“The bike shop “stink eye” is what keeps me away from most local shops. I just love feeling uncomfortable and looked down on when I walk into your establishment. Somehow this is NOT a rare thing. The shops that treat people right will always win, because we will always need them!”
This was the most liked comment on a video about Local Bike Shops from Berm Peak (formerly known as Set’s Bike Hacks). Comments like these ring true for many, even those that work in the bike industry. It is a stereotype that has stuck with bike shops at large. It will be hard to shake. This “stink eye” is actually what sparked John to start Peak Cycles in the first place.
w
Friendliness goes a long way these days. If you have enjoyed coming into our shop, we would love to hear about it. You can do so by leaving us a review on our Google Profile here! In the mean time, we hope you enjoy this video from Berm Peak.
One of the Front Range’s friendliest bike shops lives right in the shadow of an iconic trail
The service at Peak Cycles in Golden is excellent, but it’s also just feet away from the popular Lookout Mountain ride.
Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s new series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we will offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).
One of the things I value in a bike, ski or mountaineering shop is the way its salespeople and maintenance technicians treat customers.
When John Polli was treated rudely at a local bike shop two decades ago, he saw a market opportunity and decided to give the offending shop some competition. It was one of the reasons he started Peak Cycles in Golden, my favorite bike shop.
“I have always been annoyed when you go into a shop and someone gives you attitude,” Polli said. “I was like, ‘That’s ridiculous, I’m going to open a bike shop. Those guys are total (jerks).’ Three months later, I had my own bike shop.”
Over the years, I have bought two bikes at Peak Cycles. I have all my maintenance and repair work done there, and I’ve always been impressed by the respect and patience its technicians show customers. It’s clear they understand that friendly, helpful service builds customer loyalty.
“We have kind of a family atmosphere,” said Dan Dwyer, who has worked there for 12 years. “When somebody comes in the door, it’s not about us, it’s about them.”
Location is part of why I like Peak so much, too. It’s situated in the heart of downtown Golden on a corner at 13th and Washington. The headquarters of Denver-based Icelantic skis is situated on another corner. Bentgate Mountaineering, my favorite shop for backcountry skiing, is half a block away, and there are all sorts of cool shops and restaurants nearby that make downtown Golden vibrant.
That intersection is also a crossroads for Denver cyclists heading to Lookout Mountain, the metro area’s most iconic ride, along with other great rides and trails nearby.
“Having access to a climb like Lookout Mountain is very, very unique,” Polli said. “That’s one thing I love about Golden, having Lookout Mountain and all the trails right there. It’s a cyclist’s paradise, for sure.”
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostJake Wade, a salesman and bike mechanic at Peak Cycles in downtown Golden, works on bikes at the store on March 28, 2022.
The Peak Cycles story is pretty unique, too. The business started in 1998 after Polli graduated from Colorado State University. He was a competitive mountain biker back then, and he got interested in the sales potential of the internet just as the dot.com boom was starting. Driving back to Fort Collins from Englewood one night after a dot.com presentation, he decided he wanted to create a website to sell bike parts. The next day, he registered the domain name bikeparts.com, which is still going strong today.
In 2003, he opened a small bike shop on Old Golden Road to support the website. Three years later, Peak Cycles moved to downtown Golden next to the Higher Grounds Cafe, a favorite coffee shop for Golden locals, and then to its current location in 2009. The Great Recession was in progress, but business was good for the bike shop and bikeparts.com.
“People were riding their bikes,” Polli said. “It was a bike boom. Every time there’s something weird going on in the world, people turn to bicycles, whether it’s gas prices or COVID; it’s weird. I don’t want to say it’s recession-proof, but it is what people turn to because it’s a cheaper form of staying healthy.”
Today, about a third of his revenue comes from bikeparts.com, while the bike shop accounts for the remainder. During the height of the pandemic, it was about 50-50.
“We’re the brick and mortar for bikeparts.com,” Dwyer said. “It’s a symbiotic relationship. A lot of the parts somebody orders on bikeparts.com might be here in the store, and they can stop by to pick them up. At the same time, (bikeparts.com) reaches out to the whole country (and even) internationally.”
The short answer is, that it really depends. There are some people who just want the best bike possible. There are others who need certain performance qualities out of their bikes. There are also people who have outgrown less expensive bikes and want to have something nicer. They have realized the limitations of their bike and see the value in something more expensive. It could also be any combination of these three groups.
As bikes go up in price, there is a noticeable difference in ride quality and performance. As with anything, though, returns start to diminish as you approach the upper price points. These differences are most noticeable as you jump from lower price points to mid-level. For example, a sub $1000 bike with rim brakes, basic components, and cheap tires is going to feel clunky, sluggish, and might not stand the test of time. A $2000 bike with better components like hydraulic disk brakes and a lightweight carbon frame will feel all-around better than the latter. The hydraulic brakes will be easier to handle and provide more stopping power, the carbon frame will be lighter and more responsive, and the upgraded drivetrain will shift smoothly compared to the sub $1000 bike.
People spend a lot of money on bikes depending on their needs. If it is just a bike to get around town, there isn’t a real need for spending thousands of dollars. Unless we are talking about e-bikes, which are in a category of their own, a bike for getting around town is probably better off being on the cheaper side, to be honest. That is since bikes left outside do run the risk of getting stolen. On the other hand, if someone is looking for a road bike that they plan on riding multiple times a week up and down Lookout Mountain, then there is some serious value in spending money on a road bike that can perform.
On the surface level, spending thousands of dollars on a bike is shocking to most people. You can get a bike at Walmart for a couple hundred dollars. Won’t those work fine? It’s just a bike, right? Yes, it is just a bike and it will work, but after hours in the saddle, you will start to notice things.
What will you notice? The shifting might not feel right. The seat is probably terribly uncomfortable. The tires are starting to fall apart after a couple months. In some cases, like with department store bikes, you can’t really make upgrades to the bike. But even if you can, after getting a new saddle, drivetrain, and better tires you might be close to the cost of that brand new nicer bike that was initially out of your budget. The most common components that will hinder your performance are suspension, brakes, and drivetrain. The better the performance of these items, the more expensive they get. When you start to notice the limitations of your bike, it’s natural to want something that won’t hold you back. After hours in the saddle, you will notice. Or you can take our word for it.
With most things in life, once we get accustomed to something it is hard to go back. With bikes, it is the same way. Ask any mountain biker who currently rides with a dropper post if they would buy a bike without a dropper post. 99.99% of them will tell you absolutely not. In 2022, a full-suspension mountain bike with a dropper post is going to cost you at least $1500. The same goes for road cyclists who use carbon wheels. It is this “I need to have it” mentality that gets people to spend thousands of dollars on a bike. It is worth noting that the bike should fit properly. The most expensive bike in the world isn’t worth much if it doesn’t fit you right. Here is an article on that!
When it comes to spending this kind of money on a bike, it certainly sounds crazy to most people. Unfortunately, unless you have spent countless hours on a bike saddle, it is hard to justify the cost. Once you do start to ride more often, however, you will notice how the bike could be better. Through time and experience, you just might find yourself driving around in a car worth less than the bike that is hanging off the back.
Before you load up the car and head over to the trailhead, here is our list of tools we won’t leave the house without!
Floor Pump
This is an absolute must for the trailhead. There is nothing worse than having to pump up your tires with a hand pump which is both tedious and tiring. You might be asking, why not just pump up your tires at home? Well, you might be prepared but your friends might not be. It’s good to have a floor pump to get your pressures dialed before you head out for a ride. Throw it in the car so you have it on hand. You might be able to help out someone in the parking lot and earn some karma points, too.
Chain Lube and Rag
We advocate for lubing up your chain at the end of each ride. This helps any extra lube dry off, which keeps dirt and grime from building up. It is worth keeping a bottle on hand for your friend that has a squeaky drivetrain and questionable shifting. The rag can wipe off any last-minute crud before you hit the trails.
Hex Wrenches
Sure you have a multi-tool on you, but it’s probably buried in your backpack or neatly stowed on your bike with a strap. Having some hex wrenches on hand will make your life easier. We like the 3-way hexes from Park Tool.
Chair
While not exactly a tool, this is a “nice to have” for relaxing, socializing, taking off your shoes, and enjoying a post-ride libation.
Here at Peak Cycles/Bikeparts.com, we love the new Kuat V2 Transfer bike rack. Why? This wallet-friendly rack has many of the features found on high-end bike racks including:
Tray style bike mounts
Semi-integrated cable lock
Flatlock hitch cam for stability
Tamperproof screws for added security
Ability to add on an additional bike
Foot lever for ease of use
The Kuat V2 Transfer comes in a 2 bike and 3 bike version, both of which can add on an extra should the time and place come. Considering that most 4 bike tray racks cost well over $1000, the Kuat V2 transfer is a bargain at just over $700 for the 4 bike configuration.
The V2 Transfer has many upgrades from its predecessor, most notably the Flatlock hitch cam for stability. This lets you tighten down the rack so there is zero wiggle. When you have thousands of dollars of bikes hanging off the back of your car, having all of the peace of mind is a big bonus. Kuat added in a tamperproof screw with the Flatlock hitch cam, which should help thwart any opportunistic thieves out there.
The semi-integrated bike lock was another feature they added to the V2. Your new rack will come with a long cable lock that can fit around 4 bikes (frame and wheels). The built-in lock makes the whole process of securing bikes lightning fast. No more carrying around a separate cable and padlock!
Having the option to add on extra bikes to your rack used to only be an option with high-end racks and they would cost you an arm and leg. That’s not the case anymore! The Transfer V2 can add on an extra bike for an extra $159. While there certainly are cheaper racks out there, it is worth spending more to get a platform/tray style rack. They are more stable, easier to load, and will help protect your bikes from damage during transport.
We hope you will consider the Transfer V2 for your next bike rack. You will be smiling on the way to ride knowing that your bikes are safe and secure on the back of your vehicle.
Posted by Peak Cycles - BikeParts.com 
Peak Cycles - BikeParts.com Blog 