Don’t get me wrong. Crawling up rocky passes and slinging up mud in a Ford pickup is a lot of fun, but hitting a trail on something smaller, lighter, and more maneuverable, such as a mountain bike, can be a great way to experience nature and spend time with friends.
For those that do more of the latter, startup company Hoodworks has just the ticket. The Portland, Oregon firm’s GearGate System tailgate is designed for avid cyclists. Its Cycling Comp One (GGS-CC1) is made out of corrosion-resistant powder-coated steel and aluminum, weighs between 30 and 60 pounds, has shafts that can hold the front ends of three bikes in place, internal and external waterproof LED bed lighting, and 18 feet of military-grade square-link chain infused with titanium.
Security features include a triple lock system. According to Hoodworks, “When our lock is actuated; three steel bars slide into position. The first secures your GearGate to the truck body. The second moves a piston into the Nanuk [heavy duty toolbox] – you’d have to destroy it to remove it. The third closes a Mantis hook that gives your GearGate a place to secure your chains even when it’s closed.” There’s a safe with a three-digit combination for the storage of valuables that’s bolted and secured by cable to the GearGate’s frame.
Although Hoodworks is currently seeking crowd-sourced funding for its business, it says its GGS-CC1 model, which is currently designed to fit a variety of late-model domestic trucks, will be ready to ship early next year; applications for Nissan and Toyota full-size trucks are in the works. The first 25 buyers can get it with the LEDs, lock chains, Nanuk toolbox, safe, bike fork shafts, and integrated bottle openers for $1,590; otherwise it’s $1,790. Options include a $300 integrated backup camera, backlit GGS-CC1 lettering in a choice of colors for $150, and one of many powder-coated colors for $150. The GearGate can also be ordered naked and ready for painting in an OEM vehicle color.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
