Spring 2025 Newsletter
This is Rolando, a shop owner and bike mechanic at Dbicis Taller S.J. (Bike Workshop San José). He has been running his small business for 16 years, serving his rural community with bicycle sales and repairs.
Located deep in Guatemala, San José Poaquil sits over an hour from the Ecobici bike shop in Chimaltenango, accessible only by tough, winding mountain roads. For the last two years, Rolando has been purchasing bicycles from Ecobici thanks to his longtime friendship with Alfuno, co-founder of FIDESMA. Through this relationship, he has been able to acquire higher-quality used bicycles from the United States—bikes that outperform the imported Chinese models he previously relied on.
The decision to source from FIDESMA has helped Rolando bolster his inventory and offer his customers more durable, reliable bicycles. American brand bikes—especially used Trek models—are highly preferred and can sell for around $200 USD, compared to roughly $100 USD for a new, off-brand Chinese bike. That price difference reflects a big gap in quality. The used bikes from the U.S. far exceed their lower-end counterparts in performance and longevity.
Rolando makes use of every square foot in his compact 15×8-foot shop. Tools and spare parts cover his workbench, while bikes and wheels hang from the walls and fill every corner. It’s a modest space, but it allows him to earn a living doing something he’s passionate about—fixing bikes and serving his neighbors.
For years, Rolando worked alongside his son, who helped run the shop before leaving two years ago to pursue construction work in the United States. Clearly, mechanical talent runs in the family. Rolando continues to make incredible use of limited tools and supplies. Several bikes were hanging from the walls, drying after being freshly spray-painted. He even uses an angle grinder to modify larger bicycle frames to better fit the smaller stature of the local population.
Despite his skill and resourcefulness, Rolando faces challenges when it comes to repairing newer, high-end bikes. While Trek remains the most popular brand, some newer models are beyond his current expertise. He occasionally relies on help from a fellow mechanic in Chimaltenango, but the hour-long drive makes it hard to keep up with demand.
Eager to improve, Rolando hopes to expand his knowledge so he can better service these newer models. Entirely self-taught, he has learned through trial and error and dreams of starting bike repair lessons for others in his community. He recognizes the growing interest in cycling throughout Guatemala and wants to help others keep up with the rising demand.
Pedals for Progress is proud to support small bike shops like Dbicis Taller S.J. Rolando is just one example of how our work helps foster economic development, entrepreneurship, and access to mobility in the developing world. Every bike sold in Rolando’s shop goes into the hands of a hard-working person in rural Guatemala. His story is a great example of the kind of sustainable progress we aim to support—one bike, and one mechanic, at a time.