Contender
Address: 989 East 900 South
Telephone: 801-364-0344
Website: contenderbicycles.com
District: 9th and 9th
“Bikes can change a day and sometimes a life. They get you outside, quiet the mind, and give families a reason to spend a whole afternoon together.” This simple belief has guided Contender Bicycles owner and operator Ryan Littlefield since the day he first stepped into the business back in the late 1980s when the shop was located in Sandy, Utah. What began as a part-time job soon became a lifelong calling. Today, Contender Bicycles has become an essential part of the rhythm of Salt Lake City’s 9th & 9th neighborhood.
Stepping foot into Contender, one quickly notices the rows of bicycles that line the walls: sleek road bikes, rugged mountain bikes, adventurous gravel bikes, and sturdy models for beginners learning to ride for the first time. Every inch of the 13,000-square-foot space hums with energy. After purchasing the building in 2013 Ryan and spouse Alison led the charge on a complete reimagining and renovation of the space, transforming it into a bright, open home for the cycling community: part showroom, part workshop, part gathering place. The lower level houses the service department, where skilled hands fine-tune gears and restore bikes to life. Upstairs, an expert, friendly staff helps customers solve problems or bring two-wheeled dreams to life, including working with cyclists on custom bike builds, from frame to finish. The front of the shop bursts with movement and color - helmets, shoes, clothing, and accessories chosen to make every ride safer, smoother, and more enjoyable.
Ryan grew up near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, where weekends meant skiing and time outdoors. As a teenager, he started working at a local bike shop. Just a way, he thought, to fund his love of skiing. But it did not take long before cycling became the greater passion. “It was refreshing to be in a sport that wasn’t judged,” he recalled, noting the contrast between cycling and competitive mogul skiing. “It was really easy to see that hard work paid off.”
Ryan raced for the Intermountain region’s top road racing program while earning his marketing degree, graduating in 1994. The original Contender shop had opened in 1987, and Ryan began working there the following year, learning the business from the ground up. After more than a decade behind the counter - through high school, college, and countless races - he purchased the store in 1999.
Just before buying the business, Ryan met Alison at a bike race. She shared his love for cycling and had a sharp mind for problem-solving. Soon, she would pursue a PhD in biomedical engineering at the University of Utah, while also continuing to race bikes. After several injuries and related surgeries forced her to step away, she began taking a larger role in the shop, serving as co-owner and operator alongside Ryan, for more than two decades. “We’ve built this together,” Ryan said. “She oversees the marketing, the website, the buying, the team. She does more than a bit of everything.”
Despite now employing nearly 50 people, Contender still feels like a family business. Many of its team members have been there for more thana decade, with some starting while still in high school or college. One of Contender’s mechanics started as part of an internship program for autistic youth. When the internship was over, Ryan and Alison offered him a permanent position, as his potential was obvious. Seven years later, he continues to grow within the company. “We all wear a lot of hats,” Ryan said. “We’re all cyclists and we can appreciate what drives our clients to ride. Being a part of their cycling endeavors is what makes it fun.”
Community has always been at the center of Contender’s story. Pre-COVID-, the shop used to host indoor stationary trainer workouts during the winter season on its top floor–a great catalyst for local cyclists to connect, and to stay fit. In addition, the shop sponsors several high school mountain bike teams (Bingham, East, and Skyline High Schools), and often partners with cycling brands to host events, speaking engagements and product demos. A few years back, an evening with cross-country mountain biking world champion Kate Courtney once packed the space with more than a hundred students, coaches, and parents, serving as a warm reminder of how connected the local cycling world can be. “It’s about helping people find joy on a bike,” Ryan said. “You don’t have to be a racer to feel that.”
Beyond bikes, Contender offers everything from all-seasons clothing to performance eyewear to advanced safety gear and accessories. “Comfort is king,” Ryan said with a smile. “You want people to be able to ride year-round, to enjoy the experience, not suffer through it.” The shop partners with thoughtful, innovative brands, such as Iris, a women-led company from Denmark known for its bold colors and inclusive designs. Every product on the floor has been intentionally curated and chosen with care, reflecting both quality and individuality.
In 2013, Contender launched an online store, allowing cyclists from across the country to connect with the same expertise and curated collection that defines the Salt Lake shop. Online orders and customer questions are promptly handled by an attentive staff, while a web team routinely publishes helpful content, from blogs to videos to in-house photography, with the end-goal of helping customers stay in the know while getting the most of the sport–and their investment. Over time, loyal customers have emerged across the country from Vermont to Texas to the Pacific Northwest. “There are whole regions with incredible riding but no real bike shops,” Ryan explained. “We’ve become that trusted source for people who just want to keep riding but lack a nearby resource.”
In 2018, Contender expanded to Park City with a storefront near Kimball Junction, built from the bones of the iconic red barn. The focus remains the same: bikes, and only bikes. “We’re not trying to sell skis or patio furniture,” Ryan said. “We’re bike people. That’s who we are.”
Looking ahead, Contender’s growth will remain intentional, with a goal is to serve more of the Mountain West without losing the personal connection that has defined the business from the beginning. With each new milestone in Contender’s journey, the evolution has been steady and earned, built on relationships, trust, and a shared love of the ride.
“Riding empowers you,” Ryan said. “It clears your head, strengthens your body, and brings people together. Happiness can be as simple as getting on a bike and going for a ride.”
