Employee Bike Profile - Kristin's Big Dummy

Posted on Jan 21st 2014 | Bike Life, Blog,

This edition of Planet Bike Employee Bike Profile features Kristin’s do-it-all long tail cargo kid-hauler! Surly is known in the bike world for no nonsense steel bikes; bikes build with a purpose that will stand the test of time.Kristin’s Big Dummy is a mostly stock build. She added the new-ish heavy duty Dummy bags […] read more...

Taking the Lane

Posted on Jan 8th 2014 | Bike Life, Blog,

Last year we linked up with Elly Blue to help support her Taking the Lane zine. Elly has been writing about bicycle transportation since 2006. Her work has appeared in the Guardian, Bicycling, Grist, Bitch, BikePortland, Momentum, and elsewhere. Her first book, Everyday Bicycling, came out in December, 2012. Her book, […] read more...

Fender Flute

Posted on Dec 13th 2013 | Blog, Learn, Product,

I’ve been sitting on this one for a while (aka, forgot to post something). Our pals over at Problem Solvers came up with a nifty solution for the mounting of front fenders on suspension corrected forks. Well, that’s a little bit of a mouthful isn’t it? But what does it mean? The Fender Flute extends the reach of the m […] read more...

A Winter of Cyclists

Posted on Nov 26th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

This new documentary just popped onto our radar. Looks pretty neato! A Winter of Cyclists captures the inaugural Icy Bike Winter Commuting Challenge. The film follows twelve cyclists as they attempt to bicycle commute during the winter months. Watch as they challenge each other during the cold, dark and snowy Colorado […] read more...

Fall 2013 Super commuter – Adam Clark

Posted on Nov 22nd 2013 | Bike Life, Super Commuters,

Chicago’s Pedal to the People proprietor Adam Clark had an epiphany back in 2001. He sold his ’89 Plymouth Horizon and started pedaling to work every morning as the sun rose in the east.  “I felt much more alive and empowered,” remembers Adam. Since that summer, he has followed many paths but bicycles ha […] read more...

Fat bike fever!

Posted on Nov 20th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

Fat bikes are nothing new. Surly came out with their first model, the Pugsley, in 2004 or 2005. However, over the last year or two the popularity of fat bikes has exploded. This year several of the largest US bike companies entered the market. The WSJ even published an article about them last week! I was certainly c […] read more...

Heck of the North

Posted on Oct 14th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog, Events,

The Heck of the North was started in 2009. As Jeremy Kershaw returned home from the Almanzo 100, and having recently finished the Ragnarok, he came to the conclusion that the Northland needed to represent. So started the many mornings before work pouring over county maps and the many sorties up dusty, dead-end roads. […] read more...

Pedals and Steps

Posted on Oct 8th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a fitness fanatic. I just don’t feel quite right if I don’t get a solid amount of exercise most days. My fairly recent introduction to the “Dad Club” has made working out a bit more tricky than it used to be. I’m short time, sleep and energy. My best solution thus far has been intr […] read more...

New products for a new season

Posted on Sep 25th 2013 | Blog, Product,

Interbike is traditionally the release of any new products for the coming year, and we have quite a few that we’re excited about! In the coming weeks we’ll be touching on some new tail lights, pump updates, and other little product tweaks. Until then, be our guest and peruse our online annual catalog. […] read more...

A Simple Solution to Many Complex Problems

Posted on Aug 30th 2013 | Better World, Bike Life, Blog, Video,

Being a company in the bicycle industry, it should be obvious that Planet Bike will support bicycles as a form of transportation. However, we go much beyond that in our efforts to reduce our impact on this earth. We were recently featured on Madison Gas & Electric’s Green View. Much of the footage was filmed during […] read more...

Camp Bluedog

Posted on Aug 20th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

Planet Bike has been a proud supporter of Camp Bluedog for the past few years. The three day camp put on by Bluedog Cycles in Viroqua, WI (and an awesome group of volunteers) introduced roughly 60 kids to mountain biking! It is a wonderful thing to see so many kids stoked on mountain biking. […] read more...

Fading Summer Days

Posted on Aug 12th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

Somehow the calendar has flipped to August already and the change of seasons looms. We’ve been enjoying a pretty spectacular summer here in the Midwest with more moderate temperatures than last year’s scorcher. It’s been a good summer to get out and ride. These days my riding is more short trips and I’m rarely riding […] read more...

Summer 2013 Super Commuter – Josh Sims

Posted on Jul 25th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog, Super Commuters,

Imagine that you are an employee at a rural Indiana bike shop. On a beautiful summer day, an eight-year-old boy and his parents stroll in looking for a bike. You help the lad pick out his dream bike — a late 1980s era Jazz Flipside by Trek. After installing a computer and tail light, you wish him luck and send him on […] read more...

Shockmate 2.0

Posted on Jul 15th 2013 | Blog, Product,

The Shockmate Suspension Pump has been a staple of mountain bikers for the past decade. Now, we are pleased to announce that it just got better. The Shockmate 2.0 Suspension Pump is a more compact version of its ever-popular predecessor. The new design is 1.5 inches shorter and makes it easily stowable on backcountry […] read more...

Eat Play Bike

Posted on Jul 8th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog, Events,

I had the honor to help organize Eat Play Bike in south Madison. My fellow collaborators included The Urban League of Greater Madison, Sustain Dane, WIBIC, and the City of Madison. The original concept was to do placemaking in southern Madison and it morphed into a month long festival at the Villager Mall parking lo […] read more...

Employee Bike Feature

Posted on Jun 27th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

Dave has been getting a lot of trailer and tag-a-long duty on his bike lately so he finally added a geared bike to his quiver. He decided on the Salsa Vaya 2. It’s a super solid build with a myriad of features. After a couple of weeks of riding Dave has added a K.O.K.O. rack for cargo duty, a Brooks saddle, and Gras […] read more...

Build it. Bike it. Be a part of it.

Posted on Jun 17th 2013 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Adventure Cycling Association’s Build it. Bike it. Be a part of it. Campaign once again surpassed its goal for 2013. In its inception in 2012, they set a lofty goal of $50,000. After meeting and exceeding that goal, the bar was raised substantially for 2013 with a $100,000 dream. With the support of industry and indi […] read more...

Cultural Trail

Posted on Jun 13th 2013 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog, Video,

Very cool and progressive bicycle infrastructure that was just completed in Indianapolis! More here. […] read more...

Customer Love!

Posted on May 31st 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

We love our customers and we love when they send us pictures of their awesome bikes! Thanks for the note Keith!

Guest Blog: The Alexander 400

Posted on May 21st 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

I met Martin Rudnick several years ago through various racing circles. He promotes/organizes a free gravel event in MN called the Dirty Benjamin (which Planet Bike supports). We provided Martin with two of our new Blaze 2 Watt Micro headlights to use in the Alexander 400 last weekend. The lights performed wonderfully […] read more...

Makin’ Bacon

Posted on May 20th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog, Events,

Our 7th annual Bacon on the Bike Path was a huge success. A gorgeous day helped bring out a massive amount of bike commuters. All the food and refreshments were devoured by 9:30. Thank you to all the bikers that stopped by. We are very grateful for our wonderful partners in this event: –Nueske’s –Just Coffee Coop […] read more...

Haulin’

Posted on May 9th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

I’ve lusted after a cargo bike for some time. We’ve certainly got no shortage of bikes at our house but I’ve slowly sold off some of my race bikes and the time was right to add a new utilitarian bike to the quiver. I thought about various styles of cargo bikes but ultimately decided on a long tail as it would allow me […] read more...

Back 40 Haiku V

Posted on May 8th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

Dave returned from the back forty carrying long tasty asparagus and news that the tulips are peaking. So I grabbed the camera and headed back for my annual haiku inspiration. Camera displays, “Battery Exhausted” How share true beauty? Sunlight through petals, Translucent structure casts Shadows, telling through. Tende […] read more...

Single speed coffee pot, zero speed brain

Posted on Apr 30th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

Our fancy all in one coffee grinder/brewer/carafe finally died a few months ago so we invested in some old school coffee technology, a stainless steel french press. This morning I discovered the Coffee Chasm, the gap between one’s pre-caffeinated motor skills and the minimum motor skills required to operate a coffee p […] read more...

Call of the Bacon

Posted on Apr 29th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog, Events,

Wisconsin will be celebrating Bike to Work Week for the year from May 13-17. What? You thought Christmas was the most wonderful time of year? Think again. Planet Bike will yet again be slinging bacon, donuts, fruit and coffee in appreciation of our fellow bicycle commuters! Join us on Thursday, May 16 on the John Nol […] read more...

Spring Classics

Posted on Apr 17th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

Getting to witness two of the most celebrated spring classic bike races was an ethereal experience. Sitting on the hillside of the cobbled Kwaremont at the Tour of Flanders in Belgium we soaked up the culture of the country and the sport. From small children to groups of teenagers to elderly couples; spectators of all […] read more...

Jeff Jones City Bike

Posted on Mar 25th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

If you’re not a mountain biker, you might not be familiar with Jeff Jones. Being a huge fan of “off the beaten path”, I’ve been quite fond of the Jones Bike aesthetic for a long time. Jeff recently posted on his bikes as a city or touring bike. Of course he chose Planet Bike Cascadia fenders for the build! […] read more...

Spring 2013 Super Commuter – Mary Beth Brown

Posted on Mar 22nd 2013 | Super Commuters,

Louisville, Kentucky has long been known for its famous Louisville Sluggers, the historic Kentucky Derby, dominant college basketball teams, and smooth bourbon. Lesser known is the fact that the city is emerging as a cycling hotbed.  Louisville has hosted the U.S. Road Cycling Nationals, a stop on the USGP cyclocr […] read more...

Passive Transportation

Posted on Mar 18th 2013 | Bike Life, Blog,

“Freedom of mobility is important to human beings. There is dignity in being independent, in being in control of one’s movements and one’s time. We place value in this, and with dignity and independence comes prestige.” Find the rest of this intriguing post over at Lovely Bicycle! […] read more...

Hockey Hair All-stars

Posted on Mar 14th 2013 | Blog, Video,

It’s no secret that the midwest states take their hockey seriously and there’s none more serious than Minnesota. They live by the puck and die by the puck. If you want to be the best than you had better play the part. You see, hockey hair is an integral part of success in the sport. Enjoy! […] read more...