Austin in January
 

Hey folks,

I'll be in Austin the second week in January (7-10ish).

I'll be staying near Rio Grande St. and MLK Jr Blvd.

What shop should I have my bike sent to have it built? Mellow Johnny's? Castle Hill Cycles? Somewhere else?

Also looking for rides in the area, preferably with a group.


Rob

No opinions on local shops?

Who's got the best wrenches!?!

There are many many good shops in Austin. I don't have any personal experience with any of the wrenches so I can't comment.

For rides, depends on what you're looking for. For race-pace stuff, the ATC ride Sat/Sun 8:30 (ok it's not really race pace in January)
http://www.austintricyclist.com/

For rec-level rides, try one of the ACA groups.
http://www.austincycling.org/rides

You will be comfortable walking distance (if that's important) from Freewheeling. I've always been a fan of Nelo's.

I'm not sure about ATC but I think ACA changes the start times for rides in the winter. It always seems to me that the ATC guys like to hammer, no matter the time of the year.

Regarding wrenches...all that have been mentioned have good reputations.

Thanks guys. I'm surprised no one has said Mellow Johnny's. All my friends here want me to ship the bike there...

Oh...Mellow Johnny's. There....I said it!

I do my own wrenching, so I can't speak from personal experience. The only thing I've ever had done is a couple of crown races installed on my forks plus a few headset cups pressed in. Had 'em done at Bicycle Sport Shop, which is where I typically buy all my parts since they're closest to my house. I like them but they give you a little crap if you walk in wearing a Mellow Johnny's cap...like I did the other day. I've asked for a BSS cap from Santa.

I like Nelos too, mostly because of the cool dogs. Last time I was there (it's been a few years), he had recently recently rescued a "brindle" Great Dane that was wandering the shop, in addition to the Pit Bull that's had a rough life and has the surgery scars to prove it. Nothing like having a Great Dane walk up and lean on you. That and the wrench there one time spent an hour and broke two extractor bits trying to get a buried adjustement screw out of an eBay derailleur I had bought...and ended up chargin' $15 for all the trouble (he succeeded at removing the screw). Finally, BFer GrassChopper visited Austin a couple years ago for the LiveStrong ride. We did a group ride the day before and his seat post clamp stripped. We weren't far from Nelo's so we got there before it opened and the guy let us in while he did an overhaul on the clamp.

All of the shops mentioned can all competently build a new bike out of the box. And if you're in Austin, you've gotta go to MJ's. Ya just do.

Mellow Johnny's is what you might call a lifestyle bike shop. It's certainly worth going there to check out Lance's castoff bikes and a few art bikes, and have a cup of coffee. And I have no reason to doubt that the mechanics there are competent. Let's just say that BSNYC would find much to disapprove of there. When I go there, I get the feeling that the shop is about creating the atmosphere of riding bikes, not about actually riding bikes.

I normally do all my maintenance, but I recently had Nelo's take a look at my bike. The rear derailleur just wouldn't adjust for me no matter what I did. Turns out that my cable had only 2 strands left holing on for their dear life in the shifter! They squeezed me in the day before Thanksgiving. I will definitely use them again in the future. Oh, and the dogs there kick ass.

I would check out Mellow Johnny's just because it's cool.

I am not a fan of Mellow Johnny's at all. I been there a couple of times, and never once had anyone come up to try and help me. I was looking at making a purchase of a new bike, and after reading reviews online how great MJs was decided to check it out. I figured after wondering around the store for about 30 minutes, somebody might come and say may I help you, nope never once. I have always had good service at Bicycle Sport Shop on South Lamar. The shop in Fredericksburg is good too. I just had some wheels trued up there and she adjusted the brakes, and several other things while my bike was there.

Hey folks,

So I'll be down there this Wed - Sunday. Are there any weekday morning rides happening? I may be able to get in on the action on Thursday or Friday morning.

Definitely want to do a long ride on Saturday and a ride Sunday morning as well.

Thanks! Looking forward to hitting up Austin.

BTW - I sent my bike to Austin Bikes.

It's going to be cool down here but nothing compared to what you experience up in your area.

How far do you want to ride and how much climbing to you want to do? Also...can you transport your bike to a ride start or do you have to ride from downtown? If you have to start from downtown, then one of the shop rides would probably be good as many are a short ride from you. If you can transport, then an ACA ride might be good. Lemme know and we'll try to steer you the right direction.

Funny, but my experience has been exactly opposite of yours.
I have been into the North Store twice, and both times I was almost ignored. One employee turned his nose up at me when I tried to ask a question about a jersey...

At MJs, they have always been friendly to me, and eager to help.

I am NOT a stereotypical cyclist (am a Clyde), and the shop help went above and beyond with saddle recommendations, and sizing help with jerseys.

I won't have a car... but I'll be staying right downtown.

I am supposed to be getting in base miles right now, but would LOVE to get on some hills!

What's available Saturday and Sunday? I'm told there is a ride out of Austin Bikes on Sunday (?) but it sounds like a hammerfest.

What's available Thursday and Friday morning?

I agree about the snobbishness of the north store. The south store didn't have the shoes I wanted in my size but they did at the north, so I stopped by to pick them up. Smaller, boutiquier, snobbier, and if I never have to go there again it'll be too soon. I find that lots of places on the north side are snobbier though.

I see that Austin Cycling Association has a 9:30 am Saturday ride from MJ's. Look here for a description. Guaranteed not to be a hammerfest and will give you a nice tour of the city.

Also, it looks like the "standard" ride from Bicycle Sport Shop on Lamar (not far from you) is on for an 8:30 start, although you might want to give them a call to see if they're going to slip to time a little later due to freezing temps forecasted. It's a rolling ride with no steep climbs, in the 25 - 35 mile range. Their events calendar is here. I would not catagorize any of the Violet Crown rides as "base"...those guys hammer, as do the guys from Austin Tri-Cyclist.

Just got my bike from Austin Bikes this afternoon. Nice guys, and alerted me to a problem or two with my rain bike. Thankful for that.

Going to hit up the 8:30am Saturday ride that is on Barton Springs between S 1st and Lamar. Didn't catch the name of the shop though... need to call them back for a better location... but any thoughts?

Also doing the ride out of Austin Bikes on Sunday morning. I think it's 9am.


Rob

I know it's ridiculous to apologize for something I have no control over...but...sorry for the weather Robobo1! I'm sure it seems mild to you but this is probably NOT what you were expecting! I hope you're enjoying the other benefits Austin has to offer!

Yeah no kidding! :)

Do you know if the Austin Tri Cyclist ride is happening at 8:30am? Even a Minnesotan balks at 20deg.