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Drew Engelmann's Journal
Why so many bikes?
posted by Shimanodog at 05:53 PM on December 23, 2007
As the Specialized Factory Rep in San Jose, East Bay, and Hawaii, I have found it challenging to log the mileage that I had been doing in San Diego. In the months leading up to my start with Specialized, I would ride to work 38 miles (each way) and find another 4 hours per week to swim and run. Hence, I called myself a "Triathlete." After the move to Aptos, I quickly gave up the BIKE ride to work for an average of 2700 miles per month behind my windsheild. The "ONE LESS CAR" sticker on my messanger bag is begining to look a little bit less like advocacy, and more like a vision of the way that I would LIKE to live my life. Still, it will stay on my bag as a reminder of how each of us CAN make a difference no matter how hypocritical the sticker's message may seem on MY bag. Everyone that rides a bike, even a little bit, is making a differnce. Whether you're riding a BMX bike instead of playing Wii, or if you're riding a Globe city bike to work in order to reduce your carbon footprint, you are making a positive impact on yourself AND the world around you.
It's now the holidays and we're spending time in Eureka with my In-laws. As everyone asks politely "how is work going" and "what's the latest and greatest with bikes", I begin to reflect on how influencial the bike industry has been on my life in the past 10 years. My identity to others has become one that I am humble to possess. Family, Friends, and Friends-of-friends, recognize that my passion for bikes and cycling runs vigorously through my veins. I truly believe, deep down, that bikes can be the most positive influence in peoples lives.
My buddy, Keith, and I were recently having a soak in the hot tub after a night-ride through Nisene Marks, and reflecting on how many bikes I have purchased in the past 6 months. It was a pretty funny conversation as we looked back on each bike, trail, and park that I have ridden since the move to Aptos. My job affords me the opportunity to try-out as many bikes as I want, and that is exactly what I have been doing. I have given myself a challenge to try out every model of bicycle that Specialized makes and to embrace the lifestyle of each rider that could possibly purchase that bike. I have been changing my magazine reading to reflect each demographic and have solicited coaching from local riders that are representatives of each riding style.
To re-cap the past 6 months, I have purchased OR ridden each of the following: Seven IMX Carbon/Titanium HardTail 29'r SingleSpeed, S-works Tarmac E5, 2007 Enduro Elite, 2007 S-works Enduro SL Carbon, 2007 Tarmac SL (Bettini Edition), S-Works Tricross, 2007 Stumpjumper HardTail, 2008 Stumpjumper FSR Pro, 2008 Stumpjumper FSR Pro CARBON, P.1 Cro-Mo, Fuse 4, 2007 S-works Transition, and the 2008 S-Works Transition. Pretty much anything, and everything, that Specialized has a "Rider Experience" for, I will embraced as it was my first love in cycling. Thus far, it has been quite and eye-opening experience.
Sooooo...I have decided to SHARE my experiences with each of you. Please read my following journals about the bikes listed above. Each one of them has a great story of why and how I decided to jump into the mindset of rider's that would "normally" ride the bike. I am not going to make an attempt to create a review of the bikes, but more of a description of how I embraced the lifestyle of each rider experience and how it embraced me as a fan of bikes and cycling. Keep in mind that I still consider myself a triathlete, so please take these journals with a grain of salt. I am not a professional writer, or rider. I just love bikes and want to share with you.
Enjoy the journals and thanks for making my job so much fun.
Here are the topics that I am going to be writing about:
- How and why I came about buying/riding the bike
- Where the bike falls in relation to the Specialized Rider Experience
- Where I rode the bike
- What I had to learn in order to ride/buy the bikes properly and what should YOU be aware of when purchasing one for yourself
- What magazines and websites I read, and how they helped me in my endeavor to experience as much of the rider lifestyle that I could
- What gear did I buy to increase my enjoyment of the ride, and what I would like to see on the market to help me further
- What I thought about the bike and the lifestyle of the Rider Experience
- How do I feel that this may help you enjoy biking furthermore
- Finally, could I see myself pursuing the riding style
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Comments (3)
11:43 AM on December 25, 2007 UTC stockybitches wrote:
" I truly believe, deep down, that bikes can be the most positive influence in peoples lives." Say it load and proud brother.
Stocky
06:51 AM on January 04, 2008 UTC joni wrote:
I certainly remember the Seven IMX! Glad you decided to keep it even if too many people started copying your paint scheme.
Never too many bikes!!
04:11 PM on June 17, 2008 UTC fell off the trail again(FOTTA) wrote:
i gotta say that i have not been riding long and i'm still soooo at beginner but after reading your journal entry it seriously makes me want to fond more trails and up my game to the next level. thanks bro throw me any advice you find crucial to know, that beginner's often neglect. hope to hear from you. take care