Home > MTB

Commuter bike freeride in Bellingham

Putting the "fun" back in "functional" on your ride to work

Photo by: Tannus Armour

Bellingham, Washington is a mountain biker’s town. With an expansive network of loamy, Pacific Northwest-style trails, it’s a dream to visit and many mountain biker’s have never left. Kelend Hawks is one. After moving to town explicitly for the riding, he’s still there.

Tannus Armour Kelend Hawks
Hawks commutes on skinny tires, but he’s in Bellingham for the mountain biking. Photo: Tannus.

But, with so many good trails, why limit your trail time to the mountain bike? Hawks works as a welder for a high-performance boat builder. His ride to work is a little more fun than most.

Skinny tires, meet big air.

Kelend Hawks: Commuter Bike Freeride

More about Kelend Hawks from Tannus:

His reputation precedes him: locals around Bellingham know what Kelend Hawks is capable of on his enduro bike, when he’s pointed down any of his favorite trails. Many don’t know what he does with the rest of his time, which includes antics like commuting to work on skinny tires, pointed down chutes of loam.

Tannus Armour Kelend Hawks
Sure, why not? Photo: Tannus.

Kelend uses Tannus Armour tire inserts in all of his bikes, including the bike he rides to work. Armour uses Aither 1.1 technology, a proprietary material derived from Tannus’s airless road tires, in conjunction with a traditional tube. Though using tubes may sound like a step backwards, tubes allow the Aither foam to sit directly under the tire casing, something virtually no other insert offers. It’s what gives Armour its nearly 360 degrees of flat protection and its unique planted and confident feel.

Tannus Armour Kelend Hawks
Not your average commuter bike. But Hawks commute isn’t average either. Photo: Tannus.

Kelend enjoys his work as a welder for a high-performance custom boat manufacturer. He also spends part of the year as a fisherman in various areas off the coast. He’s a proud dad of two kids who enjoy spending time on his top tube while he rides on one wheel.

Tannus Armour is available at www.tannusamerica.com

Tannus Armour Kelend Hawks
Kelend Hawks and family with the Shotgun kids seat. Photo: Tannus.