Cranky’s Bike Shop Caters to Utah’s Cycling Community

For Cris Pereira, current owner of Cranky’s Bike Shop, running a successful bike shop stems from a deep engagement with the sport and craft at hand. After over a decade of full-time, professional road racing, an injury forced Pereira to retire, at which point he took over Cranky’s. “That seems like that’s the progression of a lot of independently owned shops out here,” he says, pointing to Contender Bicycles and Flynn Cyclery as other examples of shops run by ex-racers. This hands-on experience (a quality shared among Pereira and his staff) drives Cranky’s’ approach to shop curation and customer service. A sort of “by bikers, for bikers,” the shop offers a wide array of top-quality bikes, gear and more, providing what you need whether you’re venturing out for the mountain trail, the city street, the open plains or anything else.

As more and more independent shops give way to corporate ownership, Pereira and his team aim to keep Cranky’s on the ground and servicing Utah’s bike community. When larger, nonlocal businesses determine shop stock, Pereira says that they often inadequately read the needs of riders in Utah’s specific terrain and climate. “We try to take care of everybody. We don’t want to be [just] a mountain bike shop or a road bike shop,” he says. With unique experiences among the staff relating to all kinds of biking, Cranky’s can get you started with a commuter starter pack or outfit your mountain bike with the latest add-ons and parts.

“We try to take care of everybody. We don’t want to be [just] a mountain bike shop or a road bike shop.”

This experience-based knowledge comes into special play with the customer-focused mindset held at Cranky’s. Their independent ownership allows them to stock a range of high-quality products, offering customers a “something for everyone” selection. “It’s good-quality stuff that’s gonna do what it’s designed to do,” says Pereira. Speaking of the approach they take to helping customers navigate the shop, he says, “There’s no one way of doing something. [A bike] has to suit your needs and abilities. We just ask a bunch of questions and try to steer the [customers] toward a product that’s gonna suit their needs.”

In describing his vision for the shop’s interior at the relatively new 800 S. location, Pereira emphasizes the anti-corporate aesthetics of the decisions “I wanted people to come in … [and not] feel like they were walking into a Sharper Image store,” he says. Hundreds of bikes and bike accessories line walls of exposed brick and concrete, with a few velvet couches and an end table positioned at the front of the shop that provide a cozy, dive bar–green room aesthetic. Pereira plans to expand upon this environment in the future, hoping to knock out the shop’s west wall for more shop space and an espresso bar.

“It’s good-quality stuff that’s gonna do what it’s designed to do.”

In addition to the in-shop services, Cranky’s also has a web store with options to order online and pick up in-store. When staff availability permits, the shop hosts group rides, including intro-to-bikepacking overnight trips across Utah to locations such as Francis Peak. After his injury prevented him from strenuous road racing, Pereira took up this type of long-distance, multi-day riding and expresses gratitude for the opportunity Cranky’s provides him to shepherd others into this “intimidating” activity. Describing themselves as a “tree-hugger” bike shop, Cranky’s openly advocates for a more bike-oriented approach to transportation all around. “We just wanna see more people on bikes in general, commuting, so [that] hopefully our air here will get better,” Pereira says.

For more information on Cranky’s, visit crankysutah.com or follow the shop on Instagram @crankysutah, where Pereira also documents his global bikepacking travels. Stop in and talk to Pereira and the team in person to best stay in touch with the shop’s events, inventory and more.

Read about more local bike shops here:
Suspension Syndicate: Shocks and Symbiosis in the Salt Lake Mountain Bike Scene
Ring In The Weekend Right With A Saturday Cycles Overnight Bike Trip