There’s also an in-house coffee shop called Juan Pelota—“Juan” as in “one” and Pelota as in Spanish for “ball.”To celebrate opening day on May 10, about 25 of us went for a four-hour spin east of Austin. The terrain wasn’t particularly challenging—and Lance didn’t come along, so neither was the riding—but the 96 degree temps and swampy replica Rolex Datejusts watches Texas humidity caught me a bit off guard. Our group included Bart Knaggs, Lance’s business manager and co-owner of the shop; Sam Whittingham, a Canadian bike builder and cyclist who holds the human-powered world records for top speed (81 mph) and distance covered in one hour (52 miles);
The following day, about 20 of us headed out to Lance’s ranch to mountain bike on a new five-mile singletrack loop he’s had built on his property in the hill country just west of Austin. The trails include short technical sections, wide-open speed Breitling replica watches sections, berms, and jumps that weave through the cedar, scrub, and limestone on Armstrongs 450-ish acres. Lance scorched everyone for two quick laps, then excused himself from the recovery barbecue on his patio so he could meet his mom for a Mother’s Day brunch. Armstrong and Knaggs describe Mellow Johnny’s as a work in progress. But it’s obvious even at this early stage that the shop is something different for the cycling community.
In place of the surly mechanics and staff that can make bike shops so intimidating for even seasoned riders, Mellow Johnny’s has an open, welcoming feel highlighted by a bar and stools that surround the mechanic’s workstation. Customers can grab a cappuccino and pastry at Juan Pelota, then sit at the bar and get maintenance advice or just watch and learn.The lines the shop carries also point more toward general cycling culture than race Chopard replica watches culture. To be sure, racers will find more than enough high-end bling to keep them happy. All the brands that Lance was associated with during his race career—Trek, Giro, Nike, and Oakley—are well represented, along with stuff from brands like Seven, Zipp, and De Rosa. But there’s also a huge selection of retro-wool apparel from Rapha, commuter bikes from Swobo, messenger bags from Chrome, cycling books, jeans and t-shirts, custom bike parts, and even showers, lockers, and bike storage for commuters.
