Journal
Orbea Gain M20i Review + Video: A Look Into the Future
First impressions are everything. They inform how you look at someone or something now and into the future. As much as we might discuss their value in the context of interpersonal relationships, they matter with bikes too. The original Orbea Gain was our first experience with the now-burgeoning e-road bike market, showing...
Beautiful Bicycle - Orbea Gain M20i - An Ocean of Technology
There is a lot of love in the bike world right now. Technology is better than ever, making bikes easier to ride and more accessible to a wider range of riders. And while this Orbea Gain might look like another tech-forward road bike like all the others, this packs a...
Introducing Liv Cycling
Liv Cycling is unashamed about putting women first. Their tagline, "for women, by women, with women" promises to make cycling more inclusive by approaching bikes and gear tailored for women first. It's a unique perspective in the cycling industry, and one we believe in strongly at Contender Bicycles. And it is with...
(Re)-Introducing Giant Bicycles
After several years away from our shop, Giant Bicycles are back at Contender and we couldn’t be more excited about the news. Not only are we thrilled to have bikes with the Giant, Liv, and Momentum logos in the shop, we’re stoked to have a few dozen additional bikes in...
Beautiful Bicycle - A Royal BMC URS 01 ONE Gravel Bike
Historically, purple often indicated royalty and imperial lineage. Part of it was due to how expensive the dyes were, making the color an exclusive choice for those who could afford it. And while just about anyone can wear purple these days, this specific BMC URS 01 ONE is built to be...
Five Ways to Help Your Bike Feel Like New Again This Spring
A clean bike is a happy bike, and a happy bike means a happy rider. And what better way to make sure you're having a good time outside than making sure your bike feels like new as we get into the riding season. Making sure your bike feels like new,...
Beautiful Bicycle - A Metallic Blue TIME Alpe d'Huez 01 Aktiv
TIME claims that the Alpe d'Huez is the lightest frame they've ever made, but we say that simply claiming that their latest road bike is lightweight does the bike a disservice. Simply put, the Alpe d'Huez is all about balance at the highest level. And for this lucky rider, the bike...
Where Are All the Bicycles and Components? A Bike Shop's Perspective
Maybe you’ve heard rumors. Maybe you walked into a bike shop last summer and noticed. Or maybe you’re hearing it for the first time in this blog post. Whatever the case, here’s the hard truth: Supply chain issues are being experienced across the bike industry. Some brands and shops have...
Beautiful Bicycle - An Ultralight and Custom-Painted Orbea Oiz M Pro TR
Outside of our custom ready-to-paint options from OPEN and 3T, the Orbea MyO program is our favorite way to build up bike with custom paint and options. This Orbea Oiz M Pro TR, one of the latest MyO bikes to roll through our doors, is an excellent example of what...
Beautiful Bicycle - A Pinarello Dogma F12 Disk Informed By Cycling Credo
For many cyclists, the Pinarello Dogma is about as coveted as it gets. And in the case of this client's bike, the Dogma was a dream come true. Finished in a limited-edition Blue Steel colorway, this Dogma truly stands out. What makes the Dogma such a desirable road bike? Part of...
How a Titanium Bicycle is Made - Contender Tours the Moots Factory
Few bikes elicit lust quite like Moots. The luxury brand handmakes each bicycle with artisan precision in their Steamboat Springs factory in Colorado as titanium frames and hand-picked components work together to create a bicycle company with a loyal following. Ride a Moots and you might spend as much time...
An Inside Look at How We Build Our Custom Bikes - OPEN U.P. with Campagnolo Ekar
Our process of custom building a bike is about as methodical as it gets. And while custom-built bikes allow us to loop riders in on everything from the handlebar tape to chain of choice, the process of putting those moving pieces together into a rideable, well-tuned bike is harder to...
Santa Cruz Stigmata Gravel Bike - Five of Our Favorite Things
In a lot of ways, Northern California can lay claim to being the spiritual home of the gravel bike. Sure, that spirituality started in the 1970s with the advent of mountain bikes in the Marin Headlands among other places, but what modern gravel bike has become today - inching ever...
On Mastering the Art of Riding Your Bike This Winter
Imagine your ideal bike ride. For us, the scenery has flora in full bloom, the sky is clear, and perhaps most importantly, the perfect temperature is probably around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Finding conditions like that this time of year requires heading toward the equator and away from the...
SCOTT Addict eRIDE Review: Faster, Farther, Fresher
SCOTT Bikes has long prided itself on leading-edge innovation and pushing the boundaries of what has typically been considered possible with bike technology. Whether it’s the introduction of clip-on aero bars that helped Greg LeMond win the Tour de France or the revolutionary TwinLoc suspension system for mountain bikes, SCOTT...
