Video: Transition's Co-Owners Explore Orcas Island in 'Across the Bay'

Mar 3, 2021
by Transition Bikes  

We are fortunate to call Bellingham, WA our home. Surrounded by amazing trails, in a climate mild enough for riding almost the entire year. But last year, winter had a strong grip on the landscape, locking up all the trails with snow and ice. So last February we called our good friend Matt with Targa Boats, and lined up a trip across the bay, to a magical little spot known as Orcas Island.

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After the quick boat ride, riding started right from the dock to ascend Mt. Constitution.

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TR co-owners, Kyle and Kevin.

The top of Mt. Constitution offers a stunning view of Mt. Baker and the Bellingham area.

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Full green room out here.

Running a bike company is a full time job, plus a little more. Days like this are a perfect reminder to Kevin and Kyle of where it all started, and why they work so hard to make a company based around riding.

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The Send-It-All.

The Sentinel is the perfect bike for outings like this, when you never know what you're gonna get. An all day epic pedal, serious chunky terrain, or a quick jump session, the Sentinel does it all.

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Big thanks to our captain, Matt Hardin at Targa Boats for leading us on this journey.

Riders: Kyle Young and Kevin Menard. The co-owners of Transition Bikes.
Photos: Oliver Parish
Video: Skye Schillhammer with additional cinematography by Hannah Bergemann

Posted In:
Videos Riding Videos Transition


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47 Comments
  • 54 2
 2 of the nicest most down to earth guys I have ever met who just happen to have founded and run a successful bike company. Don’t stop being you boys!!!
  • 7 3
 I have a friend who worked for Transition in Europe and knows the guys personally from Eurobike - he can confirm this!

Also bikes are great! Love my Sentinel! @ TransitionBikeCompany: you should do a mullet Sentinel and call it Patrinel Smile
  • 4 0
 @Germanmike:

No way. A Sent Troll.
  • 44 0
 Before the vanlife crowd descends on orcas island this summer. Note* the trails are not open to bikes in peak season during the summer.
  • 15 0
 Yeah trails definitely suck too. Don't come.....
  • 1 0
 Do you know when the trails open up again in the fall?
  • 6 0
 @neb87: The best trails are open to mountain bikes from September 15 through May 15 each year.
  • 14 0
 Orcas is not a fun place to ride bikes and the views honestly suck with the never ending, year-round rain and fog anyways.
  • 7 0
 The ferry service is unpredictable and you could wait days to catch a boat over. Better just look elsewhere for good trails.
  • 6 0
 Might want to look in a completely different state. Nothing but mud and rivers in the PNW
  • 19 0
 This is the kind of medium rad riding I can relate to.
  • 10 0
 Great now I want a Sentinel
  • 1 0
 How’s that Power of Suggestion training coming along? J/K I suffer from the same affliction!
  • 3 0
 I ordered one last October. . . looking forward to July delivery haha.
  • 1 0
 Mine's supposed to be here in April!
  • 6 0
 If this is what winter looks like in the PNW I'm living on the wrong coast.
  • 21 0
 That's a rare winter day that isn't filled with yet more soul crushing drizzle and seasonal affective disorder.
  • 2 0
 @Connerv6: family from that area just visited me in coastal California. On a 70F sunny day at the beach in January, she looked at me and said, “...is it like this all the time here?”

Yes. It pretty much is.

But summers in the PNW can’t be beat.
  • 1 0
 @Connerv6: This..ugh F winter lol
  • 3 0
 @rickybobby18:
This is a fact. If you aren’t from the area the summers are probably better than you imagine and the winters are definitely way way worse.
  • 7 0
 Nope. Not at all. It's a constant depressing, shit, soul crushing, slog with the occasional day like what was depicted in the video that fools us all into staying.
  • 5 0
 Used to spend summers at a Cabin on Orcas, a true hidden gem for riding, and one of the worlds greatest skateparks. Miss that place!
  • 1 0
 yep that skatepark is absolutely amazing - so stoked I got to go one july 4th with an amazing crew! skating, fireworks and fresh caught crab - and now I see riding too - need to get back sometime
  • 1 0
 @hambobet: Still dreaming about laps of the outside line snake run at that park. What a beauty. Riding is rad, but they close the trails in the summer so make it a spring or fall trip!
  • 8 2
 Visitor pro tip: the island's name is pronounced orcas, not orcas. Don't f*ck it up or you'll stick out like a sore thumb.
  • 3 0
 Thanks, that clarified it brilliantly. Having a cabin on the next island over, I know what you mean, but I'm not sure everyone will guess correctly.
  • 2 0
 Captain Cam at the helm! I will second the comment from @jding183 and that honestly goes for the entire crew at Transition. Solid, humble, and welcoming from top to bottom! They live and breath what they preach.
  • 2 1
 Thanks transition now everyone and there f*cking mother will be riding out on orcas. Just so everyone knows the main trails are only open from September 15th to May 15th. Please do not ruin it for us locals. By the way there’s no ferry service to the island you have to take a world class private boat there.
  • 4 0
 Looks like a nice trip, fellas. Now back to work on that new patrol!
  • 2 0
 and bring back the aluminum bikes too! (Please and thank you)
  • 2 0
 Great humans! Great bike builders and riders! A great bike company! Great videography! Well done!!
  • 3 0
 Perfect outing for the new smuggler?
  • 1 0
 Sentinel
  • 2 2
 Did you run into the Pivot riders from a couple weeks ago? Orcas getting a lot of biker attention. Hopefully will be beneficial for having more year round biking options on the island.
  • 3 0
 Doubt it'll happen. Too much of the trails are on state park property so it's saturated toward the bipedal visitors. Besides, the best riding is prior to May and after September .......... or not on those trails Wink
  • 2 0
 These guys don't know me, but since I bought my v1 Patrol five years ago, I've always felt like a part of their group.
  • 2 0
 Hey buddy wanna go for a ride? Sure. We'll bring a camera and call it a tax write off!
  • 1 0
 Clicked the link to see beaching orcas but riding orcas was pretty good too.
  • 1 0
 Orcas, one of my top 5 places to ride
  • 1 0
 I'm only ever up there in the summer when the only bike-legal trails are not worth it. I need to make a winter trip...
  • 1 0
 raddest bikes from the raddest crew... cheers fellas!
  • 1 0
 Is this the Matt Hardin from Bainbridge?
  • 1 0
 Why edit out the shuttle?
  • 3 3
 You know what would have been better? SKA MUSIC!
  • 1 3
 @blacklineslayer that's deep
  • 3 0
 The ocean, right?
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