OldFencer

Getting back into cycling and looking for a LBS that I can depend on to give me good service in the years to come. There's a little shop, Peddler, up the road here in Austin that I got a real good vibe from the moment I stepped through the door.

Anyone done business with them and have some thoughts on their sales and service?

Thanks

mnkyman

I can't speak for peddler but Bicycle Sport Shop is a pretty good shop. If your looking for smaller shops, I would recommend FreeWheeling Cycles on San Gabriel and 24th, near UT Campus.

OldFencer

Hey thanks mnkyman, I appreciate the suggestions. I've been in Bicycle Sports shop and the folks seemed knowledgeable and helpful and they have got quite the inventory.

I'll slide by FreeWheeling and give them the once over.

Thanks again

Sommy

What's the biggest bike shop in the Austin area?

OldFencer

Sommy, if you mean in terms of sheer inventory, Bicycle Sport Shop on South Lamar seems quite large. University Cyclery isn't too bad, but I've never been to Buck's Bikes so I can't speak to that.
Mellow Johnny's is physically large, but didn't really seem to have all that much inventory.

Hope this helps.

Sommy

Cool. I am in Dallas and planning a trip to Austin later this month. Mellow Johnny's is on my list to visit and just wondered if there were any other can't miss type places.

Where is Lance's house? Not that he'll be there, but would be cool to drive by.

OldFencer

There's a lot of cool sights and sounds here in Austin. I'd recommend jumping over to the "Austin" thread in this Regional forum and check out some of the postings. A few of the posters are locals like me and seem to have already mapped out some sights that might interest you.

Hope you enjoy your visit and bring your bike; there are some nice rides in and around Austin. Just remember: East of Austin, flat; west and its all up and down, baby!

mnkyman

btw people, big wheel bikes on 24th and rio grande is going out of buisness...25% of bikes 35% of accessories, Saw it on CL today

OldFencer

Always sad to hear someone not being able to make a go of it, especially if they're a LBS, but the "inner sales shopper" in me is dancing with glee at the possiblities.

Thanks mnkyman

huerro

Peddler is my neighborhood shop and has great service with very very quick turn around and good prices for service.

As far as sales go, they don't keep (or as I'm sure you noticed, have room for) a lot of stock and they've often not had what I was looking for. I still usually check there first though.

OldFencer

Thanks huerro. I'm going to move up from my old Trek beater to a LHT. The Surly site gave them 3 pirate flags and I liked the initial impression I got from them. I want to buy my bike form the same folks who are going to service it, so I hope they can come through.

Thanks for the insight.

JJPistols

The Peddler is a great little shop, those guys are really cool. I like Clown Dog down by campus a lot, too.

livewirerc

I want to continue the common consensus and rave about The Peddler. They've built the most bomb-proof wheelset I've ever owned. I play polo on them weekly, commute, ride for fun, and crash them often. They're on my fixed gear go wherever bike so I take them places that I probably shouldnt, but they ride true anyways. They've also built bikes for friends including a lot of Surly frames. They've worked with me over used parts when I couldn't afford the latest and greatest, and have always been fair over labor and mail orders. I can't say enough good things about them.

OldFencer

Glad to hear it. I went a head and got a LHT from them. Mike and Tom were great to work with. Looking forward to visiting their new shop at the end of the month (they're moving East about one block). I think I made the right decision on a bike and the LBS to buy it from.

jollysnowman

The guys at Peddler are cool, but they didn't really give me and my gf good service. She bought an old 10spd department-store road bike on CL and we took it in for adjustment on derailleurs, brakes, new brake cables, wheel truing, and fixing a slightly bent chainring.

All they really did was adjust the brakes, install the cables, and fix the chainring a little. The friction shifters weren't adjusted properly, the RD was still a little misaligned, and they said they didn't really do anything to the wheels. They didn't even bother to inflate the tires! (we brought it in flat) We paid $20 in labor more than they estimated (they told us $40, with parts). What I thought was supporting my neighborhood shop ending up being a waste of time as I eventually did the repairs/maintenance. I don't go there at all now.

University Cyclery on 29th has a great BMX inventory, but the guys there are a little snobby. A mechanic told me and my gf (same bike) that he wouldn't install derailleur cables b/c the bike wasn't worth it. We only buy tires from them.

Ozone on Gaudalupe has been good to me. The guys enjoy a good convo, and are usually willing to show you how to do small jobs/give tips. Mellow Johnny's has good employees as well. No complaints so far.

maful

Nelo Sport Cycles is also very good, extremely good prices. Theyre having a 40% off sale on apparel. I got bike shorts and a jersey for $100, and the bike shorts had a bib.

tinyteeth

I think Peddler would be my shop if I lived closer.. When I was considering buying my first wheelset, they really helped me wrap my head around all the different things I should take into consideration.. I've bought tires and some odds and ends there (had a hard time finding gum walls, they had em).

As much as I reallly didn't want to.. I actually really like Mellow Johnnys. The staff is always super cool, they have a great selection of accessories in the shop (I tend to order actual components online), they've always been super helpful and seem pretty good at sensing your experience/knowledge level and calibrating their service to that.. I don't like being talked down to, or people just acting like I wouldn't know what they were talking about...