Leadvelo Bicicasa

Leadville, CO | Est. 2019

20 years ago while touring on his bike with his dog Rosco in tow, the Colorado Rockies adopted Rafa in a most unexpected way.

From the sky came a monster snowstorm that put an end to his touring plans and unveiled a wonderful path of magical uncertainty. It snowed and it snowed,

stranding Rafa in a town where he knew no one—and quickly went broke and homeless. But from this new-found community emanated kindness, generosity—and bikes! Bikes ruled there as much as they ruled his life. He began to feel rich, connected and whole in this new place. By the time summer came and the snow melted away, he didn’t want to leave. And that's how Colorado became home!

Rafa is originally from Hidalgo, Mexico, but Colorado instantly felt like home. After two decades in Colorado—commuting 365 days a year, wrenching on bikes, bikepacking and racing all over the state—Leadvelo was born.

Old Rosco is now buried high up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, but a new cycle of kindness and generosity has ignited at 10,200 ft. and Rafa is honored to have the opportunity to share his passion and expertise with his new community in Leadville.

Tell us a brief history of your bike shop—your origin story.

Leadvelo is the culmination of all things bike-life for me. My entire life has been centered around riding and working on bicycles; I have never owned a car. I moved to Leadville in 2018, saw the need for another bike shop and the homies said "It's time!"

What's niche do you fill in your community? I.e. What's your jam?

We are like a bike packing concept store catering to long distance adventurers and ultra-endurance racers. We're also fat bike fanatics, love feral mountain trails and utility/city riding.

What’s your favorite trail to ride on your home turf?

It'd be a tie between the Turquoise Lake Trail and Yaketi Yak/Swamp Angel.

Have a fun trail story to share—something funny/amazing/unbelievable that’s happened while out riding your bike or bikepacking?

Uuuffff, where to start? My memories of riding bikes are of biblical proportions... just the usual I guess: getting stranded by peanut butter mud, going hypothermic, getting stung by scorpions, sleeping in sketchy and/or illegal places, being rescued by drunk waitresses...that sort of stuff.

What’s a bikepacking route or trail you have your bucket list?

Something feral in middle-eastern Europe or just going back to Colombia or Peru where I can try to hook up with Cumbia bands along the way to play drums with!

What’s your current favorite bike to rip and why?

My "Meetsauce!" It's a rigid steel single speed: it's simple, reliable, quiet, low maintenance and timeless. It's from 2009 and it does not care about trends or fads and yet it still turns heads when parked in our store's window.

What bike do you *wish* you could get your hands on to rip and why?

A Specialized Diverge STR S-works; then I can add E's before and after the S for an "ESE-works" team stamp. I'm Mexican!

What’s your favorite Oveja Negra bag to use and why?

The Chuckbucket! I carry either a full Nalgene or my classic combo—UL Tarp/windbreaker jacket/a few power bars.

As a beloved bike shop vendor of Oveja Negra bags, you are part of the flock! What makes you a “black sheep?” How do you vibe with the concept of counter-culture, going against the grain, standing out in the crowd, being EXTRAordinary in your field, work, community and life? 

In a time of everything going digital/virtual/remote/etc. and so many overpriced, corporate bike races with car sponsors and the like, and just about anything getting overtly commercialized, we try to keep it real by taking a more organic/grassroots/punk rock/D.I.Y approach to cycling and biz. Building community is part of our "business plan"—we never push for sales and no one works on commission. We organize endurance events like the Salida Big Friggin' Loop and Leadville Big Friggin' Loop, which are very challenging but non-commercial and free of cost. We also promote these events with classic hand screen printed posters with kick ass art by local artists. Stuff like that.

Anything else people of the world should know about you, your shop, your service, your style?

Oh gee...lots of bike shops will tell you they are "the authority in the field," "your go-to source for___","we have it all", "we're the best!"and so forth because through fancy marketing you can convince even skimos to buy ice cubes from you. I guess a couple things we're proud of is that 1) When we say "mi bicicasa es su casa" we mean it—it's not just a marketing tool motto. Riders on the Colorado Trail enjoy expedited service and are always welcome for a meal, coffee, charging devices, drying out gear, you name it. Swing by to get your bike outfitted for your next adventure rompabout and you may pop in just in time for paletas or churros! And 2) When we say "All bikes, all people" we mean it. We take supporting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusivity very seriously and do all we can to embrace, promote and celebrate DEI. At Leadvelo we're just a bunch of geeky adventure junkies always eager to connect with and assist any and all riders in further being enamored with bikes in a chill and safe space. We proudly embrace the guiding principles of Radical Adventure Riders's Bike Industry Pledge of which we're a part.