Grateful Dead x retrospec Bikes

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band founded in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. They were known for their eclectic style, blending elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, country, and jazz, often with extended improvisational jams in their live performances. This unique, varied sound, along with their dedicated fanbase (“Dead Heads”), made them iconic figures in the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s. They are widely considered one of the most influential rock bands of all time.

We released our Grateful Dead x retrospec collection this year to honor the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s founding, back in 1965. But why the Dead? In short, because of their music’s deep connection to the natural world, and to the spirit of creativity and adventure that inspires so many of us here at retrospec. In the words of our founder and CEO, Ely Khakshouri: “The Grateful Dead has been the soundtrack to many of my dawn-til-dusk hikes and thousands of miles of road travel through some of my favorite places and experiences …The Grateful Dead inspires spontaneity, creativity, curiosity and fun-loving—virtues we live by daily thanks in great part to the music.”

If you’re a fan of the Grateful Dead, our new limited-edition series of custom bikes is the perfect way to show off your style. We have six pedal bicycles—from fixies to beach cruisers to gravel bikes—in this collection, all styled with the Grateful Dead’s iconic symbolism of 13-point lightning bolts, Steal Your Face skulls, colorful dancing bears, and roses. Perhaps more importantly, these are limited-edition products, meaning once they sell out, they’re gone for good!

This is a big question, but start by considering your goals. Where do you plan to ride? On busy city streets, remote trails, or somewhere else? How often do you plan to ride? How many miles do you plan to ride in a regular session? Answering questions like this before you begin your search should help you fine-tune your options. If you’re stuck wondering how to choose a bike, don’t stress. We’ve created an intuitive “Help Me Choose a Bike” quiz to make it easy. It’s free and only takes 30 seconds!

Through our partnership with the Grateful Dead, we’re offering six custom bicycles with Dead-inspired designs. Our collection spans the gamut of retrospec bicycles, so no matter what type of bike you’re looking for, there’s an option for the Dead Head in you! Our custom Grateful Dead bikes consist of a rugged gravel bike (Amok), a versatile, practical seven-speed city bike (Kinney Mixte), a streamlined fixie (Harper), a klunker (Sully) and our bestselling Chatham Beach Cruiser, which is available with colorful Grateful Dead style in both Step Through and Step Over variants! (Note: Save for the Grateful Dead design and aesthetic, these six bicycles are identical to their respective standard bicycles.)

It depends on where you want to ride, but for a novice bicyclist, a beach cruiser like our Chatham Step Through is the easiest (and most comfortable) bike to ride. With a colorful, tie-dye plush seat, step-through frame emblazoned with a Steal Your Face skull, simple coaster brakes, swept-back handlebars, and a relaxed riding position, this bike is purpose-built for laid back, casual riding, all while jamming out to the Dead, of course!

Yes! All of our Grateful Dead-inspired bikes, as well as the kids’ bikes, come with sticker packs containing 13-point lightning bolts, skulls, roses, and dancing bears and skeletons, so you can custom-style your ride (or your water bottle, laptop, bike helmet, or something else) in honor of the Grateful Dead.

Grateful Dead x retrospec bikes and other gear will only be available for a limited time while supplies last. If you want to own these custom, Dead-inspired bicycles, now is your best chance!

Our Grateful Dead collection consists of 17 unique products across four main categories: electric bikes, traditional bikes, kids’ bikes, and paddle boards, as well as a standalone Grateful Dead Inflatable Seat for compatible paddle boards and platforms.

Grateful Dead Electric Bikes:

• Koa Rev+ 2 Fat Tire

• Valen Rev+ Fat Tire

• Boca Rev Electric Tricycle

Grateful Dead Pedal Bikes:

• Amok Gravel Adventure Bike

• Kinney Mixte City Bike

• Harper Fixie Bike

• Chatham Beach Cruiser (Step Through)

• Chatham Beach Cruiser (Step Over)

• Sully Klunker Bike

Grateful Dead Kids’ Bikes:

• Cricket 2 Baby Walker/Balance Bike

• Cub Plus Balance Bike

Grateful Dead Paddle Boards:

• Weekender

• Weekender Crew (Multi-Person)

• Weekender Crew XL (Multi-Person)

• Weekender Nano Kids’

• Weekender iSUP/Kayak Hybrid