MICHELLE LEBLANC
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Austin, Texas

Learn to Ride Lessons
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Bikes - Good spots to buy a bike I refer my cycling students to - ALWAYS buy from a bike shop because they are cyclists too:

  • South East - New Shop Alert!
    • Central Texas Cyclery! www.instagram.com/centraltxcyclery/


  • Hyde Park Area:
    • Cycle Progression (specializes in MTB, but has gravel and others as well)
    • Bike Farm (probably most affordable bikes - great resource also since like the other bike shops everyone is a cyclist)
    • By UT on San Jac is Clown Dog Bikes (will do bike builds, carries surly which are all steel bikes, and others)
  • On the East side
    • Cycle East (pretty affordable options, carries some single speeds also)
    • East Side Pedal Pushers - moved up by ABP off Springdale on Bohm
    • Yellow Bike Project - local nonprofit bike coop that offers lessons, earn a bike, and bikes for sale
  • Downtown is Mellow Johnnys - Good variety of bikes MTB and Road and gravel
  • Interested in triathlon
    • Austin TriCyclist
  • Prefer reclining
    • Easy street recumbents - looks like they're closing but still taking customers
  • South is
    • ATX bikes way south on Slaughter - MTB & Road
    • and Bike-A-Lot is on Menchaca and Brad carries Fairdales and Konas
  • Way north is Bicycle House, and Specialized
  • and also there are the former BSS shops which are now Trek stores throughout the city
  • Frankenbike - monthly bike specific flea market!
  • CT Britt [email protected] refurbishes used bikes and is a great resource

Groups - There are so many!
  • Social Cycling Austin
    • Southern Walnut Creek Ride
    • The Yoga Ride on FB and on WP
    • Thursday Night Social Ride
    • Saturday Caffeine Cruise
    • Bikin' Betties
    • Sunday Bikecurious
    • Others
  • Critical Mass Austin
  • Lend Your Legs
    • Volunteer ride with the school for the blind
  • Austin Ghost Bike Project
  • Jason Abels compiled a huge google doc of rides and orgs
  • South Austin Trail Network
  • Austin Ridge Riders - MTB IMBA

Yoga
  • ​My fave yoga spot > YTX for hot power
  • Chill vibes > Practice
  • The yoga ride of course (see above)
  • Sanctuary / Amala Foundation
  • ATX Yoga Girl
  • Flow Yoga

Chicago area (not sure which are still active)

Cycling, Triathlon & Cycling Clubs:
  • Naperville Bike Club
    • Great for beginners, trail, mountain bikers - as well as those who like to hammer if you have a Tue/Thur open in the summer you can join Blur for a fast hour of your time.
    • Been riding with them for years.
  • These two I have not been to, but I have friends who swear by them:
    • The Labs
    • Vision Quest
  • Joliet Bike Club
    • I have done the JBC century on the 4th of July with my NBC friends for years - always a great time and well supported.
  • Experience Triathlon
    • For those new to triathlon, I always recommend their open swim program because it is really important to know how to swim safely in a crowd of aggressive swimmers. My daughter did it when we did a relay as a family and I've sent several friends to it who all felt a great benefit.
    • Also has run club and bike club.
  • Endurit
    • Bought my Cervelo here and been to a BBQ ride and computrainer classes - always very helpful and a really strong set of athletes. Don't be intimidated by their rep - super friendly people and fine for beginners to super aggressive performance athletes as well.
  • Spokes
    • Bought my Specialized here ... Has a big bike club - some people do not like this store, but I've never had a problem here. Always do great tune ups for me and have been really helpful.
  • Aurora Bike Club
    • New start up bike club - met them at one of our open Naperville Bike Club gatherings... Movie night I believe at the Roundhouse.
Running & Gear:
  • The Running Company
    • Have pretty much always gotten my shoes here - even after shopping around, I just always come back here. A trusted source in shoe buying which is really important to me - especially for long runs and being someone with bad knees.
Climbing:
  • Vertical Endeavors
    • We started climbing here back in the early 2000's. We'd follow you anywhere, VE! Great staff, huge gym... biggest in the country as a matter of fact!
  • Brooklyn Boulders
    • Love this place! Easy to get to, great staff, colorful and met so many great climbers here. 
  • First Ascent
    • Ive only had a membership at the Avondale location. A little smaller than BKB, but stickier walls and more overhangs. Fabulous bouldering area. Love it!
Gear and other outdoorsy stuff:
  • ​REI
    • Just love this place plus I get a dividend check every year since it's a coop.
    • I've gotten rock climbing gear, ski gear (both nordic and alpine), hiking gear, out doors gear, camping gear, cycling clothes, my garmin ... reliable good gear.
  • Erewhon - closed
    • Just opened but got my hiking Solomons before my Hawaii trip where I hiked the Kalalau trail all the way to Kalalau Beach and they were great - blister free is always good on a long hilly course. And I got a Solar phone charger - who could live without that.

Tracking apps for smart phones
  • Map my run
  • Map my ride
  • Strava
  • Endomondo
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Naperville Bike Club in New Glarus, Wisconsin for the annual New Glarus ride led by Larry Alvino
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Leading the Whole Foods Ride - where we would also use the experimental kitchen to talk nutrition and try new recipes - Not to mention the beer!
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These aren't mine btw - stopped at an old timer's joint on the way to New Glarus, Wisconsin to get cycling pants for a friend of mine and this guy had the coolest old cycling stuff and built his own streamliner pod racing bike.
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Me and my sons at Warrior Dash :)

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Copyright 2024 Michelle LeBlanc 

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