Biker Boys: Ride the Rhythm of Specialized this Summer!

Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins,

I grew up on two wheels, dating back to my BMX days as a youth in the gritty streets of Camden, NJ. Every kid had a bike, allowing us to traverse from neighborhood to neighborhood until sunset. Some, like myself, could clear fences from makeshift ramps and wheelie city blocks for as long as traffic allowed. Those were some joyous days.

Today, I rekindle some of those memories on my Specialized hybrid or mountain bike. MTBing wooded trails for hours brings back euphoria reminiscent of the 80s. However, recently, I wanted to change course and hit the asphalt trail systems that typically connect various parks and townships in Maryland. Many of my good friends and business colleagues also congregate for weekend biker boy meetups on road bikes. Therefore, I began looking relentlessly for a hybrid bike.

The research left me debating between the Specialized Sirrus 3.0 for $900 and Trek’s FX 3 Disc for $800. A hybrid bike can be considered a fitness bike as it provides mountain bike comfort and road bike confidence while featuring straight handlebars as opposed to drop bars you find on faster road bikes. I tried this route a few years ago but didn’t like the continuous crouching tiger position. You can also take a hybrid on gravel if you outfit it with the appropriate rubber tread. Both Trek and Specialized produce some of the finest bikes in the world. I was in good hands either way.

For reference, additional cycling manufacturers to become familiar with include Bianchi, Cannondale, Yeti Cycles, Kona, Santa Cruz, Cervelo, Salsa, and Scott.

I came across a Satin Flake Silver/Black Reflective carbon Sirrus 4.0 in my size (large), which was perfect. I didn’t expect to pay $1,300, albeit I had no other recourse. But now I am pleased by the level of sophistication and technology of the Sirrus 4.0 lightweight cycle. Dubbed Silver Shadow, my Sirrus is engineered with reliable hydraulic disc brakes, a through-axle hub connection, and wide-range 2×9 Shimano Sora Road components with microSHIFT.

Nonetheless, for this price point, I was disappointed in the cheap plastic Specialized pedals that squeaked on downstrokes. I immediately upgraded to Shimano PD-M8140 Deore XT flat pedals. Overall, the bike is blazing fast and corners impeccably.

Accessories to outfit your ride should include a seat pack for extra innertube and wrench storage, a bottle cage, a mini air pump, and a smartphone handlebar mount for following your maps and music. Also think about padded biker shorts, lightweight open-finger gloves, and a helmet. For $275, I selected the advanced S-Works Evade lid with an integrated ANGi crash sensor. Hey, I don’t mind paying extra for safety measurements. The aerodynamic and properly ventilated protection encompasses “win tunnel” development, 4th dimension cooling, Aramid-Reinforced skeleton, soft and lightweight 4X DryLite webbing, and a magnetic buckle system. With my prior heavier helmet, my neck would begin to stiffen on longer rides. Well, that problem has been alleviated. Additionally, users of this product receive a lifetime subscription to the Specialized Ride app.

My rides have been meditative and energetic thus far. On weekends, I rise at 6 am, drink organic herbal tea, and then load the truck with Silver Shadow to meet my bredren for 7 am naturalistic rides along Sligo Creek Trail. Interestingly enough, one of our Fit Fathers had just picked up a Specialized Diverge in the same grey hue, and my dad scooped up a used 2018 Sirrus model, similarly in grey. We typically ride 20 to 30 miles while chatting about health, lifestyle habits, veganism, and the joy of riding.

Exercise is fun and engaging when you partner with like-minded individuals. You also tend to hold one another accountable. Our goal is to establish the sessions as an indefinite weekend meetup until the end of the season.

Hopefully, you will continue enjoying your cycle while reaping the fitness benefits and spiritual freedom. Keep riding, people. One Love!

Bike Stands: https://www.feedbacksports.com/