Summer 2015 Super Commuter – Ron Lessard

Posted on Aug 12th 2015 | Blog, Super Commuters,

As a young adult, Ron Lessard moved to Princeton, NJ to study the art of casting sculpture in bronze at an area foundry. He immediately fell in love with the area for its tree-shaded lanes, historic charm and natural beauty. He came to town in a car but for more than two decades he has been enjoying life in Princeton […] read more...

Bike Path Courtesy

Posted on Aug 10th 2015 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog, Learn,

It’s summertime and the living is easy. You’ve likely noticed that your neighborhood paths are teaming with activity. The path that rolls past my front door is a human highway of cyclist, rollerbladers, joggers, dog walkers, birders and skateboarders. The nicer the day, the more the path bustles. To celebrate bicyclin […] read more...

Heath's Trek 930 Xtracycle

Posted on Aug 7th 2015 |

Heath rode this bike years ago before retiring it to his childhood home and taking off for college. Years later he discovered it was still hiding in the barn. A little elbow grease, some updated components and an Xtracycle Free Radical kit was all it took t […] read more...

This is awesome!

Posted on Aug 5th 2015 | Bike Life, Blog, Video,

Many avid cyclists take the very act of riding a bike for granted. We’re really glad to see more and more adult bike riding classes popping up around the country! […] read more...

Do It Yourself!

Posted on Jul 17th 2015 | Bike Life, Blog, Learn,

A flat tire can put a big damper on a bike ride, especially if you aren’t armed with the knowledge and tools to rectify the situation. Practice makes perfect as the old adage says. Check with your local bike shop to see if they offer any free repair classes.

Super Commuters

Posted on Jun 26th 2015 | Bike Life, Super Commuters,

The mailman always say, “I wasn’t sure if you guys were open today. There weren’t any cars in the parking lot.” I’m surprised he’s not used to it after all these years.

Bacon on the Bike Path

Posted on Jun 16th 2015 | Bike Life, Events,

We set out for our 9th Annual Bacon on the Bike Path last Friday with high prospects for rain. We did end up with a wet start to the event but by the end we were dry and full of delicious Nueske’s bacon and Just Coffee blends! Despite the weather we had an exceptional turnout and served up nearly 30 pounds of bacon! T […] read more...

Yolks & Spokes

Posted on May 19th 2015 | Bike Life, Video,

Yolks and Spokes documents breakfast culture along the Mississippi River through multimedia storytelling with an ovular lens: the egg. Dana and Sara are riding their bicycles approximately 2,000 miles, beginning at Lake Itasca in the Minnesota North Woods, through the mid-continental United States and the cultural cen […] read more...

National Bike to Work Day

Posted on May 14th 2015 | Events,

Friday, May 15 is National Bike to Work Day. Are you ready to get your day off to a glorious start with a nice pedal into work?

Bike to School Day

Posted on May 6th 2015 | Events,

Today is Bike to School Day and I used that as motivation to make it my first bike to work ride this year as well. School is only a 2 mile ride from home but PBHQ is 13 miles from there so when you throw in the chaos of trying to get two small children out the door in the morning, my bike commuting days have been on h […] read more...

Traverse City Bikes to School Day

Posted on Apr 22nd 2015 | Advocacy,

I’m continually impressed with Traverse City’s Norte in their ability to get kids riding their bikes in all kinds of weather. They’re currently gettin ready for their Bikes to School Day on May 6 but check out these stats from the last week! […] read more...

Don’t make bicyclists more visible…

Posted on Apr 20th 2015 | Advocacy, Bike Life,

Make drivers stop hitting them. Eben Weiss, aka The Bike Snob, had an interesting article in last weeks Washington Press. It may seem a little shocking at first, but the more I think about it, he kinda has a point. What do you think? […] read more...

Better Than New

Posted on Apr 7th 2015 | Advocacy, Better World, Video,

All of us here at Planet Bike are huge fans of Patagonia; our brands really mesh well together. This is definitely next level and super awesome! […] read more...

What’s a flat kit and why should I have one?

Posted on Mar 31st 2015 | Learn,

Our spring newsletter was released yesterday. In case you missed it, our Learn Stuff article focused on flat kits. Inevitably, it won’t cross your mind until you’re standing on the side of the road 5 miles from home with a flat tire and no way to repair it. Seasoned commuters and riders across the land have embarrassi […] read more...

Spring 2015 Super Commuter David Pulsipher

Posted on Mar 17th 2015 | Super Commuters,

It may come as a surprise to many, but the third largest city in the U.S., Chicago, has an incredible bike infrastructure. Our spring Super Commuter, David Pulsipher, gushes that he loves the “City of Big Shoulders” for its world class stature but livable nature. “Nothing feels too big, too far, too busy or hectic,” h […] read more...

Shifting Gears: A Cyclical History of Badger Bicycling Opens Soon

Posted on Feb 17th 2015 | Bike Life, Events, News,

In this new exhibit at the Wisconsin Historical Museum, you’ll travel through 130 years of Wisconsin cycling history. Showcasing the crucial role that Wisconsin has played in two national bicycling eras, the “Shifting Gears: A Cyclical History of Badger Bicycling” exhibit features historic bicycles and artifacts, intr […] read more...

World Winter Bike to Work Day

Posted on Feb 13th 2015 | Bike Life, Events,

Today is World Winter Bike to Work Day and Planet Bike celebrated the occasion with our now annual WINTER Bacon on the Bike Path. We were joined by the good folks of Madison B-Cycle and cooked up several pounds of Nueske’s bacon along with a couple dozen doughnuts from local Greenbush Bakery and EVP coffee! Thanks to […] read more...

Advocacy Action Alert – Wisconsin

Posted on Feb 5th 2015 | Advocacy,

Repost from the Wisconsin Bike Fed: Governor Scott Walker has introduced a two-year state budget that has tremendous negative implications for cyclists and for biking safety. The Governor’s budget (Senate Bill 21) would: -Repeal Wisconsin’s successful Complete Streets law. The law requires that bicyclists and pede […] read more...

Winter Bacon on the Bike Path, reminder #1

Posted on Jan 27th 2015 | Bike Life, Events,

Madison’s Bike Winter Week, formerly known as Winter Bike To Work Week, has been set for February 9-13. The agenda for the week is still being finalized, but anticipate commuter stations at least 1 of the days with other events throughout the week. Friday, Feb 13, is the official International Winter Bike to Work Day. […] read more...

Embracing Winter

Posted on Jan 20th 2015 | Bike Life,

In a perfect world I’d never have to spend more than 2 minutes getting dressed for a bike ride. Getting frostbite on exposed skin would never cross my mind and the thought of road salt corroding my precious ride would be laughable. But living in Wisconsin these are all things I’ve learned to deal with. And, I must adm […] read more...

So long, and thanks for all the lobster

Posted on Jan 13th 2015 | Advocacy,

It is with bitter sweet feelings I share that Jeff Miller has decided to move on from the Alliance for Biking & Walking. You can read the announcement here. Planet Bike has been a primary supporter of the Alliance for more than a decade. In that time, I have seen Jeff transform the Alliance. Prior to Jeff’s tenure […] read more...

Polar Vortex Biking Dress Code

Posted on Jan 7th 2015 | Bike Life, Learn,

In the midst of a polar vortex, I always like to put out a reminder on biking in brutally cold temperatures. This morning on my 45 minute commute to work, the temperature was hovering around -6F with the wind chill at -25F. However, I was completely comfortable riding in the proper attire. Hands and feet have always b […] read more...

2014 in Review

Posted on Jan 5th 2015 | Advocacy,

For the past nineteen years we have collaborated in many meaningful bicycle advocacy initiatives across North America. This year was no exception as we continued to partner with advocates on key national initiatives as well as many locally-targeted programs that focus on getting more people on bikes. On the national l […] read more...

Happy Holidays!

Posted on Dec 23rd 2014 | Bike Life, Blog,

Happy Holidays from the Planet Bike family to you and yours. We’ll have reduced hours over the next two weeks as we take some time to recharge for 2015. Our office and warehouse will be closed December 24-28 and Dec 31-January 4. We’ll be back and ready to rock on January 5.   […] read more...

Throwback Thursday

Posted on Dec 18th 2014 | Better World, Blog,

Planet Bike has long been committed to doing business in a different way. Aside from our mission to help strengthen bike advocacy we also aim to make our business as sustainable as possible. We utilize the best subcomponents we can find to bring you products that work great, are durable and stand the test of time. W […] read more...

Kid Bike Love

Posted on Dec 2nd 2014 | Bike Life, Blog,

I taught my 3 year old to ride a two wheeler this past weekend. He had been zooming around on his run bike for some time and could balance going downhill for more than a block with ease so I figured he’d catch on quickly. To see his determination and excitement about riding a “two wheel pedal bike!” was such a thrill […] read more...

Fall 2014 Super Commuter – Steve Hulme

Posted on Nov 22nd 2014 | Super Commuters,

If you were asked to name a major event of 1997, you might recall that Bill Clinton began his 2nd term as president or that the Green Bay Packers won Superbowl XXXII; you might reminisce that Beanie Babies were booming in popularity or NASA’s Pathfinder landed on Mars. If you asked SUPERCOMMUTER Steve Hulme what he rem […] read more...

The Best Way to Carry Cargo by Bike.

Posted on Nov 20th 2014 | Bike Life, Blog, Learn,

A bicycle is a beautiful thing and to optimize all if its benefits, we all want to be able to carry some stuff with us as we head down the road of life. So, what’s the best approach? Is it your trusty backpack, a classic highlighter yellow Ortlieb pannier or are you planning on getting your three kids to school in th […] read more...

Madison’s Electronic Bike Counter

Posted on Nov 7th 2014 | Bike Life, Blog,

The City of Madison installed its first visual electronic bicycle counter just under a month ago on October 9th. It’s located on the heavily trafficked Southwest Path near UW-Madison’s Camp Randall. The counter tallies bicyclists that pass over loops embedded in the path. Two counts are tallied on the counter. Near th […] read more...

Magical Bicycle Tour

Posted on Sep 29th 2014 | Bike Life, Blog, Product,

Heath, our Director of Product Development, set Alan and Karen up with some of our new waterproof saddle covers prior to their big tour. Below is a note that Alan sent post-tour: Karen and I are back from our magical bicycle adventure. We rode back into Madison from Minneapolis on September 10 after visiting our chi […] read more...