GovVelo is a US-based online retailer of bikes and cycling products with a newly opened store in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The company offers special discounts to active duty military, veterans, law enforcement, first responders, and other government employees.
Once verified with ID.me, workers in these jobs can save up to 20% or more on select products sold by GovVelo.
If you’re not a public servant, GovVelo is still an excellent place to search for your new bike or gear, with products from leading brands like Marin, Niner, Diamondback, Specialized, and Wahoo.
This GovVelo review will discuss the brands and products this popular bike shop sells and provide details on their policies and customer experience.
GovVelo History—For Those Who Serve
GovVelo was initially set up as MilitaryCyclist.com with the mission of bringing discounted bikes and gear to ‘those that serve.’
The founders, a military family, experienced difficulty in their own lives with staying active while serving. In addition, they couldn’t easily find bike shops offering military discounts or shipping APO, so they decided to do something about it.
After a few years of operation, the company morphed into GovVelo.com, broadening its mission to include regular government workers at a federal, state, or local level.
Today, they offer an extensive selection of bikes and bicycle-related products to the general public and public servants.
Products for Sale at GovVelo.com
GovVelo has a solid range of bikes and cycling products, including components, gear, accessories, apparel, nutrition, and recovery tools. However, they work with a limited number of brands compared to other online retailers like Jenson USA or Mike’s Bikes.
Bicycles
GovVelo’s number one focus is off-road bikes. Of the 148 models on their website (at this moment), 74 are MTBs, and 18 are gravel. Most of the bicycles they sell are Marin and Niner, with a small selection available from brands such as Diamondback, Fuji, HaiBike, and BMC.
GovVelo bikes fall within entry-level to mid-range pricing. The models they carry start from as little as $599, going up to $6,800 for the most expensive (full-suspension e-bike), meaning they don’t have any high-end models.
All the kids’ options on GovVelo are mountain bikes from Marin and Specialized. They categorize these by wheel size to make it easier to find the right one.
It’s also worth noting that GovVelo doesn’t sell any pure road bikes. Instead, their ‘Road Bike’ section includes various drop-bar adventure, commuter, and all-road/gravel bikes like Marin’s Gestalt or Nicasio, and Masi’s Giramondo.
- MTBs: Full-suspension, hardtails, women’s
- Road: Adventure, touring, commuter
- Hybrids: Urban, fitness
- Gravel: Flat bar, drop bar
- Electric: Mountain, Gravel, Urban/Fitness
- Kids’: 20″, 24″, 26″
Components
GovVelo has an impressive catalog of components available from their online store. They sell almost every individual bike part you can imagine so you can repair, upgrade, or even build your own bike.
Another reason they have such an extensive component list is that they sell bike framesets, allowing you to design a bike that matches your riding style and budget.
GovVelo stocks products from major component manufacturers, including Shimano, SRAM, MicroSHIFT, Look, Specialized, Crankbrothers, and more.
However, the one major component they’re currently missing from their catalog is suspension.
Gear, Accessories, and Apparel
When purchasing a new bike, it’s helpful to be able to add the necessary gear, accessories, and tools for safe riding. As a result, when your bike arrives, you’re ready to start riding immediately. Riders can also customize their bike to do any job they need. For example, turn a gravel bike into the ultimate bikepacking machine with a range of bike bags and some shiny new fenders.
GovVelo carries many top gear and accessory brands like Garmin, Wahoo, Brooks, Osprey, and Specialized. They also have a selection of car racks from Kuat and Seasucker; safety and security equipment from brands like Crankbrothers, ABUS, Lezyne, and Feedback Sports; and maintenance tools from manufacturers such as Finish Line and Park Tool.
Here is a list of the categories of gear and accessories they sell.
- Computers and Smartwatches
- Bags and Packs
- Car Racks
- Pumps and Inflators
- Lights and Security
- Trainers
- Bike Storage and Travel Cases
- Tools and Maintenance
In addition to gear and accessories, GovVelo has an entire cycling clothing section from Specialized. Although there are many categories of items, there is a limited selection within each category.
Their apparel section includes helmets, cycling shorts, jerseys, bike socks, and gloves, among others. In addition, you will find discipline-specific items like, for example, mountain bike gloves, road shoes, and commuter helmets.
Finally, GovVelo also has its own-brand cycling jerseys and casualwear t-shirts.
Nutrition and Recovery
The last category of cycling-related products on the GovVelo online store is cycling nutrition and tools for recovery.
They sell various types of bars, gels, chews, electrolyte powders, and recovery powders to help you improve your cycling performance. In addition, they carry Theragun workout recovery tools, including the Theragun massage therapy device and Wave Roller.
GovVelo Customer Experience
GovVelo customer satisfaction is impressive, with a 99% rating (4.9/5 stars from 253+ reviews) on the third-party site Reviews.io.
One of the most impressive aspects of their service is the ‘Ready-To-Ride Guarantee.’ This promise states that each bike they sell is built, tuned, and tested before leaving the shop.
Once your bike arrives, all there is to do is install the front wheel, handlebar, pedals, and seatpost, allowing you to get on the road or trail within ten minutes. The added benefit is that the manufacturer’s warranty fully backs each bike as they’re assembled by a professional.
GovVelo Shipping and Returns
GovVelo’s shipping policy is excellent, with free shipping on orders over $50. For orders under that, there is an $8 fee. The company also offers shipping insurance which costs $1.50 and covers damage, theft, or loss during transit.
They ship orders as quickly as possible, with most non-bicycle orders shipping in 1-3 business days from the date of receipt. Bike orders generally ship within 3-7 business days as they must build, tune, and test each bike before shipping. Delivery within the contiguous US takes 2-6 business days from the shipping date and more for non-contiguous US or APO.
Shipping is available only to the United States and APO (Army Post Office).
GovVelo guarantees 100% satisfaction with the products they sell. Here are some key points from their returns policy:
- They accept returns on unused items in the original packaging within 60 days of purchase.
- You can return new and unused bikes within 15 days of delivery with intact packaging.
- Buyers must cover the shipping cost for standard returns.
- Purchases of sale items are final.
Customer Service and GovVelo Reviews
The GovVelo customer service is available by telephone, email, and social media during regular working hours. According to reviewers online, their customer service is responsive, the ordering process is smooth, and delivery is timely.
- Phone number: +1 (855) 433-3600
- Email via Contact Form
As mentioned, over 250 customers have given positive feedback on Reviews.io. In addition, users of the MTBR.com and Reddit.com forums also provide positive feedback attesting to the efficiency of the customer service and fairness in addressing issues.
An example of a positive customer experience was:
Another positive customer experience is from the purchaser of a Marin Rift Zone. This customer notes:
Final Thoughts: Is GovVelo Legit?
Yes, GovVelo is legit. Given the quantity of online customer feedback, the positive reviews of their brick-and-mortar store in Biloxi, and the established nature of the online brand, it’s safe to say it is a legitimate and reputable company.
We recommend exploring their selection of products if you need a complete mountain, gravel, or hybrid bike, as well as if you want to upgrade your existing bicycle or update your gear and apparel.
On top of that, if you’re a public servant, you can save up to 20% through GovVelo’s “For Those Who Serve” program that offers special service and discounts to military, police, fire/ems, and government personnel.
