Elissa Mielke on Life, Lyrics, and the Freedom of the Ride

Some people have a car story. Elissa Mielke has a bike story—one that spans cities, continents, and chapters of her creative life. As a musician and songwriter who has ridden a Linus bike in nearly every city she’s called home, Elissa has made two wheels part of her journey in ways that feel both liberating and grounding.

Elissa's story began at 19, when she moved from rural Ontario to Toronto and found her first Linus. Her bike became a lifeline for discovery and independence. “Biking has always felt like discovery and freedom and health to me,” she says. From the quiet of pre-dawn rides through Toronto to her journalism classes to navigating the bustling streets of New York, and even towing gear to a gig with a makeshift cart, Elissa’s Linus became her ticket to seeing the world in her own way. “Growing up in a small town before I could drive, biking meant independence,” she recalls. That sense of freedom has only grown.

From London to LA, Elissa's Linus has been a co-pilot through life's transitions. As her music took her to different cities, her bike came along, giving rhythm to her creative process. “I often get on my bike if I'm stuck on a lyric,” Elissa shares. “I’ll sing the line again and again while I’m moving, and sometimes biking just dislodges things.” This connection—between movement and creativity—has made her bike more than just a mode of transportation; it’s a muse.

"I often get on my bike if I'm stuck on a lyric, I’ll sing the line again and again while I’m moving, and sometimes biking just dislodges things"

Elissa Mielke

Photo by Thomas Van der Zaag

Today, she rides through the sunlit streets of Highland Park in Los Angeles, exploring flea markets, coffee shops, and the bike paths along the L.A. River. It’s not just her way of getting around; it’s her way of navigating a car-centric city with intention and joy. “It feels like getting around the system,” she says, describing each errand or meeting she completes by bike as “a small victory.”

This past February, Elissa received a new Linus bike from her partner—a poignant gesture that acknowledged her journey as an artist and rider. Years ago, she’d sold her Linus bike and keyboard to fund her first album. Now, on the cusp of releasing new music, her Linus is back in her life. “It’s made the structure of my days feel lighter, even when they’re busy,” she says. And in a heartwarming full circle, she found herself working with Linus in Venice on a recent photoshoot, connecting with the brand she’s loved for years.

For Elissa, riding a Linus is about more than just the miles; it’s about freedom, connection, and a sense of possibility. And as she pedals toward her next creative chapter, her Linus continues to offer her that familiar, soulful freedom—a reminder that the journey, just as much as the destination, is something to savor.