Why I Started Rock Roselle - Women's MTB Apparel Brand

I remember the first time I encountered ‘risk’. Not the type of risk of saying ‘no’ when your parents tell you to brush your teeth or when you contemplate flinging gum into your sister’s hair. But the type of risk, where gravity feels a little bit heavier, your body starts to tingle, and you discover a new banter in your head. Do it. Don’t do it. Do it.

I was about 5 years old, when my dad had me follow him out to the point of a very rocky, very narrow, cliff zone in the Pacific Ocean. I wanted to turn back, where it was dry, safe, warm.

But I remember seeing his bright smile, glowing of reassurance, holding out his hand… ‘you’ve got this’. The chance of a wave knocking me off versus holding my dad’s hand while watching the sun fall under the horizon, was a feeling that I’ll never forget. It’s a feeling that has shaped me today.


Extremity is a part of my story. In a strange sense, it’s what keeps me grounded and appreciate the moment. It reminds me how fragile life is, to embrace uncertainty and to love with abandon. When I’m mountain biking, it isn’t the gnarly rock garden or 5 foot drop that I find extreme but it’s the intensity of being fully aware of the connection I have between my bike, my body and my self. It’s that intimate connection and understanding how you'll respond in extreme conditions.

Starting a business has always had the same appeal to me as mountain biking does. Sure, the wonder, risk, dedication is all a part of the draw, but more so, it's the personal challenge that unmasks itself. My quest to start a women's mountain bike apparel company was like looking at a very technical, steep, rocky line for the first time – not knowing the outcome only made me more anxious to delve in.



Creating apparel for a community that I have not only watched expand immensely in numbers but also flourish with innovation, revel in camaraderie, and demand equality has been the backbone of Rock Roselle. I’ve crafted Rock Roselle's first piece, the Skylar MTB Jersey with intention to make it last, flow with our bodies on our bikes, hand-pick quality fabrics that breathe, protect and feel soft on our skin. Rock Roselle apparel is made in the U.S., and the sewers are just as much apart of Rock Roselle’s mission as anyone on the team. It’s about time we feel comfortable, stylish and like we can identify with the inner, untamed spirit that resides in all of us.



http://kck.st/2jPSWtW



I'm asking the Pink Bike community to support this endeavor by pledging to Rock Roselle's Kickstarter before August 15th. The Skylar Jersey, Rock Roselle brands hats, t-shirts and guided tours in Park City are all available for purchase.

Rock Roselle's aim is to design approachable, highly technical garments that are tailor-made for women with a perfect blend of femininity and strength, comfort and style. A strong social component is integral to the brand where every customer is welcomed into a community of like-minded active women who share both recreational passions and philanthropic values tied to the brand's social good and environmental responsibility programs.




Kickstarter Link: http://kck.st/2jPSWtW