Mountain - Plains - Recommend a Denver LBS?

I have client who lives two time zones away from me in Denver. He wants to take up cycling "mainly for exercise, and for riding around during the summer". He sent me a link to Sam's Club, asking me which of their bikes he should buy. Yikes!

I think I can talk him out of toy bikes and into low-end LBS bikes, but I'd like to be able to refer him to a couple of specific shops. Any recommendations for shops that cater to n00bs and carry decent low-end stock?

Thanks!

The big ones. Performance Bike and Bicycle Village.

Cycle Analyst (http://cycleanalystinc.com/) is the best shop I've been in! They won't try to talk you into something you can't afford, and can fix anything for you!!!

Second recommendation would be Westside Cycling and Fitness (http://westsidecycling.com/index.cfm) located just east of Colfax and Wadsworth. Good store and I have a friend that works there.

My THIRD recommendation would be Performance (Littleton store) (http://www.performancebike.com/inform/store_profile.cfm?Store_ID=27). They've always been good to me, and have good prices.

Bicycle Village was useless. They couldn't even find a bolt to fix the cleat on my shoe. (Or, rather... I think they just didn't want to bother... they did offer to sell me a new set of cleats and bolts for $20)

Golden Bear Bikes in Broomfield. Bicycle village and Performance in Westminster are both fine but I have not had much of a chance to deal with them. Golden bear bikes is my main source of repairs.

Green Mountain Sports

Thanks all for the help.

I put together a "Bike Buying 101" package, included your recommendations, with links and addresses, and sent it off to him.

He wrote back, "Thanks so much for your in-depth comments and information... I love that you're giving me location suggestions as if you live down the street from me..."

All praise teh intarweb tubes!

Wheat Ridge Cyclery is THE LBS in the Denver metro Area.

Also, all the Treads are good.

I didn't have good experience at Bicycle Village years ago, and Performance in Greenwood Village leaves a bit (well, a lot) to be desired, IMHO..

I went into Wheat Ridge Cyclery exactly one time. Not one person working there bothered to even say hello the whole time I was in the store. I'll spend my money elsewhere, thanks.

I went into Wheat Ridge Cyclery exactly one time. Not one person working there bothered to even say hello the whole time I was in the store. I'll spend my money elsewhere, thanks.

OK - I have never been there, I just keep reading about it!

Thanks for the update.

Salvagetti at 12th Ave and Speer is my favorite. They're all really nice, helpful, and knowledgeable. If they can't help you with a specific need, they can usually tell you who can.

I've had similar experiences to bmclaughlin at Wheat Ridge both times I've shopped there. They have a lot of stuff, though.

1. Westside Cycling and Fitness. Good mountain bike shop. Nice guys and I've been doing business there for eons.

2. Cycle Analyst. Grumpy but mostly harmless. Lots of ecclectic stuff and they have the only Wall of Brooks in Colorado!

3. Salvagetti's. Nice folks. I haven't bought anything from them but I've been in to look and they are very friendly.

4. Turin on Lincoln. Pretty good shop. A bit pricey but not too bad.

Shops I'd avoid (mostly)

Wheatridge Cyclery. Lots of selection. Lots of inventory. Kinda snobbish. I used to shop there and they were good folks but not that the son has taken over, they have an attititude. It's just not as enjoyable to shop there now.

Bicycle Village. Lots of inventory. Not much selection (at least the few times I've been there). I can get the same stuff at Westside and they know me. They also seem kind of impersonal...not snobbish...just not terribly friendly.

Mob Cyclery. They're in my neighborhood but dealing with them is like dealing with teenagers. Very young, rather edgy, have an attitude, they don't want to deal with an old fart like me - eventhough old farts like me have the money;)

There are lots of other shops around town, however. Most of them are pretty good.