The Velo, located at 2nd Street and Garfield in downtown Phoenix, is a bicycle dream come true for three native Phoenicians. Hari Khalsa and his brother, Sahib, along with friend and fellow racing enthusiast Jason Boles, opened the bicycle shop in January 2015.
All three of the owners were introduced to bikes at a young age. “We have all been seriously riding since around 10 years old,” Hari explains, adding, “Our dads got us into bikes. It started out with mountain bikes and as we all got older we started to race road bikes.”
It seemed a natural progression for them to create a bike shop that reflects the bicycle culture that they know and love so well. The name, Velo, is French for bicycle and is well known term in the cycling community.
The shop offers sales and service of everything from commuter bikes to road and mountain bikes. But it’s also a “lifestyle store,” Hari says. “The inside of the store is open and modern with several areas to sit and socialize. Bikes, great coffee and rotating art create a destination for the community to come together and have an experience that goes beyond retail.”
The coffee comes from Bicycle Nomad Café, located inside The Velo. It serves up local coffee from Press Coffee Roasters and treats from local bakery, Nami. There is live music every Saturday on the patio.
The Velo and Nomad Café, 828 N. 2nd St., will offer specials during April to celebrate Valley Bike Month. The store also sponsors weekly group rides that start and finish at the shop. For more information, call 602-759-8169.
