Sunday Morning Crew: Father's Day 2011

Well the first Sunday in September is Father's day and although there were two new bikes being shown off by crew members the poor old Dad's missed out this year. It was Son of Steve, Alexander and newly sponsored Giant rider Mel who are the proud new parents of a Specialized Stumpjumper and a Giant XTC0 29er respectively.

Alexander is giving the Scott hardtail a rest and joining the dually club while Mel has gone the other way going back to a hardtail as well as becoming the first member of SMC to join the dark side and ride a 29er. We met at Steve's before heading out and after a quick inspection of the new bikes its was off to Murray's track to put them through their paces.

Mel recently won the Giant Real Riders competition and her prize was a brand new bike and some riding gear. Seeing Mel was the only rider on a 29er Brett enquired if Giant had supplied Mel with any spare 29er tubes. Although the answer was no Mel wasnt worried because "she never gets punctures"and anyhow dont sponsored riders have pit crew to change flat tyres?

We headed out our familiar trails and wouldnt you know it within 20 minutes Mel had pulled over to the side of the track with a very flat front tyre. Luckily Gareth came good with a repair kit and although not on the Giant payroll the rest of the crew pitched in to help get Mel back on the road.

Mel looking worried that Giant will yell out her for breaking her new bike

It was a great day for riding and hopefully a promise of what the rest of Spring has to offer. The guys on the new bikes were flying especially after Brett gave Alex's gears and Mel's front brake a tweak even if it did mean Brett had to break his vow of never working on a 29er.