Enter The Urban Cyclist, a unique and oh-so-Denver bike shop that cultivates a fixie lifestyle. The name says it all. Hidden like a gem in a RiNo warehouse, an Old School Pac Man arcade welcomes you into a decked out, relaxed yet bustling bike heaven. The walls are covered in every color rim, accessory, frame, handlebar, chain, pedal, and seat you can imagine. The Urban Cyclist isn’t a bike shop, it’s a lifestyle. Not one shrouded in hipster clichés, nor based in an arrogant superiority complex, but a welcoming, healthy, and open way of life that will inspire you to do one thing. Ride your bike.
The Urban Cyclist is a destination spot. Located right across the street from the Source on Brighton Blvd and 35th Street in River North, tucked behind The Filling Station, you’ll find their warehouse. Founder and owner of The UC Darrin Duran is inspired. With a past in motocross and super-cross, biking is in his veins. He took a huge risk just over a year ago in opening his dream bike shop, one that has seriously payed off. Darrin and his team are committed to turning urban dwellers on to a bike they never knew they’d love. Brands the UC carries: State, Zyclefix, Biria, Retrospec, Fyxation, Throne, Brooklyn, and more. Their number one seller: ZycleFix. The Urban Cyclist is the largest dealer of this particular fixed bike in the country. And for good reason. Denver is a wonderful place for the wide wheel, safer than average for fixed road bikes, as well as the adjustable handle features.
The city’s so bumpy, the cracks will take you. The big fat tires just smash all over that, you can go off curbs. They’re just made for the city. Plus, the actual kicker is all the amazing color combinations. Possibilities are endless. The best part? This amazing bike at the Urban Cyclist only costs $350. This deal is unheard of.
“ZycleFix bikes are part of the reason we’re so successful. We opened up a shop one block down the street. A 500 square foot shop. I got together 1800 bucks. I signed a lease, I didn’t know how I was going to pay for it. I put a little desk, a little lap top, and I bought 12 bikes and leaned them against the wall. That was my shop. June 2013. Now, we’re here. In a year, we are the number one dealer in the United States for this brand.”
The UC carries a ton of brands, my personal favorite being the wildly colorful Zyclefix. The best part is that you are able to create your ideal bike with your one-of-a-kind signature. The Urban Cyclist is dynamic in energy, in their constantly evolving showroom, as well as the seamless process. Darrin builds your bike in front of you and for the last few steps, you are even are a part of it’s creation. It’s really fun to watch and to help the UC team build your bike in this atmosphere. Get passionate about creating the perfect urban bike for your lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be a fixie. But, if you are really about that life, here is Darrin’s bike to add to the street cred.
“Here’s what’s cool about it. Someone gets something like this, I just wanna ride to work, I wanna ditch my car, I wanna ride it to the restaurant or the bars. Two things will happen. Either they just use it for that, or they turn into complete fucking bike nerds. They realize how rad it is, how fun it is, they’re always excersizing and flying around town. Then there’s a whole subculture that once you get into it, like the Loop. 20-30 mile rides, like far. From park to park to park for fun. That’s subculture.”
The overall experience is astounding. This is the best place to buy a bike in Denver. The store is accessible, yet perfectionist in it’s mission. Thank you so much for welcoming me into this world, Urban Cyclist.
“One person gets one, then two or three other homies get one. Then it’s on. We give away lights, front and rear, which is law in Denver, as well as a U lock so your bikes safe, and a free tune up. For 350 dollars. A single speed rei, everyone when they find our shop, they’re like, ‘This is where everyone is getting these.’”
Road cyclists drink water, urban cyclists drink beer. Urban Cyclist and Epic Brewery are teaming up for a taproom. Very soon, once Darrin finishes with the legal contracts and gets approval from the city, they are going to be adding an Epic brewery in the front of their Urban Cyclist warehouse space. You come in, get your bike tuned up, get a beer while you wait. Now, bike lovers will never leave. They practically don’t already.
I love the Urban Cyclist because is a first in Denver, paving the way for even larger bikeshops and corporations to follow suit. Yet, no one does it as well as the Urban Cyclist. As you fly down the road on your bike, wind in your hair, heart rate as high as the altitude and skyscrapers in the city, you will understand. Caution. This is a gateway bike that will undoubtedly change your life.
This bike shop is AMAZING! I just bought a new frame (Throne) and Darrin and crew built it up for me. I grin from ear to ear riding it downtown from Green Valley Ranch on my daily commute. If you haven't been to this shop, GO! You won't be disappointed!!!
BUYER BEWARE: The Urban Cyclist has the most unfriendly anti-customer policies of any bike shop in Denver! They don’t inform you and they don’t post their policies. NO REFUNDS EVER, NO RETURNS!!!
There are hundreds of bike shops in Denver with great customer friendly policies and practices.
I had a really bad experience with these guys.
Chad $
Cry baby!
Good work done on my bike,I love it.One Star because of the amount of time they took,I wish I could recommend them to anyone, but I would never!I gave my order for black color,8 gear citibike,with ebo burly kit & basket attachment to it.I already own a mountain with gears.Order was given on 7th of Sep,I was supposed to get the bike after a week,it wasn’t ready until 12th of OCT!& it was only ready because me & my office colleague went & stood there waiting for it!I had kept calling no reply!no messages!I had left my old bike also for tune up on the same day & I never got that bike until two weeks on from 7th Sep, that to because I had to crawl around the shop several times to find someone, because they will never pick the damn call or nor it was open!Thankfully his father was there at the shop & he thankfully kept his words & returned my bike to me the following weekend.I understand that there was death in the owners family but he has employees too!Oh forgot to mention about the basket,he had not even added the basket even though he called (2 weeks before) & asked me questions related to basket.But until we stood there & waited he didn’t even bother to check the basket & its attachments & whether it could have even been mounted or not!
I didn’t scold or did anything about it & was patient,he himself had offered to add blinker to the bike,but he said they don’t exist.Meantime he had lent me a citibike,which made no difference to me from my old bike.
I am supposed to get free 1 year tune up,free U-lock, front & rear lights with it & free mirror.He gave no whatsoever extra accessory as such or any discount or apologized for making the delay.Instead just kept giving excuses & delaying it & putting it on family death.FYI my dad passed away & I went to visit India between 9th Sep & 16th Sep, & only you don’t have deaths in family!
I didn’t loose it then also.This place is near my office,after suddenly noticing that my front wheel bolt was missing just after using it for 2 weeks, I had to give it there, thankfully i found someone there,an employee. He also kept his word.I told him to call me whenever Darrin(owner of the shop)reaches the shop,since Josh didn’t know about my bike. Darrin called back after few hour in the evening says he can give it back in the late evening (it was thursday) or by friday evening,I waitied late at office thinking he will call, or at least pick my call, he didnt.Friday evening he calls says the same,disappears for a week. I kept calling, no returns, then he calls says oh I will get you this bolt which cannot be unbolted unless the entire bike is turned upside down, & that was another excuse ofcourse, he had also said he would come near my office to collect his bike & bring another basket which can be bolted. delayed more.
After one & a half week, I get it back because i called him & as usual he say “oh, i was just about to call you”.he was supposed to get refund, for basket, he didnt get it, he was supposed to get printed receipt, he didnt get it, I mentioned multiple time that I dont want the seat too high, but just for getting it to my office (0.2miles) he changed the seat hieght to so high that i fell, he didnt get his tools so he couldnt reduce the height. & OFCOURSE without the type of bolt he had promised.
SO, I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE!DARRIN HAS KNOWLEGDE, BUT HE WASTED MY TIME MONEY & HAS MADE ME GO THROUGH A LOT OF MENTAL & PHYSICAL TROUBLE!BURLY KIT COMES WITH A TIRE, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT? WHY DID YOU CHARGE ME SO MUCH!!!!!! i SHOULD TECHNICALLY BE HAVING ONE EXTRA TIRE.I PAID $1,445 FOR THIS KIT, WHY WAS I CHARGED THIS MUCH WHEN ORIGINAL PRICE IS $1,112.00?AT THE END HE REFUNDED ME 80$ AFTER BEING A JERK AND COMPLETELY NOT BEING APOLOGETIC ABOUT ANYTHING (IN WHICH $43 IS MY REFUND FOR THE BASKET).THIS IS MY FIRST REVIEW EVER, & I HAVE WRITTEN IT BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST UNBEARABLE EXPERIENCE WITH RELATION TO DEALING WITH SHOP OWNER DIRECTLY!THIS IS MY FIRST REVIEW EVER I HAVE WRITTEN BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST UNBEARABLE EXPERIENCE WITH RELATION TO DEALING WITH SHOP OWNER DIRECTLY! I never put an effort to write a review. But Darrin himself has forced me to. That he didnt care what I recommended or thought.Specially by being cheeky, arrogant and over-smart just because he has business for 6 years, thats what he told me when i was requesting him to tell me if i can trust him for my 1 year free tune ups.
Forgot to mention, I didnt even get the desired color.
DO NOT TRUST THIS SHOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They take orders and then do not deliver bikes. They make consent excuses without being able to fulfill, and will not state or deliver the merchandise.
They do not “take returns or refunds” but cannot provide the serialized item number to a registered bike either. They lie and have negative reviews all over the place.
Real mature, owner of the shop. It is unprofessional. Evidence why no one should do business with you.
Report them for fraud at https://coag.gov/file-complaint/
Avoid at all costs.
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/contact7/denver-bike-shop-accused-of-never-delivering-bikes