This is not a test ride designed to tick boxes. It’s a five-day invitation to step behind the curtain. Meet the people shaping what’s next at Specialized, challenge your assumptions about what “possible” really means, and experience it first-hand.
You’ll explore San Francisco and California on two wheels with E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine founder Robin Schmitt and Specialized’s Brand Voice Leader Ben Capron. We’ll revisit the birthplace of mountain biking, camp out in nature, and question what innovation truly means.
We’ll also spend a night at Mike Sinyard’s house – BBQ, long conversations, and an unfiltered look at bikes, business, and life. To round it off, you’ll walk the halls of Specialized HQ, gaining insights few riders ever get.
Where Pioneers Still Ask Better Questions
We’re heading to California, the birthplace of mountain biking. Not to look back nostalgically – but to reignite the spirit of the pioneers who once asked the most important question of all:
What if there was another way?
This trip is about rediscovering that mindset – and translating it into the future. With curiosity. With courage. And with the freedom to question everything we thought we knew about bikes.
One thing will become clear very quickly: this is not just about the bike. It’s a new way of riding, exploring, and feeling free on two wheels. Two riders will be part of it – before the rest of the world even knows it exists.
We’ll cross the Golden Gate Bridge, and head out into the wild for 3 days of riding, camping, and outdoor adventure. Campfires. Coastal trails. Redwood forests. Topped by anything that makes us feel alive – like kids that’ve never grown up.
Your Role
This is not about being perfect. It’s about being true. You won’t just test ride a new bike. You’ll help redefine what’s possible on an eMTB – and inspire others to rethink how they ride.
We’re not looking for perfect images. We’re looking for people with a spark in their eyes. With character, curiosity, and the ability to put real experiences into words.
Your riding, your reactions, and your perspective will become part of Specialized’s official launch communication and E-MOUNTAINBIKE’s defining highlight story – helping set the tone for everything that follows.
Read This Carefully
This is not a holiday. If you dislike cameras, early mornings, tent nights, or shared responsibility, this isn’t for you. You’ll carry your own stoke, help with camp cooking, and ride a lot. Plans will change. That’s the point. This is where adventure starts.
This is not a big production. It’s as real as it can get.
It’s a journey among old and new friends – and we expect you not just to take part, but to contribute.
If that sounds exactly right, this might be the ride of your life.
The trip is scheduled for February 22–27, 2026. Riders are responsible for their own travel to California. Once the group is together, everything related to the experience itself is organized and hosted by E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine and Specialized.
Participation is based on contribution, mindset, and fit – not on reach or visibility.
Apply Now
If reading this made you stop scrolling, you’re probably the right kind of rider.
Apply now – and decide whether you want to watch the future, or ride it.
A short video is part of the application. Shot on your phone is perfectly fine — we care about substance, not production. We’ll also ask for an action photo of you riding and a portrait photo.
One note on the application: If you’d like to experience this trip together with a close friend or partner, that’s possible. There are two spots available. Please apply individually and mention each other in the application — there’s a dedicated question for this. Selection is based on mindset, contribution, and fit. Whether you apply solo or as a team makes no difference to us.
Application deadline: January 28th, 10:00 CET
We’re looking forward to reading your application.
This one’s going to be special.
Words & Photos: Robin Schmitt
