While working on a new project for Bike198.com (details to come soon), my friend/fellow riding buddy/print designer/photographer, RegularJoe, brought to light that Bike198 needed a tagline and this tagline needed to pertain to all aspects of cycling.
I threw some ideas on the wall to see what would stick and then during a long climb in the mountains on a humid Saturday morning as the sun was breaking through the low level clouds at the top of the mountain peaks…he came up with it…
“I like what you came up with, but you know what I was thinking? How about ‘Live the Ride’?”
The moment I heard it…I knew it fit perfectly.
Live The Ride – It’s More Than Just Riding A Bike
Bike198 is about more than just bikes and parts. It is the obsession with living a life that is made better through the sport of cycling. We obsess over our bikes, parts and components while not forgetting that it is all about the ride. There are rides that stick with us over time creating memories and speed that we strive to recreate with every trip to the local trailhead, stretch of blacktop or trip from point a to point b.
You can see it happen to new riders as they start to get their feet wet. It is in their eyes. That feeling that overwhelms the body and explodes into simple phrases like, “Now that was fun”, “I can’t believe I haven’t done this sooner”…in a split second…they go from a civilian to a cyclist. They get “live the ride” before they are even sure what just happened. They are drawn into the excitement, the community and the atmosphere while enjoying some of the best technology the biking industry has ever seen.
Kids stare at the covers of MBA and Bike hoping that one day they will get to ride Whistler or have a job that will allow them to afford that latest carbon beauty from Specialized.
We hit the trail as adults after thousands of miles of riding with the same excitement and passion as we once had as kids just trying to get out of the house on a bright, sunny, Sunday afternoon.
Later in life, we are still able to enjoy the sport and life of cycling when many others are content with sitting inside to just get old and take pride in out climbing that young guy that thought he could take you just because of your age.
“Live to Ride” speaks to our obsession with riding and the lust that goes along with our bikes and components. In short…it explains the atmosphere and lifestyle of Bike198.com to a T. Everyday, we “live the ride” by getting out with friends on a ride, pushing the limits of what we consider normal and checking out gear, parts and bikes. In cycling…it is not just a hobby, it’s a way of life…we “live the ride”.
You will start to see the new tagline being integrated into different aspects of Bike198 and that ideal will continue to extend into the content and other offerings to keep that idea alive and well on this site.