Vancouver Skater Brand Landyachtz Takes on Road Bikes

After making skateboards for nearly 20 years, it was time to try something new.

What’s the secret to transitioning from board to bike?“We’re basically making bikes that are exactly what we want to use,” says Mike Perreten, co-founder of Vancouver-based skateboard company, Landyachtz, which has just launched a premium bicycle brand with two new designs.The 1146 BikeLocated at 1146 Union St., one of Vancouver’s busiest bike routes, the old 5,000-square-foot, building-turned-bike-shop has an East Van feel to it. With concrete floors, a mini skate ramp and even arcade games, the space has become a community hub for cyclists. The two types of bikes are also made here, in-house. The first is the 1146 Bike, taking its name from the address where it’s hand-built, and the City Bike (CB), designed for an urban environment.The City Bike (CB)Having made skateboards for the past 19 years, Perreten and Tom Edstrand, co-founder of Landyachtz, decided that creating a bike brand felt like the next step for the company. Whether it’s a skateboard or a bike, they insist that their focus is to make high-end products that are community-cultivating and innovative in design.“We want people to have as much of a connection as they can with their bike,” says Edstrand. “Just two wheels instead of four; pedal instead of push.”>>>Never miss a thing with our Van Mag Newsletter!