Providing bicycles and gear to the bike-crazy city of Boise, ID, Spokey Joe’s Bike & Gear shop is a “gear-head” paradise. In addition to their great products and services, the shop also is known for employing a kind of industry celebrity. “Our cat, Kona was named ‘Best Shop Cat’ in the 2011 Shop Dog of the Year competition, presented by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News Magazine,” says owners Diane Cutler and Andy Zivinsky. “We owned a different shop back then, but our spirit and passion for biking – and Kona – remain a big part of who we are today!”

As both Diane and Andy note, the effects of the pandemic have been a wild ride for Spokey Joe’s. “With gym closures and other factors, the global demand for bikes was so big in spring and summer that it was almost impossible for us to get parts,” says Andy. “While the shortages continue, we’ve been so fortunate to be able to remain open and serve our loyal customers.”

That sense of good fortune is a driving force behind Spokey Joe’s participation in Columbia Bank’s Pass It On Project. Spokey Joe’s Bike & Gear is providing bikes to those in need and Columbia Bank is covering the bill. “We are passing it on to the Boise Bicycle Project, a local nonprofit that builds, repairs and donates bicycles to children who don’t have bikes of their own,” says Diane. “To us, a bike is more than just transportation; it’s a pathway toward independence, freedom and fun. This program is allowing us to give that gift to children in our community.”