The lives of World Cup racers are well documented, with photographers and videographers clammering to get the killer snaps and journalists swarming around trying to get the inside line. But the work that goes on behind the scenes to get riders' bikes ready so they're in tip-top condition and ready to race down the world’s gnarliest tracks, with performance levels pushed to their maximum, is less so. This hard work is carried out by the team mechanic, unless, of course the rider is a privateer.
The mechanics hold a wealth of knowledge and are some of the most interesting people to talk to at a World Cup weekend. Not only do they have to be handy on the spanners, but they have to know the riders and their style inside out, as well as what the course is going to be like, how to tune suspension for each track and be able to decode what the racers are telling them before adjusting the bike’s set up to get it just right.
At the core of the mechanic's armory is their tool box. While they contain tools common to every biker’s garage, there are usually a few little bits and pieces that differentiate them from the rest of us.
The tools have to be comprehensive enough to deal with whatever the race throws at the bike, but also compact enough to be lugged around the world, from test track to race course. While nobody rests on their laurels at a race, it’s often the mechanics who are first in and last out.
We chatted to Chappie, one of Intense Factory Racing’s mechanics, about what he has in his tool box while we scouted round the first round of the World Cup at Lourdes.
Tom Marvin is MBUK’s YouTube presenter and podcaster, as well as a regular contributor to BikeRadar.
He writes mountain bike reviews for the site, while also testing components and kit.
His work as a presenter has seen him race pro riders, tackle World Cup downhill courses and attend international launch events.
He has been part of the MBUK and BikeRadar family for 11 years, contributing to all aspects of tech content, including a spell working heavily on Cycling Plus magazine.
In that time, he has tested hundreds of bikes and more than 1,000 products.
He has been mountain biking for 25 years, with cross-country (XC) and trail riding his speciality, although he’s more than happy dipping into the world of enduro whenever there’s a chance.
Tom’s photos of bikes and food covered in ketchup can be found on his Instagram account.
Height: 182cm
Bike size: Large
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