Backyard Bikes and Ski

Each time I have gone here I left upset. It doesn’t matter if it’s busy or slow the workers are always rude and they make me feel like I’m inconveniencing them. They’re always in a bad mood. They act like they hate there jobs. Last time I was in there one of the workers said something rude under their breath. I couldn’t believe it! I’m never going there again!

Interesting stop, definitely a bikers (both) paradise. Good homemade sides and sandwiches; we tried the turkey sandwich and the walnut burger, and the potato and chicken salads. We topped it off with turtle ice cream and a crème cheese brownie. Great lunch, sit inside to avoid flies and don’t forget to get a number. Good food; fun roadside experience!

I can think of no better place to ride out a hellacious storm that includes blinding rain, hail and multiple tornado warnings. That’s exactly the story of how I came to give them a try.
I did manage to eat a half sandwich and a bowl of soup too. The sandwich was their ode to Route 12. Piled high with salami, ham, and turkey plus some very fresh vegetables. It hit the spot. The soup was an Italian beef & bean concoction that they make in-​house. Albeit strange, it too was very good. I don’t know that I’ve ever been served a bowl of soup that included shaved Italian beef but it did work. Chock full of vegetables and plump, juicy beans… it was just what the doctor ordered!

Tasty sandwiches and salads make this a great spot for a light lunch. Comfortable grassy picnic area behind the building.

Yum! This place is fantastic, I’ve been here in summer and winter and it hits the spot every time. Pretty easy to find off Route 12 with a parking lot near the trails. Have a bike issue? They can help. Need skis? They have them too.
There’s a deli/​general store inside with good tea, sandwiches, beer, and peanut butter balls. There’s also bathrooms and a back patio for a beer after a summer bike ride.
Great shop!

We always stop here after mountain biking for an after ride beer. The deli selection is very «foodie» — they have a great cold curry salad and deli sandwich options. Sometimes I wish there were options for a more simple pallette — like a cheese burger or fries but it’s still a great trail side stop. They have a great bike shop and t shirts too which is an added bonus.

Amazing food, amazing people and great atmosphere! The food is huge portions for the price and delicious too. Recommend getting a smoothie, totally worth it. I can go on and on about this place but you seriously need to try it!

A cool place with delicious healthy food in the middle of nowhere. Myst go if you are around the place

Did I seriously just give a 5 star rating?! Holy H yeah I did! This place deserves everything it gets!
Next to mountain biking trails — check
Bike rental — check
awesome bike gear — check
friendly bike staff — check
fix up your bike if you crash? — check
decent prices — check
Energy bars and baked goodies — check
beer after a good ride — hellya check!
THE BEST WALNUT BURGER IN AMERICA — CHECK CHECK 1 2
OMG the taste on the walnut burger is so good I am drooling now in the snow laden city and dreaming of this burger and their chips and a little spotted cow after a good ride!
The burger has flavor from the fresh ingredients and depth from the walnuts itself. And it’s warm… mmmmm little pile of walnut loaf, topped with lettuce and some other cold items and then that swirled bread. When you bite in, this walnut loaf just invades all the crevices of your mouth with warmth and crispy-​edged mush and then the snap of lettuce, and little salt flavor explosions around your tongue. Then crunch crunch crunch from their chips. And swoosh! a cool refreshing beer. Repeat!
I love you LaGrange General Store

I was looking for a healthy lunch and a place to rent bikes while visiting Wisconsin. Boy was I surprised that I found it all in one place! Backyard Bikes and Café is like a rare gem in Whitewater Wisconsin. We rented two excellent bikes and were given a map on a bike route that suited our level. Great prices and excellent service. Lunch at the general store had surprising healthy options; Homemade soups, vegetarian sandwiches… Delicious and healthy. We had a great day!

I conquer with Liz W.‘s response.
Delicious café. Smoothies are great. Paninis are good and filling. A quarter of a mile away from Kettle Morane John Muir and Nordic trailhead.

If you’re heading out for a ride or coming back in from the trails, this is the place to stop. Tasty sandwiches, a cold beer, smoothies, coffee. This place will hit the spot after a long day in the saddle!

I worked at the General Store’s deli through high school and college (2002 – 2008) and can definitively say that it ruined all other deli sandwiches for me. They really use quality ingredients and generate some pretty creative sandwiches, soups, salads, and smoothies. Whenever I’m back in Wisconsin, I make an effort to stop by and nosh on some nostalgia.
It’s a very homey place (after all, it was once a home) in the middle of an unincorporated, rural township. The store (which isn’t really general at all) includes local products, specialty goods, and a large selection of beer and wine. There is a small seating area inside, as well as on the back patio so you can sit a spell to enjoy your meal.
The owner, Mike, also helps out at Backyard Bikes. He’s extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I can say that he does what he can to encourage and help his employees. Knowing that I liked to draw, he used to have me write out the menu board and had me paint a window at one point.
This is a great small business doing great things for its community! If you ever find yourself at the base of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, I’d definitely recommend stopping in for a Fajita Pita and a Spotted Cow.

This tiny little shack is pretty much just that, a shack. But if you’re heading alone Hwy 12, and you find your self needing a latte’? They can hook you up.
It’s located right next to the trailhead in LaGrange, and I’ve driven by it hundreds of times for work. I never stopped, because it’s just a bike shop, right? Well, one day the neon light café sign caught my eye. I parked my car and walked in.
They have fresh baked goods, wine, Wisconsin beers, and oh yeah– a pretty damned good latte’. The girls behind the counter are always friendly, and the coffee is always good!
It’s a everytime stop for me now!

We’re in here at least once a week during the summer. We don’t bike, but we eat and their food is amazing.
Really healthy, veggie friendly and non-​veggie friendly fare. Just hippy enough without getting annoying about it. Amazing shakes and sandwiches. Fantastic drink selection.
Great staff.

I have been coming here for the deli sandwiches with my family since I was little. The ingredients always tastes fresh! I like browsing around as I wait for my food– little spa display, hiking & biking equipment, and a variety of beverages! I would have attached a photo of my delicious turkey fest sandwich to this review but Oops! it’s already gone.

This is the best bike shop on the planet! I have been coming to Kettle Moraine for close to 15 years and this shop is like base camp. As an avid mountain biker, I have bought several bikes over the years from the extremely knowledgeable, patient staff. They have also provided tons of information and recommendations on everything from gear to gadgets to trails out of the area. I have also rented bikes from them and they always have the very best inventory with the latest Trek models. There is nothing like a healthy lunch and a refreshing drink at the General Store after a 20+ mile ride.
If you live in Chicago, this place is definitely worth the 1 ½ to 2 hour drive.

I love this place so much I have trouble finding the words…
This place is right next to the amazing mountain biking and Nordic skiing trails in Kettle Moraine. if you go, and don’t stop here, you’re a fool. The attached bike/​ski shop has all the little and big stuff you might need too. Quality rentals, good gear, energy bars, all in one place? YES.
But what a great café! Hot soups, sandwichs, salads. Everything is very good, not just by Wi standards, but by any standard! Great selection of beer too. I always grab a case of spotted cow here to smuggle back home to Illinois. If there’s a more perfect little place than this, I can’t imagine it. Did I mention, I LOVE this place?

I am an avid mountain biker and I frequently make trips up to Kettle Moraine South to ride the plethora of MTB trails they have. My trip is not complete without visiting the Lagrange General Store. After a long ride, nothing says «nice ride» like eating a fresh sandwich and drinking a cold beer outside their shop. The environment reminds you of a simpler time and this place is a goldmine.
The service is friendly, the prices are reasonable and the ambiance is «real». You couldn’t recreate this shop if you tried. Ice Cream, Beer, Biking/​Camping Supplies, Bikes, Biking Gear, Bike Repair Services, Deli, knick knacks — it truly is a one of a kind… I think I want to be buried here!
I visited them this weekend and the bike shop staff is to die for. Unlike some shops that are douchy — this place is the real deal. They listened to my concerns, needs, etc. and made recommendations based on products rather than profit. Their knowledge is top notch. After riding for a few hours, I spent four hours drinking beer and hanging out with my wife on their patio. What? Sit outside a «general store» for four hours you say? Go visit and you’ll «get it». This is the life — This is my «Zen».
Mr. Owner. If you have any interest in selling your establishment or on gaining a business partner, please send me a message. I would seriously like to sit down with you.
A+ — My Favorite Spot in the Midwest!

I miss this place! Perfect for a recovery meal after a long day of ripping trails. Forget an accessory or tool at home? Need a repair? They’ve got you covered as well.
I’ve not been disappointed by anything on the menu, but I highly recommend the walnut loaf sandwich and one of the dozens of cold beers they have to choose from.
This place can get busy on weekends, but I always preferred to make the trip from Chicago on a weekday so I could have the trails — and the ales — all to myself.
Just an FYI, there’s a bottle opener mounted on the counter near the cash register in the deli.