Reid Rider of the Month - September

Reid Rider of the Month - September

Ben Stanton (@benpstanton) is our REID Rider of the Month for September!

Ben from Melbourne, Australia has become our REID Rider of the Month for September on his Granite 3.0! We caught up with Ben, to find out a little bit more about him and his bike...

Introduce yourself... (A bit about yourself, where you're from etc)
 
My name is Ben Stanton, I’m a full time travel and lifestyle photographer from Melbourne, Australia. 5 years ago I was working as an accountant in an office job I didn’t really enjoy so I decided to take a year off and explore the world. That one year quickly turned into 2 years; 3 years; and now it’s been over 5 years since I left that job. During my travels I discovered a passion for photography, and I’m now lucky enough to earn a living taking photos whilst travelling the world. Over the last 5 years I’ve visited close to 80 countries across 6 continents.
 
When and how did you get into bike riding?
 
When given the choice of how to explore a new destination while I’m travelling I’ll always choose a bicycle. I love discovering new places by bike, I find that it’s the perfect speed for getting around, is a good form of exercise and it gets you outdoors in nature. You get to see a lot of stuff you’d otherwise miss out on by taking public transport such as buses or trains as well.
So what made you choose REID and why the Granite 3.0?
 
I was searching for a good value all road bike to use for bike touring and upcoming adventures. The REID Granite 3.0 fit the bill perfectly.
 
Is this your first All-Road Bike?
 
Yes, I had quite a few BMX’s and mountain bikes growing up, this is the first all-road bike I’ve owned.
 
So, how has the Granite 3.0 treated you?
 
It’s been amazing. I’m surprised by how many high quality components REID has been able to fit into a reasonably priced package.
 
What and where have you been with it?
 
My maiden trip was a 1,200km bike tour from Sydney along the coast back home to Melbourne. (You can read more about it here). I always wanted to complete a long distance bike tour, I had a couple of spare weeks in July so I decided to pick up a bike and hit the road.
 
Do you have any other future adventures planned?
 
I have a lot of overseas adventures planned, the challenge is finding time to fit them all in. Over the coming year I hope to take a road trip to all 50 US states; travel across Africa overland from Capetown to Cairo; and potentially take a Caribbean sailing trip if I have time.
 
Back closer to home I have a couple more bike adventures I’d love to tackle including a ride along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road and a 480km mountain bike trip along the Tasmania Trail from Tasmania’s North to South Coast.
 
Finally, what advice would you give to those who have never been on a biking adventure or even a bike?
 
My advice is to give it a go and get outside of your comfort zone. A biking adventure will always seem more daunting in the planning stages compared to what it actually is. You don’t have to be super fit, just ensure that you plan daily distances and rest days according to your level of fitness. I can guarantee that you’ll have an amazing time and it’ll be an experience that you won’t forget.
Key Features of Granite 3.0:
  • Lightweight double butted frame and tapered carbon fork with front and rear thru axles and comfortable endurance all road geometry
  • Shimano 105 gearing with compact chainset and 11-32t rear cassette for a huge range of gears to helps in steep climbs on or off road
  • Shimano RS 505 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors for powerful and controlled braking in any condition
  • WTB STP i19 rims laced to Novatech sealed bearing thru axle hubs for a bullet proof wheelset. Traction comes from the Continental Grand Sport Race tyres in a 32C profile
  • Lifetime frame and fork warranty for your peace of mind, and one year on non-consumable parts
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