Our Staff

Contender Bicycles was recently recognized by the cycling industry's leading magazine as the "Best Pro Shop" in the United States. It is a distinction the shop earned over many years of hard work and it all started with Ryan Littlefield.

Starting at Contender Bicycles within a year of it's opening, Ryan worked for the shop throughout high school, college and while pursuing bike racing. In 1999, Ryan purchased Contender Bicycles and has continually worked on improving the shop into what it is today.

Contender has focused on strong relationships with our customers, our community and within the cycling industry. Ryan's knowledge of the bike industry and enthusiasm for cycling has helped build a team of employees that are critical in helping Contender set the standard for service, expertise and selection.

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  Ryan Littlefield
  Owner
  
  Ryan brings to the shop almost twenty years of experience in the bicycle industry. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Ryan started racing and working in the industry at the age of sixteen. As a cyclist, he competed as a top regional rider with success on a national level both as a rider and a manager. Ryan developed and managed the most successful team to have ever come out of Utah. What started as a team of up-and-coming local riders turned into a launching pad for several of today's top American professionals including Dave Zabriskie and Levi Leipheimer. With an honors business marketing graduate of the University of Utah and over twenty years of bicycle industry experience, Ryan has built Contender Bicycles into what it is today. He and Alison enjoy spending time with Leo and Cyrus, their mutts, who are often seen strutting around the shop.
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  Alison Littlefield
  Owner
  
  Alison gradually fell into her role at Contender Bicycles. Shortly after starting to race on the road, she met Ryan on the way out to the local criterium series. After they married, Alison continued to race bicycles and establish her career as an engineer. Experiencing some success racing, Alison decided to put her career on hold and race bicycles full-time. However, a lower back injury resulted in multiple surgeries which derailed her plans in cycling. In between surgeries and during recovery, Alison started to work at the shop. Over the years, her role has steadily grown to where she is now an integral part of Contender Bicycles. With her recovery behind her, she still loves to ride and feels lucky to still be competitive on the bike. Like Ryan, she enjoys spending as much time as possible with Leo and Cyrus.