Journal
The Insider's Guide to MAHLE X20: Updates, How-Tos, and Our Favorite eBikes
We’ve had great success with the MAHLE X35 drive unit. Not only is it one of the most common electric bike systems in lightweight road and gravel electric bikes, but it was so low-profile in it's look that the only way one might realize an X35 bike was electric was...
Giro Aries Helmet Review: More of Everything
When someone says the words “What helmet should I buy?” Many helmets and brands come to mind but none as prominently as Giro. Giro has a 40-year history of providing some of the best helmets for all types of bike racing, and they have now released their most advanced helmet...
Pete’s Pimped-Out Peugeot – a Priceless Piece of Pedal ‘Portation
There are a lot of employee bikes around the shop that pique our interest, but none excite us quite as much as Peter’s Peugeot. He has established himself in our shop as the guy to ask questions about any vintage bike or build, as he has a vast knowledge of...
Gravel Bike Buyer's Guide - Five of Our Favorites
In the last few years the bike industry has seen the gravel blow up in popularity among riders. One reason is the addition of disc brakes that makes it much easier to add tire clearance without compromising handling or braking power. Tire clearance keeps getting wider and wider. Just in the...
Your Favorite Beautiful Bicycle 2022 Results! The Top Six
You voted, and here are the results of the Your Favorite Beautiful Bicycle 2022. These are bikes we've decided to highlight that have come through our doors. Most are custom bike builds, each done up to the rider's specific needs, expectations, and wants. As a result, each of these bikes is unique...
Your Favorite Beautiful Bicycle 2022 Results! Twelve Through Seven
You voted, and here are the results of the Your Favorite Beautiful Bicycle 2022. These are bikes we've decided to highlight that have come through our doors. Most are custom bike builds, each done up to the rider's specific needs, expectations, and wants. As a result, each of these bikes...
The Contender Gecko Jersey Is Back
You may have seen this jersey hanging at the shop. Well, probably not since Ryan placed it in the least visible location of the store! This is a Contender Bicycles jersey from circa 1992. For those of us around Utah back then that were riding bikes, the jersey should remind...
Otso Fat Bike Buyer's Guide - Arctodus and Voytek
With the winter months approaching, our minds are starting to think about what to do when it gets cold and snowy and we can’t ride our other bikes. Luckily, Contender offers both the lightweight Otso Voytek and the more adventure-focused Otso Arctodus. Just looking at the two fat bikes, often referred to as...
Place Your Vote for Favorite Beautiful Bicycle of 2022
2022 has brought us some of our favorite builds to date. You name it and we've likely done it. Mountain bikes, gravel bikes, road bikes, special one-off options. Custom paint, unique finishes, and more. Our favorites were diverse and varied, and while we had plenty more builds to feature, the...
New Otso Arctodus - The Phattest Fat Bike at Contender
Otso is a brand that has long been known in the bike industry but under a few different names. Their frame brand is Otso, but you may be more familiar with their components brand Wolf Tooth. Born out of Minnesota, They have long established themselves as a brand that provides...
The Best Gifts for Cyclists - 2022 Contender Gift Guide
Its that time of the year, folks. That’s right: its gear list season. Maybe you’re looking for something that will wow that special cyclist in your life. Perhaps you’re looking for a stocking stuffer for the person who has it all. Or better yet, you’re looking for cool new gadgets...
Beautiful Bicycle - A Meticulous SCOR 4060 LT
SCOR as a brand is relatively new, but those who know about them know that they’re more or less an offshoot of BMC. While BMC is the race-optimized side of bike engineering, SCOR makes bikes the engineers ride when they’re looking for trail riding fun. And while this SCOR 4060...
You Should Be Riding a Fat Bike This Winter. Here's Why
Winter is about breaking out the skis and hanging up the bike right? Well not in our opinion. Of course, it is great to head to the backcountry, ride those lifts and skate on that track. But have you thought about riding a fat bike? If not, you should. Most...
BMC Kaius Review - Faster Than Your Gravel Bike
BMC markets the Kaius as a gravel bike in an increasingly-crowded gravel bike world. However, it isn’t even BMC’s first foray; rather, that goes to our ever-popular URS. The URS was unique for having built-in rear suspension (if only barely) and mountain bike-centric geometry. It was a vision of gravel...
Your Insider's Guide to the Orbea Oiz
Put the new Orbea Oiz mountain bike beside the previous iteration, and you’d have a hard time telling them apart. That is, at least at first glance. Dig deeper and this revised Orbea Oiz bike adds a whole lot of comfort, control, and capability without sacrificing the pace and performance...
