What's New at Contender Bicycles

Saddle Slingers Road Jersey

Woman in a purple road cycling jersey. Staring into the abyss. Laughing, crying. All of the time we have that can't be regained.

Saddle Slingers MTB Jersey

Howdy, partners! The Saddle Slingers had a rough-and-tumble weekend, but tackled the ENVE Grodeo with style and grace. After a minor oh-no-we’ve-locked-our-keys-in-the-car fiasco, our fearless cyclists proceeded forward with impressive vigor to conquer the 97.3 miles and 8,849 vertical feet that make up the course.

This June 25th gravel festival unfolded in the Ogden section of the Wasatch Range. Temperatures topped out at a sweltering 82°F, but thanks to proper training, nutrition, gear, and support, the Saddle Slingers harnessed a successful finish.

To celebrate their accomplishments, and to further support women in cycling, we have a limited run of Saddle Slingers road and mtb jerseys. As a bonus, profits from the Saddle Slingers jerseys will go to the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition.

P(ride) T-Shirt

Putting the RIDE in pride! The minds at Contender linked up to create a cyclist-themed pride shirt. All proceeds– yes all–will be going to Equality Utah. This means if you buy a shirt the full cost of the shirt gets donated! Look good and feel good about your purchase.

Buy your Contender Chainbow T-Shirt today.

Ripton Serves Good Looks

We recommend pairing the Ripton Diesel Jorts with the Pride T-Shirt for the hottest look on the block this weekend. These baddies have 54% stretch and 100% style. Designed for everyday life, these technical jorts won’t be wearing out anywhere in the near future. Jorts not to scale, but we do recommend going short.

Contender x Dakine Hot Laps Gripper Bag

When the trail is long, the day is hot, and your jersey pockets are maxed out, storing all of your trailside necessities can be a bit of a hassle. Overstuffed bib pockets are unsightly, and cumbersome. The Contender branded Dakine bike gripper bag is an on bike solution to enable secure storage of extra goodies. Like a dog packing its own food on a camping trip, take a load off and make the bike carry its own tools and supplies.

Skratch Labs Clear Hydration

Soda is to seltzer as Gatorade is to Skratch Labs Clear. When you’re out for hours at a time, or when the weather turns to remorseless heat, sometimes the only liquid you can stomach is low on flavor. Problematically, plain water can act against us and flush out electrolytes and salts to amplify the effects of bonking. Thankfully, our friends at Skratch Labs have just introduced a hydration mix that’s low on flavor, but high in replenishing electrolytes.

Bursting forth in two flavors, the Clear Hydration Drink Mix provides a tinge of flavor, extracted from real fruit, to give athletes what they need without the red dye #40. Easy on the stomach and the palate, Skratch Labs Clear has all you need with nothing you don’t.

Some Socks!

Ahhh… the comfortable counterpart to the Rapha Pro Team Socks! Neglected feet are unhappy feet. Unhappy feet equate to an unhappy cyclist. While this isn’t exactly a new item to the shop, in light of spring and the dawn of summer cycling we wanted to take a moment to focus on the importance of giving your feet something to look forward to.

Sometimes all you need is a little bit of purchasable motivation to slip into your gear and roll on out the door. Nothing says fresh quite like a clean pair of white socks. Built with a soft fabric, stretch, and durability, these socks will have you feeling like a born again cyclist. This is a sock you won't regret.

3T Exploro Ultra

If you prioritize traction, control, and versatility, then 3T's latest offering–the Exploro Ultra–might be your cup of tea. 3T has optimized the aerodynamics of this gravel bike to perform best with tires in the 55-61mm range. This means that the downtube sees an increase in size to make up for the decreased aerodynamics of larger tires.

This is an exciting bike for gravel and the excitement is multiplied if you’re local to the greater Salt Lake City area. With lots of potholed streets and long canyon climbing roads on the way to Wasatch gravel, this bike makes an excellent candidate for a city to canyon to single-track and back explorer. If your local gravel riding involves quite a bit of creative terrain, then the 3T Exploro Ultra will be your ticket to ride.

Carbon Gravel Hoops 👀

Fast Rolling Carbon Reynolds Gravel Wheels (G700)

Reynolds just dropped their G700 and G650 wheelsets–carbon wheels built to bring responsive feedback to gravel roads. These carbon hoops have an internal rim width of 25mm and are optimized for tubeless gravel performance. Squeeze on whatever tire suits your terrain and style best and receive the additional benefits of lowered rotating weight and increased stiffness.

Judging by the buzz of excitement around the shop, these wheels might not be around for too long…

Smith Shift Mag Sunglasses

Continuing onto week two of our sunglasses kick we turn attention to the Smith Shift Mags. While this isn’t a new offering from Smith, it’s new to the shop and it sits at the top of the sunglasses hierarchy.

We like these for the ease at which lenses snap in and out, but we must admit that they are a little heavier than the comparative KOO glasses of similar caliber.

Bright Skys V.S. KOO Eyewear

Warm weather is upon us and the sun is shining with greater intensity. Luckily we just got a special delivery of KOO Eyewear to shade and protect your eyes.

If you were paying extra close attention to the Tour de France this year, you'll have seen these Italian made glasses in the breakaway and the peloton. Sporting a variety of frame designs, offering adjustable nose pieces, large vents, and extra eye coverage, the frames check the important boxes. The addition of a refined Zeiss® lens with superb optical quality positions these glasses at the top of our list.

There is even a photochromic light-sensing option for those variable springtime days when the lighting is being indecisive. Also, if you're into well ventilated Hawaiian cycling apparel, we think you'll dig the Pearl Izumi Summer Button Up Shirt.

Welcoming Patagonia & Dakine to the Shop

Patagonia and Dakine are well known names in the outdoor industry and we are excited to welcome them into the fold here at Contender Bicycles. Patagonia offers a large variety of gear that's well situated for dirt-oriented styles of riding. We've hand selected an assortment of products that we think will serve ourselves, and you all, well. We are especially excited by the Houdini Jacket - a windbreaker and weather barrier that packs down to a miniscule size.

Dakine began their journey as a surf company and quickly evolved to make a plethora of products that fit right into the mountain biking world. Checkout their innovative waist bags and pickup pads.

Get a Grip!

If you've come through our shop doors to peruse our bar tape and grip collection, you know that we are big fans of Lizard Skin's offerings. Known for their slightly textured tape and grip styles, they offer premium products to keep your hands comfortable and your grip firm.

Traditionally, brake levers are left bare; they are a sleek (and sometimes slick) surface that is generally a secondary concern next to bar grips, but Lizard Skin raises a valid concern - in a world that prioritizes responsiveness, why neglect the hidden sixth and seventh touch-points of our mountain bikes? Get a solid grip on your brake levers and never go back to bare.

One Fat Bike To Rule All Of The Seasons

The dawn of winter can be a bittersweet moment for us cyclists. When the trails disappear to snow, and the potholes freeze over, most of us hang our bikes up for the season or opt for the indoor trainer. The Otso Voytek is different; it’s a nimble handling fat bike with a low q-factor that is ready to rip regardless of what the weather is doing.

Weighing in at an astounding 25.40lbs with stock 4" tires and a tubeless setup, this gentle carbon giant rolls with a low tire pressure that gives you a supportive comfortable ride. Find traction where all other bikes fail.

Campagnolo Ekar In Stock & Ready for Your Next Bike

Those looking for a gravel bike have had a tough time. Drivetrain components have been the hardest bit for us to source. But if you want the latest Campagnolo Ekar 1x13 groupset, now is your chance to build your dream bike. In stock now and ready for your build.

Campagnolo, the Italian company known for their jewel-like components, 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. It combines Campagnolo's top-spec braking and positive shift feel with gravel durability, fit for the OPEN UP, 3T Exploro Racemax, and more.

Meet Rapha's Transforming Bar Bag / Crossbody Bag

Bar bags are generally reserved for daylong cycling endeavors and bike packing. With a simple design and a focus on functionality, Rapha gives us the opportunity to reimagine casual outings, commutes, and everyday rides.

This bar bag is waterproof, reflective, and durable. Sporting three quick release buckles, you can easily secure this waterproof bag to your handlebars or bike frame - regardless of weather conditions.

2022 Juliana Wilder: In Stock Now at Contender Bicycles!

Juliana has had a massive XC bike-sized hole in their lineup for years. The Joplin has worked for many people, but as the analog and its sibling, the Santa Cruz Tallboy has grown into dedicated trail bikes, riders wanting something zippier were left lacking. Not so anymore.

The new Juliana Wilder XC mountain bike not only fills that gap, but it might also just become a go-to cross country mountain bike. For us and the riding that we like to do, this places the Wilder alongside the Joplin as our go-to bikes for long distances, quick lunch rides, and every sunset chasing ride this summer.

Giant and Momentum Bicycles Now Offered at Contender

We’ve got big, or rather Giant, news from Contender Bicycles.

Salt Lake City’s finest bike shop is now a Giant Bicycles dealer and we’ve got fresh stock of brand new bikes ready to sell now!

Giant returns to Contender Bicycles after several years away from the shop and we’re thrilled to once again offer bikes from Giant as well as sister brands Liv and Momentum. With bikes ranging from road bikes like the TCR Advanced and Contend to full suspension mountain bikes including the popular line of Trance bikes.

Liv Bicycles are
Now Available at Contender

Cycling is, at its basic form, an elegant mode of transportation and recreation. Simply elegant bikes create beautiful experiences and we’re beyond happy to announce that Contender Bicycles is now home to some of the most lovely bikes available. Liv Bicycles, the women’s specific line of bikes from Giant, has arrived.

Liv Bicycles have been absent from Contender Bicycles for a few years, but they’re not new to us. We sold these bikes a number of years ago and we are once again ready to roll with our favorite customers.

The 2021 Contender Bicycles Shop Kits Have Landed!

The 2021 Contender Bicycles Shop jerseys, bib shorts, and other apparel items have landed and it’s time to upgrade your kit.

This year, we’ve partnered with Italian kit maker Alé Custom to create a line of goodies you’ll be proud to wear. Not only does the new kit look amazing, but we’ve made sure they perform and are as comfortable as they look. Get a new jersey and shorts, or a new vest, long sleeve, or more. The kit is available in both men's and women's cuts to make sure your fit is as on point as you look. New kit day never looked so good.

The 2021 Contender x Giro Mountain Jerseys & Shorts Have Arrived!

Our latest collaboration with Giro is the new Contender x Giro Roust Jersey. Available in men's and women's cuts, the new jerseys feature mesh back and side panels to keep you cool on long days. And with it's Renew material, the Roust jersey is highly sustainable as well.

Not to be outdone, the new Contender x Giro Arc shorts offer secure zip pockets for a phone or keys and a light-yet-durable ripstop fabric that resists tears when you eat it. Available in men's and women's cuts, the new mountain kit promises to keep you looking and feeling good spill after spill.

Wireless Shifting For the Masses: SRAM Rival AXS- This Shifts Everything

Electronic shifting is only for the bike snobs, right? Not anymore.

SRAM is bringing its eTap AXS wireless shifting technology to the masses with the release of the Rival eTap AXS groupset, making electronic shifting within reach for even the budget level cycling enthusiast.

Available as a complete drivetrain, or ala carte for those looking for just a couple of upgrade pieces, SRAM’s Rival eTap AXS uses the same technology as its siblings groupsets in a more-economic package.

New Garmin Rally XC Power Meter Pedals - What You Need to Know

It is easier than ever to measure how much power you put out while on the bike. Between spider-based power meters and crank-based options, just about anyone who wants to measure their power has an option on the market, at least on the road.

But what if you want to measure power on your mountain bike or gravel bike? The Garmin Rally XC aims to be your solution not only off-road with SPD cleats but with the switch of a pedal body can be your power meter with SPD-SL or Keo cleats with ease. The Rally XC is available now in the shop, and here's what you need to know.

Some New Rapha Digs to Dig Into This Spring - Apparel Galore

Our picks from the latest Rapha spring and summer collections are made for warmer temperatures and sunny days. We have the rundown on what's new, what's updated, and what's hot in the shop now.

There's a lot to like in the latest spring and summer Rapha apparel drop. Besides new colors for their beloved jerseys and bib shorts, the collection available at Contender Bicycles has expanded to include new pieces for both men and women, on and off the bike.

The New SRAM GX Eagle AXS Wireless Drivetrain Shifts the Paradigm

Maybe you’ve heard - new bikes will be hard to find this year. While we currently have a pretty good supply at Contender Bicycles, we’re prepared for the predicted shortage that has hit some shops harder than others already.

With that in mind, if you can’t upgrade to a new bike, how does upgrading your drivetrain sound? Not only can you do that with the new SRAM GX Eagle AXS upgrade kit, but we have a limited run of these kits in stock now and ready to upgrade your ride.

A New Contender T-Shirt and Hoodie Made to Fit Spring

Spring is right around the corner with the promise of blooming flowers, lush greens, and cool temperatures. To celebrate the season, we've put together the new Contender Bicycles Topo T-Shirt, inspired by the green atop alpine forests, and the Contender Shop Hoodie to keep you cozy on cool spring evenings.

The new Contender Topo T-Shirt shows off our five local canyons atop a heathered forest green backdrop, while the Contender Shop Hoodie keeps you comfy on cool spring evenings. Hand-drawn by our own Ben McIntosh, both are available now in limited quantities.

An Inside Look at How We Build Our Custom Bikes

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 share.

In our latest video, we pull back the curtains to show just how our bikes are put together. That this build is a custom-painted OPEN UP gravel bike shod with Campagnolo Ekar, Campagnolo Shamal wheels, and Easton components is the icing on the cake.

A New and Improved contenderbicycles.com

Maybe you won’t even notice - and that would be a good thing, as far as we’re concerned - but there’s a new and improved contenderbicycles.com that we believe will make your next visit to our website better.

You’ve come to trust Contender Bicycles to be the best bike shop in the region. Our selection, expertise, and inventory are hard to beat. That’s why you’re here reading this and why we have such a loyal and demanding family of customers. We want to make sure our website keeps pace with our brick-and-mortar stores.

The OPEN WIDE ENVE Edition Is a Celebration of Adventure

Last week, OPEN put out a blog post informing everyone of another collaboration with ENVE Composites, this time for the OPEN WIDE. Most collaborations we've seen in the past from ENVE, SRAM, or Ultradynamico are largely limited to unique paint colors and left at that. This latest collaboration of the OPEN WIDE ENVE Edition features the new ENVE Adventure fork featuring, among other things, rack mounts on the fork, a first for any OPEN.

OPEN UP Enve Edition

The OPEN WIDE is unique for its road bike-like weight and geometry. After all, the ability to use a massive 27.5 x 2.4" or 700c x 46mm tire without compromising geometry is no joke. And while their stock colors grey, orange, or turquoise are beautiful in their own right, special edition frames tend to spice things up.

OPEN UP Enve Edition

Every so often, however, OPEN's collaboration frames make a detour in paint and scheme, and the WIDE ENVE Edition follows suit with something truly unique. The green to yellow fade is pure 2021 detailing, but just before the color gradient is unique topographic detail, similar to the Matte Bouron custom-painted bike we had here not long ago. What that bike didn't have, however, is the individually-numbered frame detail by the bottom bracket letting the owner know exactly what frame they have out of 100 frames available worldwide.

OPEN UP Enve Edition

Complementing the limited edition frame is a color-matched fork, utilizing the new ENVE Adventure fork rather than a standard OPEN U-Turn fork. The ENVE Adventure fork features three accessory mounts on each fork leg, axle flip chips to tune your ride, as well as internal dynamo routing for powering lights or electronics. Besides supporting a local company in Utah, the ENVE Adventure fork can fit up to a 29 x 2.3" tire or a larger still 27.5 x 2.6" tire as well. Beautiful and functional.

OPEN UP Enve Edition