Canfield Bikes Moves To Colorado & Hires New Staff

Jan 6, 2020
by Canfield Bikes  
Canfield Bikes Colorado Logo

PRESS RELEASE: Canfield Bikes

We are relocating from Bellingham, WA, to Fruita, CO. We are celebrating 20 years in business and chose Colorado’s Western Slope due to its burgeoning riding community and mountain bike culture, year-long riding season, proximity to a multitude of lift-served bike parks, vast trail networks and alpine riding. The location also offers a logistical advantage for quicker shipping to customers around the country.

In addition, generous incentives were provided by Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP).

“Canfield Bikes is a great addition to the Colorado economy. Canfield chose Fruita—a region synonymous with the outdoors—and the company's investment embodies the business expansion and relocation goals that the Strategic Fund was designed to cultivate,” said Michelle Hadwiger, director of global business development for OEDIT. “Fruita and the State equally invested in Canfield and Canfield’s investment will pay back dividends for Colorado, not only in new jobs but in promoting the healthy and active lifestyle that helps keep our talent pool productive and happy.”

We will receive a Strategic Fund incentive from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade for the creation of 20 net new jobs over the next 5 years paying 111 percent of the Mesa County average annual wage. In addition, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) will provide matching funds for this performance-driven incentive. Utah and Idaho were also considered for the move.

"Colorado's Grand Valley is a prime location for the outdoor recreation industry, and MTB businesses in particular, thanks to our abundant manufacturing workforce and the close proximity to our extensive trail system making product testing easy," said Steve Jozefczyk, deputy director of GJEP. "What's more, Fruita has a great culture and community of mountain-biking enthusiasts. Canfield Bikes will fit right in."

Lance Canfield in Fruita CO. Photo Don Stefanovich
Lance Canfield in Fruita, CO. Photo: Don Stefanovich

Lance Canfield, CEO, president and designer of Canfield Bikes, is no stranger to Colorado. Although he was raised in Utah where the company started in 1999 prior to moving to Washington state, Lance has been visiting Colorado to ride and race mountain bikes since 1994, and previously worked as an engineer and product designer with White Brothers suspension/EKO Sport (Now MRP) in Grand Junction, CO.

“Colorado’s always had a special place in my heart,” said Canfield. “I have fond memories of working and riding here. The bike community is so amazing and I’ve made so many friends here, I can’t think of a better location to grow our team and the brand in the coming years. I look forward to new rides, new friends and new adventures.”

bigquotesI can’t think of a better location to grow our team and the brand in the coming years.Lance Canfield

Joining the team effective immediately are Nick Simcik, Don Stefanovich, Jeff John and Michelle Good.

Simcik, an industry veteran and pro mountain-bike athlete, will be functioning as the director of business and product development. He has worked with bike brands such as MRP and FSA, and his competition resume includes gravity racing, slopestyle and big-mountain competitions. Simcik also competed in the 2012 Red Bull Rampage.

Stefanovich joins as director of marketing communications. An avid mountain biker, he has worked at Bike magazine and contributed to publications such as Bicycle Retailer and Industry News and MTBparks.com. He has also worked with brands such as Reynolds Cycling, Rocky Mounts, G-Form, Atomik Carbon, SWAGTRON and the Colorado Off-Road Mountain Bike Association (COMBA).

John, a Grand Junction local and long-time Canfield rider, will be operations and logistics manager. John started mountain biking in the early '90s and is an experienced project manager. He is an expert in logistics and supply chain management, has proven shipping and warehouse management skills and is accomplished in intermodal operations management.

Good, entrepreneur and founder of the popular bike park destination site MTBparks.com and the MTBparks Pass—the only multi-resort bike-park pass—will be chief operating officer. She has served as an industry leader, speaker, consultant and strategist for resorts that offer lift-served mountain biking, covering topics ranging from marketing and operations to improving the guest experience for bike park visitors.

We are in the process of purchasing a property in Fruita that will house office, workshop, retail and warehouse space capable of serving the company as it continues to grow.

"We are happy to support Canfield Bikes with its relocation through the Strategic Fund Incentive. At GJEP, our mission is to grow a strong and diverse economy in Colorado's Grand Valley by attracting companies that share our vision for a vibrant community with an unparalleled outdoor lifestyle," Jozefczyk said. "With plans to bring high-value jobs to Fruita and a company philosophy of giving back to the local trail systems, Canfield Bikes is exactly that type of business we want in the Grand Valley."

-by Don Stefanovich

Author Info:
canfieldbikes avatar

Member since Jun 21, 2012
30 articles

83 Comments
  • 55 5
 On balance, this is excellent news. Having a bike company down the street is gonna be a riot! I had to re-read this, I thought Pinkbike was playing Jedi mind tricks on me. Nick and Lance together sounds like a formula for success.
  • 11 0
 Feeling your Vibe dude, maybe they'll start putting MRP forks on their bikes
  • 21 1
 What’s all this YelliScreamy about? And quit hogging the puns, it’s Crampon our style.
  • 2 4
 Did anyone else think they were already based out of Colorado? I mean it just seemed so natural of a place to be for them.
  • 1 0
 I see what you did with the RIot comment lol. FYI one of the brothers wanted to call it the F*** yeah lol.
  • 13 1
 Omg! What an awesome announcement. See you at Hot Tomato!
  • 10 2
 Would be sweet to start seeing MRP specced on Canfield bikes.
  • 5 0
 Mmmm Hot Tomato...they should throw the welcome party!
  • 2 0
 I would drive over the pass for that.
  • 5 0
 Couldn't be more excited! We visit Fruita often and planning on moving there soon. Love my Canfield bikes and soon it will be local to me. My suspension of choice is MRP so guess I'll fit in with the locals.
  • 15 4
 Hate to tell you but CO is full...

Of transplants Wink !!!
  • 1 0
 @WastingLifeHere: Ehh, not that side of the state.
  • 6 0
 Sad to see them leave our neck of the woods but at least the skull badge isn't dead! Looking forward to updating my Riot.
  • 8 1
 Hopefully they have figured out how to run a business finally
  • 7 0
 Maybe they'll have some warranty stuff on hand instead of "our welders in rehab, but once he's out"...
  • 2 0
 I love me some Canfield Bikes! Lance and Michelle are great peeps and they hired my favorite gumpy mountain biker, Simcik! Stoked. I will be traveling thru in late January, hope to be able to stop by and say hello!
  • 1 0
 Please do!
  • 5 0
 Congrats on the new gig @simcik !!!!
  • 9 4
 I'm psyched for them but B'ham to Fruita? NO THANKS.
  • 11 0
 Could be worse. Fox moved to Georgia...
  • 2 0
 brah, river life.
  • 2 0
 Better than China at least...
  • 4 0
 hell ya guys! cant wait to see what comes in 2020
  • 3 0
 Yes. Just yes. Such a stellar move. Welcome to the Grand Valley amigos!
  • 4 2
 Funny thing is, Fruita ain't got no riding in town, its all on the other side of an interstate or up 18 road, miles away.
  • 15 0
 Technically true, but there’s now a bike path from Fruita to Kokopelli. I can ride from my house in downtown to the trailhead in 15 minutes, warmed up and ready to shred.
  • 4 0
 @NoahColorado: And it's a pretty ride on that path as well. It's hard to beat Fruita!
  • 1 0
 it's right behind the City Market
  • 2 0
 Revel and Canfield are within a few miles of each other. CBF is taking over Grand Valley!
  • 13 10
 What a smoking move!
  • 6 2
 Off to greener pastures..
  • 2 5
 @scottyrides5: Not to get too far down into the weed, but i see what is going on here.
  • 11 2
 Good one Wanky, I mean Waki!!! Except Washington and Colorado both legalized weed back in 2012... lay off the Kratom and get your US weed history correct Smile !!!
  • 5 0
 Funny thing about that is Grand Junction/Fruita don't have any dispensaries. You have to drive 30 minutes to Palisade.... which isn't a big deal, because Palisade Rim is dope and they're opening a new trail there to rival The Whole Enchilada this coming Spring
  • 1 0
 @the-lorax: The Whole Enchilada is my nirvana... please tell me more about the new trail Smile
  • 1 0
 @the-lorax: awesome! thanks. hopefully it'll be finished when i go back to moab 2021.
  • 1 0
 @scantregard: It's supposed to be finished this coming spring, from what I've heard. Also, make the jaunt over Aspen/Snowmass from there.
  • 3 1
 Nice move, great place to ride, excited to see what comes next.
  • 2 1
 Too much competition in Bellingham? Transition casts a big shadow these days... and Kona, and now Evil...
  • 1 0
 Just reinforcing my desires to move to the Grand Valley.
  • 5 4
 Józefczyk, Stefanowicz i Szymczyk. I didn’t realize Smile
  • 2 0
 They certainly can field a lot of Poles out there.
  • 2 1
 I can think of a LOT worse places to set up bike shop
  • 3 0
 E.g., Fox moving to Georgia...
  • 4 1
 @mtbikemccoy: Georgia is a very business friendly state, the Atlanta airport is Delta's hub with direct flights everywhere (busiest airport in the world), the riding is good, year-round riding weather and easy access to Pisgah and Dupont. I think Fox's move was smart.
  • 9 0
 @AndrewFleming: We'll just have to agree to disagree on this. I lived between Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw for 28 years. That zoo of an airport is not a selling point. Traffic is F-ing horrible. I would literally spend 2 hours/day driving. I wouldn't call 110 degrees and 99% humidity riding weather. In fact, I'd rather be murdered than move back to Georgia.
  • 1 0
 @mtbikemccoy: Oh, I agree on many of your points. I moved to Marietta 2.5 hrs ago and I'm just finding things to like about the area. Completely agree on the traffic - it's horrible and worse than I could have guessed. But I don't mind the airport at all - I've flown a ton through it and it's been fine. And I've been here for 3 summers and it's rarely been above the low 90s. It's a milder summer than I expected. The trails and riding scene was been better everywhere else I've lived, but Atlanta is pretty good for a city of 6 million people. (I hope you don't get murdered.)
  • 1 0
 I didn't even know Canfield was in Bellingham!
  • 1 0
 Not 99 degrees in the mountains
  • 1 0
 Great news!!!
  • 1 0
 Carbon Riot please!
  • 2 0
 Carbon 29er Balance Please! Ok any new Balance Please! Longer reach and shorter seat tube keep every thing else the same or don’t as long as you maintain ride and get longer reach and shorter seat tubes I’m in.
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