Before there were scads of companies appealing to the female cyclist, before there was a women’s Tour de France Femmes on television for the world to see, before there was even a minimum wage for professional women in the peloton there was Bonnie. Liv Cycling’s new short film leans into the story of how Bonnie Tu pushed for change while working as the CFO of Giant.
It all started when Bonnie was 57 years old. In 2007 she set forth to join the founder of Giant, King Liu, on a cycling trip around Taiwan. At that point, she was working for the brand but didn’t have her own bike. While Liu was riding his carbon TCR, Bonnie rode a borrowed aluminium sports bike in clothing that didn’t fit. It was this experience that started the ball rolling and got Bonnie wondering, why don’t we have bikes for women?
In 16 minutes BONNIE tells the story of how Bonnie Tu said “Why the heck not” so loud that Giant formed a side brand specifically for women.
Bonnie is relatable while also being a larger-than-life figure. Her style and ambition are awe-inspiring, but her story is one many women can identify with. Living in a world where women are constantly forced to be everything, while not stepping on the toes of the men around them, where there is a constant desire to prove oneself, Bonnie took her passion and changed women’s cycling forever.
Her story is as much about proving to those around her and herself that a woman can be as valuable as a man. She pushed back from the “shrink and pink” idea of women’s products and demanded quality cycling goods designed for women’s bodies and needs.
Liv was founded in 2008. Sixteen years later their logo is plastered all over the biggest event in women’s cycling: the Tour de France Femmes. They sponsor the jersey of the Youth Classification at the Tour along with one of the WorldTeams in the peloton: Liv AlUla Jayco. Over the years they’ve had their own team with Liv Racing, and been the bike under countless top-level wins including Coryn Rivera’s Tour of Flanders victory in 2017 as shown in the film.
The film premiered just a week before the announcement of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes route, a race that has changed the landscape of women’s cycling as much as Bonnie and Liv. The race has been a catalyst for change in the sport, from teams to riders to the atmosphere around the event. Women’s cycling is booming, and although Bonnie isn’t the only person to tip our hats to, it’s important to look back and see just how far cycling for women of all ages and levels has come since 2008.
Nowadays, most bike shops have at least a section dedicated to the female rider. Brands don’t get too far if they fully exclude women, the market is on the rise and those who embrace it are rewarded for their efforts.
BONNIE is not just the story of one woman’s work to make cycling more inclusive for women; it’s the story of how one woman changed the game and created a space for women in a male-dominated sport and industry. It’s the story of how Bonnie created jobs and opportunities for women to fall in love with cycling.
In the 16 minutes it takes to watch this film, you’ll feel inspired not only by Bonnie Tu but also by the women who make sure Liv continues to break down barriers and push the sport forward for all women interested in jumping on a bike and feeling comfortable and fashionable as heck doing it.
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