I HAS SOCIAL MEDIA MAD SKILLZ

This blog post is my application to join the Specialized Trail Crew.

I debated with myself for about, oh, 8 seconds, because having use of an AWESOME 2010 Stumpjumper FSR from Specialized along with gear and FREE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRIPS might have an impact on my journalistic integrity and the trust you, my readers, have in me to provide truthful, unbiased information about bicycles and related products.

But I'm better than that. There's absolutely no way that a major bike company could effectively bribe me. But that's because Specialized already knows they have the best bicycles in the business. Since that's the truth, I can't lie can when I write product reviews that highlight the many superlative qualities of everything in Specialized's product line.

I know this because the Local Bike Shops I buy from are Scotts Valley Cycle Sport in Scotts Valley and The Spokesman in Santa Cruz -- both of them Specialized dealers. I tell everybody I know to go to those shops.

When I ride, it's often in my Specialized gear -- I have Specialized shorts, jerseys, helmet, gloves, shoes and socks. I even make the extra effort to get those rare Specialized water bottles.

I think Specialized road bikes are so awesome I even hit steep, sandy singletrack on my Specialized Roubaix.

The Roubaix tackles dirt, roots, logs and rocks with perfection, of course, but I believe Specialized transcends perfection with the 2010 Stumpjumper FSR, especially on the sandy trails of the Santa Cruz Mountains. I'd love the opportunity to test that belief.

There was that one alleged incident with me and Specialized on April 1, 2008, but that really wasn't me, honest! It was an imposter, somebody who tried to sully my good name!

I'm influential all over the Web 2.0 Internets -- 1,800 followers on Twitter, hundreds of friends on Facebook, thousands of views on my YouTube account, thousands of views every day on my Flickr photos, thousands of visitors to my blog everday -- I'm there and I'm active. I'm also on Plus 3 Network. I've even joined the most awesomely outstanding social networking site out there, which is the Specialized Riders Club.

I'm an influencer in the meatworld too -- people ask me what kind of bike they should buy, and I always tell them to look at Specialized and nothing else!

I have a sneaking suspicion that at least one or two of the group trail rides will be right here in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and I'm already right here so Specialized won't have to pay for my travel to those trails! Nisene Marks, Soquel, Wilder, UCSC, Henry Cowell and Big Basin -- I already know and enjoy those locations!