’ve been on two wheels for as long as I can remember. There’s something about the balance, focus, and coordination it takes to ride a bicycle or motorcycle that transports me to another place, both physically and mentally. I started riding a Honda Kick ‘N Go scooter when I was two, and that was the start of my passion for all things two-wheeled. That turned into a Redline BMX bike the following year and a Yamaha YZinger when I was four. We started racing a year or so later, and my passion for riding has really never stopped. Sure, I got a little burned out after years of racing at the professional level and grinding out motos at Glen Helen on Thursdays in August. After motocross and supercross, I dabbled in off-road, NAHA hillclimbing, Supermoto, pit bike racing, and even the odd road-course track day, which I still really enjoy. There’s no question that I love two-wheeled toys the same way, to quote 50 cent, a fat kid loves cake.

My most recent foray into bike/bicycle fandom revolves around my Husqvarna Svartpilen street bike and my Specialized Kenevo class 1 mountain bike. My Husky is the very first street bike I’ve ever owned. I never made the effort to get my license, and that kept me from taking a serious look at it. But after having to pass on several street bike intros and dual sport trips, I figured it was time to bite the bullet and visit the mutants at the DMV. After a written test, a riding test, and a serious test of my patience—underwater yoga classes move faster—I got my motorcycle endorsement. Since then, I’ve been having a blast turning mundane trips into riding sessions. What’s that, honey? We need stamps? No problem! Need something from the drug store? No sweat. That boring drive to work? That’s now an adventure on two wheels.

The other toy is a pedal-assist mountain bike. These are blowing up in popularity now, and as soon as you ride one, you’ll understand why. Specialized is simply the leader in bicycle innovation, quality, and performance, and they’re way out in front of the e-bike movement. Despite what the grumpy purists in rubber shorts might say about these bikes, they’re getting more people involved in the sport than ever before and making it more fun than ever. I smile so much riding this thing, my front chompers end up covered in dust and bugs like the grill of a Sprinter van after a 300-mile highway trek in the spring. You still get as much of a workout as you want, you’re just going faster everywhere and covering more ground. For a motocross guy, it’s like going on a regular mountain bike ride but in fast-forward. You can go farther because you’re going faster everywhere. And the extra weight of the bike makes it much more stable than a traditional cross-country bike, which is something every motocross rider will love. I’ve got the Kenevo model, but there’s also a version with slightly less travel called a Levo. Both are amazing; it just comes down to what type of riding you’re doing.

If you’ve never ridden on the road or pedaled a class 1 mountain bike, do yourself a favor and try both. The same feeling of freedom and exhilaration you get when you head out on the track is tangible with both of these machines, and any motorcycle fan will love it. Cheers, and keep roosting!