A new collaboration

​We are excited to announce that Gryphon has become the official riding gear of Biking with Butterfly as she embarks on a solo trip from BC to her home state of Texas!

​Butterfly was born and raised on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada and later in life moved to Texas. Quite the change!
 
She was bitten with the motorcycle bug a little later in life when she was gifted the opportunity to get her license in 2013 which, unknown to her at the time, would change her life.
 
The loss of a family member from a motorcycle accident and having friends experience their own bad accidents though her younger years, Butterfly struggled with the decision to hop on two wheels at first. This has really made her keep safety at the top of mind and understand the importance of good quality riding gear. Wearing protective motorcycle clothing is an important decision that can affect your safety and well-being on the road and not something worth overlooking. These values really fall in line with ours which really makes Gryphon and Butterfly a great match!
 
After getting her road license, Butterfly quickly bought her first bike, a Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow 1200T. Over the years bikes have come and gone and now she rides a 2022 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low. 

We wondered where the name Butterfly came from and she told us: “I noticed butterflies seemed to follow me, flying between me and my windscreen and flying closely to me while riding.  I took this as a sign I was doing what I was meant to do, and Biking with Butterfly was born.”

Taking on such a long journey alone sounds exciting but there are so many factors to consider; safety being number one, but also lodging, repairs, weather, and wildlife to name a few. 
 
We asked Butterfly what she loves most about these long journeys, and she said, “More than the wind in my hair (through a helmet) I love the feeling of being at one with nature as I ride the prettiest and fun twisty roads I can find. I have camped in beautiful, serine forests, stayed at cool B&B’s and other bikers’ homes through Bunk a Biker. Met wonderful people and heard great stories. I have been lucky enough to look into the eyes of a wolf as I passed by on the Loneliest Road in America. Dodged mating bison in Yellowstone and saw a hawk play in the wind behind the bike in front of me on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is why I ride.” 
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Butterfly has always had a special connection with nature and the world around her. She has a passion for the outdoors and loves to go camping and explore new places and roads. 
 
Butterfly has made the trip from Texas to BC and back again a few times, trying different routes and seeing some amazing sights along the way. This time around, her trip was later in the year, “True to the Pacific Northwest, it was cold and rainy the first four days as I rode down the coast. Made me wonder if doing this ride in November was the best idea. I was lucky enough to camp on the ocean in Oregon, you guessed it, in the rain. As I continued south to California, I found the sun and warmer temperatures. Reaching the high 80's in Arizona, a huge difference from when I started less than a week ago. Riding east and gaining altitude it cooled down once again. Thick fog and pouring rain welcomed me back to Texas. Through all of this thanks to my Gryphon gear, I stayed warm, dry and comfortable. Looking forward to my next adventure.”  
 
If you’re interested in trying out a long motorcycle trip Butterfly has some words of advice: Start with short trips somewhere familiar and go farther when you feel comfortable. Travel how you want to travel, whether that is riding nonstop or stopping to see everything on the way. If you need a day off take it. It’s ok to camp at one place for two nights and relax for a day. I do that when at a special place like hot springs or a cute town that will take time to explore.” But the main thing she noted, “Just go do it!” 
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 Having ridden through some of the most famous places and roads in North America, Butterfly said some of her favorites included the mystical Blue Ridge Parkway and the Tail of the Dragon, the Pacific Coast Highway from Washington to California, the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Devil’s Highway in Arizona, and the Pikes Peak in Colorado. It’s hard not to be a bit jealous of all these amazing trips that we know are bucket list trips in so many riders’ lists.
 
We’re excited for this new partnership and we invite you to follow along as we dive into Butterfly’s journey into the world of motorcycling and highlighting her love for the open road and the freedom that comes with riding on two wheels.

To buy Butterfly's look:
Twisted Sisters
Pacific Coast Pants
Sahara Gloves
Octane Rain Jacket & Pants