High Gear Cyclery owner back open after buyout

AVON — A minor miscommunication with his business partner, Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate, couldn’t stop Paul Previtali from shutting down High Gear Cyclery in Avon.

In February, the shop shut down for about three weeks with paper covering the windows of the store located in downtown Avon while Previtali worked on buying out Hoffmann and taking ownership of the high-end bike shop.

“What the customer sees, nothing changed,” he said, making sure people know that his hiatus was not a closure of the shop. “They just see that I was out of town for three weeks.”

Previtali received “overwhelming” support from his customers as he went through the buyout process, many offering to partner up. When Ty Edwards, a customer-turned-friend, showed interest, Previtali said, “If you’re into it, why not?”

The two have High Gear Cyclery up and running, with bike season on the horizon, if not already here.

“We focus on premium service and sales,” Previtali said. “If you’re looking for premium products, a trending product or something you saw online, the goal is to have that on the floor so you can come in and say ‘I saw this online,’ and we can put it in your hands.”

The shop also carries high-end apparel.

“We want to have the nice stuff that performs well,” Previtali said. “We want the guy that’s spending a long day in the saddle and appreciates a nice chamois in the shorts.”

BIKING IN HIS BLOOD

Previtali has worked in bike shops since he was 15 years old. He moved to the valley in 2008, working for a shop in Edwards. In 2014, he linked up with Hoffmann and opened the shop in Avon.

In the winter, he will get on a snow bike as well as ski from time to time, and in the summer, he’ll hit the trails and the road.

“People up here take their playing outside seriously,” Previtali said, “and our visitors take playing outside seriously.”

While Previtali said many customers grew concerned when the shop shut down, he’s happy to see the friendly faces coming in and out of the shop again.

“It’s a cool spot. You can see me when you’re on your way to City Market. You can see me when you’re on your way back up to the highway,” he said. “We’re easy to find, right there.”

Reporter Ross Leonhart can be reached at 970-748-2915 and rleonhart@vaildaily.com. Follow him on Instagram at colorado_livin_on_the_hill.