Mellow Johnny's! Start booking your flights...

[BeeLady]

I was at my LBS today and the owners had gone to Austin Saturday to see Mellow Johnny's. Its a small bike store with mainly storage space for commuters to park their bikes and it has showers for commuters. From what the LBS guy told me, Lance is not doing this mainly to sell bikes but to support computers. There are some bikes for sale but mainly commuter gear and stuff like that.

Anyway, sounds like a neat idea.

Aggie-Ama -- have you been there yet? What's your take?

[Aggie_Ama]

I haven't been yet, probably this weekend since I have to go to another shop in the area to get the commuter I want.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That magazine cover says it's a "commuter bike shop"- that description might indeed be like a store with all kinds of gear that bike commuters might be interested in- I can imagine a large variety of racks, panniers, lighting systems, rain gear, mapping systems, etc.... maybe stuff that most typical bike-selling focused shops would seldom want to have in great variety anyway.
Not knowing any more details than that, it sounds like a good idea whose time has come to me.

[Aggie_Ama]

Well we went today. It is not small in my opinion but a very cool shop. There were some high end drool worthy bikes (Seven, Merckx, Pinarello, etc) but there was plenty of commuter bikes. There were a lot of Trek and Schwin cruiser, some really cool Masi Cross bikes, interesting single speeds (Swobo) and some Soma Fab stuff. They had plenty of Trek and Gary Fisher but not nearly as much as expected. Honestly, I do not think they will take much business from the large Trek shop that is 4 blocks away.

The commuting stuff I needed was a little minimal, no real selection of racks or panniers. They did have some cool custom Timbuk2 bags (Black with one star), but my commute is too long for that. Great selection of apparel and suprisingly much of it is mid-price. I saw Giordana, Hincapie, Pearl Izumi, SWOBO and Capo Forma. They also have some casual clothes and Simple brand shoes.

If nothing else go to see some of Lance's and George's (!) bikes on display.

[fixedgeargirl]

I went to the shop on Bike to Work Day this past Friday. There is also a small cafe attached with some really good coffee ! I overheard one of the employees saying that they will be using the current shower/locker situation to gauge how much demand there is for that type of service and potentially adjusting based on what happens. It's not a small shop. I didn't look at the built bike area. While there was a compliment of "stuff", it didn't seem like there was much choice within each department, as in not very many brands of individual items. Ama, do you go to BSS? I think there is more variety there.

[Aggie_Ama]

Ama, do you go to BSS? I think there is more variety there.

Yes, once 360 Cycleworks closed I started losing my paycheck to BSS. I work right next to the North location (TROUBLE!) and they have had next to nothing in turn over for the past two years. The weekday crew is always the same and the assistant manager always asks if I still like the bike fit she did a year ago. She doesn't know my name (I don't think) but she knows my bike. I like the selection at the Central BSS better than any shop in town.

Funny story about Central BSS.... It used to be Austin Bowlarama, my mom was there watching my dad bowl the night before I was born. My parents have always been avid bowlers and I spent most of my infant-toddler days in the nursery. I was born to come to BSS.

[fixedgeargirl]

Yes, once 360 Cycleworks closed I started losing my paycheck to BSS. I work right next to the North location (TROUBLE!) and they have had next to nothing in turn over for the past two years. The weekday crew is always the same and the assistant manager always asks if I still like the bike fit she did a year ago. She doesn't know my name (I don't think) but she knows my bike. I like the selection at the Central BSS better than any shop in town.

Funny story about Central BSS.... It used to be Austin Bowlarama, my mom was there watching my dad bowl the night before I was born. My parents have always been avid bowlers and I spent most of my infant-toddler days in the nursery. I was born to come to BSS.

You have fulfilled your destiny !

[elk]

My DH was just in Austin for a conference and he came home with a boatload of stuff with the Mellow Johnny's logo for me...talk about a water bottle!!!

I loooove it... but i suppose i have a little crush on LA.....

[luv'nAustin]

Read some print ink about the shop in one of my monthly magazines. Just can't remember which one...Men's Health, Women's Health, Runners, Bicycle, Outside, Backpacker or one of the others that I read from cover to cover each month.