Why I’ve Been Quiet Lately: A Personal Update

I wanted to share a little personal update, because I’ve been quieter than usual over the past few weeks.

I’ve been off work undergoing knee replacement surgery and focusing on recovery. It’s been a bigger pause than I would normally take, and while I’m starting to return to work this week, I’ll be easing back in a little more gently while I continue to heal.

As many of you would know, when you run a small business, it’s hard to disappear quietly. There’s usually always something to do, someone to reply to, or another job waiting in the wings. So when things go quiet, there’s usually a reason.

For me, that reason has been surgery and recovery.

The past three weeks have been a reminder that healing takes time, energy, patience, and a fair bit of humility too. Even when you know something is the right step for your health, recovery can still be uncomfortable, slow, and more tiring than you expect.

It has also been a reminder that our bodies need care.

That probably sounds obvious, but like many women, I’m very used to pushing through, getting on with things, and trying to keep all the plates spinning. Being forced to stop — or at least slow down properly — has not come naturally to me. But it has been necessary.

So if you’ve been waiting on a reply, noticed things have been a little quieter than usual, or wondered where I’d gone, that’s why.

I’m back at work this week, but not at full pace just yet. I’ll still be taking things a bit more slowly while I recover, and I’m very grateful for your patience as I find my rhythm again.

One of the things this experience has reinforced for me is something that sits at the heart of Birds on Bikes anyway: comfort really matters.

When your body is sore, healing, or simply asking for a bit more care, comfort stops feeling like a “nice to have” and starts feeling essential. The way things fit, the way fabric feels, the pressure of a waistband, the ease of movement — all of it matters.

That’s always been part of why Birds on Bikes exists.

This brand has never been about high-performance gear for a tiny group of women. It has always been about real women, real bodies, and clothing that helps you feel more comfortable and confident on the bike. Going through this recovery has only deepened that for me.

Bodies change. Bodies age. Bodies go through injury, surgery, recovery, menopause, stress, and seasons where they need more support. That’s real life. And I think the clothes we wear should meet us there with a bit more understanding.

So while this has been a slower season for me, it has also been a meaningful one.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for your patience, your support, and for continuing to back a small Australian brand built by a real woman living real life.

I’m glad to be making my way back — even if a little more gently than usual.

With love,

Barbara