VeloSwap — Colorado’s largest bike expo — returns after 2-year hiatus
Outside transferred ownership of the event to Bicycle Colorado in 2023
Bicycle Colorado/Courtesy photo
Cycling enthusiasts in search of epic end-of-season deals will once again congregate in Denver this weekend as VeloSwap makes its return to the National Western Complex on Saturday. Colorado’s largest bike expo is back for a 32nd iteration after taking a 2-year hiatus and a change in ownership.
“VeloSwap presents a significant opportunity for us to support Colorado’s bicycling community and advance our advocacy work,” Pete Piccolo, executive director of Bicycle Colorado — which assumed control of the event from Outside last November — stated in a press release on Tuesday. “We are excited to build on the strong brand of VeloSwap to return this event to Colorado and to inspire bicyclists to support policy changes that make biking in Colorado safer for all.”
Although Bicycle Colorado doesn’t typically organize many events, it actively promotes several across the state, said Ashley Vander Meeden, a spokesperson for the nonprofit.
“We viewed (the ownership transfer) as a fantastic opportunity to revive a beloved tradition and unite cyclists from across the state,” Vander Meeden said.
Why did VeloSwap go away in the first place?
A 2019 story posted to Bicycle Colorado’s website claimed VeloSwap was the largest bike swap in America, with an expected 10,000 attendees and over 500 vendors. After a COVID cancellation in 2020, Outside brought the event back in 2021. In 2022, however, Outside canceled VeloSwap again, citing a lack of sponsors, low vendor interest and “an unprecedented couple of years in the secondhand bike space” in the wake of pandemic-caused supply chain issues, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported. Last year, Outside transferred ownership of the one-day bargain hunting extravaganza — which features a broad range of bikes, accessories, clothing and gear from local and national vendors — to Bicycle Colorado.
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“We are thrilled to pass the torch to Bicycle Colorado, an organization that shares our passion for making a positive difference in our community,” Robin Thurston, CEO for Outside, stated in a press release last November. “We believe this transition will unlock new opportunities and bolster the continued growth and success of Bicycle Colorado and enhance its ability to fulfill its mission.”
Vander Meeden said attendance and vendor goals for this year were similar to 2021. As of Thursday, all 230 vendor booths in the warehouse-style floor plan were sold out, she confirmed.
“We’ve observed smaller local swaps thriving across Colorado, confirming that there’s still a strong demand for this type of event,” Vander Meeden stated in an email to the Vail Daily on Thursday.
“Who doesn’t love connecting with fellow passionate riders and finding new gear at a great price? Additionally, the cycling retail market currently has an abundance of inventory, making VeloSwap a perfect opportunity to connect vendors looking to clear out stock with consumers eager to score great deals. It’s a win-win situation.”
Tickets for the event cost $12 and can be purchased online at VeloSwap.com. Children 12 and younger are free. A ticket packaged with a Bicycle Colorado Membership is $42.
Doors open for members at 9 a.m., with the general public admittance running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family-friendly event also includes a kids’ zone with bike rodeo and face painting as well as two speakers. Brad Tucker from ColoBikeLaw.com will present “Insurance 101 for Cyclists” from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m) and Lexy Rose from Stretchworks will talk about recovery tips from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Vander Meeden said Bicycle Colorado hopes to “honor the longstanding history” of the event while infusing its own unique handprint to “enhance the experience.”
“Education is a key focus for us, so we’re excited to offer a kids’ bike rodeo along with two guest speakers,” she said, adding that another significant change is that the event will serve as a fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit, which has passed numerous bike-friendly bills. In 2021, it passed Senate Bill 061, which defined bike lanes in state law. The following year, it passed House Bill 1028 — the statewide ‘Safety Stop’ — and Senate Bill 193, which created a Clean Air Grand Program which allocated $12 million for a new eBike subsidy program.
“We’re thrilled to connect with riders, hear about their experiences biking in Colorado and raise funds for our efforts to make cycling safer and more accessible for everyone in the state,” Vander Meeden said. “We envision a Colorado where everyone benefits from safe and accessible bicycling.”
While progress has been made, Vander Meeden said there is still a lot of work to be done.
“We believe that by coming together, we can advocate for safer cycling in our state and expedite the implementation of proven solutions that save lives,” she said.
To stay informed about legislative calls to action, events and more, sign up for the Bicycle Colorado email newsletter at BicycleColorado.org.
