This year Transition Bikes has once again brought together their dealers and various media hoodlums for 2, 2 day gatherings in August. I attended the first get together last week where we talked shop and rode bikes, two things that the Transition boys seem to be doing a good job at.
Check out what all went down in Ferndale, Washington inside...
Everyone at
Transition Bikes rides bikes and they have built a company around that. Their dealers really seem to love the guys because they all can relate to each other on so many levels, be it the constantly changing dollar, the need to sell a true value bicycle and the fact that their bikes are what they ride. I know that all bike companies sell bikes that they ride, but most are driven by the market first and foremost, where Transition build bikes to suit their terrain and riding styles first and foremost.
To prove that, look at the fact that they've made big travel downhill bikes since their inception, but have never made a true DH race machine. They were freeriders, but now some of the crew are into racing and know that the Blindside simply is not that true dedicated race bred machine that one needs. It works really well, but the new TR 450 will push you further and faster than the Blindside or Gran Mal before it did.
Evolution of a good design is also something that bike companies have to do and the re-introduction of the Covert last month proves that they aren't simply going to sit on a design that works. The Covert is a step in the right direction for cleaner lines, that catch the eye and design that will work and get its rider from point A to point B.
Kevin and Kyle (two owners of Transition Bikes) took some time out each morning to talk to everyone and get a feel for what they are experiencing in their respectful markets. After we all talked shop it was time to grab a bike, set it up, make your lunch for the afternoon ride and hit the rode for the trail heads.
Gathering of employees and dealers
Kevin and the TR 450
Crew gathered around the TR 450
Making sandwiches
Kyle ready for the AM day
Pick your bike
Loaded and heading out.
On Monday, we all went All Mountain riding (some guys brought the TR 450s out as they wanted to ride them regardless of the climbs). It was great to be out there with all the dealers, talking to them about sales and how various models were moving for them, or not moving. What they want to see from the company and why they have chosen to be dealers for Transition. The heat was nice to us this year and we were all able to ride multiple trails on different bikes and get a feel for what each model was like. The new Covert excels in an environment where you have to climb up, bomb up and down on undulating terrain and then finally get behind the seat for the tech descent. Tyler and Jake from Dirty Fingers in Hood River, Oregon were calling it the 3 helmet bike as they were climbing it (XC lid), bombing descents (DH lid) and hitting up the DJs post ride too (DJ lid) on the Covert.
Crew heading out
Crew heading up
Me goofing around
Rob going DH on AM day
Jumping on AM bikes
Me being serious-ish
Cam getting his log on
Built and donated by a high school student - super cool
Cam and his do all Covert
Post ride we were greeted with a smashed window in Sam's truck and a failed attempt at stereo theft - ALL THIEVES SUCK! Thankfully we were headed to the warehouse to BBQ, relax and watch a DJ Session go down. Oh and a few of the guys attempted to achieve Wizard status - Cam won.
Karl gets flipped:
Cam on BBQ detail
Veggie, Ham, Burger, mmmm!
Chilling and watching jumping
Pit bike action
Back to the Guest House Inn for a good sleep and up early as day two was our DH riding day. This is where the dealers and workers really hold their own. Big bikes, big moves and high speeds, mixed with tech lines is what everyone was wanting and they got it. In between DH runs, some riders even tee'd up the local dirt jumps.
Leaving the Guest House Inn
Camp Counselors and Campers
Big drops
Log rides
No hunting
Cam keeps it clean:
A customer's bike
Kevin bringing it in for landing
After 2 days with the dealers and employees at Transition Bikes you could feel that they are all working together to create a better end product for each other that the end user will benefit from. Passion is a driving force and it is evident in what I experienced this year in Ferndale.
All clear pics by Brad Walton of transitionbikecompany.pinkbike.com, while the rest are my doing.
-Happy Trails,
Tyler Maine
actualy Specialized is for me the perfect opposite of Transition bikes tech tech tech fun vs fun fun fun. I can't wait for tests of SC Blur LT carbon, Im super eager to find out whether it's worth to spend so much money... and how does it compares with Ibis Mojo.
seems like tehy're having a fun time