Thanks to record rainfall, the Southern California hills are alive like never before. This sudden explosion of flowers is called a Super Bloom, and there is a bunch of science to explain the phenomenon, but we’ll leave that to those more qualified. We just knew it was an awe-inspiring landscape we wanted to experience for ourselves… and on two wheels.
When we decided to explore the rolling green and orange hills, we reached out to the Enduro Lyfe boys (they’re always down for a good time). We set out after work and rode until the setting sun told us to stop. We, of course, brought along our resident photo guru, Gordon Dooley, to capture every moment.
STOP AND SMELL THE POPPIES
The fields were blanketed as far as the eye could see. Cresting each hill unveiled a myriad of flowers dotting the landscape. We had to stop numerous times just to sit and take in the view. Even though Southern California is a popular center of life, and highway traffic and crowds are the norm, out in the rolling hills we felt a million miles from anywhere.
This is why offroad embodies everything we love about riding. Enduro bikes are freedom machines. As soon as your tires hit the dirt, the concerns of daily life fade. There is nothing more valuable than these moments. Remember, you don’t have to travel to some far away land to escape, you can find freedom in your own backyard.
If you'd like to check out the equipment used during the ride:
- Legion Offroad Jersey: The perfect balance of lightweight stretch and trail-ready functionality.
- Legion Offroad Pants: 4-way stretch meets Cordura® fabrics and essential storage pockets.
- Legion Offroad Jacket: 2-in-1 convertible jacket versatile enough for a full day of riding.
- Bomber Light Glove: Minimalistic palm for maximum bar feel pair D3O® armored knuckles.
LEGION: (FLOWER) FIELD TESTED
You might remember the initial launch of our Fox MX19 Legion Offroad gear last fall, where it was put to the test by Carey Hart and Ricky Carmichael. The Goat gave it his stamp of approval, but just for good measure, we equipped the Enduro Lyfe guys with a Legion Kit each to test a new set of conditions – proving this offroad gear has 4-season versatility.
The Offroad jersey is durable yet lightweight and breathable – brains and brawn. Thanks to Cordura® sleeves, it brushes off unexpected encounters with bushes, tree branches, and, when things get real sideways, the dirt. The Offroad pants have the same performance chassis as the beloved 360 pants, but with reinforced Cordura® Ripstop paneling to protect from trail-related wear and tear. Plus, a smart pocketing system gives you a place to store your keys, cell phone… maybe a snack. Basically, anything you want to keep within arm’s reach.
Rounding out the Legion collection is a convertible jacket, which gives you the versatility of a vest and jacket in one. As a vest, it adds wind and abrasion resistance to your gearset without overheating. When the sun dropped below the mountains, attaching the sleeves gave us the additional coverage we needed as temperatures fell. And when it was time to switch on the headlights, the reflective trims kept everyone visible.
Photos by: @freeridenewzealand
The off-season training put in by the Fox MTB team paid off big at the kickoff to the 2019 season - Crankworx Rotorua. Threatening skies held off most of the week and the dirt was prime for racing and ripping all week long. With 2 wins and 10 podiums across the 7 different disciplines the Fox athletes made Rotorua feel like a second home for Fox fans in attendance!
For the second year in a row, Brett Rheeder started his season off with a bang. Adding multiple new tricks to his program, he rode a nearly flawless run to capture the top step of the podium in the annual Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza.
Anthony Messere was riding on the limit all week and put together a great run to place 6th in the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza. His top six finish means he's punched his ticket into the next round at Crankworx Innsbruck!
Finn Iles put in a blistering run in the warmest conditions of the week in the men’s Crankworx Rotorua Downhill. He rode clean and in control and his performance left him just 0.09 seconds off the top step of the podium. It was a great performance, but being so close left him a little frustrated - something he will use as motivation for next month's Maribor!
It was a disappointing start to the year for current UCI DH World Champ Loic Bruni as a flat in the top section of the course derailed his chances in Friday's Crankworx DH race. He looked good in training and was ready to compete in his first test of the 2019 season. Always a fan favorite, Loic lightened a bad moment as he asked a spectator for his pump and tried to bring the tire back to life. "I just wanted to finish," said Loic moments after the race. This has motivated him even more for the first UCI DH race in Maribor.
Tahnée Seagrave battled through multiple injuries throughout the week to put together a great set of results. She rode multiple disciplines and ended up with three third-place finishes - Dual Slalom, Downhill, and Pump Track. Truly an all-around talent, Tahnée is also a crowd favorite who made the Rotorua fans feel special all week long!
Speaking of fan favorites, local boy Keegan Wright was the hardest working athlete in Rotorua. Competing in nearly every pro men’s division race, he finished the event with a silver medal in both Pump Track and EWS as well as taking the top step in the Crankworx Dual Slalom. His amazing overall performance finds him in second place overall for the King of Crankworx points!
Bas van Steenbergen was another all-around performer in Rotorua. He finished second behind teammate Keegan Wright in the Dual Slalom and was the only Fox athlete to podium in the Rotorua Air DH. These points have him in the running for the overall King of Crankworx title.
Look for Fox MTB athletes at the start of the UCI DH World Cup season in the historic Maribor, Slovenia and then at the second stop of the Crankworx series in Innsbruck, Austria.
MTB
Better food, thinking about recovery, off time, and working with his best friend and Mechanic Jack Roure, Loic reached the Elite podium during his 2nd year as a Junior, in Windham USA. He became the World Champion in 2015, and after that he won his first World Cup stage in 2016, Cairns - Autralia.
