Team Managers keep the riders on time and out of trouble. Well, most of the time. Scattered among the athletes and staff milling around a Dew Tour event, you’ll find a handful of individuals studying the action like security officers on a presidential detail.

Ready to launch at a moments notice as if they were spring-loaded, they’re quick to the aid of a particular rider, armed with tubes, wrenches, t-shirts, and water bottles. These are the Team Managers, dispatched to keep their riders in tune and focused on the contest. Well, at least until its over, when everyone hits the town and the TMs unleash the awesome power of the almighty corporate credit card. We checked in with a few TMs at the Dew Tour, and while they couldn’t give up all their stories, they did let us in on a few quick facts.

What are you responsible for at an event like this?

Basically, making sure all the riders have the right t-shirts and have pants on (laughs). Make sure T.J. Lavins breakfast is prepared correctly - he likes two eggs scrambled, wheat toast with no butter. Stuff of that nature. Robbie Morales, Fox Clothing

Arranging accommodations, travel, and rental car. Then its always having spare parts that the guys might need. Ill assist with any media interviews, too. I guess just being a positive influence - yeah, right. Tony Degollado, Haro Bikes

I’m here to support my guys. If they need anything, I’m here for them. I try to ease up the little nuances of being at an event so they can focus on the contest itself. Make sure they have transportation and a place to stay. I’m also shooting team photos and lining up interviews with local media. Dwayne Taylor, DC Shoes

Taking care of the riders needs for Snafu parts, everything from wheels to tubes to handlebars. Checking them into the hotel, getting them to the contest site if necessary, food, whatever. Mike Collins, Snafu Components

Make sure they have flights to get here, pick them up from the airport, and check them into their hotels. Make sure they get up in the morning, they know when their practice and qualifying times are, and they’re getting food and water. If they get hurt, I’m there for them. Jerry Badders, Vans Shoes

How do you reward one of your team riders if he has a good contest

Take care of dinner, maybe some go-karts, something like that. We try to keep it fun. Morales

Its usually a night out on the town; everyone (on the team) is over 21, so they want to go to a nice dinner and enjoy some nightlife. We just open up the card and what happens is what happens. You just pray it meets your budget at the end of the month. Degollado

Maybe take them out to dinner or get them a little surprise, from a ping-pong paddle to an iPod, something that they’d appreciate and wouldn’t expect. We try to make everyone feel like family. Anybody can give you a check; its better to do something they’ll always remember. Taylor

Everything from giving contingency money to taking them out to a steak dinner, but if they’re already going out with another one of their sponsors, Ill try to horn in on that dinner. Collins

I try to take the whole team out to dinner at least once during an event. I also pay them incentives for top three. Badders

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve had to deal with?

Probably dealing with riders when they want only one type of jean, shirt, or glove. Some of them can be really particular. Morales

I probably cant talk about the craziest things, to be honest. There are a lot of obsessed fan situations. It got to a point a couple of years ago that we had to get Ryan (Nyquist) a wig and a hat to walk him through the crowd to get into the contest venue. Degollado

My guys are all pretty mellow. There’s a wrecked rental car here and there. Taylor

Probably trying to get friends and family passes for events like this. I do whatever I can to get moms, girlfriends, and cousins in. Collins

I have girlfriends and moms and dads calling me all the time wondering how the guys are doing. Badders

What’s the wildest charge you’ve put on the company credit card?

Definitely drinks at the bar. I think you can get in trouble for that, so I probably wont do it anymore (laughs). Morales

When Jamie Staff was riding for Haro and he won the NBL title, we racked up a restaurant bill of about six grand. We’ve had a couple two or three-thousand-dollar bar tabs. Thankfully, we’ve never had to replace hotel room doors or stuff like that. You should ask Jerry Badders this question. Degollado

$900 for hotel room damages. Broken picture frames, holes in walls, that kind of stuff. Badders

Getting Allan Cookes bus wrapped. That was about eight grand. Taylor

Probably about a couple hundred bucks for dinner. Collins