Professional gravel cyclist and Protect Our Winters (POW) Bike Alliance member Sarah Sturm has officially launched a creative collaboration with Bivo, a performance hydration company, to produce a limited-edition water bottle designed to fund climate advocacy efforts. This partnership merges the worlds of professional athletics, fine art, and environmental activism, providing a functional tool for outdoor enthusiasts that simultaneously supports POW’s mission to protect wild places from the effects of climate change. Sturm, who has spent nearly a decade competing at the highest levels of off-road cycling, utilized her background in design to create a visual narrative that emphasizes joy and environmental stewardship rather than the often-daunting statistics associated with global warming.
The collaboration comes at a critical juncture for the outdoor industry, as professional athletes increasingly leverage their platforms to address systemic environmental issues. By choosing Bivo, a brand known for its commitment to reducing plastic waste through stainless steel vessel construction, the partnership aligns with the broader movement toward sustainable manufacturing in the cycling sector. Proceeds from the sales of the custom-designed bottles are earmarked for POW’s ongoing initiatives, which include legislative advocacy, community education, and the mobilization of the outdoor recreation community to influence climate policy.
The Intersection of Professional Athletics and Creative Expression
Sarah Sturm’s trajectory in the cycling world has been defined by her versatility. For nine years, she has been a fixture on the professional gravel circuit, navigating the grueling demands of high-desert races and mountain terrain. However, before she became a celebrated figure on the podium, Sturm was trained as an artist. The Bivo collaboration offered a rare opportunity to reconcile these two identities, which had often existed in isolation as her athletic career demanded increasing amounts of time and focus.
Sturm noted that the conceptualization of the bottle’s design did not occur in a traditional studio setting but rather during the long, solitary hours of professional training. The repetitive nature of five- and six-hour rides provided the mental space necessary for brainstorming, allowing the cyclist to visualize the artwork while physically engaging with the landscapes she seeks to protect. This process highlights a growing trend among modern professional athletes who view their sport not just as a physical pursuit but as a meditative and creative endeavor.
The resulting design is a reflection of Sturm’s affinity for textiles and bold, geometric shapes. The artwork features a sophisticated blend of natural and mechanical imagery: flower petals are intricately woven into lettering, botanical blooms morph into the circular forms of bicycle wheels, and an abstract cyclist is depicted with a crown of flowers. By focusing on "joyful" imagery, Sturm aimed to create a "visual antidote" to the climate anxiety that many outdoor enthusiasts feel when confronted with the degradation of their favorite trails and mountain ranges.
Technical Innovation and the Environmental Impact of Hydration
The choice of Bivo as the manufacturing partner for this project is significant due to the brand’s disruptive approach to the cycling bottle market. For decades, the industry has relied almost exclusively on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polypropylene (PP) plastic bottles. While convenient, these products contribute to the global plastic crisis and often harbor bacteria or leach chemicals over time. Bivo’s entry into the market introduced a stainless steel alternative designed specifically for cycling cages, featuring a high-flow nozzle that mimics the "squeeze" of a plastic bottle without the environmental footprint.
From a design perspective, the cylindrical canvas of the Bivo bottle presented unique creative challenges. Sturm had to account for the way the bottle sits in a bicycle cage, noting that only specific portions of the artwork are visible from any single vantage point. This led to a "continuous theme" approach, where the bottle can be viewed as multiple individual pieces of art or a singular, wraparound narrative. This attention to the ergonomics of the object ensures that the message of environmental protection remains visible regardless of how the bottle is positioned during a ride.
The environmental implications of switching from single-use or short-lived plastic bottles to durable steel vessels are supported by significant data. According to industry reports, the global production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades, with only a small fraction successfully recycled. In the cycling world, where hydration is paramount, the cumulative waste of discarded "bidons" is substantial. By promoting a high-quality, long-lasting alternative, the Sturm-Bivo-POW collaboration encourages a shift in consumer behavior toward "buying less but buying better."
Protect Our Winters and the Power of the Bike Alliance
Protect Our Winters, founded by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones in 2007, has evolved into one of the most influential climate advocacy groups in the outdoor space. While its roots are in the snow sports community, the organization has aggressively expanded its reach through the POW Bike Alliance. This group of professional cyclists, including Sturm, recognizes that the impacts of climate change—such as wildfires, extreme heat, and unpredictable weather patterns—directly threaten the viability of cycling infrastructure and natural habitats.
The POW Bike Alliance operates on the principle that the outdoor community is a massive economic powerhouse. In the United States alone, the outdoor recreation economy accounts for approximately $1.1 trillion in economic output and supports nearly five million jobs. By mobilizing this demographic, POW aims to turn outdoor enthusiasts into a non-partisan "climate constituency" capable of influencing policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
The collaboration with Bivo serves as a tangible touchpoint for this advocacy. It allows the average cyclist to contribute to the cause while gaining a piece of functional art. The messaging on the bottle, "Protect what you love," serves as a simple but effective call to action, reminding users of the intrinsic link between their recreation and the health of the planet.
Chronology of the Project and Market Response
The development of the POW x Bivo bottle followed a structured timeline that began with the identification of a shared mission between the three parties.
- Phase 1: Concept Development: In early 2024, Sturm began sketching designs during her off-season, focusing on how to translate her "athlete-artist" identity into a commercial product.
- Phase 2: Technical Integration: Bivo worked with Sturm to ensure the intricacies of her pencil-and-paper sketches could be accurately rendered on the powder-coated surface of the stainless steel bottles.
- Phase 3: Impact Strategy: POW coordinated with the partners to ensure that the marketing of the bottle would directly lead to educational opportunities regarding climate policy.
- Phase 4: Launch: The bottle was released to the public through the POW and Bivo digital storefronts, accompanied by a photography campaign by Gretchen Powers that highlighted Sturm in her dual roles.
Initial market response has been positive, reflecting a broader consumer trend where "purpose-driven" products often outperform traditional merchandise. Modern consumers, particularly those in the Millennial and Gen Z demographics who make up a significant portion of the gravel cycling community, are increasingly seeking brands that align with their personal values.
Analysis of Broader Implications for the Outdoor Industry
The Sarah Sturm x Bivo collaboration is indicative of a larger shift in how professional athletes manage their careers. The "singular identity" of the athlete—focused solely on performance and results—is being replaced by a more holistic "creator" model. Sturm’s admission that her art had previously fallen by the wayside as her cycling career accelerated is a common sentiment among professionals. This project demonstrates that creative outlets are not just hobbies but essential components of an athlete’s mental health and brand longevity.
Furthermore, this partnership sets a precedent for how non-profits like Protect Our Winters can diversify their funding streams. Rather than relying solely on traditional donations, the creation of high-value, aesthetically pleasing gear allows the organization to tap into the "gear culture" of cycling.
From a factual standpoint, the success of such collaborations can be measured by the "circularity" they promote. By creating a product that users are less likely to throw away, and by using the proceeds to fund systemic change, the project addresses both the symptoms and the root causes of environmental degradation.
As climate change continues to alter the landscapes where gravel cyclists ride—increasing the frequency of trail closures due to fire risk or erosion—the urgency of such partnerships is expected to grow. The POW x Bivo bottle, while a small object in the context of the global climate crisis, represents a scalable model for how individual passion, corporate responsibility, and organized advocacy can intersect to create meaningful change.
The limited-edition bottle is currently available through the Protect Our Winters online shop. As with previous POW collaborations, the organization expects the item to serve as a conversation starter on group rides and at trailheads, further expanding the reach of the climate movement within the cycling community. Through the lens of Sarah Sturm’s art, the message is clear: protecting the environment is not just a duty, but a joyful necessity for those who find their freedom on two wheels.
