Words by Adam Porter - Photography provided by Stand Out Bikes
In the first of a regular series Adam Porter, author of the excellent Bike Lane Co book series for children and lover of classic Cannondale bikes, will be interviewing various Cycling Entrepreneurs, The series will look at all the side hustles and big projects all inspired by the same thing, the love of riding a bike. In this initial instalment, Adam meets Renars the founder of Stand Our Bikes.
I have worked in the corporate world for my entire career. Just under two years ago, I ventured into my first entrepreneurial adventure, which grew from my interest in cycling! Since jumping into my attempt at a cycling side hustle, I have been interested in others ahead of me or have already navigated some of the trails.
Outside of entrepreneurial attempts, my first none riding fun came from getting into classic Cannondale bikes, eventually amassing seven from 1997 to 2003. I enjoy showing up at a race or group ride and sparking conversations about the vintage “tech” on one of my brightly colored classics.
My name is Adam Porter, and this is my first time writing for GRVL Magazine. I will visit with you here to highlight cycling entrepreneurs of all kinds and share their work, as well as the fun that comes from expanding a hobby or passion into something more. My entrepreneurial venture has been creating two children’s picture books that bring kids into the experience of cycling. Getting out there and trying to grow my brand has led me to connect with all kinds of great people—one of them being Renars from Stand Out Bikes. Renars has created some fantastic books and does amazing work turning your bike into digital art. Join me in getting to know Renars and his work!
1. Let’s start with your cycling story. Take us back to the beginning—what first got you hooked on bikes?
I started a long, long time ago—pretty much as far back as I can remember. First, it was a three-wheeler, then a bike with training wheels, and once those came off, it was game on. Like any other kid, I used my bike to get around, go on adventures, and I just never stopped. It’s been at least 30 years now.
2. Tell us about your bikes and riding experiences. You’ve been riding for years—do you have a bike that holds a special place in your heart, or is it more about the ride itself?
I don’t like to differentiate between bikes - they’re all great, each designed for a specific type of riding. What really matters is the feeling they give you. The most memorable rides are usually the most challenging—whether it’s a long-distance journey, tough weather conditions, or getting lost with friends and having to find your way out without GPS. I can’t pinpoint just one, as I’ve been fortunate to ride in incredible places like Switzerland, France, Italy, New Zealand, and Vietnam. Each experience has been unique and inspiring.
3. What sparked the idea for Stand Out Bikes? Was there a moment when you knew this was something you had to pursue?
Starting Stand Out Bikes was a very calculated decision. From my previous projects, I knew that whatever I did next had to be something I was truly passionate about—because building something successful takes a lot of time and effort, and I didn’t want to get bored along the way.
I went through all my interests and realized that bikes were something I genuinely enjoyed. On top of that, I loved graphic design and had a good eye for what looks good. Then I saw a gap in the market—people were offering custom illustrations of pets and cars, but no one was doing bikes. And I knew bike people are just as passionate as pet and car owners, if not even crazier!
So I created a few designs, and posted them online, and soon enough, people started asking, “Can you draw my bike too?” And that’s how it all began. Stand Out Bikes is all about passion for cycling and bikes. People will get an illustration of their bike and post it online before they post a photo of their pet or kid.
4. Your digital bike prints are seriously cool. What goes into making one, and how did you develop your style?
Of course! I can’t reveal all my secrets, but honestly, anyone can do it. I’m completely self-taught—I learned how to use graphic design software by watching tutorials, seeing how other things were illustrated, and then applying that to bikes.
Looking back, my first designs were pretty rough, but they’ve evolved a lot. Now, everything is more detailed and consistent. Each bike illustration takes me about two hours to complete.
5. Your coloring books have been a hit—what made you decide to start creating them?
My first coloring pages came about during the COVID lockdown. By that time, I had around 20–30 bike designs, so I removed all the fill colors and turned them into coloring pages. People were stuck at home with nothing to do, so the timing worked out perfectly.
6. The cycling dad joke book is such a fun idea! Alright, hit us with your best or favorite cycling dad joke. No pressure…
Just like my bike designs, I saw something popular in other niches and thought, “Why not bring this to the cycling world?”
As for my favorite joke—how about this one:
What did the gloves say to the handlebars?...Get a grip.
7. Running your own business has to be an adventure. What’s been the best part of building Stand Out Bikes?
Turning it into a business that allows me to sustain my lifestyle and stay out of the 9-to-5 grind. Now it's 24/7 but at least I do it all for myself.
8. For anyone dreaming of starting their own cycling-related business, what’s one lesson you’ve learned that they should know?
Figure out the marketing. How will people find out about your product or service? There are so many cool cycling-related products out there that people just don’t know about. Even after running Stand Out Bikes for five years, I still get messages from avid riders saying they just found my website or Instagram page. Visibility is everything.
9. What’s on the horizon for Stand Out Bikes? Anything exciting in the works?
There’s always something in the works! But right now, my main focus is on doubling down on what’s working and reaching more people.
10. For anyone wanting to check out your work—or get their own bike illustration—where’s the best place to find you?
The best place is Instagram: @standoutbikes. But please don’t just DM me with “draw my bike”—for that, head over to standoutbikes.com and place an order there. If you’re interested in checking out my coloring books, they’re available on Amazon.
It’s inspiring to see how Renars has turned his passion for bikes into something truly unique and impactful. Whether through custom bike prints or his creative coloring books, he’s found a way to combine cycling with art, making it something anyone can enjoy.
As for me, I'm excited to continue exploring and highlighting more cycling entrepreneurs. If you're interested in following along with my own journey in the world of cycling, be sure to check out my work on Instagram @bikelaneco.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to sharing more stories from this amazing community!
NOT a paid-for advertisement or endorsement.
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