What do you get when you marry a girl's passion for cycle touring with her love for everything REI?
Need a hint? Do you recognize the girl on the right in the screenshot below?
Yup, that's me! As is the cyclist in this image, which you may have seen on REI's Facebook page:
Or perhaps on posters, such as this one, wrapped around a column in the cycling department at the Seattle Flagship store:
Or on display at the Bellingham store:
Or in a video promoting Co-Op Cycles Adventure bikes:
Who woulda thought those juggling skills would come in handy!
As you know, I'm a diehard fan of cycle touring. And I'm a diehard fan of REI, too. (For those of you not familiar with REI, it stands for Recreational Equipment Inc., a retail and outdoor recreational co-operative.)
Having spent a good chunk of the paychecks from my career days at REI, I was always curious what it would be like to work at the co-op. In my post-career days, I entertained that curiosity by working for a brief while in the cycling department at the Seattle REI (refer to A Fun Job: Not an Oxymoron). I was informally known amongst the cycling department as the "Touring Guru." Whenever a customer had a question related to touring, they were always told, "Talk to Sarah."
In early 2017, REI overhauled its Novara line of bikes and cycling gear and launched a new brand: Co-Op Cycles. The brand includes more than a dozen new bikes -- mountain bikes, road bikes, city bikes, adventure bikes, and kids bikes. REI wanted real cyclists to promote its new brand. So when the opportunity arose to help promote the Co-Op Cycles fully-loaded adventure rig, I jumped on it!
Here's a short video about Co-Op Cycles. I love the philosophy behind REI's new line of bikes! (I'm the one in the red vest).
The other woman riding alongside me is Jessica Cutler. She is also a real cyclist. She is a bad-ass chica who has an impressive racing history. What a great pleasure to share a video with such a studette!
Funny story: During the shoot, one of the photographers noticed my tattoo (see Sailors, Whores, & Ink) and asked if he could take a photo of it. I suggested he photograph Jessica's tattoos instead, as she is covered with them. When the photographer turned his camera towards Jessica, she grabbed her lower lip and tugged it downwards.
I had no idea Jessica had this tattoo. My jaw nearly fell of my face as I thought to myself: "Dear lord almighty, I think I love you, Jessica." Jessica's bikes! tattoo sure as hell beats my lowly non-bike-related tattoo!
Here are a few more photos from the shoot. I love these!
Many thanks to the REI producers, photographers, and videographers who were all an absolute blast to work with! I love you, REI! And many thanks to those of you who helped align the stars so I could partake in this opportunity -- you know who you are!
Updated October 15, 2017:
Adding a few more photos that have since come to my attention:
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Me -- a girl who loves cycle touring and REI. (Photo: REI) |
Need a hint? Do you recognize the girl on the right in the screenshot below?
![]() |
That's a familiar face! (Screenshot of https://www.rei.com/h/co-op-cycles-adv) |
Yup, that's me! As is the cyclist in this image, which you may have seen on REI's Facebook page:
![]() |
And me again. |
Or perhaps on posters, such as this one, wrapped around a column in the cycling department at the Seattle Flagship store:
I'm wrapped around a column. |
Or on display at the Bellingham store:
![]() |
And I'm hanging on a wall. |
Or in a video promoting Co-Op Cycles Adventure bikes:
Who woulda thought those juggling skills would come in handy!
As you know, I'm a diehard fan of cycle touring. And I'm a diehard fan of REI, too. (For those of you not familiar with REI, it stands for Recreational Equipment Inc., a retail and outdoor recreational co-operative.)
Having spent a good chunk of the paychecks from my career days at REI, I was always curious what it would be like to work at the co-op. In my post-career days, I entertained that curiosity by working for a brief while in the cycling department at the Seattle REI (refer to A Fun Job: Not an Oxymoron). I was informally known amongst the cycling department as the "Touring Guru." Whenever a customer had a question related to touring, they were always told, "Talk to Sarah."
In early 2017, REI overhauled its Novara line of bikes and cycling gear and launched a new brand: Co-Op Cycles. The brand includes more than a dozen new bikes -- mountain bikes, road bikes, city bikes, adventure bikes, and kids bikes. REI wanted real cyclists to promote its new brand. So when the opportunity arose to help promote the Co-Op Cycles fully-loaded adventure rig, I jumped on it!
Here's a short video about Co-Op Cycles. I love the philosophy behind REI's new line of bikes! (I'm the one in the red vest).
The other woman riding alongside me is Jessica Cutler. She is also a real cyclist. She is a bad-ass chica who has an impressive racing history. What a great pleasure to share a video with such a studette!
Funny story: During the shoot, one of the photographers noticed my tattoo (see Sailors, Whores, & Ink) and asked if he could take a photo of it. I suggested he photograph Jessica's tattoos instead, as she is covered with them. When the photographer turned his camera towards Jessica, she grabbed her lower lip and tugged it downwards.
![]() |
Coolio! So apropos! (Photo: https://jesscutler.com/2012/10/08/closing-in-on-the-point/) |
I had no idea Jessica had this tattoo. My jaw nearly fell of my face as I thought to myself: "Dear lord almighty, I think I love you, Jessica." Jessica's bikes! tattoo sure as hell beats my lowly non-bike-related tattoo!
Here are a few more photos from the shoot. I love these!
![]() |
That is a genuine "I love cycling" Sarah smile... (Photo: REI) |
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...and a genuine Sarah tongue, too. (Photo: REI) |
Many thanks to the REI producers, photographers, and videographers who were all an absolute blast to work with! I love you, REI! And many thanks to those of you who helped align the stars so I could partake in this opportunity -- you know who you are!
Updated October 15, 2017:
Adding a few more photos that have since come to my attention:
I got to meet Jessica when she coached some of my Cyclocross bootcamp classes. Badass indeed!
ReplyDeleteSmall world! Yeah, she's super cool. :)
DeleteThis is so awesome, reading this blog post made my day. What a great way to express your love for cycling to such a wide audience. And you've never been more beautiful. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAhhh, ain't you a sweetie! Thanks, Erich, for making my day. 😀
DeleteI agree!! So awesome!
DeleteThanks, MaryJo!
DeleteUmm, does this mean you are a professional model now? Can I have your autograph?
ReplyDeleteI would think professional models likely have multiple shoots lined up. I haven't exactly had anyone else ask for my photo. 😉
DeleteOK FINALLY got to this site on a real computer! Sarah I am SO happy you did this. Every time you blog, you inspire me to ride. Now, with this, you will inspire thousands to do so! They could not have picked a better person!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tony!
Delete