The privilege to “borrow” a new mountain bike each summer for the last six years has been bittersweet. It’s time to turn over the best bike I have ridden in memory, to a new home.

Each bike has informed my opinion and appreciation of the others. The most recent summer fling with a 2013 Specialized Epic Expert Carbon 29 was best measured by the behavior of its predecessors. The suspension, brakes, and aftermarket carbon wheels combined to make it my favorite bike to date. This includes the early 90’s Ibis Mojo team bikes that have the benefit of a nostalgic perspective of younger days.

The 2013 Epic is a culmination of ten plus years of focused refinement. The well thought out, well tested frame is paired this year with the best group choices Specialized has made in the last four years. Shifting, braking and ‘Brain’ shock refinements made this my favorite bicycle ever, we were fast friends last fall after only a few miles of local single track.

I look forward to the 2014 Epic frame makeover, Specialized is taking some risks with changing a proven winner, risk is good. The rewards for their continued pursuit of increase performance benefit us all.

I applaud the engineers and accountants at Specialized for embracing the risk of change and look forward to making friends with a 2014 Epic, no matter how brief the ride.

The