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Mel Webb is a bikepacker and ultra-cyclist living in Vancouver, Canada. She's also an illustrator and she wears what feels like a million other creative hats. She is passionate about getting more women on bikes, especially into bikepacking, and her artwork is often inspired by that.

She just designed a bottle for Bivo that we are absolutely loving and are so excited to share with you.

What inspired this bottle?

I’m passionate about getting more women on bikes and into bikepacking. The more we can see and hear diverse stories that reflect a multitude of experiences, the more we’ll see an increase in participation. There are all kinds of setups that you can use, and bodies of all shapes and sizes power these amazing adventures. My goal with this illustration was to create something that encapsulated these desires and celebrates all the different ways you can approach heading out on a bikepacking adventure. 

What first sparked your connection to bikepacking and how it has become such an integral part of your life? 

I took to long distance bikepacking mainly because, after I broke my leg from a skiing accident, the surgeon told me that I wouldn’t be an endurance athlete anymore and I really just wanted to prove him wrong. I was a runner before that accident and quickly learned that running didn’t feel as good as it used to with the metal in my leg. What got me hooked was how much further I could go on a bike and how much I could experience from my own front door, and I quickly became addicted to the freedom I felt being so self sufficient. 

Whether it’s been a local overnighter or multi-week adventures in far flung places like Kyrgyzstan or Morocco, each time I head out on a bikepacking trip I learn so much about myself. It’s where I do my best thinking and also what inspires me creatively. Travelling by bike, sleeping outside, and spending all day in nature give me a different perspective, but it also gives me a massive appreciation for what my body can do. 

What is the most exciting way that cycling and art have come together in your life? 

The most exciting way art and cycling have come together has been seeing my designs out in the world and noticing how something as simple as a silly little doodle can bring such meaning and joy to people. 

How has art/design surprised you?

Art and design constantly surprise me, mostly in that when I finally feel confident with some aspect of my artwork or designs, a new challenge or thing to work on and evolve pops up. I always come back to The Gap by Ira Glass—my taste is always changing, and the skills needed to keep up shift too. I find that hard sometimes, but ultimately it’s what keeps art and design exciting and fresh.

Where are your bucket list rides and why? 

I haven’t spent much time riding in Europe or the UK, and I have this fixation about Wales in my head. I’d also love to ride in the Alps and the Pyrenees. 

My favourite place I’ve ever been (and where I constantly find myself thinking about) is Kyrgyzstan, even though I’ve been there twice. I’d love to go back and finally finish the Silk Road Mountain Race, but also spend more time touring and soaking in other parts of the country that I haven’t seen yet. The mountains and landscape there are otherworldly and I love the unpredictability of moving through that environment.