DAVID VERSUS THE GOLIATHS

By Zapata Espinoza

In an industry overflowing with a variety of self-proclaimed “tech experts” and Johnny-come-lately Instagram influencers, let’s cut to the chase, none of them hold a candle to Dave Turner and his legacy as a racer and bike designer. In short, Dave Turner is the real fuckin’ deal. Done.

For as long as I can (still) remember, I’ve measured the merits of bikes, bike racers, bike journos, and bike brands with a simple adage, authenticity breeds legitimacy. And vice-versa. Dave Turner is as authentic and legitimate as they come.

How do I know? Because I’m lucky enough to have been around “back-in-the-day” when a young DT was just getting started. We first met in the days before suspension and dropper posts entered the game. I still remember DT as just a cherub faced aspiring pro, and little could I have known then just how big of an
impact he would later have on the sport.

My earliest memories of Dave as a racer always had him riding a titanium hardtail. And then came full suspension. But funny thing, after years spent building long-travel aluminum frames and chasing the “black plastic” conundrum of carbon frames, Turner’s bike line has gone full circle and is now focused solely on hardtail titanium frames.

As I’m sitting at the laptop trying to distill why I like DT so much, it came down to a handful of elements.


1. One thing I’ve always relished about Dave is the numerous times I’ve called Turner Bicycles and Dave himself answers the phone. No secretary. No minimum wage groms to divert public calls. After decades in business, Turner’s bike company has epitomized the small-guy verve that’s always defined the soul of the sport.


2. Like another Turner who made his name in the industry, Dave came into the sport with a knowledge and appreciation for motorcycles that many traditional minded bike geeks couldn’t embrace. Most importantly, he understood how motorcycle technology, like suspension and disc brakes, could improve off-road cycling.


3. Not being a “tech guy”, I’ve frequently sought out Dave’s expertise to breakdown everything from the effects of chain torque on suspension to the rake versus trail debate. And time and again, his level of thoughtful expertise has never left me underwhelmed by his response.


4. Ironically, while Turner’s a guy who made his name in the world of full-suspension bikes with a predilection for fighting gravity, I’ve lost track of how often I’d find him competing in a local cyclocross or gravel race. Ha, nary a baggy short in sight! Hey, the dude just loves riding bicycles!


5. At the end of the day, I doubt anyone would buy a bike just because the founder was such a principled, friendly chap. If they did, Turner Bicycles would stand among the industry giants (and some of the industry giants wouldn’t be so giant). Pure and simple, Turner is a class act. He’s good people.


6. I know, I know, any modern mountain bike consumer reading this will be wondering, “Who the hell cares about all this old guy sentimentality?! What about the bikes?!” True dat.


7. With so many ubiquitous bike designs out there today, it’s always been the details that best identify a bike that’s special to own, ride and think about.

Now that Turner has finally (and smartly) moved on from chasing all that crazy open mold, complex linkage and long travel crap, the essence of Turner bikes is back to the details.

If you’re in the mood for a more elegant solution for your off-road experience, look no further than the rear dropouts on his new hardtail. Holy moly, they’re gorgeous! The design details found throughout his new mountain and gravel bikes are amazing.

Like his bikes, it’s the details of who Dave Turner is that – thirty years later
– still make him something special.

For More: TURNER BIKES: IN ONE MAN, A VOLUME OF TECH HISTORY - Mountain Bike Action
Magazine (mbaction.com)

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