James Stanfill

“Why ask why” or “If you aint got the muscle, your bike won’t hustle”

Team Role/Title Head Mechanic
Place of Birth: Campbell CA
Currently reside: Santa Cruz, CA

I began racing when I was 15, I’ve raced against Greg Lemond and Lance Armstrong among many others… As a mechanic I am able to better serve a team and elite athletes then I ever could as a rider… my career as a technician in the cycling industry has taken me to over 200 cities and 19 countries. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Prior Teams / Organizations:

Specialized Lululemon (Velocio sports)
USAC National Teams - various
Cannondale Factory Racing
Liquigas
Patent It!
Elita Pro
Mavic SSC
SRAM NRS
Shimano Multi Service

Five Major Career Highlights:

Staff for 5 World Championships
Staff for 8 UCI World Cup Championships
Staff at 3 Pan Am Championships
I’ve worked at every major race in the United States

What are some of the best and most rewarding parts about working with such a strong team of diverse female athletes?
For me, working with a women’s team is the perfect choice, I find it amazing the lack of equality from the men’s side of this spot to the women’s. I’ve worked in many different roles inside the cycling industry, which now allows me to be a bit picky about whom I work for or with. I choose to worth with elite women’s teams – they are smart and educated (more so than I am) and they appreciate the expertise (mechanically or otherwise) that my years of experience in this particular field brings to them. They treat their staff better and have more respect for one another even across different teams.

What are some of the most difficult aspects of working for a professional women’s team?
I don’t like crying! I am compassionate but crying really just is something if / when working with a men’s team doesn’t happen as much, I find it at times to be uncomfortable.

You have a strong history as a mechanic in women’s cycling, what is it like making the transition from working for a major bike manufacturer to being back on the road with a women’s team?
My role having been involved with not one but two major manufacturers within the cycling industry has allowed me to always stay involved with team or event support. While at Cannondale I was pointed in the direction of their Factory Racing team and also the Liquigas team. Most recently at Specialized I saw a need for support for the Specialized – Lululemon (Velocio Managed) team. I reached out and for two years I helped them with all their domestic events. I don’t feel as though I have ever left the road but I have gained more experience and now bring added value when I do travel.

What are your ultimate goals/overall vision for the team and its athletes?
I want to help the team and riders be as successful as they can possibly be. My goal as a mechanic is to ensure everything needed to make their best effort is available and done for the riders from the technical side of things. Being part of such a large program (Pro’s, Juniors, Track) is something I enjoy. Having had similar experience when I was the Director of Operations at USA Cycling I look forward to seeing each rider grow and obtain the results they are striving for – be it a win or a improvement over a prior performance.

What is your involvement with teaching the next generation of team mechanics?
I co-manage the USA Cycling Bill Woodul Race Mechanics Clinic. We take mechanics with at least two years of experience (shop or otherwise) and show them how to apply their knowledge to supporting events, teams and athletes. We cover many topics but some of the highlights are: tubular tires, career development, wheel change and even ethics… I attended this exact clinic in 2001 and was inspired then to begin my career in cycling support. I am honored and proud that I am now one of the people affecting the future of others.

List 5 things that you would like every rider to do when taking care of their bike
Only 5?

Your bike and especially the chain need cleaning and it needs lube, this should happen on regular intervals but especially after a ride in any sort of inclimate weather.
Traveling with your bike – clean it first, don’t over pack it – bike cases are designed to protect your bike, it isn’t always necessary to also include an additional 10lbs of packing materials (also your bike case isn’t just extra space for your clothes)
These are racing bikes, they don’t belong upside-down or laying on the ground, lean them, stack them, hang them…
If you change something on your bike, the mechanic needs to know – any change, otherwise we can’t make that same change on your race bike or a spare bike or a bike we are building for you
If something is broken – tell the mechanic

TWENTY16 has a strong focus on development and preparing girls for Olympic/world level racing. What sets this team apart in terms of development?

This is the only program I know of that has a specific focus on development for women. Yes there are women’s teams but they don’t have a focus to develop the future, they just want the riders who can win races for them. The relationship between Twenty16 and USA Cycling is also key in this process. Allowing riders to do races other teams demand and need to have the riders representing the trade team.

TWENTY16 has an emphasis on education with the initiation of our Junior Scholarship program in 2015.

Explain why it is important to go on to college after high school
Everyone needs a future, if college isn’t part of a kids future then what is? The lottery isn’t guaranteed nor is a great million dollar a year job at the end of college. But that education will pay off in terms of job opportunities and personal reward when an athlete is done being an athlete.

If you weren't a team mechanic where would you see yourself?
I would be in the cycling industry – marketing, team management, sponsorship relations… I would be making a difference in a different way.
Outside of the cycling industry – management of marketing or sales most likely.

Your favorite things to do when not working with the team?

I love to ride when and where I can
Movies
Relax
Read
Surf

Favorite Foods:

Mexican
Italian
Burgers!