Crank It Cycles Service Manager Ritchie Rossiter has just completed a stint in the USA wrenching for the Priority Health Cycling Team at the Tour of California.  Thanks to being part of the UCI Pro Tour, the event attracted the world's top teams and best riders. The Priority Health team is managed by Glen Mitchell, former professional team mate of John and Kiwi Junior Mountain and Road Champ in his teens.  Read on for Ritchie's journal for the tour...

THURSDAY 15 Feb

I arrived in San Francisco, to a temp of 17degrees and fine weather. Mark Olson the team director collected me and we headed to the Hotel where I met all the team, whereby I was allocated my four riders/bikes to look after.

FRIDAY 16 Feb

Up early today was about setting up time trial bikes for prologue on Saturday went over the course with Glen prior to the race. Some riders wanted changes so spent time swapping chain rings and BB's for prototype parts.

SATURDAY 17 Feb

Saturday a day to chill out and get riders motivated and the right frame of mind.

SUNDAY 18 Feb

Prologue - huge atmosphere, last fine tuning of bikes, warm ups and then into it! Saw all the ‘gun' riders Betttini, Hincapie, Robbie McEwen, and our Kiwi's Black Grove and Henderson. Our team did amazingly well with Ben Jacques-Maynes taking third in the prologue and Brian Sheedy getting K.O.M.!!

Our job starts at 5pm with race prep rode bikes for Tuesday and cleaning TT bikes, finishing around 9.30pmish.

MONDAY 19 Feb

Drove to Sausalito for start of the next stage. Our Team on a high after prologue punching well above our weight. Tough day today with lots of punctures and lots of crashes, hard work tonight heaps of tubulars to glue, clean and prep bikes, repair the crashed bikes. Alex from Scram (aka SRAM) gave us a hand and late finish 10.45pm. Getting in the groove.

TUESDAY 20 Feb

STAGE TWO TO SACRAMENTO - Ben and I in car today as we had lots of punctures so played safe. Omer broke early with two other riders and stayed away for ¾ of the race keeping the team at the forefront. More flats today and a few chain issues to deal with. Tom and Brian descending at 100km /hr what a site to behold! Still third in GC, routine servicing so earlier finish today.

WEDNESDAY 21 Feb

STAGE THREE TO SAN JOSE - my day in the feed wagon today, lost Omer to illness so down one rider. Boys finished and Ben still going well no mechanicals, cleaned bikes and swapped cassettes, tune up and done by 7.15pm. Cold nights.

THURSDAY 22 Feb

STAGE FOUR TO SAN LUIS OBISPO - I am in the car today race along coast 213km, really nice scenery a lot like home, pretty tired today, enjoying it, had a kip in the back. Had three flats today but the Mavic Boys sorted them out. Our guys finished with Ben in the main bunch. Get out and sort TT bikes. Nice meal and laughs with the boys. Work load taking its toll - feel the most SHATTERED in along time!!

FRIDAY 23 Feb

STAGE FIVE TO SOLVANG TIME TRIAL - Solvang - Danish town - tudor type houses - quite a cool place. Was in car today with Sheryl, Mark's wife, and Bob Bissell, who is a sponsor and real hard case. Tom was flying  - awesome start was in 2nd place a long time. Ben Jaques-Mayne beat Tom by only 2 seconds and we ended up 10th and 12th place - amazing for a small team making everyone very happy. Servicing getting easier as we were now down to five riders. Set up and lube road bikes, strip frame for me to bring home. Bob our co sponsor shouted tea at the local steak house - very nice.

SATURDAY 24 Feb

STAGE SIX TO SANTA CLARITA - hard day at the office today. Tom pulled out sick and Teddy lost contact but stuck it out and got back on the bunch. Nice scenery, huge 800m climb heaps of people at the top just like the ‘Tour de France'. Quick clean up tonight usual servicing.

SUNDAY 25 Feb

LAST STAGE - LONG BEACH CIRCUIT - awesome day, got my first sleep in, last night to mechanic, so cruisey day today, boys did well racing on the motor racing track. Ben on front most the way I was on the feed wagon most the day, saw the finish for once and Garret finishing 15th. People everywhere, fans loving it!!

SUMMARY

The Bikes

Pinarello - Paris frames with SRAM Force drive train and Easton carbon wheels were envy of other teams and probably the best looking bike there. Scram have started well with their Force group set especially as its brand new and work exceptionally well. The frames were very stiff hence our bent chain rings!! A lot of the parts were prototype which we had to keep covered from the press until their release, and we have two of these frames in store.

The Team

The Priority Health team made me feel very welcome as they normally only have one mechanic. Took me a few days to get in the groove but working on the same gear didn't take long to become familiar with it. I learnt a lot about the running of a pro-team that was very enlightening. The work itself was VERY HARD due to long hours and traveling time, which takes its toll, but the experience has provided me with a good understanding of the new SRAM group set and the workings of a pro-team from a mechanics perspective.

THANKS to GLEN and MARK for providing the opportunity with their team and PHIL and JOHN for making it happen. I sincerely hope to use the experience to benefit the shops clients and all aspects of servicing cycles.

CHEERS

RITCHIE