Creating a More Sustainable Future in Cycling with Gnargo Bike Co.

Summary

In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Elysia Contreras Springer and Zach Springer for an inspiring conversation about Gnargo Bike Co., which they founded in 2022. Gnargo Bike Co. is a trailblazing e-bike startup that seamlessly blends the charm of classic frames with modern electric functionality. The brand is reviving the timeless allure of vintage bikes, transforming them into state-of-the-art electric cargo bikes, while maintaining a commitment to a regenerative supply chain and prioritizing upcycling and sustainability. With a mission rooted in reducing waste, celebrating nostalgia and promoting eco-conscious transportation, Gnargo Bike Co. is more than a brand—it’s a movement towards a more sustainable future in cycling. Throughout the episode, the trio discusses Gnargo’s innovative and sustainable business model, the benefits of living and working in Bentonville, and Zach and Elysia’s experience with local entrepreneur support organizations, including the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP), Builders+Backers Northwest Arkansas and more.

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:56) Introducing Zach Springer and Elysia Contreras Springer

(10:51) Gnargo Bike Co. and Collaborating with 816 Bike Collective and Pedal It Forward

(15:45) Operating a Family Business

(18:50) Zach and Elysia’s Experience with GORP and Builders + Backers NWA

(30:43) Bentonville’s Booming Outdoor Recreation Industry

(33:33) Zach’s Advice to Business Leaders Considering Bentonville

(35:40) Balancing Work and Play in Bentonville

(38:01) #BecauseBentonville Stories

(42:43) Connecting with Gnargo Bike Co. and Other Fun Questions

(48:27) The Importance of the Circular Supply Chain

(53:23) Closing Thoughts

Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development

Elysia Contreras Springer

Zach Springer

Gnargo Bike Co.

Gnargo on Instagram

Quotes

“Within each of these community bike shops is access to a really deep part of these areas in the United States where it’s not the people that you might find at your normal bike shop, but it’s the people that are truly the advocates of cycling. And if we can have those people as the Gnargo advocates throughout the United States, it fosters this grassroots mentality that we’ve started here...” - Zach Springer, (14:33)

“The first thing to think about when coming to Bentonville is to be humble and kind. I always listen first, and I think, with a place like Bentonville, where you have so many passionate people, both with their careers [and hobbies]—as a business leader, it’s really important to hear from those customers before we go in with any kind of ego or something like that.” - Zach Springer, (33:53)

“It’s more like an all-around experience of going through the town on a bike and [seeing] so many familiar faces...I have never lived anywhere that has had that before. I’ve lived in a lot bigger metropolitan areas where the density [makes it] hard to know people everywhere you go...But people are out and engaged in their community, and I love that about Bentonville, and that’s so much of what makes it attainable, too, because you are part of the community that you are building.” - Elysia Contreras Springer, (38:31)