Tayler with Equator Coffee & Teas co-owner Helen Russell.
January 8, 2016 Mill Valley, California – Equator Coffee & Teas, a Northern California based specialty coffee roasters has officially signed professional cyclist Tayler Wiles as a sponsored athlete and brand ambassador.
Equator Coffees & Teas was born in 1995, when business partners Brooke McDonnell and Helen Russell began roasting coffee in a Marin County, Calif., garage. It marked the beginning of their journey to build a high-impact coffee company focused on quality, sustainability and social responsibility. Equator is community driven in many ways between the farmers cultivating the coffee, the wholesale customers buying the coffee, the employees helping to grow the business, and, more recently, the local communities supporting Equator cafés. Learning how to be a good partner to each community became, and continues to be, a motivating force for doing business. Those local communities are full of cycling enthusiasts, and drinking good coffee is an integral part of cycling culture. Through the partnership with Tayler Wiles, Equator seeks to further engage the cycling community by supporting talented, hard working athletes with big dreams and goals who are also role models for young girls and women aspiring to achieve big things in sport or profession.
Tayler has raced for some of the most successful teams in the women’s peloton and in 2016 has signed for the Australian powerhouse Orica AIS. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Tayler currently resides in Fairfax, California when she is not racing her bike around the world. Tayler’s palmares include Overall GC Wins at The Women’s Tour of New Zealand, Tour de l’Ardeche, and Redlands Bicycle Classic. As well as US Pro Challenge Stage Winner, Chrono Gatineau Winner, Bronze Medalist at USA Road National Championships and member of USA National Team for the past two World Championships. Tayler is a ‘go-getter’ scrappy and passionate bike racer who has developed into a leader on the road through hard work and dedication to achieving her goals and dreams. Tayler, a self-proclaimed coffee & cookie addict, has a passion and palate for good food and the very best coffee. She loves the incredible story behind Equator Coffee, of two strong women, Helen and Brooke building a successful business while also making a social impact.
The Equator/Tayler Wiles partnership is a natural fit for both, as Equator wants to continue to build its brand as a wholesaler and retailer of the finest coffee and teas with new cycling themed retail location coming soon in Larkspur, CA. This location, a 10 minute bike ride from Tayler’s home in Fairfax, will allow cycling enthusiasts to socialize and interact while enjoying espresso, pour overs, and other delicious Equator goods, all while watching bike races and events. Tayler will have Equator’s support as she chases her dream to get selected for the USA National Team for Rio Olympics 2016 and beyond.
“Coffee culture has deep roots in cycling and my passion for both makes this partnership such an incredible match.,” said Tayler Wiles. “I’ve been amazed by Helen and Brooke’s story and the history behind Equator, they are two brilliant women who have worked incredibly hard to build a successful business, inclusive culture, and an inspiring example to women in business, sport, and life. So much of my motivation in sport is not about individual success but more about helping elevate women, to be a role model for what women are capable of, not only in athletics but all aspects of life. I am so honored and excited to partner with Equator Coffee and look forward to working together to create positive social impact.”
"I love building a business, and my passion is coffee,” said Helen Russell. “The intersection of the two allows me the opportunity to engage with communities all over the world, and drive forward our mission to create impact while building and engaging community. In fact, cyclists have been so integral to the life and growth of our retail business that we decided to dedicate our 4th retail coffee shop to the cycling community. We are proud to be sponsoring and caffeinating Tayler Wiles, and one of her championship bikes will hang proudly in the store as a symbol of excellence and achievement in women's sports.”
