My Instagram feed is constantly littered with contests and giveaways from some of the biggest names in the industry. I remember one giveaway in particular from a few Christmases ago for a complete Specialized Demo DH bike. I liked, shared, followed, and did everything in my power to try and win that bike; the rest was in fate’s hands. Unfortunately for me, fate decided it would be better suited for an elderly gentleman in Brazil. That was the final straw; after that, I swore off Instagram contests and giveaways. Never again would I bother my friends and family by tagging them in posts or deface my Instagram story with a giveaway; I had personally given up any hope I had left of winning such a contest. That said, I still can’t help but imagine that initial wave of excitement knowing I had just won a free bike. While I may never get to experience such a moment, our buyer Galen recently was the lucky recipient of a giveaway at our company retreat to Winthrop.

A three-day trip filled with backcountry biking, pump track obstacle courses, and one single beer split evenly amongst the staff, the trip was set to be memorable even before the prize giveaways. Each employee put their name in a hat, the prizes featuring a selection of components, bike parts, and even a couple of bike frames. Numerous employees walked away gleefully with their unexpected winnings. Just when everyone thought the dust had settled, it was revealed that one last prize was left: a We Are One Arrival frame. Our buyer Galen was the lucky winner and he instantly found himself as the center of attention. He had done it; he’d won a literal dream bike, and he didn’t even have to like a single Instagram post. 

The We Are One Arrival is one of the most visually distinctive bikes to be released in recent memory. Its bold angular frame and Cerakote matte finish that offers glimpses of carbon weave make for a beautifully eye-catching ride. A 152mm travel trail bike born out of Kamloops, British Columbia, the Arrival was created to handle anything from all-day backcountry adventures to EWS racing. Not only is the Arrival visually unique, but the materials used in its construction are also locally sourced; almost the entirety of them come from within a five-hundred-mile radius of We Are One’s headquarters. With the only exception being its titanium bolts, this commitment to local sourcing is even more unique than the appearance of the futuristic frame.  

Now a few months removed from that giveaway, Galen has his Arrival built up, complete with one-of-a-kind custom decals. After getting a handful of rides under his belt, he and I had a chance to chat about his new ride and how the shock of winning such a prize still lingers months later. 

What was your initial reaction to winning the Arrival?

I was shocked and excited. The Arrival is an incredible bike and I was in the market for a frame anyway so it was perfect timing. These frames are also pretty rare so that just made it that much more unexpected.

You just came from riding a Stumpjumper EVO; is the Arrival a frame you were considering next?

No definitely not, it’s just way more expensive than I would have considered. 

What wheels did you spec on this bike and why?

My wheels are DT Swiss EX 511’s with Industry Nine 1/1 hubs because I wanted something that was durable as well as cost effective. 

What size frame did you go with?

I'm 6'1, so on We Are One’s sizing chart I’m kinda in between either the large or extra large. I ended up opting for the extra large because it’s most similar to my previous bike, an S5 Stumpjumper Evo. 

Descending, I definitely feel “in the bike”, which I like. It’s super stable but also manageable; easy to jump around and corner. Definitely more nimble than other XL bikes that I’ve been on. Climbing it feels a touch big, I wouldn’t mind feeling slightly more over the front of the bike a little bit. I potentially would have preferred a large for the climbing but I think, overall the XL feels best when factoring in descending. 

Where was your first ride? 

I took it up to Bob’s trail, just behind my house. It’s a trail I know really well and immediately the bike felt amazing. 

If you could ride the Arrival on any trail in the world, which would it be? 

Probably one of those picturesque flow trails in Queenstown, New Zealand. I’ve never been there but everything about it looks amazing. 

What changes would you make component wise now that you have spent some time on it? 

I would love to upgrade to some carbon rims at some point. Going with alloy was a price conscious decision at the time but it would be nice to pair some We Are One Unions with the We Are One frame, just tie it all together.

Our co-worker Zac would say, “this is the type of bike that makes you leave 15 minutes early for a ride because everyone in the parking lot will want to talk to you about it.” Has that been the case so far? 

I’ve definitely had a few people ask me about and comment on it, but nothing too crazy. I just tell em’ it’s a Huffy.

For the Arrival to be We Are One’s first venture into frame manufacturing, the final product is as refined as any other offering on the market. The culmination of many years of development and We Are One’s carbon craftsmanship, the Arrival is equal parts stunning and capable. To further enhance its versatility, We Are One have launched a new linkage kit that allows the Arrival to go from 152mm to 170mm rear travel. The release of this new link has certainly piqued Galen’s interest and may be something he experiments with in the future. For now, he is perfectly content with the ride quality the Arrival 152 provides. Having put numerous miles on the Arrival, a handful of which came pushing his own limits in the Whistler bike park, this bike has proven to be a fantastic springboard for his own development as a rider. 

Visualize your own dream Arrival build today via our custom builder. With frames in stock in several sizes, this frame is guaranteed to be a distinctive centerpiece for a one-of-a-kind build. A race proven frame that is almost entirely locally sourced, the Arrival is a standout bike, especially when adorned in a selection of handpicked custom components.