Joyride is a community-first bike repair shop, café, and gathering space coming to Fort Collins, built by and for people who love cycling (or just good coffee), but haven’t always felt at home in traditional bike spaces. Created by the team behind Queer+ Bikes and RebeExplores, Joyride is rooted in years of real community-building, inclusive rides, and shared belief that bikes can be a source of connection, confidence, and joy. We have the people, the vision, and the community - now we need the funds to bring it to life in a physical home!

While we have already secured seed funding from a dear member of our community, this campaign is a part of our start-up capital funds to include space renovation, security deposit, equipment & furnishings, initial inventory, and to offset the cost of the first few years of operation.

Contributing to this campaign not only brings us closer to our vision, but also shows larger investors and banks that this space is important & viable. If you want to discuss other direct giving avenues (i.e. check, bank transfer, etc) or other ways to invest, please email us!

And yes, there will be non-financial ways to be a part of building Joyride - stay tuned!

FAQs

Is this a non-profit?

No. Joyride is registered as a business in Colorado.

Do we really need another bike shop in Fort Collins?

Absolutely. Northern Colorado has a large and diverse cycling community and we need spaces that truly reflect and support the people who ride here, especially those who don’t feel served by existing spaces. Through years of community-building, we’ve seen clear demand for approachable bike repair, accessible education, and a low-consequence, welcoming place to find bike community in an alcohol-free environment. We’ve already done the hard work of growing a thriving community. With Joyride, we’re creating a physical home for it. There really can be something for everyone.

How are you different?

Joyride is women- and queer-owned, and intentionally sober, not as a branding move but as a way of doing things differently. Those choices shape how we build community, how we welcome people, and the kind of culture we cultivate. It shows up in our partnerships, our programming, our events, and the everyday feel of the space.

We’re led by people who ride, wrench, organize, and care deeply about the communities they’re part of. We value skill and experience, but not at the expense of warmth or accessibility. We believe a bike shop can be social, stylish, and welcoming without losing depth or credibility.

Are you open for business?

Not yet! We are concurrently working on raising capital for commercial real estate and planning pop-up events prior to opening. We hope to have a home open by Fall 2026.

Why GoFundMe?

We want your money to stretch as far as possible! GoFundMe processor fees are approximately 5% less than other crowdfunding sites. This is also not an all-or-nothing platform, so any funds raised will go directly into getting us started while we continue to seek additional funding avenues.

THE PEOPLE (FOUNDERS)

Lauren (she/her): An organizer, creative, and co-founder of Queer+ Bikes, finding joy in cycling & creating welcoming, connected community spaces, epic emails, and fun merch. Lauren will be leading programming and event management, helping curate tasty cafe offerings, and foraging community partnerships.

Rebe (she/her) (ree-bee): The adventurer, storyteller, and community builder behind RebeExplores, crafting vibrant spaces rooted in genuine connection and business savvy. Rebe will be leading cafe management, creative direction, brand partnerships, and community rides & events.

B (he/they): An analyzer, longtime mechanic, and co-founder of Queer+ Bikes who’s spent years wrenching, teaching, route-building and riding any type of bike for many different reasons. B will be leading operations and space management, bike shop management, and other strategic partnerships.

Why us? Because how a space is owned and led shapes everything else.

THE VISION

Literally, the vision: It’s a weekend morning at Joyride. Someone rolls in with a squeaky bike and a little hesitation, as they’ve never felt comfortable in a bike shop before. They’re met with a smile, a cup of coffee, and a clear, friendly conversation about what’s going on with their bike. No judgment, no jargon.

Nearby, a group gathers before a casual, no-drop ride. There is a hum of conversation and laughter: Catching up about classes they’re taking, a first date from the night before, a kid’s birthday coming up, a parent that is in the hospital. As the group rolls out, others linger with pastries, browse local goods, or consider coming back for Tuesday Night Tech Talk that ensures it’s okay, really, you don’t need to know what a “crankset” is to attend!

Throughout the day, people come and go - the bike-curious, longtime riders, and folks stopping in for a great cup of coffee before their afternoon plans. Friends meet friends. Strangers become friends. Everyone finds ease, encouragement, and connection.

By closing time, Joyride feels less like a shop and more like a community living room, a place to learn, belong, and ride on your own terms.

THE COMMUNITY

Over the last 3+ years, Queer+ Bikes has become a staple of the Fort Collins and Northern Colorado community, bringing together the LGBTQ+ community and allies with monthly socials and rides, off-bike events, a free gear closet, and collaborations with like-minded community partners. Over the past year alone, Queer+ Bikes hosted or participated in nearly 40 events! Highlights beyond monthly group socials and rides included a SRAM headquarters in Colorado Springs, creating new community partnerships, continued collaboration with the FoCo Fondo and Friends of FoCo Fondo, and supporting our extended community with direct mutual aid.

Through RebeExplores , Rebe shares stories of outdoor adventure that center women and connection. What began as online storytelling has grown into real-world rides and gatherings where women come together to move, connect, and build community, making outdoor adventure feel more welcoming and accessible.

Joyride was created by and for people who love cycling but never felt fully at home in traditional bike spaces. We exist to center those who have historically felt unseen or unwelcome, while welcoming anyone who loves bikes, is just getting started, or simply looking for a place to connect over good coffee and community.

Our goal is simple: to make cycling feel welcoming, possible, and fun, and to build community around it.

Whether or not you've joined our groups on a ride or other adventure, you'll have a home a Joyride!

THE FUNDS

TL;DR: Opening Joyride takes more than passion—it takes real resources. We’re raising funds to secure and build out a welcoming space; purchase essential café and repair equipment; stock intentionally curated inventory; and ensure we can pay our staff a living wage while the business grows. With $100,000 already invested, your support helps us reduce reliance on high-interest loans and build Joyride sustainably, with care for both people and community.

We want to have a mix of funding that will set us up for success as we open this business. Our current budget estimates we need between $250,000 and $300,000 to get this off the ground and fully execute our vision.

Here are examples of where your funding goes:

Space. We’re looking for a location north of Prospect Road and likely east of College Avenue in Fort Collins, CO: Both close to gravel riding routes for group rides, near a bike trail or primary bike corridor for easy access by bike, and not in a strip mall. We want Joyride to feel warm, welcoming, and truly homey.

Build-Out & Renovations. Because this type of space doesn’t yet exist in Fort Collins, we’ll need to not only secure a location but also renovate it to fit our needs. We’ve been working with a local creative to thoughtfully design a space that supports community and comfort.

Equipment. This includes café equipment, bike repair tools, retail fixtures, and plenty of comfortable seating—everything needed to operate smoothly and create a space people want to spend time in.

Inventory. Our retail offerings will be intentionally curated, with a focus on women-, queer-, and BIPOC-owned brands, items we genuinely love, and full-size runs of the clothing we carry in-store. To keep initial costs manageable, we will likely use a try-on + direct-to-home (dropship) model with some brand-selected pop-ups for full runs of clothing, while other items will follow a traditional retail model. We’ll also offer Joyride-branded merchandise (because yes—we love our logo, thanks to Moma Creative !)

Covering Early Operating Costs. Running a business (especially one centered on care and community) means paying people fairly. Payroll is the largest ongoing cost, and we’re committed to paying a living wage and avoiding burnout for ourselves and our staff. Bike repair and cafés both operate on relatively slim margins, and we expect it may take a few years to reach break-even. Having a financial cushion allows us to weather slower periods without cutting hours, compromising values, or stressing about how to pay our team. We believe Joyride will become profitable over time, and this support helps us get there sustainably.

Ready? Let's go on a Joyride.