Excel Sports Boulder ~ Welcome to our Showroom

Greetings from the Excel Showroom Staff!

For as long as Excel has had its catalog business, we have maintained a Showroom presence in Boulder and serve thousands of loyal customers in the Boulder/Denver area every year. While the retail storefront may be small, our warehouse is located in the same building. Just as those who call are always glad we can put out hands on any in-stock product they have a question about, we can also put that product directly in the hands of a walk-in customer.

While we are known for a great selection of in-stock, high quality cycling products, our strongest function over the years has been frame-up builds. The bicycle industry does a good job providing pre-built packages. We stock such bikes from Look, Cervelo, and Fuji. But what about the customer who wants a different crank length, bar width, a special saddle or a wheel upgrade? There are many who choose to build a bike from the frame up, customizing their parts selection. This where Excel truly shines. While we do provide this service over the phone to many, there is nothing like coming in the Showroom and getting to view, hold, inspect and compare options in person? Talk with an expert, choose your parts, and get fit, all in one place. We are here to serve every customer who walks in the door, from the guy who needs a presta valve adapter to the racing cyclist looking to build a dream time-trial bike.

Our facility also houses a full service bike shop. We have a highly experienced sales and technical staff that can teach you about a frameset, develop your dream bike, build it for you, fit you to it properly, and fulfill your service needs for the life of the bike. Need a helmet? Shoes? Gloves? Clothing? Parts? Lights? Nutrition? We have it all, right here, open seven days a week, in the Boulder Showroom!

Showroom News

Here in Colorado, May brings many exciting events. Some, like gusty winds, thunderstorms, pollen and road construction are less than optimal for cycling, but eventually the wind slows a little, the skies dries up and everything turns green and lush for a while.

For racing cyclists and fans, some of the key races and events take place. On the pro level, the Giro d'Italia starts May 8th and runs through May 30th. With a very difficult course and several time trials, this year's Giro should see some tremendous battles and courageous efforts, especially from the Italian cyclists, who dream of stage wins, breakaway exposure and the pink jersey. This year's Giro starts in Amsterdam, continuing the trend of Grand Tour departs from other European countries. In the US, we see a new month for this 4th Edition of the Tour of California; May 16th-23rd. Top US Pro Tour teams Garmin-Transitons, Team Radio Shack, HTC- Columbia, and BMC will be joined by Euro outfits from Rabobank, Quick-Step, Cervelo Test Team, Saxo Bank, and Liquigas-Doimo. Top US based teams will include Kelly Benefit Strategies, Jelly Belly p.b. Kenda, United Health Care p.b. Maxxis, and Bissel. There will be many riders that are based around Boulder, so follow your favorites as they seek to keep Levi Leipheimer from 4-peating!

Local mainstays on the cycling calendar include: Lookout Mountain Hill Climb on May 1st, the Sunshine Hill Climb on May 15th, the Superior Morgul Classic Crit on May 29th with the Road race on the 30th, along with the Omnium classification. Many Boulder locals will also be looking for the North Boulder Park Criterium, which has been moved until July 10th.

Many of you know from early season experience that the industry has been conservative with production over the last eighteen months. The global economy had slowed and the bike industry was no different. As many indicators are improving, consumers have more confidence and are looking to buy. Unfortunately many manufacturers have scaled back so much that now we have a number of products that are difficult to get, have higher prices, or have disappeared altogether. Even when companies have sought to increase production, they have encountered material suppliers with low inventory levels. As such, there are gaps in the market due to these various challenges. Anyone who has tried to buy a PowerTap this year has likely encountered this, or those of you who have asked for warmer clothing, only to be told that the items were sold out by February. In many ways, our economic boom years have created a change in expectation. There was a time, just a few years ago, when bike and cycling related companies frequently ran out of product, but in the strongest years we have been able to order most products year-round. Cycling is still considered a seasonal sport by the industry and as they have pulled back production, we have a return to those inventory standards. Our advice is- if you know you want or need something, buy when it is available. On our website and in the showroom we routinely run specials and currently have many products on sale. Clothing and accessories in particular have been the biggest challenge, so please keep that in mind. Our buyers work very hard to stay ahead of all this, but if the products aren't available, they simply aren't.

Our May clinic has been cancelled. Our staff is always willing and able to field questions you have about nutrition, training, etc., so please take advantage when you come in.

Read the latest Showroom Newsletter for February 2010

Excel Advantages

Fitting Services:

Excel Sports has provided fitting services for our local customers for over 20 years. We offer free fitting with every bike we sell and paid service to people who already own bikes and simply want a better fit. This includes rider measurement and actual on-bike fitting. Our fit principles are based on "The Fit Kit" method, influenced by the LeMond measuring system, with a focus on bio-mechanics for efficiency, comfort, and proper weight distribution. Our customers range from Pro riders to recreational cyclists, and we fit to the requirements of the rider using sound fit standards Our two primary fitters are Showroom Manager Josh Puyear (JP) and salesperson james mcdermott. Both have extensive fitting and cycling experience and regularly work with mountain, road, tri, or TT set-ups. A fit will include a brief interview process about cycling experience, injury history and desired results. The general fitting process for a road bike usually fills a full hour, and is charged at $80 per hour. TT and Tri fits often take a little longer. Philosophically we believe many issues can be corrected with proper fit, pedal coaching and training. We are reluctant to quickly use wedges or shims and if we feel you have a truly medical issue we will refer you to the local fitters that specialize in those areas. A great advantage Excel offers is our huge parts selection, including stems, saddles, handlebars, and seatposts. We can quickly address changes and provide you with immediately available options.

Fitting is offered by appointment only. Please contact the Showroom at (303) 444-6737 to schedule an appointment.

Boulder Showroom Operations

Phone: (303) 444-6737

Location: 2045 32nd St. Boulder, CO 80301 (from 30th/Walnut, go east 1/8mi on Walnut to 32nd St, turn left (north), Excel is 300’ on the left-in a light industrial area)

Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-5pm

Showroom Staff:
JP- Showroom Manager
James- Sales/Fitting
Marin- Sales/Fitting
Josh- Weekend Supervisor
Tony- Excel Sales Manager

When you come in, sign up for our Showroom ONLY email list. Get great weekly specials, a monthly newsletter, and first notice of special events and clinics!

Service Department ~ Bikes and Wheels

Excel Sports can service any current make or model. If you have specific needs for products we don't carry, we will either refer you, or special order what we need to address your situation. Our full service shop offers experienced technicians, including one of the top wheel builders anywhere. In season, our shop can get pretty busy, but we do our best to keep our turn-around under 5 business days (the service department works M-F only). Excel is the "go to" shop in town for wheel issues, as well as expert diagnostics. Excellence and integrity are our hallmarks. If we can't fix your bike, we will tell you why. If we fix it, we stand by it. With an incredible selection of parts on-hand, it is rare we can't supply what you need. We offer plenty of services for road, mountain and track bikes, so give us the showroom a call today to schedule!

Whenever possible we service the bike, then test ride before the “bike is done”.

Complete Overhaul: from $140
- comprehensive evaluation of bike/frameset for cracks, damage, wear, etc.
- down to the frame, full clean, everything checked, greased, lubed
- highly recommend replacing cables/housing, tape, brake pads, chain, cassette- anything worn close to minimal specification
- all mechanical systems, wheels, cleaned, adjusted as necessary

Standard Tune-up: (w/basic drivetrain clean) $80
- comprehensive evaluation of bike/frameset for cracks, damage, wear, etc.
- clean cassette, crank/chainrings, wipe down
- adjust RD, FD, check adj BB, HS, Hubs
- true + tension wheels to manufacturer spec
- recommend new tape- check pads, chain, cassette, chainrings, cables as necessary

Advanced Tune-up (w/full drivetrain clean) $100
- all service under Standard tune-up listing
- RD and FD removed/cleaned/reassembled
- (note- chains are generally not “soaked” most manufacturers recommend against soaking, as it removes the base lubricant from the rollers and bushings- and it is almost impossible to get proper lubrication back in those areas)

Single Speed Tune-up: $60 - comprehensive evaluation of bike/frameset for cracks, damage, wear, etc.
- same service as standard tune-up, without adjusting FD, RD!

Wheel True/Tension: from $15 and up per wheel
- comprehensive external inspection of wheel
- true wheel side to side
- tension wheel to original specifications
- overall condition of wheel and time required to service will dictate final cost

Call for more service options. We service all makes and models, but if there is a proprietary part needed from a manufacturer we don’t carry, you will need to supply it.

Showroom Newsletter PDF Archive