About Sunflower Outdoor & Bike
Clothing, Equipment, Fuel, and Events for the Self-Propelled
Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop is one of the leading cycling and outdoor outfitters in the nation. Located in historic downtown Lawrence, Kansas, Sunflower has a long history (more than 50 years!) of helping people enjoy what we love—getting outside. If you've got an outdoor adventure planned for Northeast Kansas (or beyond), we've got you covered. From bikes to backpacks, clothing to car racks, trail running to tent camping, caffeine to liquid courage, and everything in between, you're sure to find the gear, fuel, and friendly advice that ensures an excellent experience for you in the great outdoors.
We’re extremely selective about the brands and products we offer. We only sell products from the best bike and outdoor brands in the world. We offer great value to our customers through competitive pricing, quality products, and superior customer service.
We provide service with a level of expertise and familiarity honed through our own adventures and testing of the products and brands we curate and carry. When you need to find someone who can direct you to the right gear and need to try out the options before you make a selection, Sunflower is the one of the best places to get what you need and shop local in Lawrence. We use the term "nerd" with great affection here at the shop, so when it comes time to plan your next adventure, seek out one of our "bike nerds" or "camping nerds" or "hiking nerds," and we'll get you set!
Ultimately, what we're selling here is fun: the happiness of a trail run, the relief of finishing a big endurance gravel event, or the simple bliss of seeing a sunrise from the door of your tent. We staff our team with friendly faces that are as excited about your next adventure as you are.
Our Story
Sunflower began as an Army-Navy surplus store in 1972. As the staffers’ outdoor interests grew, the store came to include outdoor clothing, equipment, and bicycles. Today we are proud to be recognized as one of the Nation’s Best Bike Shops, and we've been fortunate enough to be voted Lawrence's Best Bike Shop for the past 10 years.
Sunflower has endured challenges, evolved, and thrived over its 50-plus years in Lawrence. We continue to be inspired by the stories, adventures, and support of this community. Check out our 50-year timeline (including a presidential visit and two fires) here to get the full story of how Sunflower became the Lawrence landmark it is today.
Over the years, we have grown the number of ways we support the self-propelled community:
- We host and collaborate a series of events each month to build community, educate, and have fun with others who also love the Great Outdoors. All of our upcoming events are shared on our event calendar.
- Sunflower Cafe and Pub, which opened inside Sunflower Outdoor and Bike in 2022, offers a range of drinks, snacks, and meals to fuel our community.
- OmTree Shala moved into the Sunflower Wellness Studio on the second floor in spring 2023. The studio’s well-trained teachers offer a range of classes each week, including yoga and Pilates, in our newly renovated space.
- And if you’re looking for a unique place to gather with friends, family, or colleagues, we offer event rental space for a host of special occasions. Learn more about the event space options we have available.
Our Values: Why Shop with Sunflower
As avid outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, we love getting more people outside more often. So we love to support our local outdoor clubs by participating in bike rodeos, outdoor clinics, film festivals, and more.
As a locally owned business, we do more than provide excellent gear and service: We provide jobs, donations, and keep dollars circulating in our local economy. Every purchase made at Sunflower, including on our website’s extensive catalog, puts more dollars to work in our hometown.
We know that our business can be an engine for change, giving back to the environment and community that supports us. One way we act on our business’s purpose is by funding youth education and youth sport, including as a supporter of the Kansas Chapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and helping found the Steve Tilford Foundation.
Meet the Sunflower Team
Ultimately, what we're selling down here is fun. The happiness of a trail run, the relief of finishing a big endurance gravel event, or the simple bliss of seeing a sunrise from the door of your tent. So it makes sense that we would staff our team with friendly faces that are as excited about your next adventure as you are! Meet several of the Sunflower team members below:
The Bike Shop

Paul Heimbach

Austin Elser

Jack Tell

Marco DeAngelis
The Outdoor Shop

Alix Carson
Sunflower's special because: The people, all of them, staff and customers alike! The staff here is super special and some of us worked together in the late '90s, left to do other life things, and have returned. That's saying something! The customers come in eager to travel & adventure, then return to share their stories; it's just a very wonderful place to be!

Ian Pepin
Sunflower's special because: Sunflower has been my home base for many years now. It’s the place I go at the start and end of adventures either to prepare or recover from them. It’s also been the initial meeting place for many of my lifelong friends.

Ed French
Sunflower's special because: I enjoy engaging with our amazing customers and seeing the shop evolve over the years.
The Sunflower Cafe & Pub

Jessie Morschhauser

Amy Cloud
Sunflower's special because: My favorite part of every day is interacting with my co-workers and all the the extraordinary people that walk through the doors of Sunflower. Because everyone is coming in for things they love, the good vibes are super high.

Jennifer Nelson
The OmTree @ Sunflower Wellness Studio

Sharyn Harley

Cole Cottin
Operations

Laura Wagner

Matt Gilhousen
Since 2020
Adventure cred: I grew up on a small lake in eastern Kansas, so being outdoors is part of who I am. I grew up on my bike, including racing BMX, and over the last 20 years I have gravitated toward mountain, gravel and cyclocross. From a competition perspective, having completed multiple Leadville 100s and racing the 2013 Cyclocross Masters World Championships are what I am most proud of. Off the bike, the majority of my career has been spent as an entrepreneur, including co-founding of a larger renewable energy development company. I am a proud KU grad as well, with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Favorite way to spend time outdoors: This one's easy: riding my bike and cross-country skiing!
Sunflower's special because: Sunflower has been a part of what makes this community so special and a place that I want to call home. As a long time customer, when the business needed someone to step in and carry it into the future, I felt is was something I needed to do, to give back to the business and community that had been so good to me over the years.

Quality & Value
We sell products from the best bike and outdoor brands in the world. We offer great value to our customers through competitive pricing, quality products, and superior customer service.

Friendly Staff
Ultimately, what we're selling down here is fun. The happiness of a trail run, the relief of finishing a big endurance gravel event, or the simple bliss of seeing a sunrise from the door of your tent. So it makes sense that we would staff our team with friendly faces that are as excited about your next adventure as you are!

Giving Back
As avid outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, we love getting more people outside more often. So we love to support our local outdoor clubs by participating in bike rodeos, outdoor clinics, film festivals, and more!
Browse Our Bike Selection
Find your dream bike today and visit us for a test ride. We'll ensure that you're on the right bike to meet your needs and the right frame size for a comfortable, safe cycling experience.