For the love of Trees!

By Fawzia Ahmad

Do I love biking?? I have to be honest and say not yet . . . but I still have hope that one day I will love the challenges of the hills in Vancouver. Riding up hills on my heavy 12 year old mountain bike made city riding not that enjoyable.? My motivation for biking comes from my concern about climate change –and that’s it!

Friends kept on telling me that what I really needed was a new bike – a light commuter bike – “it would make all the difference in the world”. So I was looking with one eye.? Thinking about what colour bike I would like, what features it would have, what accessories I would like to add – you know all the really important considerations? But bikes that I saw really did not do anything for me and if I saw one that I liked I could not justify the cost when I had a perfectly good bike that I loved to hate!

I became aware of Bikes on the Drive’s new creation – Tree – for some time now.? The first time I saw it in the shop I thought what a sensible bike – not flashy- but it stood for values that I believe in.? It’s a sustainable bike and that was enough to turn my eye.? ? Every time I walked by the shop for the past month or so I stopped and looked at it.? Did I fall in love with it at first sight?? No.? But the more I learned about it the more I wanted to give it a try.

A week ago a friend and co-worker told me that he had actually helped build one of the bikes at the shop and had nothing but great things to say about the mechanics of it.? So I took the plunge – booked my test ride and hoped for the best.? It was my first hill test on Tree that did it for me – I could not believe the suffering that I put myself through on my mountain bike all this time!? SOLD!! The lack of flash and price all of a sudden did not matter – it was the values that Tree stood for that I could get behind!

Now I am counting down the hours to see my Tree with my new Brooks hunter green seat and all the little gadgets that will be put on Tree to make my commute a little more comfy. So I think there is still a chance that I will love riding.? In the mean time Tree will lighten my ecological footprint and make my daily commute a hell of a lot more fun!

Fawzia works for Canopy (formerly Markets Initiative) as their Development & Operations Director.? She is excited about the new partnership with Bikes on the Drive – 1% of the sale of each Tree sold goes to Canopy’s work to protect the world’s forests, species and climate by collaboratively engaging the business community and public to create a sustainable and innovative supply chain.

Thank you Bikes on the Drive for Transforming Business for our Planet. . . one Tree at a time?