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Our Story

John Robinson didn’t invent the bike, but he’s reinventing the bike shop experience. 

Before he was a bike shop owner, John was a suit-wearing, traveling, corporate banking consultant and bicycle enthusiast who was unimpressed by the standard bike shop customer experience. When the company he worked for started downsizing, John started fantasizing. 

What if there was a bike shop where everyone was “cool” enough to feel at home? What if you could walk into a shop knowing nothing about bikes and get your questions answered? What if he could spend less time flying across the country to schmooze customers and more time with his own family? What if his “office” included a refrigerator filled with his favorite beer? 

With these big questions in mind, John set out to learn about the cycling industry and the ins and outs of running a bike shop. He worked in a shop. He visited shops across the country. He talked to industry experts and manufacturers. And then he was ready. And when John Robinson decides he’s ready, it’s go time.

Within seven weeks he wrote a business plan, emptied out the couch cushions, and raided his retirement fund. Nine contractors, 112 bike builds, and one nervous breakdown later, John threw open the doors of Johnny Velo Bikes with a dance party and a disco ball.

Johnny Velo Bikes store window looking into the store interior.

Why Johnny Velo Bikes is different

There are two kinds of bike shops: Johnny Velo Bikes and everyone else. Our reason for being is simple: we want you to Enjoy Your Ride™, and we know you’ll enjoy it more on a bike you love. We’re here to help you find the right ride for the ride you want to ride. Confused? All you need to know is our arms are open to riders of all types, all ages, and all skill levels, including you.

Check out our Why buy your bike from us page to learn more.

Are you feeling lucky?

Meet The Team


Photograph of John Robinson, the owner of Johnny Velo Bikes

John Robinson, Owner, Head Honcho, the Big Kahuna

Pro-nouns: He/Him

Nickname: The Blond Gorilla

Motto: I don’t walk up hills. 

Special skills: Stretching the legs of his pants with his bulging calf muscles, loosening stubborn bolts no one else can, climbing hills with the tenacity of a mountain goat, and chugging a tallboy in one swig. 

Ride style: A roadie at heart, John is happiest when mashing the pedals for long distances, although these days you’re more likely to see him heading to work with Raffa the Shop dog on the back of his cargo e-bike or enjoying the newfound freedom of mountain biking

Bikes: 1976 Huffy Boy’s Stars and Stripes Edition, 1976 Huffy Girls Stars and Stripes Edition, Giant Defy 1 Advanced road bike with Mavic wheelset, Kona Libre gravel bike, Kona Cinder Cone mountain bike, Kona e-Ute cargo bike, Pabst Blue Ribbon special edition BMX bike, and a Felt V100 Gravel bike that was stolen.
Photograph of Eric Iven; young bike mechanic at Johnny Velo Bikes.

Salim Riley, Service Manager, the Bike Meister

Nickname: Salim the Dream

Motto: “It's always something”

Special skills: Eating pizza every day.  Track standing with no hands all day. Dropping roadies on a cruiser.

Ride style: Aggressive ferret.

Bikes: 
A Momentum UX that is gravel modified, Electra Townie that is gravel modified, a Momentum Vida that is gravel modified and a Bombtrack Outlaw that is gravel modified.  My coffee is gravel modified too.
Photograph of Steph Waite; sales lead and bike ambassador

Joseph Cabalquinto, Creative Director & Assistant Manager in Chief

Pro-nouns: He/Him

Nickname: “J.C.”

Motto: “I haven’t met a food I didn’t like.”

Special skills: I’m an artist, I color outside the lines.

Ride style: I consider myself a roadie that dabbles in gravel and mountain. I love long rides and I tend to attack hills like I owe someone money.

Bikes: 
2016 Cervelo carbon racing, 2011 Bianchi 928 carbon racing bike, 2022 Giant Fathom mountain bike, 2023 Brompton 2 speed folding bike, 1990s Bianchi Eros steel touring bike, and a 1980s Lotus Odyssey steel touring bike.

I'm probably going to need another bike soon :)

Photograph of Eric Iven; young bike mechanic at Johnny Velo Bikes.

Mark Sheahan, Service Lead

Nickname: Pops

Motto: Gears are good! Any day I ride a bike instead of driving a car is a good day. 

Special skills: Making something useful out of things that look useless, woodworking, Irish diplomacy (telling someone to go to hell in a way that they enjoy the trip). 

Ride style: Mark has been a bike commuter and recreational tourist for 40+ years. He has a crazy fast spin and enjoys 'going somewhere' on a bike. 

Bikes: Homemade wood bike No. 1, homemade wood bike No. 2, Litespeed Classic Titanium, Surly Cross-Check; Breezer Doppler Pro
Photograph of Steph Waite; sales lead and bike ambassador

George O'Brien, Gone to College

Nickname: G.O.B.

Motto: Where'd my money go? (Referring to spending his paycheck on bikes and parts.)

Special skills: Breaking the ladies' hearts while carelessly combing my hands through my hair.

Ride style: Rip the down the hill on his full sus' MTB while posting in real-time on IG.

Bikes: Early 2000's Specialized Rockhopper kitted to rip urban landscape, 2019 Specialized Stumpjumper, 2022 Marin San Quentin built from the frame up ready to hit local trails, 2020 Kona Rove ST gravel bike, 90s restored Trek 850 including drop bars for an urban beater, and too many more to list because I'm so important.


Photograph of Raffa, the dog. Store mascot and longest running employee of the month

Raffa, The Shop Dog

Nickname: Employee of the month

Motto: Bark bark bark! Bark! Bark bark!

Special skills: Barking at passing dogs, chasing his tail, distracting kids, waiting at the door for the employees to come back from lunch, eating your dropped French fries

Ride style: Tongue out, sweater on, cruising in his doggie basket on the back of John’s Kona Electric Ute.

Bikes: John’s bikes are Raffa’s bikes 

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.