Our Story

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Robert Frost

So how did this all begin? Let me tell ya it's been an adventure!

Ten years ago Redhill wasn't even on Scot and Mercedes' radar. But then they took a trip across the country, he on an '88 Heritage (now chopped and still moving), and Mercedes-who'd been riding road bikes for less than 2 weeks-on a '78 FXE shovel. They were headed to Milwaukee for Harley's 90th birthday party. Sitting in the nosebleed section at the ZZ Top concert Scot uttered these fateful words, "For the 100th I want to have my own shop."

Scot was making a good living at Specialized bicycles and Mercedes had her own business; there was barely time to think of fulfilling Scot's dream. Then the hammer came down-Mercedes was diagnosed with cancer. As she says, "When they give you a minimal chance for survival all of a sudden you get really clear about what's important in life."

So they took it as a sign to go for it. After Mercedes beat the doctors' prognosis and fully recovered, they dumped their safe jobs and took a leap of faith. They put the house up for rent, drove to Arizona, moved into a trailer and Scot attended MMI (Motorcycle Mechanics Institute). "It takes a lot of guts to follow your dream, most people don't have the balls to give up all the comforts of life and really go after it...Scot did!" Mercedes said.

Fast forward two years, the Ross's finally move out of the Arizona furnace back to Colorado. Scot starts all over again making 8 bucks an hour working for one of his mentors, "Doc," learning the art of engine building while Mercedes was designing retail stores across the country. They begin building a log home and Scot falls 40 feet, breaking just about every bone in his body, fracturing his hip in four places and breaking his back. Plans are put on hold for the shop until Scot heals.

But one day that next spring Scot calls Mercedes and says, "Hey, what are you doing?" Mercedes replies, "Working, why?" Scot asks her to check out a building they've had their eye on that's now for rent. The landlord needs confirmation right away so Mercedes takes another leap of faith. Benz called Scot later that day and said, "Hey, what are you doing?" Scot replies, "Working, why?" Benz says, "Well, you'd better give your notice you now have a shop!!"

The rest is history; the shop you see is a labor of love, 7 days a week, and a culmination of help from family, friends and passers-by. It's the kind of shop Scot and Mercedes would want to stop at on a trip and a place were the employees like coming to work (most of the time.)

The passion for the motorcycle industry that courses through Scot's veins and his insatiable appetite for knowledge and technology makes Redhill what it is, one of the best custom & performance shops in the Rockies.

It's Scot and Mercedes' desire to make Redhill a friendly, fun place to visit that keeps the customers coming in. So make it a point to stop by on your way up to Rocky Mountain National Park, or just coming to Lyons for a bite to eat, some good beer and music. Every one is welcome!