Saris Mercanti

Saris Mercanti crawled right past the Barbies and over to the monster trucks and never looked back. She’s been drawn to machines that move ever since. She’s worked as a technical editor for leading outdoor publications and led product marketing for cycling brands. That dual experience means Saris can spot the compromises brands make between performance and price before she even opens the box. Based in Santa Cruz, California, she specializes in all things two and four-wheeled. Despite countless hours of practice, she still can’t wheelie.

Location: Santa Cruz, California

Expertise

• Topics of Expertise: Mountain Biking, Dirt Biking, ADV, Off-Road Trucks, Overland, Photography
• Years in Expertise: 10+
• Number of Products & Number of Hours Tested: 200+ products, 1,000+ hours 

Education & Certifications

• Education: B.S. Economics; B.A. History (Asia & the Islamic World), University of California, Santa Cruz
• Years of Writing: 10+
• Club/Association Memberships: YouTube Certified Technician, AAA
• Awards/Recognitions: Master Zip-Tie User, Torque Wrench Owner
• Previous Publications: BikeRumor.com, MTBR.com, Mountain Bike Action, Off-Road.com

A Word from Saris Mercanti

I’ve been taking things apart to see how they work since before I could reliably put them back together. That mechanical curiosity turned into an obsession with mountain biking, dirt biking, four-wheeling, and all the gear that makes it all possible. 

I’m constantly chasing the high of riding a new trail (or epic hero dirt), but the weather doesn’t always cooperate. That’s taught me there’s no bad weather, only bad gear.

Outside of work, I gravitate towards places without internet access, with a good book and camera in tow. I always have one more project vehicle than I should, and I’ve learned the hard way that there’s a difference between “running” and “driving.”

You can follow my adventures on Instagram at @circes.