by Joanna
When I think about being in the BC Bike Race and the fatigue and mental stamina it's going to require, I immediately feel so grateful that I'll have my mom there with me. She will be my rock, no question; and I am training hard with the goal of being hers. Doing this alongside her makes me so frickin' excited!!!
When I think about being in the BC Bike Race and the fatigue and mental stamina it's going to require, I immediately feel so grateful that I'll have my mom there with me. She will be my rock, no question; and I am training hard with the goal of being hers. Doing this alongside her makes me so frickin' excited!!!
OK, now that I've covered numero uno, let me me tell you about my second best friend on this race: the beautiful piece of machinery that will be under me every day. Having ridden my new baby (yes, it's pretty much my baby...it even slept in my bedroom with me for the first few months) on the north shore, and on some of the same trails that we'll hit on day 5 of the race, I can report that I am SO happy with my big purchase. My friend Brad introduced me to James (the owner at Obsession Bikes) and that introduction most certainly changed how I'll perform (read: survive) on the course come July. James led the tech team at BCBR last year, and Brad worked alongside him. As it came time to purchase a new bike, I couldn't find a more qualified adviser if I tried!
So, I knew I needed a new bike... and frankly, that's about all I knew. These machines are uber sophisticated, and I had a lot of decisions to make. Trail or XC? 27.5 or 29 inch wheels? Carbon or aluminum? How much travel front and back? What brand was best? The list goes on (and gets far more technical). I had demo'd a few bikes already, but still felt overwhelmed with the decision. Thankfully, James had all the time in the world to explain the nitty gritty of what I should be considering, and what they had that might fit. We chatted in the store, we chatted on the phone, and we chatted on bikes. After building a baseline level of knowledge, and narrowing the field to 3 bikes, it really came down to how each bike felt. I would have had a great ride on any of the bikes I was considering in the end, but the one I was most excited about, and most comfortable on, was the Scott Genius LT 700. And she is a beauty!
To geek out a bit on the details... it's an all-mountain trail bike, carbon frame, 160mm travel (front and rear) with 27.5" wheels. If you really want to geek out, there's a review here. To be honest, I didn't expect to buy a bike with this much travel, but I was amazed at how well it climbed, and fell in love with the cushy, cruisy feel on the downs. That, plus the "brain", the remote lockout that allows you to adjust the settings on your front and rear shock from your handle bars (which is totally unique to this bike), had me sold.
Once she was mine, Shawn at Obsession sized me on the bike and made countless adjustments until it felt just right.
The result? Super fun rides with uphills that feel like I'm floating and downhills that make me feel invincible.
Mega thanks to James, Shawn and everyone at Obsession. You guys rock! Which reminds me...I need to hit you up for more soft gear. See you soon :)
