Dong Ngo, who was found dead in his home in Denver’s City Park neighborhood on Dec. 7, spent nearly 25 years as a bicycle builder and ultimate salesman at the Denver Spoke, collecting a devoted retinue from Olympic medalists to Denver Broncos.
He was 52. The cause of death is pending an examination, according to the Denver medical examiner’s office.
Born in South Vietnam to an affluent family, he was a teenager when he became a pilot for the South Vietnamese Army.
Ngo fled Vietnam in 1975. He found his way to Shreveport, La., where he lived for several years, developing a taste for Cajun food and music along with an enthusiasm for celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
In 1981, he moved to Colorado and began working for the Denver bicycle shop Turin.
Customers followed Ngo when he hired on at the Denver Spoke, a bicycle shop near the University of Denver.
Ngo built as well as sold bicycles. His reputation as a craftsman was cemented when cyclist Alexi Grewal won a gold medal in road racing at the 1984 Olympics on the bicycle that Ngo built for him.
Like many enthusiasts who work at bicycle shops, Ngo owned a series of high-end bicycles, but one he never traded or sold was the red Pinarello he rode to work. Riding a Pinarello as a commuting bike is akin to using Manolo Blahnik designer pumps as walking shoes.
Tennis was another of Ngo’s passions. At Washington Park, his nickname was Slam, an homage to his powerful stroke. He competed in the Denver City Open and other tournaments.
“Bicycling was a means of transportation and a passion, but for pleasure, Dong was all about tennis,” said Denver Spoke colleague and friend Todd Hunter.
Even after more than three decades in the U.S., Ngo used a pared-down version of English.
Everyone who walked into the shop was called “Bud,” and Ngo spoke in abrupt declarations that sounded like orders.
Ngo’s hard-sell reputation coined a new verb. “Being Dong’d” became shorthand for customers who bought more expensive equipment than they’d planned.
He took a scrupulous interest in ascertaining that the bicycle frame fit each individual. He also scrutinized his clients’ cycling technique, offering advice about posture, pacing and pedaling cadence.
Ngo’s clientele included Olympic medalists Grewal and Michelle Kwan, who bought a bicycle from Ngo a few months ago while taking a course across the street at DU; Olympic silver medalist cycling racer Nelson Vails; and Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, who required a custom-made Seven frame to fit his outsized build.
Though Ngo’s client demeanor was cheerily catholic, he had favorites. Legendary cyclist and frame builder Eddy Merckx was at the top of his list. The two often went on bicycle rides during Merckx’s visits to Denver.
More than 300 people showed up at Washington Park in December for an impromptu memorial service and bicycle ride. Donations for a memorial bench are being collected through the Denver Spoke, 1715 E. Evans Ave., and at local Key Bank branches.
Survivors include his sister, Thu Ngo Maier, who lives in Shreveport.
Denver Post staff writer Claire Martin can be reached at 303-954-1477 or cmartin@denverpost.com.
