Velo Gioielli: Bike Jewelry Giveaway

01. Nov, 2011 50 Comments  Print This Article

Brian Echerer and his mother and business partner, Mary Jane Musser

Sometimes life’s setbacks have a way of leading one down another path to success. Brian Echerer lost a job and then “destroyed” his back racing cyclo-cross. During his recovery, he began making spoke bracelets for his cycling club and found out about a show called “Bike Craft.” Brian persuaded his mother, Mary Jane Musser, an artist and jewelry designer to join him in designing and making jewelry from bike parts and soon they were making earrings, bracelets and necklaces of all kinds and selling them at the Portland Saturday Market. Thus, was born Velo Gioielli, which turns out to be a wonderful name for their business as it means “bike jewelry” in Italian!

The mother and son business worked well as their talents dovetailed nicely together. As they work together in her studio, Brian tells Mary Jane what he envisions and they sit, create and play and make the ideas come to life. Their tastes line up very well together and they love working with high quality parts and materials. Brian adds, “We have a hard time using inferior product such as silver “plated” chains for example. We see up close how things wear on our customers and
improve product from those experiences. That is why I worked on powder coating the recycled bike chain. Spray paint was just not as durable.”

The Sparkly recycled bicycle chain bracelets are given a durable lasting finish that is also beautiful.

Three-Ball Spoke Bracelet: Three shiny sterling silver balls on a polished stainless steel bicycle spoke.

We’ve been impressed with the quality craftsmanship and artistic beauty with the Velo Gioelli jewlery and so have their customers. Brian adds, “It’s amazing the response we get from customer that see our stuff in person. Most don’t even know that they are looking at bike spokes and recycled bike chain pieces. It has inspired us to continue building a business.”

The bit of “bling” on the rhinestone-studded spoke bracelets would be a great piece to wear for the Holidays!

JEWELRY GIVEAWAY:

If you’d like to win one of these beautiful spoke bracelets, you are in luck because Velo Gioielli is offering THREE of their great looking spoke braclets to three lucky Cycle & Style readers. The bracelets come in three sizes: small, medium and large, so if you win, you can choose the size. Enter to win by making a comment below and please give us your full name. If we try to get a hold of you and cannot, we will have to find another winner, so please use the e-mail (when prompted) that is best for getting a hold of you. Winners will need a US mailing address. Contest will run from now until November 15th. Good Luck!!

Bike Spoke Bracelet With Red Fire Rhinestones

 The Cyclo-Cross Fan

Brian: “Cycling wise I am a roadie at heart. I love it and have since I was a teenager. I will never forget watching Greg Lemond win the Tour for the first time. I also mountain bike, cyclecross and love just about anything that has to do with cycling in any fashion. I starting running a local Meet Up group a few years back and turned it into a 1000 plus member club with about 25 ride leaders. It was a great experience. I have ridden RAGBRAI, Cycle Oregon, FANY  (a bicycle tour of upstate New York) and countless century rides. I lived in upstate New York for a time and loved the riding area there, along with the people that I miss dearly. Right now I paired down my bike collection and only have 4. I work on them myself for the most part. I am super lucky to be in one of the most cycling friendly places in the world, and the (Cycle) Cross Crusade is one of my favorite pastimes every fall. I am in love with cyclecross. I am also a bit of a gear head with road bikes, I love the parts and the majestic roll each plays in creating an extension of a person’s body.”

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50 Responses to “Velo Gioielli: Bike Jewelry Giveaway”

  1. Katherine Stenquist 01. Nov, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    These are the coolest bracelets!

  2. Jeanette Parker 01. Nov, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Wow! You have some beautiful pieces! I especially like that you coated a chain (with what, I do not know!) but that has a neat effect. Way to go on your ventures!

  3. Allison Luciano 01. Nov, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    These pieces are lovely, and look well made. I’d love to add one to my wardrobe!

  4. Tohry Petty 01. Nov, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    What an amazing concept – and how cool to have your mom as a business partner! Adds new meaning to “it runs in the family”.

  5. Jenni 01. Nov, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    Love! Love! Love!! How cool is this jewelry??!!

  6. SirenMary 01. Nov, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    Very cute! I’d love to sport one of your bracelets in the Idyllwild Scene at our shop – The Hub Cyclery.

  7. Mandy L Craven 01. Nov, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    What a creative way to incorporate cycling into jewelry!! I love the bracelets!!!

  8. Carolyn J. Franklin 01. Nov, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    I am truly amazed at how beautiful the pieces of jewelry are and how talented you must be to be able to fine tune your trade. Thank you for taking a hobby loved by many and making something out of it’s parts that can be charished.

  9. Jessica Schilling 01. Nov, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    Oh, these are just so incredibly lovely. The silver spoke bracelet is my favorite … but I think I adore them all. What a great way to reuse something that was well loved in its original incarnation!

  10. Monica Llorian 01. Nov, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    Those are some amazing and imaginative pieces of wearable art.

    Love them!!!

  11. Heidi Roundy 01. Nov, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    Totally love this jewelry. Always looking for a new way to “wear” my love of cycling!

  12. Bronwen 01. Nov, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    Good to see you again, Brian! Hope you have had a good year. Are they doing Bike Craft again in Portland?

  13. Joeann Gutowski 01. Nov, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    Brilliant! Thanks for adding a bit of class to cycling jewelry. Love, love, love the red fire spoke bracelet. – ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours

  14. Terri Shelton 01. Nov, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    Love the concept and the jewelry! Very cool.

  15. Leonora king 01. Nov, 2011 at 5:48 pm

    So glad you found a way to express your passion in art. It is difficult to find a piece that expresses the love and fun of cycling in such a pretty bauble. I have a wrist just waiting to put it on.looking forward to seeing more creations. Anklets would be great.

  16. stacey long 01. Nov, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    These are absolutely amazing! I would love to have one!

  17. Jessica Riskedahl 01. Nov, 2011 at 7:18 pm

    Lovely bracelets…it’s always fun to see how people re-purpose everyday items into art.

  18. Pam Strick 01. Nov, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    What a unique way to take your ride with you wherever you go!

  19. Melissa Maestas 01. Nov, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    I do not own a diamond…nor do I have anything sparkly to adorn my wrist.

    ‘Ding Ding’ goes the sound of my my cute little bike bell… ‘Bling Bling’ is the imaginary “sound” that is produced from the light reflected by my new ‘Bike Spoke Bracelet With Red Fire Rhinestones’ that I hope to ‘Win Win’. ‘Cling Cling’ goes the sound of my mailbox keys as I envision to open the mail and find a ‘Cool Cool’ Spoke Bracelet. Velo Gioielli are the words I sing as I hope to sport a piece of ‘Bling Bling’.

  20. Brian 01. Nov, 2011 at 10:43 pm

    Thanks for all the great comments! It’s very exciting and humbling to see this amazing write up. Yes, BikeCraft is a sure thing. It was the start of our little business and we support that show 110%. Thanks so much Cycle & Style! I’m so glad I found out about you folks!

  21. Trish 01. Nov, 2011 at 10:54 pm

    I’m very impressed with the style and beauty implemented in the creation of your recycled bicycle part jewelry while pairing them up just right with the colorful beads. I would be a happy lady to wear one!

  22. tabatha smith 02. Nov, 2011 at 5:51 am

    so cool. i’d love to own a piece of his jewelry!!

  23. Mary Jane 03. Nov, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    Well, this is the “mother”, Mary Jane. Thank you Cycle & Style and to all of you for your great comments. It is fun to be able to produce this jewelry along with my son Brian. Actually, it is very special. Again, thank you all.

  24. Anna Lee 04. Nov, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Wonderful work! I especially like the 3 ball spoke bracelet: delicate, lovely, and subtle. Good luck to Mary Jane and Brian. I’m excited to see what else they come up with in the future!

  25. Carmen Van Deursen 05. Nov, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    These are very simple and unique, I love them, I hope I win would love to wear one.

  26. Eileen Hall 05. Nov, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    These pieces are definitely uniques and i love them…Good luck in your new business adventure.

  27. Sharry Miller 06. Nov, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    Beautiful jewelry!

  28. Barbara Klein 07. Nov, 2011 at 8:25 am

    Hi: Like the lovely bracelets. Any one of them will go with my clothes.

  29. Rachel 07. Nov, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    Love the bracelets! There are also some other VERY cool pieces on their etsy page. Fantastic!

  30. Teresa 08. Nov, 2011 at 3:13 am

    What is there to say … Beautiful!!

  31. JenniferLee 08. Nov, 2011 at 11:30 am

    I saw this jewelry upclose at the market and met you. I love your work glad to see you on this site.

  32. Laurie Anderson 08. Nov, 2011 at 11:34 am

    Love them…very cool!

  33. Melissa Q 08. Nov, 2011 at 11:46 am

    So fun to make something that combines love of sport and make a living while doing it. And son and mother working together is awesome. Brian and Mary Jane rock!

  34. Lori 08. Nov, 2011 at 11:51 am

    Love these! Clever & fun, would like to share with some of my cycling girlfriends! Please fb me if I do!

  35. Christine Barich 08. Nov, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Wow! These are amazing! I would love to sport one on or off the bike! Good luck to me and your business!

  36. Maggie 08. Nov, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    randomly found cycle & style, which led me here. Would love to win some fab new bike jewelry.

  37. Jennifer 10. Nov, 2011 at 4:47 am

    I love love love this jewelry!!! I bought a spoke bracelet at ragbrai this summer and its fading, so I’m so excited to see your work! Beautiful and will be getting something soon!!

  38. Rene 11. Nov, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    I love this jewelry! Great website too!

  39. Sara 14. Nov, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    Beautiful stuff. I love it!

  40. Lori 14. Nov, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    How cool. Love these

  41. Tammy 14. Nov, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    This jewelry is amazing. I love how they take ordinary bike parts and make such pretty jewelry. I would love to have some and show it off.

  42. Jody 14. Nov, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    These are awesome,I really, really want to win one!

  43. Katrina Brooks 15. Nov, 2011 at 8:55 am

    Cool!

  44. lindy shelton 15. Nov, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    wowee! sexy bike blingity! giggity goo.

  45. Michelle Purvis 15. Nov, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    My favorite is the Three-ball Spoke Bracelet. So nice and clean looking. :) .

  46. Gary 15. Nov, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    That jewelry is awesome. We are going to have to get down and check it out and say hey! Nice job man!

  47. Susan 15. Nov, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Love your work Brian!! Didn’t realize that you and your Mom are partner’s!! That is great to be able to work with family!! You are “the man” this year in cross!! Wahoo!! :)

  48. Anna Magruder 15. Nov, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    You guys rock! Keep up the fantastic work!

  49. Wendy Tan 15. Nov, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    I think it’s great that you have found an opportunity to show your passion in a piece of art. Love the bracelets! Definitely a conversation piece. Would love to win one so I can talk about it and spread the word. :)

  50. Katie 20. Mar, 2012 at 3:27 am

    The spoke bracelet is great!