IN BRIEF
Online retailer Backcountry has bought Velofix, a network of mobile bike workshops operating in the United States and Canada; the deal closed on 17 September, according to Cycling Weekly and Singletracks. Velofix’s 96 technicians work out of fully equipped vans, and their service areas cover 50% of cyclists in North America, with a target of 75%, according to Backcountry figures reported by Singletracks. Backcountry wants to use this fleet to eventually deliver bikes built and adjusted at its customers’ homes.
A bike ordered online arrives in a box: that is the problem Backcountry wants to solve by buying Velofix. According to Cycling Weekly, the retailer plans to fold this network of mobile workshops into its assembly and delivery operations, to bridge the gap between the box left on the doorstep and a bike ready to ride.
Backcountry buys Velofix, the bike workshop that comes to your door
Founded in Vancouver in 2013, Singletracks notes, Velofix operates as a franchise: around two thirds of its mobile workshops are company-owned and the rest belong to independent operators, Backcountry president Kevin Lenau told Bicycle Retailer. According to Cycling Weekly, its 96 certified technicians work out of fully equipped vans that bring the workshop right to customers’ doors. Backcountry claims coverage of 50% of cyclists in North America and is aiming for 75%, according to Singletracks.
Bicycle Retailer reports that Velofix’s headquarters will remain in Vancouver and that its CEO and co-founder, Davide Xausa, will stay on as a consultant.
Towards bikes delivered fully built
“A rider in Boulder or Boston can order a bike from us and have a Velofix technician build it, tune it, and hand it over ready to ride,” Kevin Lenau said, as quoted by Cycling Weekly. According to Bicycle Retailer, Backcountry and Competitive Cyclist already sell Velofix service packages, with a discount for members of the Summit Club Plus programme. Eventually, customers will be able to have their new bike shipped to Velofix, which will deliver it fully built and fitted, Kevin Lenau said.
One detail gives the deal an edge: Velofix also handles deliveries of Canyon bikes, a rival of Backcountry in online sales, Bicycle Retailer notes. Finally, this purchase is part of a string of acquisitions made since CSC Generation bought Backcountry in September 2024, Cycling Weekly points out.
