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We all know Colorado is a happy place for cyclists, whether you prefer slaying singletrack, eating up road miles, grinding gravel, or—if you have enough garage space—all three. But in addition to riding your bike across our roller-coaster terrain, don’t forget you can buy one from a reputable brand based within our rectangular borders, too.
Read on to learn about five bike manufacturers with roots in the Centennial State, hear what makes them tick—in their own words—and check out some of their sweetest rides.
Jump Ahead:
Spot Bikes
- HQ: Golden
- Started: 1997
- Known for: Bringing new technology to mountain bikes, initially with CenterTrack belt-drive system and now with Living Link suspension, which offers enhanced traction and control without lockout levers
Brand evolution in the words of owner Andrew Lumpkin
“Spot was originally founded in 1997 by Michael Golinski and Jessica Stein, two passionate riders from Vancouver who helped pioneer the single-speed movement in mountain biking. They built bikes that were simple, clean, sometimes funky—and ahead of their time. Over the years, the brand changed hands and eventually made its way to Golden, right in the heart of the Front Range, a place that had become a hotbed for forward-thinking bike design. That’s around when my family got involved.
“We’d previously founded Avid and built it into the world’s leading mountain bike brake company before selling to SRAM in 2004. When we saw Spot, we recognized some of the same ideals in innovation through simplicity and untapped potential. We’ve been proudly building on that ever since.”
Bike we like
Featuring the most refined version of Spot’s Living Link suspension, the Mayhem 140 (starting at $3,799 for the frame only) is shready to deliver a supple and poppy yet efficient ride on any trail you throw at it. “There isn’t another bike that feels this efficient climbing and this bottomless on descents,” Lumpkin says. “It continues to amaze us on every ride–and we made the thing!”
Yeti Cycles
- HQ: Golden
- Started: 1985
- Known for: Other than that distinct blue? A need for speed and technologies that support going faster, including its pedaling efficiency-enhancing suspension system: Switch Infinity
Brand evolution in the words of CEO and co-owner Chris Conroy
“Yeti Cycles was started in Southern California by mountain bike pioneer, John Parker, who was originally a Hollywood set fabricator and racing enthusiast. Parker fell in love with Colorado while following the inaugural Mountain Bike World Championships in Durango in 1990 and later moved Yeti to Golden. For more than 20 years, the brand has produced countless award- and race-winning mountain bikes.”
Bike we like
“The ASR Anniversary is a celebration of a legendary time in Yeti’s history,” says director of marketing Garrett Davis, alluding to their sponsored racers’ numerous podium placements in early 1990s. (Yeti riders still grace the stage on a regular basis today, he adds.) “It brings a classic Yeti Cycles race livery to one of our newest race bikes.”
Featuring a precision-built Chris King headset and bottom bracket and tasteful 3D Violet anodized highlights on its SRAM XX drivetrain and DT Swiss hubs, Yeti’s ASR Anniversary is a lightweight, full-suspension ride built for crossing XC finish lines and turning heads. But hurry—just 200 of these jewel-toned gems are up for grabs.
Mosaic Cycles
- HQ: Boulder
- Started: 2009
- Known for: Living into its name by building artisan titanium bikes specific to each customer
Brand evolution in the words of brand marketing and sales director Mark Currie
Mosaic Cycles founder Aaron Barcheck began building bike frames right after college. He learned more about the art with a degree from the United Bicycle Institute and then honed his craft over seven years with another Boulder bike manufacturer. In 2009, “driven by a desire to elevate the presence of custom-built bikes in the cycling world,” Currie says, Barcheck started Mosaic.
“[Mosaic Cycles] continues to innovate by expanding its lineup with modern model offerings designed for today’s road and gravel bike demands, all while maintaining the brand’s signature ride quality, style, and craftsmanship. Looking ahead, Mosaic is focused on leading the ‘New American Handmade’ movement and building a future where handmade bicycles aren’t just niche—but rather the benchmark for riders who demand the best.”
Bike we like
High-performance road bike geometry and on-point craftsmanship combine in Mosaic’s RT-1 iTR (starting at $8,750 for the frameset module). “Whether you’re sprinting in a local crit or chasing all-day endurance miles, the RT-1 iTR delivers sharp handling, a buttery ride feel, and unmistakable style,” Currie says. Plus, “every RT-1 ITR is made to order, ensuring that each bike is perfectly suited to its rider’s fit, riding style, and aesthetic preferences.”
Trailcraft Cycles
- HQ: Fort Collins
- Started: 2014
- Known for: Kids’ mountain bikes that are light enough for your little ripper to go longer on the trail
Brand evolution in the words of co-founder Brett Rosenbauer
“Our son started riding dirt bikes at three years old and was like a duck in water on anything with two wheels. It was the heavy bike that was holding him back from unlocking his full potential as a rider. When we took seven, eight pounds of weight off his bike, his riding transformed to the next level. We started Trailcraft Cycles to make a better 24-inch kids bike for [him because] the market at the time was severely lacking.
“[Since then,] we have developed our own line of frames in 7005 series aluminum as well as some carbon-fiber models. Superlight components like rims, cranks, handlebars, stems, and a seatpost all round out our entire build spec to create the lightest bike possible. As our own kids and customers’ kids grow, so does our bike line. We are developing 29-inch hardtail and carbon-fiber full-suspension kids bikes, [which we plan to launch before Christmas].”
Bike we like
As parents, we long for the day when our kids will be able to keep up with us on the trail. Trailcraft’s custom-built Pineridge 24 (starting at $1,599)—with its TC30 suspension fork, 80 millimeters of travel, and lightweight carbon lowers—is just the machine to help them do that. Of course, there’s no take-backs when you rue the day your youngster leaves you in their dust.
Niner Bikes
- HQ: Fort Collins
- Started: 2005
- Known for: Twenty-nine-inch wheels (hence the name)
Brand evolution in the words of marketing manager Samantha Boon
“For almost 20 years, Niner Bikes has been pushing the boundaries, bucking the mainstream, and building what we want to ride. Niner is a brand that truly thinks and acts differently, pouring every ounce of faith into the 29-inch wheel as industry disruptors in the early aughts with our ONE 9 single speed and continuing to innovate—even when the industry wasn’t quite ready for us. Our passion can be found on the trail or the road less traveled where we spend our days inspiring folks to ‘pedal, damn it.’ ”
Bike we like
The just-released ORE 9 RDO (starting at $3,000 for the frame only) boasts a slackened and suspension-corrected front end, plus the brand’s signature RDO carbon, making it a “hotshot rock crawler that will help you crush any terrain in the gravel-verse,” Boon says.
Two other brands worth a look: Alchemy, based in Golden, which has specialized in custom builds across biking disciplines since 2008, and Moots, a Steamboat Springs–based brand started in 1981 that prides itself on its titanium rides.
