This is my 2007 Foes FXR 2:1 which I got shortly after I relocated from the UK to San Jose early last year.

I’d spent most of my riding life on hardtails and had always considered full suspension beyond what I needed. But I fell in love with the pure engineering skill that had gone into the frame. It really is amazing to look at the patience and skill that went into making this frame.

There was no tinkering with getting the right bits. I knew exactly what I wanted to fit and specced it that way. Everything I selected was something I’d either had on previous bikes or kit I knew would work perfectly for my needs. Where I live we’ve got everything from North Shore-style singletrack to wide doubletrack with fire road climbs that can last for a VERY long time. And of course – Repack. Not that you can race down it anymore…

This bike has given me back something I thought I’d lost from cycling a long time ago – a sense of adventure. There’s nothing out there that I won’t have a go at riding now, where before I got her there was always that nagging voice telling me I could easily come a cropper. It’s made me get out more and love cycling all over again. Not only that but as the frame is so beautiful to look at it gets cleaned a LOT more often than my bikes ‘back home’ did! Of course, dust isn’t exactly hard to clean off…