Mike Sinyard

Mike Sinyard founded Specialized Bicycle Components in 1974 after selling his VW van for $1,500 to bicycle around Europe. He brought back Cinelli parts in a duffel bag, ran the company from a trailer, and a few years later put the first mass-produced mountain bike, the Stumpjumper, on the floor of bike shops that initially called it a big kid's BMX. Today he is Founder, Chairman and self-titled Chief Rider Advocate at Specialized, headquartered in Morgan Hill, California.