Rogue - Calgary's New Bike Shop

Aug 27, 2013 at 15:39
by Roguecc  
decompression zone.

store front.

The Company
If someone wants a cup of coffee - get in get out, and on their way - they go to 7-11. If they want atmosphere, comfort and quality, they go to Starbucks. It's that simple. It's a new day and consumers want more in a shopping experience than a square room full of hangers and promotional posters. They want an experience. It was time to end the mediocrity in retail and time for a change. It was time for Rogue. 

Rogue is the brain child of Hal Kuntze and Paul Anderson. Two sons of Calgary that wanted to give the cyclist elite of their city what they themselves would want in a new bike shop. A place where ideology such as 'craftsmanship, quality, and history' were paramount. Set in the increasingly trendy locale of Calgary's downtown beltline area, Rogue services a city rich with outdoor enthusiasts and cycling commuters.  Calgary has long been in need of a fresh face in it's ever growing retail market and needless to say, the fellas at Rogue have done just that. 

Rogue escaped the typical retail mediocrity ten fold by teaming up with the brand development gurus 54blue. The result? The attention to detail went way beyond your typical merchandising, instead focusing on an ideological viewpoint of the human experience. Avoiding bombardment of the normality associated with retail, shoppers entering Rogue are instead greeted by a relaxed vibe or a 'decompression zone' akin to the home foyer. This allows shoppers to acclimatize to the environment - giving them time to take in the rich, dark wood and leather trim finishing peppered throughout the store. Offset perfectly by a balance of modern design, iconic imagery and kitschy gold framed photographs of cycle culture. What is even cooler about this store is how it will escape stagnant design by annually changing the store length, gallery type photography to reflect the heritage of the sport of cycling. Very cool indeed. 

So you've got iconic road signs from around the world, stylish photography of past and present bicycle culture and beautiful interior design. But what about merchandise? In keeping with the boutique vibe, Rogue isn't looking to fill a square room with as much product as they can find. Instead, hand selected items carefully chosen to reflect the culture and the brand are strategically placed throughout the store. Everything from a small selection of fixed-gear and cruiser bikes, to commuter friendly clothing, eyewear and footwear and sport specific packs and courier bags. Keeping with the overall aesthetic and boutique feel, only the necessary pieces will be on display while larger quantities of stock are housed in the hidden cabinets and shelving above. 
Rogue definitely has brought some much needed life into the Calgary retail scene with their stunning and stylish boutique. 

The only thing that might make your shopping experience better is a fully stocked bar in the back. Here's hoping..

- Jon Boyer

Author Info:
Roguecc avatar

Member since Aug 21, 2013
1 articles

51 Comments
  • 19 2
 Curious question...Who's been in here? Get what you expected? I did...attitude and a staff that really didn't give the time of day. So how this profile of clientele fits with the pinkbike market is bit questioning? I kinda hope these guys do well...but really after my experience there...anyways no point telling a sad story....I will still continue to get my 'bike culture' from actually riding, racing and generally interacting with the mechanics and service component of the cycling industry vs. buying what someone has 'deemed' cool in Calgary...

I will go back this week...see if the attitude is still the same.
  • 3 0
 Stuck my head in there a few weeks ago. It's a clothing/lifestyle store. The bikes are not the point.

If I was going to get a bike for riding around town and the associated bits and bobs, I'd head to BikeBike. They know their shizzle and service what they sell, and have the clothes, packs, fenders, etc.
  • 10 1
 I stopped in for a quick look around, but really not my scene. When I go to a bike shop I wanna see row upon row of sweet whips to drool over and save my peso's to one day own. I wanna talk shop with the guy with dirty hands and busted knuckles from a wrench slip or a cased jump. What I don't care for in a bike shop is a dude fussing over his perfectly painted and filed pedicure or fixing his wispy hair do in the glare of a fancy picture frame.
Not even a fully stocked bar would bring me back and gauging by the look of this place the bar would be stocked with exotic and expensive wine spritzers.
No I will keep tossing my hard earned money to the boys at Calgary Cycle who deal only in the most bad A$$ bikes and leave the expensive neon rimmed single speed commuters to the hipsters and mail couriers.
  • 4 1
 You boys need to make the trek out to bike bros if you already haven't there some seriously rad dudes over there who really know their shit and everyone of them rides.
  • 3 2
 The shop is set up to cater to the same people who commute downtown in Posche GT3s and wear $5000 suits to work. It's an awesome market to cater to in a city with money like Calgary. It's actually kinda cool to see that this level of retail has come to the bike world in Calgary. But I can't imagine I'll be spending my money there any time soon.
  • 11 1
 That's a bike shop? It looks like another overpriced Calgary clothes shop to me.

Not my sort of shop, and especially not if they're going to give me a bunch of "cooler than u" attitude. I'll save my pennies for Cyclepath, who at least always say hello when I walk in, and trip over themselves to help me spend my money.
  • 5 2
 I couldn't agree more , been going to Cyclepath for 15 years and every single time I've gone I get a discount on my items (and thats on top of the discount they give for being a Pinkbike Roadtrip Card holder).
The shop gets busy but someone will always aknowledge your presence
  • 9 2
 I'm stoked on the shop. Finally a store that took a risk, bought some of the nice higher end cycling gear. It may be new concept to some folks, but lots of people don't like to look like they are on the MEC pro team while riding their bike to the pub. I have been several times, the staff isn't begging to make a sale or hold my hand while I look around. Whenever I have a question I do this thing with my voice, where I use it and ask. Novel idea, I know. They sell quality wares, in a well designed gallery style of store. Prices aren't high, in fact pretty competitive, they just sell expensive stuff. Which in Calgary isn't exactly outside the norm. But hey if you commute around town on a bike from the '80's in a MEC running jacket from the 90's wearing a helmet made of Coleman cooler foam, then no, this probably isn't the store for you. I find this reaction fairly entertaining, people buy expensive mountain bikes, expensive road bikes, with all sorts of complementary gear and equipment, only to be ridden in their lesure time. But the moment someone thinks of spending money on a bike and equipment to commute on, they're labelled a hipster, or some other negative label. Funny that, spending money on a bike to use to get to work, the place that pays you, so you can buy your kick ass weekend plaything. Dissapointed with the cycling community when the stance comes this way. I liken it to people outside the cycling world who bawk when you tell them a bike that costs 7grand does not in fact come with a motor.
  • 6 0
 It is a cycling focused clothing store. Have not been in but I will at some point I am sure and until I actually go in I will reserve judgment on it. They set up shop right next to Speed theory and a block from MEC. They are not going to be a full service bike shop at that location. Like I said, they are a cycling clothing store, nothing wrong with that.
  • 8 3
 hipster bike shop is the best way i can describe it after going in there the other day. literally could not get the time of day from anyone in there. did someone forget to tell these guys thats what being in retail is about, engaging with your customers?

stuff is overpriced.
they're selling an image, they're not there to sell bikes.

if you've got coin to burn (and a lot in Calgary do) and want to be on the whole hipster fixie fad....this is the place for you. I just dont see this surviving long term with this kind of business model and service.
  • 5 0
 I stopped in a couple weeks ago and loved the shop! Calgary has enough bike shops with wall to wall bikes, and being within a block of speed theory, the bike shop and MEC they couldn't survive doing that. Based on my chat with the guy in the shop they are focused more on lifestyle gear and casual clothing, stuff those other shops don't have lots of. The guy working the shop even gave me an espresso while we were chatting!
  • 5 0
 I was stoked to find this! I went in eyeing at the custom built touring bike they have from Cycle Toussant, staff was knoweldgable about the bike and its local roots, what models I could get, and how I could contact them. Fairly friendly and genuine people as far as I could tell. I get what everyone on here is saying, but I think its a little harsh. Maybe give these guys a little time to prove themselves, no?
  • 7 2
 "The attention to detail went way beyond your typical merchandising, instead focusing on an ideological viewpoint of the human experience."

So the ideological viewpoint of the human experience is to sell trendy, over-priced items in a wastefully decadent setting by staff dripping with elitist attitude? Seriously... the older I get, the more I love my dogs.
  • 3 0
 Ill go ck them out. I'm sure the staff will get better as they hone their skills in the store, and input here will give the owners ideas to make things work better. Sometimes when I go in a store, I DONT want to get mugged by salesman. If I need something I just go ask, instead of hoping they read my mind. Your not royalty, so get over the fact they didn't trip in themselves trying to serve you! They aren't trying to compete with TBS, CC or BC so why whine that they have no V10 29'rs on display... Good luck in Calgary Rogue!
  • 6 2
 I really don't care. This place looks douchy, irritating, self aggrandizing and expensive. Then again, I commute on a bike I got from an old lady's garage sale for $10 so I may not be quite the intended market.
  • 3 1
 I am an owner at this new store. I respect a 10 dollar bike. Hopefully you will give us a try. We have loads of well priced stuff ( 2 tshirts for 60 dollars for example) but some of the stuff ( like the Merino wool ) is pricey. We opened this because we love bikes, and didn't want to tread on existing the LBS toes ( many are our friends and opened this with their not and blessing ). The article does sound douchy though - we didn't write it. I sunk when I read it...cheers
  • 2 0
 To be honest mate, a lot of the first person reviews in the comments here corroborate the attitude presented in the article. To be fair, I have not been to the shop myself, but it sounds like y'all need to step up and prove the that the tone presented here is totally unfounded.
  • 5 0
 Thats heard Loud and clear - I am pretty disappointed to hear this, but will work on it for sure. a public raking like this is tough to swallow, but important to hear. i have a day job, so am not in the store daily, but I can assure you, it's not the way we want to be - at all. We purposely tried to create something different, but still within cycling. Looks like we have some work to do
  • 4 1
 I wonder what the underside of that bus looks like.....guess we could ask the person who wrote the piece.
  • 3 0
 Good to hear man. I hope to stop by soon and check it out as I'm one of the few fixed gear riders in red deer hahahahahahahahahahaha. It's also a good thing when somebody running one of these places actually takes the time to listen to the community rather than being a faceless entity. You're already on the right track!
  • 3 0
 Though I don't know the person who wrote the article, I am sure it didn't come off as he intended either. I sure didnt mean to put anyone under the bus at all. I just know what my hope and intention is for Rogue and will work hard to achieve that. I didn't mean to disrespect the authors words. Apologies.
  • 2 0
 All ears Jaycubzz - we'd love It if Rogue became more the people's store than ours. That'd be a dream.
  • 4 0
 not sure if this store is my thing, but different is good. i will take a gander in the near future, then i will decide. people need to relax, yes we all have 'our' shops that we know and love, but sometimes its just fun to see a different take on the same ol' same ol'. and to the guy who wrote the article, Starbucks? really?
  • 7 2
 Mountain bike city!! They are a class act. They will fix your bike when they are busy. Nice guys! Now that's a bike shop!!!
  • 5 1
 So its like Bike Bike... but Bike Bike is actually wicked.
Looks like they used this website hipsterlogo.com to make their webpage.
  • 1 1
 Hahahahaha that website is so perfect! Thanks for sharing
  • 5 1
 A hipster bike shop!!!! Lol hope they can hang with the big dogs!( CC and bow)
  • 3 1
 I don't know any hipster who would pay those prices...
  • 2 0
 Touché !!! Lol all the best to them on their endeavorSmile
  • 2 1
 Are they going to offer service or just expect customers to go elsewhere for repairs and tuneups for the products they sell? I've never bought a bike from a bike shop but I've spent thousands on parts and services. There are many more like me. It seems like they are forgetting to address a huge part of the market.
  • 2 1
 A - since when does pinkbike advertise bike shops
B - this is definitely not the site to advertise that shop (comment section shall back that up)
And C - from the 2 pictures it seems like they have 3 bikes on display.....WTF kind of bike has so little bikes to showcase?
  • 2 1
 I usually avoid the negativity, but this is the opposite of what the current marketplace demands. Elitist turns people away. This is the biggest reason the LBS model is failing. If the LBS could figure out that walk in customers are wanted, and might buy something!!!! they could actually make enough money to stay afloat. Being ignored and secret handshakes are the death of the LBS!!!
  • 5 2
 The description of the inside of the bike shop sounds like Ron Burgandy wrote it.
  • 7 2
 I'm sure it smells of rich mahogany.
  • 2 2
 dropped in a couple weeks ago, nice stuff. staff was more interested in ensuring that the shoes were displayed at 46.5 degrees rather that make any sort of contact with us. most likely will not go back or wait for the going out of business sale!
  • 2 1
 Because Calgary needed a new bike shop? It looks nice though. Also, good thing it's a "bike" shop because you'll never find parking there.
  • 2 1
 "wanted to give the CYCLIST ELITE" of their city"

Are you kidding? no thanks!
  • 2 2
 I'm enjoying the piling on here, but instead I'll attack the ad: Atmosphere at Starbucks? Really?
...thinking...
Wait - maybe I'm the target market...?
  • 1 1
 ^THIS^

Now I'm sure I'm not trendy/spendy enough to be the target market, but even I realize this analogy is clueless. I'm not sure I'd trust a company that touts itself as the Starbucks of bikes to have an actual clue what is a hip or meaningful experience.
Two years two late, bandwagon jumpers. I predict they won't even last their first lease.
  • 2 2
 The thing I noticed is it's a Clothier and Cyclery shop. Who uses those words anyway? 'nough said..
  • 2 2
 Resell Old Gay Useless Equipment
  • 1 2
 WTF is "LBS"?

First entry in Wikipedia is Lazy Bowel Syndrome...

Can't be that...
  • 7 2
 Nope, that's it. Tell your friends.
  • 3 3
 Wow rogue. You just got slammed!! Where is the TLD?????
  • 2 2
 A bike shop for hipsters
  • 2 3
 So every other bike shop in Calgary is mediocre? Good to know.
  • 3 4
 Where are the bikes? Besides the ugly one in the glass box...
  • 1 2
 P O S E R S
  • 5 2
 Poseurs*
  • 3 1
 thats not how you spell rogue







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