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Adé Neff’s journey to being a bike shop/co-op owner started with a car accident. Though he was fortunately uninjured, not being able to pay for car repairs and accruing parking tickets put him in a bind when his license was threatened to be revoked. “I got on a bike out of frustration and not being able to afford to be in a car; then I fell in love with it,” Neff said. Biking was his sole form of transportation for six years before he founded RIDE ON! in the summer of 2014.

When the time came for a necessary bike repair, Neff learned there were no local places to have it done. He knew how to fix it himself, but had no equipment to do so. “I went to a co-op where you can pay by the hour to use the tools that you need, and while I was there I decided that we needed a place like this locally,” he said.

Unbeknownst to Neff, a grant had been put in place by a couple of his friends, opening bike repair stations within three cities – Leimert Park, CA was one of them. “I started fixing bikes for free in front of Ben Caldwell’s KAOS Network, and did that for two years.” Neff said. In need of a proper place to store his equipment, he inquired about the safe keeping of his things to a proprietor within Leimert Park’s plaza. “A man by the name of Faadil owned a shop here called Africa By The Yard. He allowed me to occupy the front space of his shop.”

As time went on, that allotted space expanded and so did Neff’s services. “I was selling bikes while he was selling fabrics…people would walk in asking ‘What do y’all do?,’” Neff laughed. Eventually, the owner transitioned out, leaving the entire space to Neff. By June 2017, RIDE ON! Bike Shop/Bike Co-op was officially up and running.

“RIDE ON! is a hybrid. It’s a bicycle shop and co-op,” Neff explained. The intimate bike boutique provides rentals, gear, apparel, full service repairs and bike fittings – where they take the time to fit you for a bike and customize it to your liking. “We generally have the customer’s order ready within one to two days,” he added. On the co-op side, they provide the space and time for people to come and work on their bikes.

In addition to their in store services, RIDE ON! hosts community rides and workshops where they teach people of all ages bike skills, such as how to fix a flat and how to ride safely on the streets.

“It's good exercise and it’s good for overall health and wellness. Most people are sedentary and are not getting any circulation. We need to move.”

Neff’s work within his community doesn’t stop there. “I’m a consultant and I work with different organizations such as Trust South LA and Multicultural Communities for Mobility.” His advocacy for biking as an alternative means is intertwined with his push for better education and protection. “If you go to the westside, they have all kinds of infrastructure improvements. You feel safe riding a bike in Santa Monica. Not in South LA. There are more high impact injuries here. How do we get people back on bikes, protect bicycle lanes and provide more overall safety? A lot of drivers here treat people being on a bicycle in the street as illegal. I have a right to be here, too,” he explained. Neff believes that being better educated on alternative forms of transportation will beget better safety and respect, also inspiring more folks to ride.

Neff is also working on a pilot program for the multipurpose use of Tuk Tuks – a 3-wheel electric vehicle, utilizing them for trash clean ups, mobile cafe stations and transportation for concerts and events. To him, the possibilities for alternative transport are not just endless, but they are the means for a healthier environment, thriving community and advanced future.

Visit rideonbikeshop.com to book your custom fitting and follow RIDE ON! via Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on upcoming workshops, community events and their latest innovations in transportation!

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