Pistons & Pivots - Hailey Elise's '96 Tacoma & 2022 Juliana Rubion CC MX

Tell me a little bit about yourself Hailey. Where are you from and what got you into mountain biking?

Hailey Elise - I grew up in Port Coquitlam, at the base of Burke Mountain. My brother started mountain biking and naturally, I took over his hand-me-down bike, a Stinky Kona Deluxe. My dad would drive me to the top of Burke and before it was developed, I could ride Triple Crown and Fly Wheel basically back to my house. It was always recreational, even when I moved to Whistler. A year into living in Whistler, I decided that I wanted to see what I was capable of and started to try to pursue it professionally as both a rider and a photographer. 

What is your involvement in the MTB industry?

It's a mixed bag. I ride, take photos, and develop content for sponsors and companies in the industry alongside my partner Ollie Jones. 

Was it easy to get a foot in the door?

No. It really wasn't and it still isn't. The road has been faced with a lot of barriers. For a very long time, I have been 'Ollie's girlfriend'. This is becoming less and less though. I even got asked if Ollie sets the photos up for me and then I click the camera. WHAT THE FUCK EH? It's okay though, I don't mind having to prove myself. 

Tell me about your previous pistons a little bit. Have you always been a truck girl?

I grew up around trucks, wheeling in highschool, wrenching and drinking beers in a buddy's dad's garage. I didn't think I would end up with an Englishman that loves trucks more than baked beans and tea, but he would eat, sleep, and breathe oil and engines if he could. And so, trucks come part and parcel with Ollie Jones. Driving FSR's is also really fun. That being said, with bikes, it's a no-brainer to have a capable vehicle. And let me tell you, Ollie and I had our fair share. You ready for this, over the years we have had:

93 Toyota Pick-up

98 Toyota Tacoma

89 Toyota Hilux

98 Toyota 4-Runner

89 4-Runner (This truck had my heart but it also had rust!)

2010 Toyota Tacoma (Big Grey, Ollie's current truck)

96 Toyota Tacoma  (Little Green, my current truck)

Tell me a it about your Taco. What year, gen., mods and funny quirks it has?

It's a 96 Toyota Tacoma. Ollie is incredible when it comes to fixing trucks so we bought it with a hot start issue thinking it would be an easy problem to solve. It was a run-around but ended up being a fuel pump sensor. In terms of mods, we are still in the process of upgrading. It's got a 12K winch, 33's, Bilstein 5100's, and a steel front bumper. We want to put sliders and a rear bumper on it. As for quirks. Ha. There's currently a battery/alternator issue that causes it to die when idling on occasion. There was a week where I had to get it jumped 3 times in two days. I tried to roll start it in reverse one of the times and ended up in the middle of the parking lot, stuck. Windshield wipers go on the fritz on occasion which has been brilliant in these snowy/sub-zero conditions. But she drives like a hog, is an absolute boss in the snow and I love her. Old tacos come with these kind of moments and while frustrating, it's also worth a good laugh.... generally after the fact. 

Did you wish it had a double cab or more passenger space?

Nah, just enough room for those that matter. 

What's the most bikes you have fit in the bed?

Not in this vehicle but in our other one, we had 4 in bed and then we strapped two to the sides (rack and ratchet straps) and two on top of our roof top tent for shuttles. So 8! 

Tell us about your bike and setup.

This is the Juliana Roubion Mx. It's 160/150, Marzocchi Bomber Z1 fork, Bomber coil rear shock, Reserve wheels, Raceface components, TRP Quadiem Brakes, SRAM drivetrain (mixed models because why run an X01 derailleur when you're just going to smash it?), and Maxxis Assegai front and DHR rear tires. This is my first MX and it's been a challenge to get it set up to feel good but I'm really enjoying the process of trial and error to get it dialed in. I've really had to play with my suspension and cock-pit set up. My previous go-to bike was the Juliana Maverick, a 29er so I'm getting back into feeling more comfortable on a more playful bike.