Photo credit: Jillian Schantz Patrick
A girl, her bike, grins and bruises, thousands of amazing adventures and many miles not yet ventured. That pretty much sums up my life on a bike. The journey started at a very young age on the back of my brother’s bicycle with a heart pounding exclamation of “I can fly!” That feeling returns every single time I pedal on. Be it on the road, dirt, trails or just cruising around, nothing takes the place of that freedom delivered in the wind, wildly plastering a stoked smile on my face.
The connection to nature, the unraveling of daily life’s entanglements, commuting, whatever is around the next bend, and of course the healthy stuff is why I ride.
I have been many things in this life. I still am…a daughter, a sister, a student, a friend, an adventurer, a designer, a shop owner, an adopted mom, a photographer, a teacher…and now add on a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivor/warrior to the list.
July 23, 2010 will remain engraved in my mind, while so many other things were wiped away. Yes, I was on my bicycle, a beautiful custom built steel frame, hand painted road bike. The villain? A driver. Who won? The car, for a while…Today? Me.
I was literally derailed by TBI. The ultimate bonk. But coasting has never been part of my DNA. So I have chosen to keep pedaling, even on the grueling steep climbs and gnarly descents.
bicibits was in the works before the accident, catching air, and a sprouting dream for the eventual teacher retirement. Its parameters may have changed, but the sentiment remains: To create a line of cycling gifts and bike lifestyle apparel that celebrates the love of bicycles. Products of environmentally conscientious, high quality and affordable materials, an accessories line and original eclectic bicycle art that keeps your ride smile on long after you’re out of the saddle.
Some gear changing has occurred, but bicibits is still dedicated to giving back to communities in need of educational and health programs, bicycle advocacy, local, national and international bike groups, and to support local growth, safe streets and sustainable development; bicycles are meant to empower humans around the world.
So hop on! Get your ride smile on and help spread some happy!
bicibits Mission is to share ride smiles one pedal stroke at a time with the creation of original bicycle lifestyle apparel, cycling jewelry and whimsical bike art. To inspire and bring into play the imagination of people around the world with artful, up-cycled and purposeful design.
bicibits art, photography, and designs are created by a Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor/Warrior, and a portion of proceeds are donated to TBI awareness and survivor programs as well as local, national and international cycling teams/groups that support women on bikes and bicycle & safe streets advocacy. As bicibits grows, with a strong lead out team of awesome supportive individuals like you, I hope to keep expanding the flourishing connection of cycling and a life well lived.
Get Your Ride Smile On!
Live. Love. Laugh. Ride.