Austin, Texas

Learn to Ride Lessons

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

• 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

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

Naperville Bike Club in New Glarus, Wisconsin for the annual New Glarus ride led by Larry Alvino

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!

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.

Me and my sons at Warrior Dash :)