Pardon me, do you have bikes in your van?

**bmccasland** · 03-01-2009, 06:51 AM

I was in the "forgotton coast" of Florida all week for a class for work, staying in a hotel on St. George Island, that didn't have Internet access. One evening coming back from doing field work, we noticed - it was hard not to - a rather large "Specialized" van in the hotel parking lot, and a gal in the process of getting her gear out of it. My co-worker and I looked at each other, and we said "we ride Specialized, let's go say Hi!"

Background: In walking around the island we had noticed it has a rather nice bike path down the middle, and beater bikes for rent. Co-worker and I had discussed renting said beater bikes to go for a ride, never dreaming a van full of shiny new bikes would drop into our perverbial laps......

Introductions were quickly made, and Becca, the Specialized demo rep for the eastern part of the US offered to let us borrow a couple of WSD bikes for a ride - if we signed a release form and left a credit card behind. The day had been long, and I was thinking about a nap, but siren song of shiny new bikes.... We went to our rooms to "think about it". Co-worker rapped on my door in exercise togs, and I was in the same - both with silly grins on our faces.

Let's go for a ride! Becca had us do the paperwork, gave us water bottles, fitted us with helmets and commuter bikes (I think I had a Vita), and we were off.

We hopped onto the bike path and rode to the State Park on the eastern end (4 miles). We paid the entry, and rode into the park. As I hadn't been taking my asthma meds like I'm supposed to, my lungs gave out, so after a mile I begged off and let CW go on to the end (3 more miles). I rested, then turned around, took a side trip down a park road, back to the main road, and headed back. It's a long skinny island, one can't get lost. CW is in better shape, and 25 yrs younger - she runs 1/2 marathons for fun - so I knew she'd eventually catch me. When we got to the turn for the hotel, we still had daylight, so we rode on to the other end of the bike path (2 or 3 more miles) where it dead ends to private property.

Was dark when we got back to the hotel, but we were happy riders. A bike ride in the brisk spring air was better than a nap! As Becca hadn't had dinner yet, we invited her to join us for beer and pizza at a joint across the street.

Becca stayed on the island a second day, but we didn't have time to ride. We did include her in the group for dinner - at a seafood place on the island, figured joining us biology type rif-raf was better than dining alone

. That night one of the guys was happily sporting his King of the Mountain socks, and was surprised that anyone actually knew what they were. So there was shop talk at dinner, bikes and biology.

**Blueberry** · 03-01-2009, 06:58 AM

How very cool!! Good PR for Specialized and happy riders!!

**shootingstar** · 03-01-2009, 07:03 AM

What a wonderful, rare opportunity to borrow from a manufacturer!

**Tri Girl** · 03-01-2009, 07:42 AM

What a great coincidence that she was staying at the same hotel at the same time!

Sounds like it was a lot of fun!!!

**redrhodie** · 03-01-2009, 07:49 AM

That's very cool! I bet that made your whole trip!

**sgtiger** · 03-01-2009, 08:06 AM

Wow, great story! Thanks for sharing.

**sundial** · 03-01-2009, 08:55 AM

What an unexpected cool adventure!

**LilBolt** · 03-01-2009, 09:23 AM

What a neat opportunity! My shyness would have gotten the best of me and I would have missed out on a fun experience. So...what did you & CW think of the bikes?

**bmccasland** · 03-02-2009, 04:43 AM

Originally Posted by LilBolt

What a neat opportunity! My shyness would have gotten the best of me and I would have missed out on a fun experience. So...what did you & CW think of the bikes?

Like I need an excuse to add a new bike to my stable....

If I bike commuted, I would seriously consider it. My Breezer is only a 3 speed, which is fine for short rides around the neighborhood, but I definitely miss "middle" gears (compared to the options available on my road bike). I liked the flat handle bars too. I should have gotten a picture of her, as she was a pretty bike. I was too anxious to get on the road before we lost daylight. I thought about the camera when I was a couple of miles away from the hotel.

**sundial** · 03-02-2009, 07:57 AM

Was it a Sirrus?

**ehirsch83** · 03-02-2009, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by shootingstar

What a wonderful, rare opportunity to borrow from a manufacturer!

Actually, it's not!

Specialized has Demo Vans for each region of the country- a men and women's rep. Their job is to drive around their region to different LBSs and events and set u shop so people can come and try the bikes for the day. all you have to do is sign the release and leave a credit card, sometimes they ask for a drivers license.

Giant and Cannondale go to events and do the same, charity rides, races,etc.

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Pardon me, do you have bikes in your van?

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