By Katy Vernon
A few months ago I got a Google alert for a social media post that read “Katy versus Vernon, which do you choose?”
It intrigued me as ‘Katy’ with a y is a less common spelling and pairing it with Vernon is my entire name so I had to click and find out more.
It led me to a very cool bike accessories company called Po Campo. They have a bike bag called the Vernon that is one of their most popular styles and recently launched another bag called the Katy. It turns out these are both popular bike trail names in New York - who knew?!
So I shared Po Campo’s post, and made a joke that since we shared a name they should give me a bag. :)
A friend then recommended I reach out and introduce myself. So I did, not thinking anyone would reply or even think it was notable that their products had the same name as me. I was wrong. The company DID reply and they thought it was cute, too.
I love riding a bike. As a kid, I would spend hours racing around my neighborhood—creating obstacle courses, setting myself challenges and speeding over the bumps in the road pretending I was on horseback.
In my 20s, I commuted to work on my bike, and when my kids were babies I had a trailer that I’d scoot around on with them bundled up in the back.
As life got busier, though, I stopped riding just for myself, and the bike started to gather dust.
So when Po Campo asked if I’d be interested in being one of their sponsored riders, it felt like the right time to say yes.
Yes to exercising more.
Yes to making time for myself.
Yes to planning adventures.
Yes to community rides.
I found a used e-bike online and I’m really enjoying it.
This funny online coincidence has reignited something in me that I lost track of. I’m not a very serious rider, I’m not planning a triathlon, but I’m excited to ride and hope you will join me and Dissonance as we revive BikeWell—Ride for Recovery, a casual community ride with our friends at Twin Cities Recovery Project. First ride is Saturday, June 28, at 10 a.m. All invited and welcome!
Hi my name is Katy Vernon.
I’m a singer-songwriter. I was born in London, UK and made my home in Minnesota.
A lot of people spell my name wrong.
So it’s Katy like the Po Campo bag.
And Vernon, like the Po Campo bag.
A fun fact about me.. I didn’t learn to drive till I was 30!
I drove my kids around in a bike trailer when they were babies and now that I’ve recently become an empty nester I want to reconnect to things I enjoy.
So I got a new bike and I’m so excited to be a Po Campo sponsored rider.
Let’s ride!!
Katy Vernon is a Minneapolis/St. Paul-based singer-songwriter. and a Dissonance board member. She grew up in London, England, and has been writing and singing as long as she can remember.
My new bike!
Katy (left) vs. Vernon (right)