Simone is the sports marketing manager for Specialized-equipped elite road teams and riders. He spends most of the year in Europe, training with the teams, lending support at the races, delivering race bikes and equipment, and gathering feedback from riders and mechanics to help us continuously innovate.

I still remember when as a young kid, my dad brought me for the first time into a bike shop.

It was in the hills surrounding Florence, in Italy, my hometown. And the shop was not a real shop but a garage; a small tiny one.

I still remember the smell of tubular glue, the ocean of Campy parts, 3TTT bars, nicely etched chainrings and stems, custom made frames and their unique shapes.

It was the age of Campy Super Record and my first decent road bike came from that garage.

It was Ruby Red and I loved it and raced it for a long time.

This is how it all started. My dad's passion, a little tiny garage and a Ruby Red bike. Once in a while, I pass in front of that place. The garage is now the extension of a sitting room, my bike became a Specialized, (the Company I work for as Road Global Sports Marketing Manager). But the smell of glue, the smell of glue is still in the air.

Someone calls it Magic!