Editorial

Client: Various publishing companies including The Globe And Mail, CanWest, The Georgia Straight, MetroValley, Vancouver Review, Outpost, Adventure West, Herald (India) and others.

Product/Service: Provide queried or assigned editorial content for print and web outlets. Areas of specialty include sustainability, transportation, tourism/travel, alternative health, and cycling.

Document: I researched and wrote freelance articles for general- and special interest newspapers, magazines and web sites.

Samples: Sustainability (Momentum Magazine) – Transportation (The Georgia Straight) – Travel/tourism (The Globe And Mail) – Alternative Health (Shared Vision) – Cycling (The Province) – more editorial samples

Excerpt:

Joe Breeze: on naked bikes and self-propelling prophecies ~ MTB pioneer admits trail biking was a “diversion” from his real passion

… Joe uses the word “efficient” surprisingly often when he describes bikes. “Bicycling is the most efficient method of transport ever born or devised,” states Joe matter-of-factly. “Maybe I wasn’t aware of that when I first learned to ride at age five, but I soon was entranced with how far I could get down the road with so little effort.” He also learned that a better pedal stroke and a better bike made biking even ~ better. Jokes the still-ardent commuter cyclist, “it was a self-propelling prophecy.”

It was Breeze’s love of efficiency ~ as well as his advocacy efforts with the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and proddings from his new business partner John Doidge ~ that prompted his next step. “[John] had been to many bike shops expressing his desire for a purpose-built bike with fenders, a rack, lights, kick-stand, et cetera ~ and the common response was, ‘why would you want a bike like that?’”

Joe’s answer? Given the choice of a reasonably-priced town bike that is efficient and fun to ride; or an expensive car that is frustrating to drive, why wouldn’t you want a bike like that? Breeze created what he calls a “civilized vehicle” ~ a ready-to-go bike that shares the basic features of a car: “…fenders for grimy roads, lights in case it gets dark, ways to carry stuff things and protect your clothes; and the ability to stay upright when parked.”

“They’re like a European town bike,” says Joe of his new Town and Range models, “but I tailored them to my view of the North American market which requires a sportier bike.” Unlike the boutique Dutch-style bikes becoming popular with Yaletown flat-landers, a Breezer’s geometry and lightness make it agile enough to sprint up Vancouver hills. And unlike the bare-bones mountain-bike styles you find everywhere else, a Breezer is not naked.

“We’ve been selling naked bikes for decades!” exclaims Joe with exasperation and just a hint of confession. He explains that while experienced bike owners know they have to add after-market accessories to a recreational bike to make it useful in the city ~ novice riders (and the majority of the population) don’t. “I’ve run into people over the years who have said to me, ‘why can’t bikes be useful?’”

If the Joe Breeze of twenty-five years ago is guilty of denuding bikes of their useful accessories, he’s now making amends. Today Breezer’s motto is “Transportation for a healthier planet” and the company has officially switched from recreation to transportation bicycles. “It is time to unite cyclists, environmentalists, and health and cycling advocates,” Breezer proclaims, “so that bicycles will be fully appreciated as the wonderful vehicles that they are.”

Now that sounds like a self-propelling prophecy….

Advertisement