Gnargo Bikes began as a COVID project for Zach Springer and Elysia Contreras Springer, which grew into something much bigger than either of them expected.
While the business officially opened in 2022, the idea of Gnargo began long before that, sparked by Elysia's long morning commute in the Twin Cities. With a toddler and an infant in the back seat, she found herself reflecting on her own quality of life and if there was a way to have a more peaceful beginning to her day.
Together, she and Zach started looking for an affordable cargo bike that incorporated upcycling and sustainability. They eventually learned that their dream bike would need to be built.
That decision led them to Pedal it Forward in Northwest Arkansas, a community bike shop that restores used bikes to give and sell to people in need. Their partnership functions like this: Every time Gnargo buys a $50 donor frame, that money goes to repair two more bikes that Pedal it Forward can give or sell to someone in need; one deal gives the community three more bikes.
From there, the focus shifts completely to the buyer and their needs. Whether it’s a mom making a morning commute or a college student running between classes, Gnargo devotes itself to creating a bike that works perfectly for their customers’ lifestyles. Drawing on their backgrounds in design and teaching, Zach and Elysia built a feedback-based business that is always evolving. While one of Gnargo’s goals is to create affordable and sustainable bikes, their other goal is to provide a joyful experience by helping riders feel more connected not only to the environment but also to their community.
"Community is woven in as a constant for us," Elysia said. From their donor frames to the customers they attentively listen to, to the team they have carefully gathered around them, including John Schoffner. Joining Zach and Elysia early on as their ‘third co-founder,’ he brings creative problem-solving and fabrication skills to the Gnargo garage. “I call him our wizard, because he has an amazing engineering brain and just knows how to make things work.”
Gnargo reflects a deliberate and deeply felt commitment to doing things differently. That intentionality extends to who they hire. In a male-dominated industry, Gnargo has made a conscious decision to hire female talent.
As the lead fabricator, Taylor Muff came to Gnargo straight out of welding school, eager to gain hands-on experience, but found more. Muff discovered joy in her work through Gnargo’s customers. Reflecting, she says, “My favorite part of the process is seeing every customer's personality coming back in their bikes.” By starting with the frame, Muff only explores the skeleton of the bike, welding each bone together before she sends it off to the finishing and assembling team.
When asked what it was like working at Gnargo, her immediate response was, “They never limit me,” she said. Gnargo pushes her beyond her personal expectations into a place of excitement and exploration. A prime example of this exploration is a custom pottery bike Muff built for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art that spins the throwing wheel while you pedal.
At Gnargo, that kind of challenge is nothing out of the ordinary. Growth is something that is explored every day. An example of this growth is an exciting partnership with Bosch Motors.
“This means we now have a premium build option for both our trishaws and our cargo bikes,” Elysia explains. “It's a high-quality, future-proof motor system solution as we see more regulations and laws stateside.”
It’s that shared sense of possibility between the founders and coworkers that makes Gnargo feel less like a workplace and more like a family. The newest addition to that family is CC Nicholas.
Nicholas has found a home at Gnargo as an assembly tech and unofficial content manager. From the moment she joined the Gnargo team, she said she saw Zach and Elysia as leaders, not bosses. “I didn’t have to prove myself,” Nicholas said. For her, the work extends beyond personal experience.
Gnargo is dedicated to building bikes for the elderly through their partnership with Cycling Without Age and for people with disabilities. This unique dedication is the heart and soul of her role. For Nicholas, bikes aren't just a mode of transportation; they are joy, connection, and a moment to breathe when the world becomes crowded. “Starting your day with nature makes you so much happier,” she says.
Each Gnargo bike is part of a bigger story that is written by the community. Their brand activates individuals and pushes industry standards with attentiveness and care.
Each Gnargo bike is part of a bigger story that is written by the community.