[Closed] Hosting Hannah

I had the pleasure and honor of hosting STW editor Hannah Dobson and her friend Kevin Dwyer for a day of riding, MTB history, and beer drinking in my home base of Fairfax, California. A few years ago I visited Hebden Bridge, where Hannah entertained me so much that she fell off her bike on the way home.

Hannah came to California last week for the Sea Otter, so I finally had a chance to return the favor. I only had one day to do it because I was off to Texas the next day for a "klunker" event. That meant I had to pack a lot into a few hours.

I pulled out all the stops. First, we took a ride down the original DH course, "Repack."

After leaving the trails, I took Hannah and Kevin for an urban ride through our pleasant little town, where I showed them sights and sites that the typical tourist never encounters, such as the city park built by Star Wars creator George Lucas, who lives here. The park, which replaced an empty storefront, features statues of Yoda and Harrison Ford as "Indiana Jones."

We had a luncheon break at the Split Rock, which is half brew pub and the other half high-end bike shop. Then we went to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, which houses the complete history of our sport, and is curated by Joe Breeze. We wallowed in bicycle history for a few hours. I called in some of the cool MTB ladies I know, including Jacquie Phelan, to meet Hannah.

Then, over to Gestalt House, the mountain biker pub with indoor bike parking so you don't have to leave your expensive machine outside. Don't order Coors or Bud Lite there because you will be laughed out of the place. None of that shytt American mass produced beer, there are 30 craft brews on tap there.

Ended the day with dinner for Hannah and Kevin at my house, where my wife Mary knocked their socks off with her culinary arts.

Expect an article about this in the next issue.