makes them eligible for certain industry jobs with cycling-related companies or professional teams. The license also enhances their employment opportunities at local bike shops.

“It gives you both credibility and a means of insurance,” said Thomas. “You’re supported as part of a network. You can find work and your name is out there for people to contact you.”

The Bill Woodul Mechanic Clinic is named after USA Cycling mechanic Bill Woodul who held the first clinic in the late 1980’s as a way to recruit mechanics for his program. Past graduates of the program have gone on to work for teams all over the world.

Thank you to the following instructors for making the clinic possible:

Dave Arnauckas – Shimano

Butch Balzano – SRAM

Matt Bracken – Pedros

Chris Clinton – ProMechanics

Nick DeLauder – Fox Racing

T.J. Grove – Biketek, Inc.

Ric Hjertberg – Wheel Fanatyk

Chip Howat – C.S. Howat & Associates

Bernard Kocis – SRAM

Calvin Jones – Park Tool

Marc Niemiec – Mavic

Andy Stone – BMC Racing

Congratulations to these 2009 graduates:

Andrew Chaffee

Jack Lundquist

Stephen Pardita

Dustin Barrientes (Dallas, Texas)

Brian Bluemle (El Paso, Texas)

Bobby Charlton (Twin Falls, Idaho)

Roscoe Cummins (Calif.)

William Hall (Springfield, Mo.)

Kyle Jones (Eaton, Colo.)

Jim Jones (Athens, Ga.)

Robert Love (Longmont, Colo.)

Robert Malsch (Larkspur, Colo.)

Thomas Nyzio (Pawtuckt, RI)

Sam Siemens-Luthy (Steilacoom, Wash.)

Joseph Spuckler (Plano, Texas)

Clark Stough (Glendale, Ariz.)

William Swan (Bay City, Mich.)

Max Thomas (Minneapolis, Minn.)

Marcel Van Garderen (Fort Collins, Colo.)

Travis Buck (Seattle, Wash.)

Marcio Cemin (Miami, Fla.)

John Paul DiTomaso (Woodland Park, Calif.)

Sean Eagleton (Redwood City, Calif.)

Michael Gavagan (Wilmington, Del.)

Andy Haggerty (Mountville, Pa.)

Nicholas Kemp (Mercer Island, Wash.)

Bryon Moundy

Jon Ray II (Owasso, Ok.)

Mark Wagner (St. James, NY)

Gustavo Walder (Miami, Fla.)

James Weigand (Arlington, Va.)

Michael Jenner (Nottingham,  UK)

Lew Chin (Chicago, Ill.)

JT Lyons (San Diego, Calif.)

Cory Osth (San Diego, Calif.)

Kyle Robinson (Divide, Colo.)

John Roberts (Los Alamos, NM)

Eluid Agruelles Jr. (Corpus Christi, Texas)

John Caton III (Wakefield, Mass.)

Joe Devera (Santa Cruz, Calif.)

Will Rose (La Mesa, Calif.)

Erik Walter (Naperville, Ill.)

Tyson Greenman (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Rosanna Lloyd (Chicago, Ill.)

Kevin Corsello (Chicago, Ill.)

Christopher Griffin (New York, NY)

Drew Hettinga (Glen Elyn, Ill.)

Matt Keane (Virginia Beach, Va.)

Taku Sekine (Honolulu, Hawaii)

The Nachteule
For those who work late into the night, shed some light on their projects with a handy LED light that clips onto a pair of glasses. At only 8 grams, you could wear it all day or toss it in your travel case and not worry about the added weight. More information at: http://www.leuchtkraft-gmbh.de/en/einsatz

Nachteule night owl light

Prestaratchet

mini ratchet

The Nail Holder
There are a lot of options for preventing purple and sore fingers when setting nails. This is one handy version.
A discussion on the tool can be found here: http://toolmonger.com/2009/12/10/the-nail-holder-is-this-a-good-tool/ and you can find the tool here: http://www.magnetsource.com/Consumer%20Pages/ad_nailstart.html

Nail Starter

]]> http://promechanics.com/blog/2009/12/10/new-tools-just-in-time-for-the-holidays/feed/ 0 http://promechanics.com/blog/2009/09/08/check-out-these-new-tools/ http://promechanics.com/blog/2009/09/08/check-out-these-new-tools/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:15:28 +0000 Chris http://promechanics.com/blog/2009/09/08/check-out-these-new-tools/ Its show time and that means new tools are being debuted. Though the show is still a couple weeks away, we are starting to receive some tool announcements:

XTools - aimed toward fishermen, these tools are a great option for those who could use a floating wrench. You might not need it now but the next time it rains or your buddy asks you to help with his boat…

Calipers, ruler and pen in one – The Messograf is this and more. Check them out at Passion4Pens.

BucketVac - turns a 5 gallon bucket into shop vac.

New Inner/Outer reemer – Its time to unload my trusty red barrel reamer for one of these from Ridgid. More cutting surfaces and they don’t look as ‘cheap’.

It-Clips - not a tool but a way to turn used tubes into a tool, such as a strap to hold your gear together or keep your pants from falling off.

Spring loaded small parts holder – working on smaller parts, need an extra hand? Give this product from Micro-Mark a try.

Now’s the time to find out. Send your application in to the UCI.

• stop producing bikes that are too aero
• stop tilting your aero bars upward
• stop placing your saddles too far forward
• stop riding bikes that fit if you are very short or very tall
• stop our bitching and just obey the rules

Let’s not dissapoint them. Download your copy, read the rules and OBEY!

Providence Rhode Island June 29^th and 30^th

9:00am to 5:ish pm

  InstructorsMerlyn Townley – Category One Race MechanicButch Balzano – SRAM Neutral Race SupportJustin Koch – USA CyclingBernard Kocis – SRAM Neutral Race Support Some but not all of what you’ll learn• Neutral/Road/Mountain/Cyclo-cross support • Gluing tires • Washing • pit set-up • Working with athletes and staff • Wheel changes • Responsibilities of the team mechanic • What to expect on the road • Driving in a bicycle race Apply what you learnApply what you learn at the clinic working for the SRAM Neutral Race Service in the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Stage Race 7/3 thru 7/6. (This is not part of the clinic but an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, experience and exposure at one of New England’s premiere cycling events.)Cost$200 for this two day clinic. Price includes Race Mechanics Guide and lunch both days. It does not include the cost of the license itself. Payments for the clinic are to be made in advance and are non-refundable. Directions3 Steeple Street, 125 Canal St, Providence, RI 02903 www.3SteepleStreet.com For more information and to sign up, please contactMerlyn Townleywhereismerlyn@gmail.com All students must have a minimum of 3 years shop experience.