ME TIME From VELO to LOVE

The world entered the post-pandemic era after three years of uncertainty. Despite the difficult times, a glimmer of hope emerged, reminding people of the purpose of their lives. Throughout the pandemic, many individuals discovered the joys and advantages of cycling and for some, like Velo, it became a transformation from Velo to Love.

With an annual production of over 15 million saddles, Velo spreads the joy of cycling to enthusiasts worldwide. Stella Yu, the company's founder, dedicates herself to meeting every customer's needs and relentlessly pursuing innovation. Her unwavering love for her family and customers, coupled with her fervor for innovation, drives her to lead Velo to its position as the world's top producer of cycling saddles. This love transformed into “Me Time” for Ann Chen, VP of Velo and cyclists globally.

Although the pandemic limited people's ability to move around freely, it also prompted individuals to contemplate how to revitalize themselves. Taking time for oneself, or "Me Time," has become a popular trend for individuals seeking to detach from their busy daily lives. Ann's preferred method of creating her own "Me Time" was through her exercise routine.

Ann admits that despite frequently cycling with colleagues around Taiwan, she had never established a consistent exercise routine. When the pandemic forced her to stay indoors, she was shocked to discover that she had gained a significant amount of weight from her daily sedentary routine, consuming three meals a day and sleeping. Embarrassed by her size, she began a solo fitness journey using her treadmill and stationary bike at home.

“It was such an ordeal in the beginning because I was not used to working out regularly. Whenever I thought of the 50 minutes exercise routine, I’d rather stay at my office and work! I forced myself to exercise and stop getting fatter!” With her Capricorn nature, she persevered through the initial three months of difficulty and eventually began to savor the enjoyable aspect of exercising.

“I slept much better and became more focused while working. Later on, I simply had to work out every single day. I watched TV when I exercised and fully enjoyed the “Me Time”. The most satisfying moment was when I regained my perfect figure!” Ann simply accepts all compliments of her wonderful figure with a smile.

Another unexpected result of Ann’s daily exercise regime was that she started testing out the new saddles herself. After a long period of daily training on the bike, Ann gradually became a user more than a manufacturer. She started to understand the intricacies of why customers or designers would make certain requests instead of merely focusing on the structure and sturdiness of the saddles. With this new realization, she was now able to come up with more practical suggestions in R&D meetings. The only issue was that due to Velo's extensive range of products, it would require a significant amount of time for her to complete testing all of them. Nevertheless, Ann is confident that the transition from Velo to Love aligns with the founder's intentions. Furthermore, both she and many other new cyclists take pleasure in indulging in "Me Time" and pampering themselves.