New Bike Day! We finally got a few days without rain, and the local trails are open. This was the first trail ride on my new Fezzari Delano Peak, named RJ Ripper after Rajesh (RJ) Magar, the 4x National MTB Downhill Champion of Nepal. ( see footnote). What to say about RJ? RJ was worth the wait! The bike is quick, responsive, and tracks like a dream. The Maxxis DHF / Aggressor combo easily handled the sand, turns and all. Hit the drops - no problems, and the suspension never came close to bottoming out. Love the new Ergon SM Comp saddle I got from Cooper River Cycles and the slightly used Deity Bladerunner pedals from the Pro's Closet. My SQLab grips will do until the new Ergon GA3 grips arrive at CRC. This bike wants me to ride it more upright than Olive; and my slightly arthritic hands really appreciated it. I rode with Larry G and Michael O. We had to take several several breaks; anyone who has lived in the extreme heat and humidity of the Lowcountry will tell you that your energy is sucked away, and you're drenched in sweat, the moment you walk outside. So, is RJ more likeTed Lasso (kind, forgiving, easygoing) or Roy Kent (aggressive, no nonsense, keep outta my way)? In the end, it's a blend, I suppose. One thing's for sure; if she does as well in the mountains of Western North Carolina next weekend as she did here, Fezzari will have another very satisfied customer! Footnote: Rajesh Magar has been obsessed with bikes since he was a small child growing up in Kathmandu, Nepal. When the other kids were studying, he’d be dreaming about, designing and drawing bikes. As the son of a construction worker and housemaid, however, a bike wasn’t easy to come by. Undeterred, he built one, a clunky Frankenstein, but a mountain bike nonetheless. He started racing, and his drive and raw talent got noticed, leading to a job as a mountain bike guide and a path to professional racing. Today, Nepal’s National Champion is living proof that it pays to stick to your passion, no matter how implausible it seems.