MTB Racing - Mechanics
MTB World Cup team mechanics are highly skilled technicians responsible for maintaining, prepping, and optimizing elite mountain bikes for top riders, working long, demanding hours to ensure peak performance by managing suspension tuning, tire pressure, spare parts, and complex setups, often with specialized tools and constant problem-solving for mud or dry conditions. They work in teams, often with a dedicated mechanic per rider, managing logistics and crucial bike readiness for events like XCO (Cross-Country) and Downhill World Cups, acting as vital, behind-the-scenes support for rider success.
Key Responsibilities & Tasks
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Bike Setup: Dialing in suspension (forks, shocks) and tire pressure for specific courses and conditions.
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Race Prep: Cleaning, servicing, and ensuring bikes are race-ready, often involving multiple bikes per rider (race bike, backup, training).
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Technical Assistance: Performing wheel changes, adjustments, and repairs during races in designated zones.
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Logistics: Managing spare parts, tools, and travel for events.
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Problem Solving: Adapting quickly to course changes, weather (especially mud), and rider feedback.
Work Environment
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Long Hours: Expect 10-16+ hour days during race weekends, with high physical and mental demands.
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On the Road: Mechanics spend significant time traveling to World Cup venues globally.
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Teamwork: Working closely with riders, coaches, and other team staff (soigneurs, directors).
Essential Skills & Background
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Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of suspension, drivetrains, brakes, and bike geometry.
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Experience: Often starting in bike shops, progressing through regional races to World Cup level.
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Adaptability: Ability to work with new tech (prototype parts, custom frames) and in challenging conditions.
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Mental Fortitude: High-pressure environment with immense responsibility for rider performance.
In essence, World Cup mechanics are the unsung heroes, making crucial adjustments and repairs that can define a race, with success heavily relying on their meticulous preparation and quick thinking.
Current UCI Disciplines:
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Cross-country Olympic: XCO
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Cross-country marathon: XCM
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Cross-country point-to-point: XCP
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Cross-country short track: XCC
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Cross-country eliminator: XCE
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Cross-country time trial: XCT
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Cross-country team relay: XCR
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Cross-country stage race: XCS
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Downhill individual: DHI
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Downhill marathon: DHM
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Four cross: 4X
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Enduro: EDR / EDR-E
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Pump track: PUM
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Snow Bike: SNO
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E-Mountain Bike: E-MTB
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Trails
Non-UCI Disciplines:
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Slopestyle
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Dirt Jump: DJ
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Freeride: FR
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Dual Slalom: DS
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Super D: SD
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MTB Rally
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MTB Orienteering: MTB-O
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24h MTB Endurance
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All Mountain: AM
Robert "Bicycle Bob" Gregorio
Name: Robert Gregorio
Nickname: "Bicycle Bob"
Rider(s): John Tomac
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Mechanic & Rider: Gregorio was Tomac's trusted wrench, ensuring his bikes were race-ready for major events, a role that extended to building wheels and setting up equipment.
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Early Days: Their connection started in the Colorado Rockies, with Gregorio being an early mountain biker (Klunker) who later supported Tomac as he rose to fame.
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Mountain Biking Legends: They were pivotal figures in mountain biking history; Gregorio, known as "Bicycle Bob," is a Mountain Bike Hall of Famer, while Tomac is a multi-world champion.
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Beyond the Bike: Their relationship went beyond just mechanics; they formed a strong friendship as Tomac transitioned between disciplines like road and mountain biking.
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Enduring Legacy: Gregorio's work, including the meticulous notes he'd write on Tomac's bikes, is part of the lore of Tomac's career, showcasing a classic rider-mechanic bond.
In essence, Bob Gregorio was the indispensable support system behind one of cycling's greatest legends, John Tomac, during his peak years.
Steven "Gravy" Gravenites
Name: Steven Gravenites
Nickname: "Gravy"
Rider(s): Missy Giove
Career & Professional History
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Early Influence: Growing up in Marin County, California—the birthplace of mountain biking—he was a "Marin-ite Grom" who rode with pioneers like Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher, and Charlie Kelly.
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Pro-Racing Mechanic: During the 1990s, he was a fixture on the World Cup downhill circuit, wrenching for iconic teams including:
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Yeti Cycles: Notably for Missy "The Missile" Giove.
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Volvo-Cannondale: Serving during the height of the team's dominance.
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Schwinn-Toyota: Part of the team's legendary pro program.
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Marin Bikes: He currently serves as the Lead Mechanic and Service Course Manager for Marin Bikes, where he maintains their pro race team's equipment and demo fleet.
Gravy Wheels
Gravenites operates Gravy Wheels, a custom wheel-building business currently based in Fort Bragg, California.
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Philosophy: He specializes in high-quality, hand-built wheels tailored to individual rider discipline and weight.
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Preferences: Despite the trend toward carbon, he often advocates for high-quality aluminum rims (like Stan's) for their durability and local parts from companies like White Industries.
Personal Background
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Family: He is the son of blues legend Nick "The Greek" Gravenites. His mother famously made costumes for Janis Joplin.
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Reputation: Known for his infectious smile and unmatched work ethic, he is often cited by professional riders as one of the few mechanics they trusted completely with their equipment.
Craig "Stikman" Glaspell
Name: Craig Glaspell
Nickname: "Stikman"
Rider(s): Leigh Donovan
Craig “Stikman” Glaspell is a veteran figure in the mountain bike (MTB) industry, widely recognized for his history as a high-profile World Cup mechanic before transitioning into marketing leadership roles.
Professional History
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Wrenching Career: He began as a shop mechanic in Redondo Beach, California, eventually working on the National and World Cup circuits for top-tier racers.
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Notable Athletes: He famously served as the mechanic for legendary riders like Brian Lopes (notably for the 2002 season) and his wife, World Champion Leigh Donovan.
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Media and Marketing: Beyond mechanical work, he was an early digital entrepreneur in the sport, running the influential MTB rumor site stiksandstones.com and contributing as a journalist and photographer.
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Current Roles: As of early 2026, he is a senior executive in the industry. After serving as the Global Brand Director for Bike at Troy Lee Designs, he transitioned to SRAM, where he leads global e-commerce and digital experience strategy.
Personal Life
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He is married to Leigh Donovan, a 1995 Downhill World Champion and Hall of Famer.
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He is often referred to by his nickname "Stikman" or simply "Stik".
Chris "Monk Dawg" Vasquez
Name: Chris Vasquez
Nickname: "Monk Dawg"
Rider(s): Missy Giove, Brian Lopes, Jill Kintner, Aaron Gwin
Chris "Monk Dawg" Vasquez (1970–2016) was a legendary professional mountain bike mechanic widely considered one of the most talented and influential figures in the UCI World Cup circuit.
Career and Legacy
Known for his "tell-it-like-it-is" attitude and relentless work ethic, Vasquez was often the last mechanic to leave the race pits each night. His career spanned over 20 years, during which he served as a personal mechanic for some of the sport's most successful athletes:
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Key Riders: Aaron Gwin, Missy Giove, Brian Lopes, Jill Kintner, Brook MacDonald, and Justin Leov.
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Teams: Most notably worked with Trek World Racing during Aaron Gwin’s dominant seasons.
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Innovation: He was a self-taught perfectionist known for custom-fashioning parts to shave weight off race bikes and had a reputation for helping anyone in the pits, from top pros to privateer amateurs.
Passing and Tributes
Vasquez passed away on August 7, 2016, at the age of 46 following a prolonged battle with deteriorating health.
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Community Support: Before his passing, the mountain bike community raised over $18,000 via GoFundMe to assist with his medical bills.
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Memorials: The brand Chromag features a dirt-jumper model named "Monk" in his honor and maintains a custom tribute bike at their headquarters in Whistler.
Doug "Double D" Dalton
Name: Doug Dalton
Nickname: "Double D"
Rider(s): Anne-Caroline Chausson, Misy Giove, Cedric Gracia, Brian Lopes, Myles Rockwell
Doug Dalton is a highly experienced bike mechanic with a history working for major cycling companies like Cannondale and SRAM. He has been associated with professional downhill racing teams and involved in product development and technical field service.
For local services, he has recently been volunteering his time at a community bike shop in Springfield, Vermont. He can be contacted directly to set up an appointment.
Professional Experience
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SRAM Technical Field Service Dalton has worked for SRAM in a technical field service role and as an ambassador. He was involved in promoting and explaining new products like the XX1 drivetrain.
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Cannondale Lead Team Mechanic He served as the lead team mechanic for the Cannondale downhill programme in the late 1990s, where he was involved in optimizing suspension systems for specific gearing.
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Community Bike Shop Volunteer He volunteers his time to run a community bike shop in downtown Springfield, Vermont, fixing various types of bikes.
Doug "Dougy" Hatfield
Name: Doug Hatfield
Nickname: "Dougy"
Rider(s): Steve Peat, Greg Minnaar, Juli Furtado
Doug Hatfield is a renowned, highly accomplished mountain bike mechanic, best known for his long tenure as the lead mechanic for the professional Santa Cruz Syndicate downhill team, rather than a local shop mechanic offering public services. He is a prominent figure in the professional cycling industry, not a service provider for general public repairs.
Professional Background
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Santa Cruz Syndicate: Hatfield has spent many years as a vital part of the professional Santa Cruz Syndicate downhill team, working with world-class riders like Steve Peat, Greg Minnaar, and Josh Bryceland. He is currently listed as a Team Support Manager at Santa Cruz Bicycles.
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World Cup & Olympic Experience: His career began with work at local bike shops, which led to a full-time position with the US National Team at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs in the 1990s. He has worked at numerous road, track, cyclocross, and mountain bike events globally.
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Industry Figure: Doug is featured in various interviews and videos, where he discusses professional bike setups and shares maintenance tips, highlighting his expertise in the field.
Yanick "the mechanic" Gyger
Name: Yanick Gyger
Nickname: "Yanick the Mechanic"
Rider(s): Nino Schurter
Yanick Gyger, widely known as "Yanick the Mechanic," is a renowned professional mountain bike mechanic and a central figure in the SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team. He is best known for his long-standing partnership with 10-time World Champion Nino Schurter, serving as his dedicated personal mechanic for over 12 years until Schurter's final World Cup race in late 2025.
Key Career Highlights
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Chief Mechanic: Gyger oversees the technical operations for the SCOTT-SRAM team, ensuring elite athletes' bikes—including those of Schurter, Jenny Rissveds, and Andri Frischknecht—are race-ready.
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Legacy with Nino Schurter: He has been the "right-hand man" behind Schurter’s record-breaking career, maintaining the Scott Spark RC through multiple Olympic Games and World Championship titles.
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Technical Expertise: He is a prominent voice in MTB tech, frequently sharing specialized setup tips for suspension (e.g., using tokens for progressive feel) and tire pressure (typically running 1.24–1.31 bar for Schurter).
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Speed & Precision: He previously held an unofficial world record for the fastest mountain bike wheel change (approximately 18 seconds) during a World Cup race.
Recent Activity (2025–2026)
In late 2025, Gyger was instrumental in the "Last Dance" of Nino Schurter, building a custom final edition Scott Spark RC to commemorate Schurter's retirement from World Cup racing. As of early 2026, he remains a key figure in the SCOTT-SRAM staff, transitioning his deep technical knowledge to the next generation of team riders.
Brad Copeland
Name: Brad Copeland
Nickname: "Shark"?
Rider(s): Kate Courtney
Background & Expertise
Brad Copeland is a prominent figure in the professional mountain biking world, known for his work with World Champion Kate Courtney on both the Specialized and Scott-SRAM teams for a decade. His expertise is in high-end bicycle assembly, service, and race-ready preparation. He applies the same precision and efficiency required for World Cup racing to the services offered at Hush Money Bikes.
