I got to spend time at the Specialized Head Quarters in Morgan Hill this week and feel the passion, drive and ingenuity first hand. Sure I’ve heard tales and myths of lunch time rides, of every employee living the brand, and experienced the momentum behind Innovate or Die through continually bettered product, but to be there, in the heart of it, was some kick.

Conrad Stoltz, Specialized Bicycle Company HQ

(Photo stolen from Conrad’s Flickr account)

Morgan Hill is near the Californian Coast, 90min South of San Francisco, and a 4hour commute from Truckee. After hibernating most of last week - shuffling between indoor pool, computrainer (in front of Apple TV), treadmill in the garage, and my personal favourite: the double bed that makes you want to jump on it with like minded kids; it was magic seeing Dylan and Conrad and the rest of the familiar Specialized crew. It’s Dylan first visit to the USA, and we did not get much social time together, but hearing of his first impressions made me smile. How accustomed I’ve become.

The theme was mountain biking - which included the XC team, the Downhill and Freeride cultus, some Freeride Super D boys, and Conrad Stoltz and myself on the mountain bike multisport side. Big time honour lining up alongside some global icons.

Time spent with engineers was enough to exhaust my limited mental energy in quick time. Steep learning curve just listening in on dialogue between the the architects of innovation and the super sensitive rider perception of Sauser and Stander. What was unbelievable was the testing lab where stress tests were performed on new models - simulating years of riding stress in the matter of a day. But it was the overall feel that was most amazing, the vibe between the different sections of the company, each buzzing with new developments and secretive success. Open plan and relaxed, interactive and stimulating. Numerous dogs trail their owners from desk to department and back. And bikes, more bikes than you could imagine. Prototypes, bike in archive, bikes riden by legends, bikes of staff, bikes for visitors and SBCU.

Got to meet Ned Overend - a sure highlight. Hopefully some day I can continue the legacy he handed down to Conrad.

We did a live team introduction and Q&A with with the entire company - streamed real time on the IAS Facebook page.

The opportunity was something I would not have been able to dream of not so long ago. So grateful and excited to be a part of the most inventive bicycle company in the world, a company thats determined to be the best, and provide the support needed for me to have a shot at being the best I can be.