I came across http://twitter.com/iamspecialized and have been a follower for a few months… great use of free marketing I might add. In the beginning of August Specialized Riders decided to toss out a fun lil contest if you will, basically a chance to become part of the STC (Specialized Trail Crew) and there has been an overwhelming response, some killer entries and one guy whom created a domain specifically for the STC people. Props to him!

As for me, why do I want to be a part of the STC? Let me drop you the skinny and once finished, we can ride off into the sunset!

I started Mountain biking back in MN, years ago, basically a summer filler for my true passion… snowboarding. It was a killer release during the summer months and did the job. But I never got into it very heavy. I purchased my first bike, which was a Specialized Rock Hopper and it did the job of pounding the greenways, hitting the gravel – paved roads that led to my destination of choice.

A few years later though, a small software company recruited me away from MN to Raleigh, NC. I moved away from family, friends, and basically everything that was me, this was in ’06. I sold the Rock Hopper to a local MN buddy of mine and off I went… no bike in tow. (I had some nifty plans as NC provides some of the best biking on the East Coast as I would come to find out)

In ’07 I dropped over to the www.thebicyclechain.com and purchased a nice lil Stumpjumper HT Comp.

It’s been a champion to say the least… while it has numerous upgrades the fork and frame remain as one, factory! It’s been with me to MOAB to Pisgah.

With the above premise in mind; I’ve become very serious in the sport of Mtn biking… I’ve raced a few 6hr endurance races, quite a few 18mile single track races, and am a big part of TORC (Triangle Off Road Cyclists) which is a chapter of IMBA.

I am currently the ride coordinator for one of the most popular trails within the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), Lake Crabtree. Specialized demo fleet was just here two weekends ago! TORC is hosting the annual Fat Tire festival next month and we have our annual “Take a Kid Mtn biking” — very cool stuff!

I also co-formed a group called, TDR (Triangle Dirt Riders) which is in sorts a ‘underground’ local rider group… we basically hit up our trails we’ve made, keep it local… shred the gnar!  I’ve been all over NC, to the Pisgah mtns which has some of the BEST singletrack on the east coast… roughly 200 miles of it! To some of the fastest machine built trails in NC, OVT and Warrior Creek in Wilkesboro (So fast and fun). And this weekend we’re off for a 4 day trip to Dupont State parks, which borders Pisgah.

I ride 4-5 days per week, with MANY people all over this area. I also host rides and events for the out of towners if you will, it’s a kick ass time with kick ass riding! Another self prop is the local paper, News and Observer – columnist and outdoor advocate Joe Miller rode with us last Winter on one of our weekly night rides. Article here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/joemiller/night-play-mountain-biking

Why do I really want this? Here is why:

When riding it reminds me of being free, being in complete control of where I want to go… how fast I want to push myself and the challenges that lie ahead that I know I will conquer. No one can stop, push you down, tell you you’re going to fast… tell you you’re breaking rules or any such silly thing. Complete freedom. My riding buddy, Lou, would also LOVE to represent the STC, new mascot? He rides with me on just about every trail, a pure natural trail dog. He loves it…

February ’09 I was laid off due to a ‘corporate restructure’ from the company that moved me to NC. With all of the above activity, I’ve been working my ass off locally, trying to find a full time job… a full time job that is satisfying, that fits me. Mtn biking is my release, my daily release from some of the BS that is going on… It’s a crazy market right now within the Triangle, but with how much I’ve grown as a person, as a lover of the sport and the outdoors… I would love to stay here and represent the STC, rolling the new SJ.

Moving into a full squish machine such as the new FSR SJ would be a dream come true! Not only because there is no way I can afford it right now… but because it will push my Mtn bike plain further, push me faster… and I can move!

It goes without saying, I’ve about as active as one can get without working for a bike company (Which I would love to do) and I would love to be able to represent the STC all over the Triangle! Gawd knows you’ll get the exposure with me riding it… and it goes without saying, Specialized and Mountain biking are a TRUE passion.

As for blogging, facebooking, twitting — this is part of my daily routine so to add in the STC activities, bring it on!

Cheers!
Cody

About two weeks ago my mother arrived into Raleigh, NC and we took off to Charleston, SC for 1 week.  We had a wonderful time, beautiful area, tasty fried southern food… and had roughly 2 weeks off of the bicycle!

I recently returned home and have been pushing hard, riding hard, eating like PO since.

Well yesterday turned out to be the killer of the week. A few of us rode in the early morning, roughly 10 easy miles of singletrack… reason being is I was headed back out later that day. Well around 5ish I meet up with a few others and we hit some solid bandit trails… for another 10-15 miles. Towards the end of the ride, I started cramping something fierce!

Around 10pm last night, chilling… I ended up cramping so damn bad I was on the floor almost in tears!

*Note to self* Invest (stock) in the Banana market!

So, without the fanfare of a drum roll, I present in no particular order…

• As you venture out of your immediate neighborhood, on the way to the trail… travel through industrial parks to find companies to investigate.
• Riding helps clear your mind and gives you time to think.  Bring a recorder (or old school: scrap of paper/pen).  You’d be surprised how many great ideas pop into your head while you’re riding.
• Obviously, getting some exercise is a chance to burn calories.  Hours of research in front of a computer can lead to the opposite.
• By meeting new folks who ride in your town, you get to network with all kinds of new contacts.  Most bike shops hold weekly rides originating from their shop.
• In between jobs, it is sometimes hard to find accomplishments to be proud of.  As your miles and fitness increase, you’ll feel extremely good about your positive experience.
• Biking adds another dimension to your personal life that may be useful in interviews.  You never know, you might have an interviewer who is an avid cyclist.  Making personal connections in an interview is key.
• Being healthy is appreciated by employers’ (and your own) budget.  In fact, many companies have developed programs in the last several years for encouraging their employees to stay fit.
• Biking lends itself to setting and achievement of goals.  Hiring managers like candidates who are self-directed and can achieve personal goals.
• Biking is a stress reliever.  It gives your body and brain a chance to vent frustrations by pushing yourself physically.  Being out in the world/nature/fresh air helps bring you back to reality.  Although this may be a tough time, there is a “bigger picture.”
• Duh!  It’s a good habit.  After you’ve found your next job, you’ll want to continue mashing those pedals!

If you’ve got a few more to share, feel free to comment below. Or if you want to chat about biking, tweet me at @codybks.  I’d be happy to give you my two cents immediately, assuming I’m not on the trail at the time.