In 2025, Cycles de Oro celebrated 50 years of doing business in Greensboro. Recently we interviewed Dale Brown, of Cycles de Oro as a means of learning more about this Greensboro cycling institution.   Here is what we learned.

Cycles de Oro started business in 1975 under the name “Toga Bike Shop”, an homage to the famous bike shop in New York City.  But the name came with complications, including calls from creditors (of the “real” Toga Bike Shop), so Dale Brown and his partner decided to change the name.  The use of “de Oro”, derived from the late 70s popularity of high-end gold-toned bike components.  Colnago even created a gold-plated “Colnago de Oro” bike as a gift to the Pope.  The shop has a picture of this bike.

Over 5 decades, Cycles de Oro has sold “almost every brand” of bicycle and currently offers Giant, LIV, Momentum, Bianchi, Vaast, Batch and Woom, a maker of really nice bikes for kids.  They will also build you a custom bike based on your choice of frame.

Dale believes the shop has differentiated itself through its long-term support of the cycling events and by offering technical expertise to bike owners.  Past events include the Tour to Tanglewood, the Carolina Cup, the Rock N Trot, the Wild Turkey, the Extravaganza bike swap/show and the Cirque du Cyclisme and others too numerous to mention here.  In addition, Dale was one of the founders of the Piedmont Fat Tire Society.  At the time, he could see the appeal and potential of riding local trails.  

We asked Dale for his favorite bicycle accessory for $40 or less and he recommended “a decent quality floor pump”.  

For riders looking for a mountain bike matched to the Watershed trails, Dale recommends the Giant Trance 29 2 as a good balance of quality/performance/price.

According to Dale, the focus for the past 50 years at Cycles de Oro, has been on helping cyclists of all types enjoy their bikes and the camaraderie that comes with the cycling community.  

Dale Brown (center) with employees, Woodie and Andy