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Why Shop with Us?

No matter where you live, we want to be your "local" shop - even if its your "shop away from shop." We strive to create and maintain long-term customers who become friends. We not only carry some of the best brands in the industry, we stand behind each purchase and are a proud member of our community. 


World Class Trails

From right in town S Mountain and Methodist Mountain trails to the beautiful backcountry riding of the Monarch Crest your visit will be one you will remember for years to come and keep you coming back. These trails are perfect for testing new bikes before you make your purchase. A percentage of your purchase goes back into advocacy to keep our trails open and maintained. Check out current Trail Conditions.

Location, Location, Location

On the bank of the Arkansas River in beautiful Salida, Colorado, Absolute Bikes is in the middle of a cycling paradise. Colorado’s Arkansas Valley, particularly Salida, is blessed with year round riding due the milder winters the “Banana Belt” provides us. This makes Absolute Bikes in Salida an excellent hub for your cycling adventures.

Family and Pet-Friendly Town

Come on out with your family and pets and make a weekend out of your new bike purchase. This is a very pet friendly town and you will see many people enjoying the trails and river with their furry friends.

Advocacy

A portion of each purchase goes back into our community through youth cycling programs and teams, Salida Mountain Trails, and other advocacy efforts. We are proud of the Ride Right Cycle Safe 4th Grade Helmet program that we put on at our local elementary schools, giving helmets to every 4th grader and teaching them bike safety with the help of our local police and fire departments. 

Bike Museum

Remember your first mountain bike? Shawn Gillis (shop and museum owner) has curated a collection of old mountain bikes, aka “All Terrain Bikes” and “Klunkers,” from the early 1980s through the early 2000s. Approx. 50 of them are on display inside the shop. The collection also includes some classic road bikes, full suspension forks and helmets. You’ll have memories flood back when you take the time to look up the walls & ceilings.