Smooth Eddie Sloan pictured at www.cyclingnews.com
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http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=/photos/2007/
tech/features/usac_mechanics/Wheel_change_from_car

MDCC's very own "Smooth" Eddie Sloan among 46
to graduate from USA Cycling Mechanics Clinic

Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 25, 2007) – USA Cycling graduated 46 participants from the Bill Woodul Mechanics Clinic earlier this month as mechanics from around the country took advantage of a unique, one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn from industry instructors, receive hands-on experience and network with leaders in the cycling industry.

Students came from all corners of the United States, with a few traveling from Canada. At the completion of the only instructional seminar of its kind in the world, 46 mechanics completed the course and earned the privilege to carry a USA Cycling mechanic’s license.

As a USA Cycling-licensed mechanic, individuals become eligible for certain industry jobs with cycling-related companies or professional teams and enhance their employment opportunities at local bike shops.
Industry experts from various parts of the racing community made presentations on numerous topics:

The lessons were taught by experts from companies such as MAVIC, Park Tool and Shimano to name a few – all companies that put an emphasis on a license issued by the national governing body.

“It’s really a neat program and the only one that exists in the world,” commented Andy Stone, neutral support technician for Shimano and guest instructor at the clinic. “If someone with a USA Cycling license comes out to work for my tech program, or Mavic’s tech program, I know they’re going to have basic knowledge of the job so that they can be useful in the field and improve their skills. Being licensed by USA Cycling is very important to Shimano because we know we’re getting a person that’s trained, and if you want to work for Shimano in any of our tech programs or service department, it’s almost a job requirement.”

By featuring some of the top instructors in the industry, the Bill Woodul Mechanics Clinic hosted by USA Cycling provides instruction by those considered experts in their field.

“The instructors are the best part,” commented USA Cycling director of logistics and operations Ken Whelpdale. “They do a phenomenal job for no pay and average about 15 hours per day of instruction and interaction with the students. It’s an extremely valuable part of what we do in terms of out mechanics program. Our clinic actually trains the mechanics before they go out on the job so that they’ll have the hands-on experience before they get there.”

The clinic is named after Bill Woodul, who held the first USA Cycling mechanics 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.

USA Cycling would like to recognize Eddie Sloan and the other 45 graduates of the 2007 Bill Woodul Mechanics Clinic: