Legion Land
Epic Fall Riding with Fox Legion
We couldn’t have timed our trip up to Northern Maine any better, getting two unseasonably warm, clear days during peak leaf color-change. By we, I mean four male New England racers and riders and me - the only female in the group - brought together to ride the new Fox Legion gear.
THE CREW
I was stoked to ride with Cody Williams and Zak Earley, a couple of racers from the JDay OffRoad Racing series, a super exciting race organization tearing things up in New England, as well as rider and photographer Brian Nevins. As the only female in the crew, it felt pretty special to represent Over And Out which is all about the female riding community of the gnarly Northeast.
None of us were strangers to colorful change of leaves in fall, but the landscape in Maine was unique and on FIRE - covered with a pattern of evenly interspersed pitch dark green firs, bright yellow and orange deciduous trees alternating steadily for miles and miles. The juxtaposition of dark and light played out over and over making the spectacle of color explode tenfold.
THE RIDE
We rode out from Katahdin Lodge, our home base, and onto trails rolling through rows of colorful trees and winding into dark tunnels that ran under the canopies of towering firs and brilliant leaves. The floors at times were lined with muddy rocks and roots, plus water crossings seat-deep, and the temperature would vary considerably from warm sunny patches to cool waterside shade. Fox Legion Land.
We rode all day, tackling fast and fun two-track, technical single track, river crossings, and finally made our way to a stunning lookout just in time to catch the sunset behind Mount Katahdin. As the sun went down we layered on the Fox Legion packable jackets and wind vests to keep the cold at bay as we raced back to home base and a warm campfire.
THE GEAR
Riding year-round on technical terrain in the Northeast led me to seek out a gear with slightly heavier material and extra durability, but also breathability and features for protection and convenience when riding in the elements.
Riding in the cold and wind or heat and humidity (while navigating often slick and challenging terrain) requires a blend of mobility as well as protection. The gear needs to be durable without getting too overly heavy or stiff.
Fox Legion has always been an ideal choice, even more-so with women’s-specific items in the line.
The pockets and pocket location on the Fox Legion pants are great. They’re roomy enough to get items in and out of them while seated on the bike.
The fit of the pants is great whether the men’s or the women’s fit - giving ladies options!
The men’s style runs small and has a higher waist line, while the women’s hits lower but seems to have a little more roominess for the hips and butt. I like both of them, but with long (tall) hips I’ll generally opt for the mens fit given the choice. I think it’s great to have these two fit options.
For me, the women’s jersey offers a nice roominess in the sleeves. Because I always wear full upper body armor, some jerseys with skinny arms can increase constriction in my arms. The Women’s Legion LT jersey fits my size Small body, while leaving some room in the arms for my armor to fit.
Wearing the Legion Tac Vest for the first time was a game changer! It wasn’t too heavy for my slender frame, and the added plethora of pockets made it easy to carry along snacks, tools, a cloth for wiping off my goggles, and other essentials like maps, money and hair ties.
I was able to cinch the vest small enough to fit very well, keeping it from jumping around as I rode. The Tac Vest also included a water bladder with multiple straps or holes to run the tube through, as well as a handy magnetic piece to keep the tube in place.
The best riding season of the year is upon us. Those colorful leaves will be hanging on to the trees just a little bit longer, and the trails are getting dusted with those that have already let go, releasing that always-nostalgic smell of the warm seasons winding to a close and family-focused holidays on the horizon.
Scope out the latest in the Fox Legion line and get out there for some prime fall riding, lots of stoke, laughs and good times with your crew!
Photos by Mike Emery @emeryphoto, courtesy Fox Racing Co.
