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mission
The Singletrack Factory is a small pro shop located in Central Denver. Started in 1997, our goal is to provide the best service and the best selection in the region. It can be a stressful world, so our goal is to help you find the best toy you can.
The philosophy is simple. We don’t want you to pay for any corporation’s marketing budgets or bad business practices. That is why we carry the brands that we carry. All the brands we carry care about the product (how it rides, how it is built and how it works), and about service. We sell most of our bicycles through our storefront in denver, but we have many satisfied customers throughout the entire country, even in Europe, Australia and Canada.
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history
The SingleTrack Factory was started from scratch by Brian in early 1997, with 4 bare walls and carpet. Brian desired a change from the corporate world, so he started The SingleTrack Factory.
The original idea was simple. Provide great service and have high quality products that help our customers have more fun.
We are now entering our 12th year of operation and have the best staff we have ever had. We carry a very strong lineup of products – from vendors that have same idea we do – keep the price reasonable, and have the best performing product.
Thank you to all of our customers for your business in the past, and we look forward to serving you in the future!!! |
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message from the owner
First of all, let me thank all of our great customers. I knew when I started this business in 1997 that I may have been missing the boat because I didn’t start a dot com. What I didn’t know is the quality of people I would meet on a daily basis and the friendships that would develop because of this business. Thanks to everyone who is a customer, especially our usual suspects who have become family.
The SingleTrack Factory is a specialty retailer. What is a specialty retailer?
A specialty retailer is usally independently owned, and has expertise in what is sells. This year to help build our expertise, we took 7 employees to the Interbike trade show, which is the bike industry trade show. Why the expense? Most bike shops send a buyer with the owner, but I closed the store to allow all the people who will interact with customers to the show. In my opinion, it gives all the employees a perspective that helps our customers in all the right ways. Sure, the employees of STF can get some of the same information if they veraciously read current issues of bike mags. But how many times do bike shop employees get to talk directly with owners of bike companies, hear directly from them, why they designed the bike, how they produce it, and to see their passion.
It’s a selfless act…
This last September, at the Interbike Bicycle Trade show, each member of the staff tested models of 5 inch travel bikes from Ellsworth, Turner, Yeti, Rocky Mountain, Titus, Pivot, Spot, GT, Knolly, Maverick, Ibis and Lens Sport in an effort to ensure we still carry the best working lowest maintenance brands.
Each member of the staff also rode models of 4” travel bikes from Ellsworth, Turner, Yeti, Rocky Mountain, Titus, Pivot, Spot, GT.
Gravity bikes were tested over the course of 2 days in Boulder Canyon from Rocky Mountain, Intense, Yeti, Lenz Sport, Knolly
on the same day by some of the best quality bike companies out there. Bike ridden back to back (in order of availability at the demo day, not by preference)
-Ellsworth epiphany
-Ellsworth Evolve
-Yeti 575
-Maverick ML-8
-Rocky Mountain Slayer 70
-Rocky Mountain ETSX 50
-Rocky Mountain Highline
-Titus Moto Lite
-Turner 5 Spot
-Turner Nitrous
-Turner Sultan
-GT IDXC 5.0
-Pivot 5
-Pivot 4
-Intense Uzzi xvp
-Intense 6.6
-Knolly Endorphin
-spot belt drive single speed
What a great opportunity to feel these bikes – back to back. It really makes the subtle differences in each suspension design more evident. What does this mean to you our customer? We can steer you to the right demo bike, to get the right ride, and pick your pony.
Why so many brands in the store?
We don’t carry products that are bundled. We only carry products that we believe are the best. Best at a certain price point, or best period - from a customer maintenance perspective, from a warranty perspective, delivery/availability, specification by price point etc. It would be very easy to carry any of the large bike companies (Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Giant) – they cover everything from a $99 12” kids bike to a $4500 mountain bike. It would be one stop shopping for The SingleTrack Factory. One vendor, one set of invoices, one vendor credit manager. From an administrative standpoint of running a small business it would be much easier to work with one or 2 suppliers.
But we don’t do it that way, because we feel that there are best in class products available from the small manufacturers (bikes - Yeti, Ellsworth, Turner, Rocky Mountain, Titus, Snowboards – Lib Tech/GNU, Arbor, Unity). It takes much more administrative effort to work with 20 companies, but we only carry the good stuff. It seems the larger the company, the more emphasis is placed on what makes money, not what rides best.
The staff at STF –
I’ve got to tell you, I am very lucky to have the group of guys that I do. They are all poised to help our customer. Also, a sign of a group that is happy is that they stay with you. Have you ever gone into a bike shop or snowboard shop) and every time you go in, there are new faces? Or maybe the same, but the faces are surly.
Let me tell you it is a very difficult proposition to keep people excited and interested in helping our customers, day in and day out, when it rocks in June to when it is deathly slow in October and January.
The current core staff has the following tenures:
Adam – in his 5th year for 2007
Doug – in his 3rd year
Brian – 10th year
I have worked very hard with the staff to do reviews on a regular basis, give bonuses based on customer service and performance. I do this so that when they are at work – they have you in mind – to help you enjoy your toy, and have a great time in the great outdoors.
Other thoughts:
Racing is very important to the development of technology, for teaching people the importance of community and hard work. We support racing teams – this year we are supporting the cross country mountain bike racing team of Rocky mtn hammer gel in the Mountain States Cup as well as the Winter Park series. Rocky Mountain Hammer Gel is a great group of people who all have a down to earth approach to all riders. |
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