Meet Paige Tate: BlackHeart's Newest Cycling Ambassador
We're thrilled to officially welcome Paige Tate (@ptaaay) to the BlackHeart family 🖤
Paige's cycling journey spans from childhood adventures in Canada to competitive triathlon to gravel exploration in Los Angeles. Her diverse riding demanded bikes that could handle any terrain without compromise. That's exactly what BlackHeart's aluminum bikes deliver.
From Small-Town Canada to Gravel Adventures
Paige's relationship with cycling began in a small town in Canada, where her bike meant independence and adventure.
"Cycling has been a part of all my favourite memories growing up. In a small town in Canada, it was always the best way to get around. At the age of 8, I'd hop on my bicycle and meet up with friends in the neighbourhood, cycle a couple of miles through the winding streets, hopping off curbs, to stop at Pleasant Valley Convenience and grab a Coffee Crisp, Airheads, and a Gatorade."
These early rides built the foundation for a lifetime of cycling: exploring new routes, pushing limits, and finding freedom on two wheels.
Triathlon Training and Endurance Riding
During her competitive triathlon years, cycling became a vehicle for both performance and connection.
"Fast forward to my competitive years as a triathlete, my dad and I would cycle 7 hours up Mt. Lemmon in Arizona every March. It was such a bittersweet bonding experience as we'd encourage each other to push through, look at the beautiful views along the way, and stop at the top for a massive warm chocolate chip cookie with a pound of vanilla ice cream."
Long-distance rides like these demand bikes that deliver comfort and reliability hour after hour. The kind of endurance-focused design BlackHeart builds into every frame.
Why BlackHeart Aluminum Bikes
"I fixate on pushing myself to my limits, and it's comforting to know bikes can get me there. However, cycling has always been so much more than that to me. It's been about chasing sunsets, cruising past curfews, building dirt jumps with your friends, scraped knees, learning independence before I knew what it was, and sharing the deepest convos in my most uncomfortable yet most comfortable state."
Paige's riding style mixes road performance with gravel exploration and the inevitable crashes that come with pushing boundaries. This makes aluminum the ideal frame material. Here's why:
Durability Where It Matters
Gravel riding means crashes, rock strikes, and unpredictable terrain. Aluminum frames handle impacts with confidence. When you're sending it on rough descents or exploring unknown trails, that reliability matters.
Real-World Performance
With modern tire technology like 30mm tires at 70 psi, frame material matters less for ride quality than geometry, tire clearance, and build quality. BlackHeart's aluminum frames deliver all three with endurance geometry and 50mm tire clearance on the Gravel AL.
Sustainable Choice
Aluminum is 100% recyclable with no performance degradation. At end of life, BlackHeart aluminum frames return to the supply chain as raw material, not landfill waste. For riders who care about environmental impact, aluminum offers guilt-free performance.
Premium Performance Without Premium Prices
BlackHeart aluminum bikes deliver ride quality comparable to other premium options, with better durability and environmental credentials, all without requiring financing decisions.
Paige's BlackHeart Setup
Paige rides two aluminum bikes from our lineup, each purpose-built for different adventures around Los Angeles:
Road AL
Race geometry with responsive handling for training rides, group rides, and fast-paced road adventures. Built to order with fully integrated routing and your choice of 137 Cerakote colors.
Key Features:
- Aero Kammtail downtube for efficiency
- Fully integrated cable routing
- Race-ready geometry
- 32mm tire clearance
Gravel AL
Built for exploration with 50mm tire clearance and endurance geometry. Perfect for fire roads, mixed-surface adventures, and bikepacking trips where durability matters as much as performance.
Key Features:
- 50mm tire clearance for any terrain
- Endurance geometry for all-day comfort
- Confidence-inspiring stability on loose surfaces
- Built to handle the inevitable gravel crashes
In Paige's own words: "gravel riding boutta go crazy!!!"
What Paige's Riding Brings to BlackHeart
Paige represents the versatility we design for: riders who don't fit into narrow categories. Road training one day, gravel exploration the next, with the freedom to chase whatever adventure sounds good.
Her journey from childhood independence to competitive athletics to adventure cycling mirrors what BlackHeart bikes enable. You're not locked into one type of riding. You're equipped for wherever your wheels take you.
The Road Ahead
Follow Paige's adventures on Instagram @ptaaay as she explores Los Angeles and beyond on her BlackHeart bikes. We'll be sharing stories, routes, and insights from her rides throughout the year.
More ambassador announcements are coming soon. Stay tuned 👀
Ready to Start Your Own Cycling Story?
Whether you're drawn to smooth pavement or rough gravel, BlackHeart builds bikes that grow with your ambitions:
Road Collection → Race-ready geometry with responsive handling
Allroad Collection → Versatile performance for mixed terrain
Gravel Collection → Adventure-ready bikes built for exploration
Every bike is built to order in Truckee, California, with your choice of 137 Cerakote colors because your bike should reflect your story.
