Six Great Reasons to Join the National Bike Challenge

Posted on Apr 25th 2018 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog, Events,

Thinking about signing up for the National Bike Challenge this year? There are six days remaining before the start of the National Bike Challenge so with a little help from our friends at the League of American Bicyclists  we made a list of six great reasons to join! (All photos are provided by participant […] read more...

30 Days of Biking in April

Posted on Mar 29th 2018 | Bike Life,

The month of April is almost here and with it comes the 30 Days of Biking Challenge and Pledge. Now in its 8th year, the challenge is a way to encourage people to try to get out and ride their bike every day in April. Even the shortest of rides counts – a quick spin around the block, a ride to the nearest coffee sho […] read more...

Support Your Shop

Posted on Nov 2nd 2017 | Bike Life,

We rolled out a new website several weeks ago which has made it even easier to find our products at bike shops in your area. All the product pages offer a “Buy Local” button which will prompt you to enter your zip code or city/state. […] read more...

Badger Rock Middle School Launches Riding for Focus Program

Posted on Oct 23rd 2017 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Last week Badger Rock Middle school in our home town of Madison, WI was one of 20 middle schools across the country to receive a Biking for Focus grant from The Specialized Foundation. The grant provided 20 bikes, helmets through the Specialized Foundation and curriculum that was developed with Stanford University. […] read more...

Youth Bike Summit Recap

Posted on Oct 19th 2017 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

A few weeks ago we posted a blog about the 7th annual Youth Bike Summit (YBS) that took place on October 6th – 8th in Arlington, VA. Planet Bike has been a long-time supporter of the YBS and we are always excited to see the results and growth of the summit each year. Keynote presentation sessionMore t […] read more...

Transportation – The Future is Now

Posted on Oct 11th 2017 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

I had the pleasure to attend and present at 1000 Friends of Wisconsin’s recent Transportation: The Future Is Now conference in Madison, WI. In a nutshell, I spoke to how Autonomous Vehicles will slowly create a bump and then a tidal wave of biking and walking in our communities. Once a person replaces their old car wit […] read more...

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

Posted on Oct 3rd 2017 | Bike Life, Events,

My family recently took a trip up to Marquette, Michigan with some other biking families to explore and ride some of the amazing mountain bike trails the area is well known for. We brought the kids to the trail head one day to rip around on the pump track and ride some of the shorter loops through the woods. […] read more...

40,000 Miles and Counting

Posted on Aug 18th 2017 | Bike Life,

We recently heard from a loyal customer in Texas who swears by our Protégé computers and we just had to share his story.Gary Files was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in February 2008 and vowed to take control of his health through diet and exercise. In May of that year he made a commitment to ride and began logg […] read more...

Life in the Bike Lane

Posted on Aug 11th 2017 | Better World, Bike Life,

New York City, known as the melting pot of the world, has seen the number of bicycle commuters increase rapidly over the past five years. Although still a fraction of the total transportation population, bicycling has outpaced both population and employment growth within the city. New York now has more bicycle c […] read more...

Learning to Ride

Posted on May 17th 2017 | Bike Life,

Learning to ride a bike is a big deal. The experience has a sort of monumental and mythical quality to it. It’s one of those classic experiences you’re supposed to remember forever, symbolizing a sense of independence and accomplishment. We can probably all envision the scene – a parent running behind a child an […] read more...

National Park Week

Posted on Apr 17th 2017 | Bike Life,

At Planet Bike, we obviously love riding our bikes. We use the bicycle for multiple reasons – transportation, recreation, racing, urban exploring, and family outings just to name a few. Aside from our daily use of the bicycle, we are always on the lookout for unique experiences to enjoy on our favorite two-wheel […] read more...

400 bikes, 70 locks, thousands of smiles

Posted on Apr 7th 2017 | Advocacy, Bike Life,

March 29, 2017 was the culmination of six month’s hard work by Andy Quandt to bring Free Bikes 4 Kidz to Madison, WI. We gave away 400 bikes and helmets, 70 Planet Bike locks, and thousands of smiles. Turning run down bikes into gold feels good. Nigel Hayes of the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team was on h […] read more...

Neuroscience, Bikes, and Kids

Posted on Mar 24th 2017 | Bike Life,

At the 2017 National Bike Summit in Washington, DC earlier this month I learned about many new and innovative bike programs happening around the United States. One of the programs that caught my attention dealt with the intersection of neuroscience, bikes, and kids. Mike Sin […] read more...

2017 Wisconsin Ride Guide

Posted on Mar 16th 2017 | Bike Life, Events,

Bicycling plays a prominent role in our home state of Wisconsin. From the many rail trails and other paths that are prevalent through much of the state, to the numerous bicycle related industries that call Wisconsin home; we take bicycling seriously here in Wisconsin. We also have a terrific advocacy organization in […] read more...

It’s the Little Things

Posted on Mar 6th 2017 | Bike Life, Blog, Video,

We all know the genius of the Dutch transportation engineers that have created a people-focused transportation system beloved by bicyclists, pedestrians and car drivers. It’s not just separated bike lanes and low car speeds that make cycling safe and fun in the Netherlands, it’s the little things too. Today, I fou […] read more...

Double Wrapped Handlebars

Posted on Jun 10th 2016 | Bike Life, Blog, Learn, Product,

My name is Heath and I’m a double taper. It all started when I saw an old timer (yep, I’m talking about you Larry) cover his bars with foam tubes (think 10 speeds of the 1980’s) and a layer of leather tape overtop. A secret layer of comfort, genius! Over the years I have refined my s […] read more...

Radical parking

Posted on Mar 10th 2016 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

When I visualize a big city, one of the things I see is cars: cars on the road, cars in parking lots, cars on the sidewalk and cars underneath all new condo buildings. I was in Washington, DC this week for the National Bike Summit. I was lucky enough to borrow a bike from my friend Jeff so was able to explore the ci […] read more...

Riding Towards Winter

Posted on Dec 8th 2015 | Bike Life, Blog,

Autumn can be an exhilarating time for traveling by bike. It can also be a little unpredictable. Daylight hours are quickly waning, the temperature is fickle and rain can string together for days. Dressing for the season is challenging but keeping your bike running smoothly can be just as difficult. We’ve pulled toge […] read more...

Pickin’ & Skiddin’

Posted on Sep 22nd 2015 | Bike Life, Blog, Video,

This is too good to not share!

The Jay Petervary Story

Posted on Aug 20th 2015 | Bike Life, Blog, Video,

JayP is quickly becoming (has become?) a living legend in the endurance bike world. Here’s a short and sweet clip on one of his adventures abroad. […] 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...