Dude, I’m an Escalator!
Last week I got an email:
“We’re shooting a global training video for Shimano. We lost our mountain bike rider/model at the last minute. We need someone Sat AM for an hour to ride up and down the Marshall Mesa climb a few times, make $100, and be the It Guy for Shimano. Could you do it, or do you know someone who can?”
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Up, up and away — I’m an Escalator today! Photo by Marty Caivano. |
Heck yeah. Since my trail bikes run SRAM, I borrowed Ariel Lindsley’s Maverick ML-7.5 race bike, which has full XTR and is damn sweet. I showed up in my team jersey and tasteful black shorts, and the team leader Ray Keener handed me a pair of Shimano shoes.
As I posed for stills, I started to feel like quite the stud. “Yeah, you know, I model for Shimano videos … I’m so cool …”
Then Ray explained: “Lee, we have identified three kinds of consumers. There are the Beginners, and the Pros, and the Escalators. That’s you, the Escalator. You’re riding more, you’re spending more, and you’re a sponge for information.”
So I was the wannabe. I pinched my little pooch. Perfect — it’s part of the costume.
The camera crew had me ride over a bridge a few times, climb a hill a few times and rip a downhill a few times. Well, not rip. After my first rip-pump-braaap they told me to back off. “Remember, you’re an Escalator.” Right. I rode smoothly, but with more brakes than usual, and I pinched the tup tube with my knees — a classic technique I call the Marin Clinch.
What fun! To show up, ride a sweet bike, and rip (sort of) for the cameras. I told them: Any time you need an Escalator, or a Poseur, or a Wannabe, just give me a call.
Bonus photos
All by Marty Caivano
 Surveying my kingdom. |
 A little manual over the waterbar action. |
 The ML-7.5 pedals like an XC-weenie chariot, but it still rips like a real mountain bike. |
 Not bad: Lined up wide, head turned, outside elbow up, bike leaned. |
Nice!
I’m a true escalator! You’re the teacher to the escalators. How can I get paid to escalate? My wife would love it, because all my riding is driving the family budget into the dirt. Life is great!
Roger! How are you guys doin’ out in Reno?
“…I pinched the tup tube with my knees — a classic technique I call the Marin Clinch…”
Bwahahahahaha!
This is exceptionally funny. Mostly because it’s true.
I’ve been riding a lot in Marin lately and constantly make fun of the lack of hard trails.
The Marin guys get all butt-hurt and defensive, but if there are more than three rocks/roots in a row on a trail they get all stiff and grip their top tube with their knees.
Great article, and congradulations on moving up from semi-slow to escalator!
Dude, that’s hot.
Nice work.
Reno is great. Trails are perfect down near the valley, but still too much snow up higher. My neighbor is putting a track in his back yard. All the benefits without making my wife angry!
When are you coming back through? I’ve got a handful of people interested in clinics, I think we could keep you busy for a couple of days.