MCBC Sponsor Profile Mike’s Bikes Gets More People On Bikes
MCBC continues to thrive thanks to support from our outstanding sponsors, who share our values and believe that bicycling should be safe, fun, and accessible. Over the coming months, we’ll highlight our business sponsors and encourage you to support those who support MCBC.
Do you want to join Mike’s Bikes in supporting MCBC? Check out our sponsorship package and email Tom Boss (tom@www.marinbike.org).
Mike’s Bikes is the largest local bike shop in America. Their first shop began right here in Marin, starting in San Rafael in 1964. Over the years, due to support from our thousands of customers, they’ve grown to twelve stores from Silicon Valley to Sacramento. But the beating heart of their company remains right here in Marin. With a talented and well-trained staff of local riders, the shopping experience is above what you’ll find anywhere else in the bicycle industry. Pair their staff with the industry’s best brands and you’ll see why Mike’s is consistently voted the Best Bike Shop and Best Place to Work!
Mike’s Bikes has been a big supporter of the MCBC for many years, with one of its owners previously serving on the Board of Directors and currently serving on the Off-Road Committee. Mike’s Bikes’ mission is to “get more people on bikes.” They recognize the importance of local advocacy organizations like MCBC in working toward that mission.
We sat down with the folks at Mike’s Bikes to learn more about their business and what fuels their mission.
Tell us about Mike’s. What should MCBC members know about your business?
Well, two things really drive us; our love of bikes and our passion for helping people. Our staff is full of bike nuts, from our owners through to our shop employees, and we love to share that passion with our customers. Whether we get to see a kid smile after their first ride, help an aspiring racer get that first big result, or help a rider start to commute by bike, it all makes us happy.
And as much fun as it is to work around bikes, we take our profession seriously. We work tirelessly to stay ahead of retail and consumer buying trends. In addition to our awesome brick and mortar stores, we have an online store, also staffed with passionate riders, so we can offer a blended shopping experience. We’ll even deliver and setup your new bike at your home or office!
In addition to how we run our business, we are commited to the Greater Good and supporting important organizations like MCBC. We support many local advocacy groups and even started our own foundation, which runs our Sister Shop Program. We collect used bikes from our customers here and send them to local entrepreneurs in Southern Africa. We also train them to run shops of their own with the goal of a sustainable supply of bikes in areas where that doesn’t exist. Bikes are important here, but can be more crucial in the African communities we serve due to lack of transportation options.
Are there any specific MCBC projects or programs which particularly resonate for you and your organization?
We appreciate all the work and programs that MCBC is tackling, but are particularly excited about the potential opening of Alto Tunnel. We believe that the easier it is to use your bike to get around, the more people will do it. We’ve seen the success of the Cal Park Hill Tunnel; Alto Tunnel will make riding between southern and central Marin that much easier!
Also, as mountain bikers that have suffered far too long the status quo of minimal trail access, we are really behind the Off-Road Program. We want to see more trail opportunities for mountain bikers of all levels and we’re seeing the early signs of success of the MCBC’s work on this issue.
Visit Mike’s Bikes >>
Visit Mike’s Marin Shops In San Rafael & Sausalito
MCBC appreciates Mike’s Bikes’ generous and long-running support. In addition to being one of three sponsors backing our new Trail Stewards Initiative, we’re collaborating with them on something very exciting this Fall. Stay tuned…
Do you want to join Mike’s Bikes in supporting MCBC? Check out our sponsorship package and email Tom Boss (tom@www.marinbike.org).
