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.
Thanks for tuning in!
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)
Creating a More Sustainable Future in Cycling with Gnargo Bike Co.
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.
The Circular Supply Chain
When Zach and Elysia first started building their cargo bikes, they weren’t looking to start a business—they just wanted to build something they couldn’t afford to buy new. Zach, a serial problem-solver and design specialist, bought a couple of classic frames from Pedal It Forward and began making prototypes. Eventually, their friends saw the prototypes and introduced them to Phil Shelhammer, Director of the University of Arkansas’s Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program, who convinced them to start a company and join the third GORP accelerator cohort.
Zach and Elysia are passionate about sustainability and repurposing discarded products to improve quality of life, and they founded Gnargo Bike Co. on the same principles. The brand partners with community bike shops like Pedal It Forward and the 816 Bicycle Collective to resurrect classic bike frames that are otherwise landfill-found by transforming them into cargo bike frames for everyday use. By upcycling classic and vintage frames, Gnargo is doing its part to lower waste and inspire sustainability by reclaiming, reimagining and reusing.
“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 across the United States.” – Zach Springer, (14:33)
The Benefits of Bentonville
Elysia and Zach relocated their family of four to Bentonville in 2019, just months after taking a vacation to the area in search of a home where their family could enjoy the outdoors. In fact, Zach started writing a resignation letter during the trip! Since joining the Bentonville community, the pair have established themselves as important members of the cycling community. They created monthly community rides for families, and they run into friends seemingly every time they get on a bike.
“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)
Get Connected!
Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories and advice from the entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders who are sparking the rise of the Greater Bentonville area. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Greater Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.