Journal
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...
The Lazer Jackal MIPS Helmet is Fit for Action
Lazer isn't usually the first name people think of when considering a mountain bike helmet, having been a major player in the road and cyclocross market for years. Recent mountain bike helmets from the Belgian company have changed that lately, culminating in an impressive range of MTB-centric helmets. The latest...
Orbea Rise Tech Review - 35 Pounds of Power
Technology is only as good as it is intuitive to use. The new Orbea Rise, with it's unique Shimano EP8 RS drive unit, promises to be the most seamless and rider-focused electric mountain bike platform yet. Does the Orbea Rise deliver on its promise? We'll dive into the nitty-gritty details...
3T Exploro RaceMax Review - A Numbers Game
The original 3T Exploro, first released in 2016, not positioned the stalwart 3T as a nascent bike brand, but it also was the release of the first aero gravel bike. And amongst all the aerodynamics on a gravel bike talk, the fact of the matter is that the Exploro was...
Six Things to Know About Campagnolo Ekar, Available at Contender Bicycles
Campagnolo, the Italian company known for their jewelry-like components flare for design, has entered the gravel bike market. They’ve done so with Campagnolo Ekar 13, a 1×13 mechanical groupset designed for gravel riding in mind. And while we at Contender are often skeptical about the efficacy of some gravel bike-specific parts,...
Fizik Tempo Argo Saddle Review: Shapely Rather than Svelte
Fizik may have started in 1996, but ask around and it wasn’t until the release of the Fizik Arione in 2002 that the Fizik name began to really proliferate. The Arione was a revelation in saddle design: long, narrow, flat, and decidedly svelte in shape. Fizik's newest saddle line, the...
The Contender Bicycles Twelve Best Bikes of 2020
We’ve just about seen it all this year, but 2020 has brought us some of our favorite bikes yet. Over the next twelve days, we’ll highlight those bikes – custom or otherwise – to round out the year and end it on a high note. Follow the list below to...
First Look: the 35-pound Orbea Rise eMTB
Every year the bicycle world seems to come up with the next big thing. Hyperbole rules each of these new product launches. At Contender Bicycles, we are confident that the Orbea’s Rise full suspension eMTB will truly be a game-changer. First, the days of 50 pound plus eMTB will now...
The Contender Bicycles 2020 Holiday Gift Guide
If ever there was a holiday season that called for spoiling your loved ones (or yourself!), it’s the 2020 holiday season. We’re sure you don’t need reminding, but 2020 has been a beast and we’re looking forward to better days ahead. And what could possibly make those days better than...
GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THE CONTENDER BICYCLES NORDIC JERSEY
A pandemic won’t stop the holiday season, but it certainly makes it tougher on our most vulnerable communities. In the spirit of giving this holiday season, we’ve chosen to donate to Candy Cane Corner hosted by The Road Home. We designed the Contender Nordic Jersey with a holiday theme in mind both...
Review: Introducing the New Giro Helios Spherical Helmet
We're big fans of the Giro Aether road helmet. The inclusion of their Spherical technology made for a road helmet that was light, safe, and breathed exceptionally. If there was anything the Aether couldn't do, it was the price. Not so with the all-new Giro Helios helmet. With cutting-edge technology...
A Custom-Painted OPEN U.P. Inspired By the Fox
See our custom paint gallery for a hearty selection of custom painted bikes from OPEN Cycle, 3T, Santa Cruz, BMC, and more, link HERE. What can a custom paint job do for your next bike? Just ask the myriad people who've chosen to go the extra step on their next...
Introducing the New Shimano S-Phyre RC902 Road Shoes
Shimano has a reputation for putting out reliable equipment, be in apparel or bicycle components alike. They may not always be on the cutting edge, but they'll always be well-considered. This extends to Shimano's top shoe, the S-Phyre. New for this fall is the Shimano S-Phyre RC902 road shoe, a...
Contender's Fall Road Cycling Apparel Buyer's Guide
There isn't much that beats riding through a canopy of fall season foliage on your road or gravel bike. More color in the trees also means that temperatures are dropping, and dropping temperatures means what you wear is essential. We're here to help. Below is our Fall Road Apparel Buyer's...
Contender's Fall MTB Cycling Apparel Buyer's Guide
Between the cooler temperatures and colorful foliage of fall, there isn't a better riding season in our eyes. Having the right apparel to stay both warm and cool while riding is critical to enjoying the season, however, and we're here to help. Below is our Fall MTB Apparel Buyer's Guide...
