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TEST THE BEST

The Test the Best team is coming to a city near you! This rag tag group of bicycle addicts is primed to help you try out the best bikes and equipment Specialized has to offer. When you see the red and white trucks roll into your town, fun will surely follow. Stocked with Road, Mountain and Triathlon bikes of all sizes and models, there is something for everyone to try.

Click on the red button to see a complete list of upcoming events across the country. Know what you’re looking for? Meet the team member below that is in charge of your territory. They will tell you the details about events in your area. Can we add the sentence: For more information on a particular event, please contact us at TestTheBest@specialized.com

MEET THE TEST THE BEST TEAM


  • Brad Pastir, Mountain Team, West Coast

    At only 28 years young, Brad has years of industry experience — and it shows.

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  • Aaron Peet, Special Forces – Road, Mountain, Triathlon

    Although raised in the concrete jungle of New York, this city slicker is most at home amongst the trees and tacky trails of Western North Carolina.

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  • John Searles, Special Forces – All Mountain, Gravity

    Not to be confused with Swedish heartthrob, Dolph Lundgren, John Searles is our fearless, level-headed, and astonishingly fit mountain bike specialist

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  • Dane Garvik, Mountain Team, East Coast

    Dane is only 6’5” but is worth at least 7’2” in character.

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  • Catherine Cooper, Road Team, West Coast

    She may be short in stature, but she’s big in personality.

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  • Daniel Sapp, Road Team, East Coast

    Don’t let his boyish charm and shy demeanor throw you off.

    MORE >>>
Scott Jackson
Brad Pastir

Hometown

Raleigh, NC

About Brad Pastir:

At only 28 years young, Brad has years of industry experience — and it shows. This sultan of suspension started his career sweeping-up parts at a local bike shop. Soon he started to actually pick them up off the floor and put them all back together again. His skill with a wrench is unmatched and he can literally talk suspension for hours – try him.

Brad’s humble beginnings in North Carolina provided him a calm demeanor perfect for hucking bikes off of cliffs. A self-proclaimed, “downhiller and all-mountain rider,” Brad can be found in Moab during his free time pushing himself to the limits across the dusty red rock on his S-Works Enduro. He’ll be that shadowy figure you see on the horizon.

West Coast Mountain

The West Coast Mountain trailer is chock full of goodies for anyone looking to tackle the trails. At most events the bikes featured are:

Carve Expert 29
Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon Evo and Evo 29 models
Epic Marathon
Safire Pro and Comp models
S-Works Epic FSR Carbon 29
S-Works Fate Carbon 29
S-Works Stumpjumper FSR Carbon and Carbon 29 models
S-Works Stumpjumper Hardtail Carbon 29

John Searles
Aaron Peet

Hometown

New York, NY

About Aaron Peet:

Although raised in the concrete jungle of New York, this city slicker is most at home amongst the trees and tacky trails of Western North Carolina. With fat tires on his Stumpy Evo 26, he is on a mission for fun and the smile never leaves his face. Don’t let his mountain prowess fool you – he is equally comfortable on a Tarmac, Crux, or Shiv.

Aaron is one of the best educators on staff and will teach you all you want to know about Zen and the Art of the Specialized Bicycle Fleet. He will be on tour as part of our Special Forces team aiding our Coastal Teams with special events and hosting his own events throughout the Central region. When Aaron is in your area, it is sure to be an event you won’t want to miss.

Specialty Central

To find out what is inside the Specialty Central trailer you will need to click on a specific event. This trailer is host to both mountain and road bikes. Please visit the Central calendar to find out details for an event in your area.
Richard Breininger
John Searles

Hometown

Albuquerque, NM

About Dolph:

Not to be confused with Swedish heartthrob, Dolph Lundgren, John Searles is our fearless, level-headed, and astonishingly fit mountain bike specialist. This introspective trail rider writes as eloquently as he rides and appreciates the little things he sees along the single-track from small insects to a destination peak in the distance where the clouds touch the rock.

In his time off he can be found playing amongst the Aspens of Summit County, Colorado, on his new carbon Enduro, banking around corners and descending over big roots and rocks with mere inches to spare on exposed trail. With a background in engineering, John can explain all of the technical aspects of your ride while his sensitive side allows him to tell you how the bike will make you feel. You may even shed a tear. After a Test the Best event, join him for a ride…if you can keep up.

Specialty Mountain West

The Specialty Mountain trailer has swagger in its DNA hosting an array of the most sought after long travel bikes on the market. At most events the bikes featured are:
Enduro FSR Expert
Epic Expert 29
Status FSR II
Demo 8
Camber Pro 29
Safire Expert
Stumpjumper Expert FSR Carbon 29
Stumpjumper FSR Evo 26
Stumpjumper Hardtail Expert 29
S-Works Stumpjumper FSR 26
S-Works Stumpjumpber FSR Carbon 29
S-Works Fate Carbon 29
Dane Garvik
Dane Garvik

Hometown

Carbondale, CO

About “Great Dane”:

Dane is only 6’5” but is worth at least 7’2” in character. This graceful and majestic creature can be found ripping through the forest on a pink Demo 8, lovingly named, The Pepto Demo. Behind the protective mask of his full-faced Dissident helmet lies a volunteer firefighter who embraces life with giant arms and even larger feet. Against his podiatrist’s better judgment he loves all things bike related and will Boa down for some sweet, sweet riding.

Great Dane is happy to answer your questions and take you out for some trail riding in his spare time. When he’s not behind the wheel of the big rig, he is likely on the Kingdom Trails of East Burke, VT – Just look for the big dude on the tiny bike. If you want to wipe the perma-grin from his face, pedaling is this Superman’s kryptonite, so just ask him to go uphill.

East Coast Mountain

The East Coast Mountain trailer is chock full of goodies for anyone looking to tackle the trails. At most events the bikes featured are:
Crux Pro and Expert models
Camber Pro
Enduro Expert
Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon Evo and Evo 29 models
Safire Comp
S-Works Epic FSR Carbon 29
S-Works Fate Carbon 29
S-Works Stumpjumper FSR Carbon and Carbon 29 models
S-Works Stumpjumper Hardtail Carbon 29
Catherine Cooper
Catherine Cooper

Hometown

Durango, CO

About “Kitty Cat” Cooper:

She may be short in stature, but she’s big in personality. Cat Cooper rode across the United States on a whim and has not stopped riding since. Her roots are in the cycling capital of the west, Durango, Colorado – home to the legendary Ned Overend, Olympian Todd Wells and the epic Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.

When she’s not shredding trail in Park City, Utah, on her Stumpy Evo 29, you can find her catching live music with good people in one of the many cities in her territory. Catch her while you can still find her because one day, she hopes to live completely off the grid.

West Coast Road

The West Coast Road trailer is packed with shiny toys for anyone seeking the thrill of the open road. Most events feature the following bikes:
Venge Pro
Tarmac Expert
Roubaix Expert
Roubaix Comp
Amira Pro
Ruby Pro – featuring the Shimano Dura-Ace 11-Speed
S-Works Roubaix SL4
S-Works Tarmac

Laura Killmer
Daniel Sapp

Hometown

Kernersville, NC

About D. Sapp:

Don’t let his boyish charm and shy demeanor throw you off. D Sapp is kind of a big deal and will hammer on anything with two wheels. He has crisscrossed the country in search of adventure and great trail riding more times than he can count. With a strong mental game, iron will, and survival skills, Daniel is prepared for any challenge that comes his way; be it out skiing an avalanche or packing 12 ‘cross bikes into a minivan, he is unflappable.

When he isn’t sharpening his Macgyver-esque skills, Daniel can be found claiming KOMs on Strava around the hills of North Carolina on an S-Works Tarmac or hosting “Sledder X” races in his backyard. Daniel’s pensive nature and knack for the spoken word makes him a valuable resource for anyone trying a bike for the first time or looking for their next top-of-the line race machine. Check out the calendar and be sure to attend his next event in your area. You won’t be disappointed.

EEast Coast Road

The East Coast Road trailer is packed with shiny toys for anyone seeking the thrill of the open road. Most events feature the following bikes:
Allez Evo
Roubaix Pro
Roubaix Expert, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting
Tarmac Pro
Venge Pro
Venge Expert
Shiv Expert
Ruby Pro
Ruby Comp
Dolce Comp S-Works Roubaix - featuring Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting
S-Works Tarmac
S-Works Amira