This should be:
A. Its own channel/category in the forum (AWESOME!)
B. A dedicated Youtube channel and the new way to watch races
C. Expanded to the run escorts and some of the kayakers for a complete picture
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Agreed, this video was awesome. And it’s fun seeing the huge divide between Gustav’s F1-style pit stop to the woman with flat pedals and wheel reflectors, to the guy who literally biked right into the mile marker sign.
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Thank you for what you are doing, and sharing the video!
You guys can’t be appreciated enough!
The other issue is there are people who have radios and dont know proper radio etiquette and which just go on and on. Its like reach out to who you need, state the vital information and get off.
Theres a reason for the difference in speed for pros vs AG. With the pros its obvious that this is their livelihood and the excitement involved, etc. With the AG generally its more laid back as they’re more concerned about finishing the race instead of trying to podium, we’re also assessing them to make sure they’re in a condition to continue. I’m not just a bike mechanic on course, I’m also a first responder, Tempe I was fortunate enough to save an athletes life while the helicopter arrived, one of the most brutal races I’ve worked.
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So I do have a youtube channel its called “Iron Bike Tech” I have about 3 years of footage, just editing them is what takes the longest and when I’m on the road months at a time hard to get them edited.
Like and subscribe, folks. This is gold!
Yes, I can appreciate that - asking for it is A LOT easier!
Already done!
Video did highlight (to me) how narrow the safety margins are when viewed objectively like this as opposed to through a visor.
Awesome man, thank you so much for volunteering. I have the same set of Wera hex keys, they are great.
A couple of questions I had:
- Do you work for IM and go to different races, or a local?
- Is there a training course you had to do in order to be a mobile bike tech? Do you have to have any prior experience in a bike shop or something?
- Could races use more techs like yourself, or are two enough you think?
I used to work the IM circuit around 2005-2007 and on race day would drive a car with a mechanic in it. This video brought back some good memories. We’d usually go back and forth on a certain section of the course but being in cars, there were often times dead zones we couldn’t safely get to. I remember having radios back then and it was definitely not safe to send that feed out to the public!!! Keep up the good work.
I work for a Ironman vendor partner, I run the operation for the whole continental US excluding Augusta, GA and Wilmington. We just picked up Hawaii and looks like Kona as well.
In regards to training, I started working in a bike shop in 2011, 2013 I went to Race Mechanic School, my first gig after that was Race Across America. I worked for Sram NRS and a few other gigs as well, while still working at a shop. When I hire techs, I generally require a minimum of 2 years experience of shop or race mechanic.
Depending on the event we generally have 4 techs and can stretch to 6/8. It can actually get crowded with too many techs depending on the course. For example Muncie is a 25 mile out and back and 2 techs can handle it no problem. Its the large 1 loop courses like PCB that make things challenging as it takes awhile for techs to get to certain point.
When an event has pros it takes 2 techs away from the AG’s as we stay with them until they get back into transition and then we head back out counter course and help the AGs
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