Blog Posts, Other Things Bike Related

Specialized Trail Crew

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http://www.specializedriders.com/blog/1/post/show/2384

Me on Tomato Creek

A chance to demo a 2010 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR for a year and all I have to do is write about it? Is this for real? Those were my exact thoughts when I heard about this contest so I figured, why not?

I could start my blog by going on about my days riding with an old beater of a hardtail and bore you all with my cycling history… Instead I thought I’d tell you a little a story about when my life changed forever. It all started when I moved back to Vancouver Island in the fall of 2007 and a little trail called “Bucket of Blood”. This was my first real introduction to the world of mountain biking.

Me and the boys at the trail head for Bucket of Blood

The day started innocently enough. I got a call from a buddy of mine who knew I liked to mountain bike and he asked if I’d like to join them on a ride that day. It was a gorgeous fall day so of course I was up for it! After what seemed like hours of climbing up a logging road (it was really only 30 minutes or so), we finally got to a little “hike-a-bike” section which led to the trail head. We arrived at a clearing and the trail began behind a pile of rocks. I still had no idea what I was in for and it wasn’t until then that I found out the name of the trail. At the time I didn’t think much of it. I mean really, I’d been riding single track for a couple of years so how hard could a mountain bike trail be? Well I soon found out!

I had never seen such a steep and winding trail before… Most sane people would’ve come to their senses at this point but not me! It was half way down the trail after my sixth or seventh fall into a salal bush that I realized I was hooked. The whole way down I was watching my buddies just rip down the trail listening to their woots as they hugged the berms and sailed over gap jumps. I couldn’t wait for the day that I could keep up with them. By the time we were finished, I had the biggest grin on my face and I knew my little hardtail needed to be upgraded.

The next week I found myself in the local bike shop looking at bikes to demo. The shop owner set me up with a 2007 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert Women’s and my demo ride found me on a trail called “2 Sheiks”. I found myself easily going over drops and roots that would just bounce me around on my other bike. I was in love. I had never ridden a bike so smooth before, it was like going from a Jeep to a Cadillac. The bike was going to be mine, there was just no way around it.

Over the next year I found myself riding in all conditions including rain and snow and it didn’t matter if it was day or night. Along the way I discovered other female riders who are just as passionate about riding as I am. We still ride with the guys and the best part, I can even keep up with them now! Yeah! Unfortunately “Bucket of Blood” was logged so it’s no longer the trail I remember, but portions of it were saved and it’s one of my favourite rides.

Me on 2 Shieks (Rest Break)

I’ve never regretted buying my bike. Its had many miles put on it since then and there are only a few of the local trails that it hasn’t seen, but mostly because they are new and I haven’t had a chance to check them out yet. A fractured ankle slowed me down a bit this summer so I have had to stay on the more mellow trails. (No, I didn’t hurt it mountain biking, I only wish I did because then I could honestly say I had fun doing it…) Am I still riding? Absolutely! With my doctor’s blessing of course…

Well enough of the trip down memory lane. It’s a sunny summer evening and I hear my bike calling my name. Who’s coming with me?

PS - My significant other is also hoping to get on the Specialized Trail Crew.  You can find his blog here.

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