File photo.

Online retailer Backcountry.com announced today that it has acquired mobile bike repair shop Velofix. The transaction officially closed on September 17, 2026. Backcountry is the parent company of Competitive Cyclist.

“Bringing the Backcountry bike shop to the customer”

Adding a service component should help Backcountry in its competition with REI, which has physical retail and service locations across the USA. In addition to selling bicycles and cycling accessories through the Backcountry and Competitive Cyclist websites, Backcountry is also a major retailer of camping, climbing, and winter sports gear and apparel.

Beyond offering bike repair and tune-ups, a press release announcing the acquisition notes, “there will be much more to come, including expanding the services offered by Velofix and the integration into our building and delivering of bikes.”

Backcountry is not the first online retailer to offer bike assembly and delivery services. In 2017, Amazon partnered with Beeline bikes, offering free assembly and delivery for bikes priced at $500 and up. Today, Beeline allows consumers to book repair services with independent bike shops and mobile mechanics alike, and boasts a network of more than 3,500 partners. And in 2022, at the height of the pandemic, several brands partnered with logistics company Kitzuma to deliver fully assembled bikes directly to consumers.

Velofix operates on a franchise model

Backcountry says Velofix currently has 96 technicians with service territories that cover 50% of riders in North America with plans to expand that coverage to 75%. A Backcountry representative confirmed the company plans to continue the Velofix franchise model, which currently applies to approximately a third (33%) of its technicians. The expansion will come through a mix of company-owned and franchise operations.

Franchise Disclosure Documents from 2025 suggest the all-in cost of a Velofix franchise is between $202,700 and $252,450. A portion of that cost goes toward franchise fees and, presumably, the cost of a van and tools. Franchisees pay Velofix a portion of their gross revenues. Velofix began in Vancouver in 2013.

Backcountry Summit Club+ members will receive “exclusive offers”

A check of current pricing for Velofix services in the Atlanta area shows service packages start at $139 for a basic bike check. A similar package at REI costs $105, though Co-op member pricing is less, $84. Backcountry notes that their Summit Club+ members will receive exclusive offers and benefits related to Velofix services.

Premium pricing for Velofix services reflects the convenience of not having to drive to the shop and having the work done immediately with minimal downtime.

The Velofix website shows the cost to assemble a bike “that arrives in a box at least 80% assembled” is $169, with a one-hour maximum for labor. Custom, frame-up builds are priced much higher at $499. For customers who prefer to order bikes and components online from Backcountry and Competitive Cyclist, but don’t want to assemble the bike themselves, the Velofix integration will surely be convenient.

Updated 9/22/26 with additional information.

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