Via Ciclante x Lightspeed eCom
When Via Ciclante approached me about redesigning their online store, it felt like stepping back into a digital time capsule. The site looked like it was built in 1999—think just shy of HTML table layouts but not by much. As a brick-and-mortar operation with a strong local presence, their website had always been secondary to the in-store experience. But with the 2020 pandemic lockdown, the need for a functional and appealing online store became critical.
The challenge was clear: take a barebones Lightspeed platform and transform it into something that didn’t just function, but actually reflected the high-end cycling gear they sell. No fancy custom templates, no big-budget redesigns—just me, a lot of CSS overrides, and a mission to make this twig of a site as sturdy as a steel frame.
I like to joke with JP, the shop owner, that the work I did on the back end is held together by a twig—a tiny twig. One wrong move, one careless kick, and the whole thing could come crashing down. But I’ve made that twig strong enough to withstand human error, or so I like to think. It’s a delicate balance, turning something so basic into a streamlined online shopping experience for cycling enthusiasts.
Stretching every $ and maximizing existing functionality—is where the real value lies.
The truth is, working with what you’ve got—stretching every dollar and maximizing every bit of existing functionality—is where the real value lies. By sticking with the barebones setup, I’ve saved them a significant chunk of change. Instead of shelling out for a custom template or an expensive subscription, I focused on overriding default styles, tweaking the design to fit their brand without blowing the budget.
URL: viaciclante.com
Sure, it’s still a work in progress, and it may not be the flashiest site out there. But it does the job. It’s a no-nonsense, straightforward shopping experience for those who know what they’re looking for—top-end gear, the kind you’d expect from Via Ciclante.
And in the end, that’s what it’s all about: creating value where it matters most, with minimal expense. The site may be held up by a twig, but it’s a twig that’s strong enough to carry the weight of a business adapting to the digital age, one step at a time.
