Familiar Face – Fernando Tapia

Found either on a bike or working on one, Fernando Tapia is one of Niwot's most Familiar Faces. From the day the doors opened and through the relocation to its expanded space, Tapia has been part of Niwot Wheel Works bike shop and the new Wheel House Bar. With more than 35 years of experience, this master bike mechanic is the go-to person when it comes to bike maintenance.

Niwot Wheel Works and Wheel House Bar owner Eric Bergeson said, "Fernando is the definition of a master in his trade. He is at a stage in his life and career where he feels he has a lot to offer others such as apprentices at our shop or the bike enthusiast seeking more knowledge. I can see the sense of satisfaction he gets from using his skills and knowledge to help and guide others - and I am not just talking about bicycle repair."

Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - Where are you from and what other cities have you lived in?

Fernanda Tapia (FT) - I'm from Mexico City and moved to the US when I was 19. I've lived in Minneapolis, Tijuana, Northbrook, ILL., Tucson, Green Bay, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Madison, Milwaukee and Niwot. Is it obvious I struggled to find my place in the world?

LHVC - Did you go to school after high school?

FT - Nope, big regret. Stay in school, kids.

LHVC - What brought you to the area?

FT - My second wife, who grew up in Boulder and knew the area, but I had no idea. I moved here to work in a little bicycle manufacturing shop GT had in Longmont. I remember in 1997, there was no Niwot sign on Highway 119 and I went by it twice before finding it. We decided in the first 6 months this was a place worthy of raising a family.

LHVC - Has Niwot been the place you've lived the longest?

FT - It's incredible for me to think it, but it is. Today I don't live in Niwot. After a 20 year stint, I moved to Longmont and it's a nice short commute on my bike.

LHVC - What is your job and what other positions have you held in the past?

FT - I'm proudly the lead mechanic at Niwot Wheel Works. Before coming to Colorado I worked mostly as a mechanic for bicycle racing teams. Since coming to Colorado, I've had many odd jobs: returns for a restaurant supply company, sand blaster, foreman for a landscape crew. I actually worked at a little plant where we made probes to test semiconductors. I was also a handyman, painter, did demolition, and various jobs as a bicycle mechanic.

LHVC - How did you get interested in bikes?

FT - I've always ridden bikes. Growing up in Mexico City, it seemed like an awful idea to drive a car. I got interested in working on bikes after my bike got stolen when I was in high school. It sent me looking for a replacement bike and I discovered a whole new world of nicer bikes that I didn't know existed. I became efficient at it and it feeds my ego. I had no idea you could actually make a living at it.

LHVC - Tell us a little about your family.

FT - I am the second youngest child and was raised by five proud Mexican women; my mother grandmother, three sisters, and my father who was gone a lot. My parents, Martha and Antonio, passed. I miss my mother often. I have a son, Tomas, in Fort Collins. He is the kindest person I know. My daughter Lola is going to college in Portland, Oregon. She's been very influential in my life and can also be very hard on me. My sisters are Martha, Petiza, who lives nearby in Gunbarrel, and Claudia.

LHVC - What parts of your life are the most rewarding and the most challenging?

FT - Rewarding... that's easy. We have some good young people, Ben, Diego, and Ian, working with us, and watching them do things that they think they can't do is the most rewarding. Watching them gain confidence fills my heart. Challenging...my job at the shop can be physically demanding and I'm no spring chicken!

I tried opening a business of my own, a tortilleria in Tucson, and lost some of my father's money which scared me into thinking that was not for me. It took someone special like Eric Bergeson to teach me that believing in a community-first approach is the only way to go.

LHVC - What hobbies do you enjoy?

FT - I ride my bike and probably always will. I fish (well, I try) and I watch every play of every game the Minnesota Vikings play... sometimes twice. My favorite type of fishing is in a lake from shore by stealth, but anything involving fish is okay with me.

LHVC - What effect has COVID had on your life?

FT - I feel lucky about this...bike shops were considered "essential" from being part of transportation. I can't imagine not being able to work because my work is who I am. We haven't had a single day since we opened our new shop and bar without restrictions. When we do, we'd like to invite the whole of Niwot to come and gather with us.

If you have a suggestion for a Familiar Face in Niwot or Gunbarrel, please send a message to Editorial@LHVC.com.