November 2011

Mellow Swap 2011

Date: November 5, 2011 @ 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop
400 Nueces St

Mellow Swap is back! This year’s event will take place at Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop on November 5, 2011 from 9am-4pm.

The swap is open to reps, individuals, teams, or anyone with a box of old bike goodies that need a new home. For shoppers its a chance to buy great sample and demo product from industry reps and we use it as a chance to sell scratch-n-dent product, take-offs, and clear out the basement.

The 2011 event will be our fourth year hosting the Mellow Swap, continuing to build on the popularity of the past three editions. Spaces are reserved in advance and have sold out every year.

The day will be filled with music, tasty beverages, and tasty grub in the parking lot of Mellow Johnny's. Free for shoppers!

**Also, keep an eye out for an exclusive One-Day Jersey Sale on the day of Mellow Swap...We're offering a special deal on discontinued Mellow Johnny's branded jerseys in store and online all day on Saturday, November 5th (12:00am - 11:59pm CST)

TOUR IS NOW FULL Scout-A-Route Austin's Cultural Campus Bike Tour

Date: November 12, 2011 @ 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop
400 Nueces St
Austin, TX 78701

Explore art, history, the humanities, and science while enjoying a casual bike ride! Co-hosted by Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop and the Austin Cycling Association, this no-drop, co-ed group ride is perfect for the cyclist new to riding or bike commuting, returning to the bike, or just looking for a more casual ride. Total mileage is about 6 miles.

On this route, we’ll stop by museums that are part of Austin’s Cultural Campus: the Blanton Museum of Art, The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, the new Visual Art Center and the LBJ Library and Museum. Docents will briefly introduce us to museum highlights.

Special information:   SORRY THE TOUR IS NOW FULL. Ride size is limited, Please rsvp here. Helmets and signed waiver are required. Also, if weather happens to cancel the ride, please check website for updated information.If driving to the shop, please use street parking.

For pre-ride coffee or snack, meet at Juan Pelota Café a half hour before ride time.

For more information or questions contact Stephanie at ride@mellowjohnnys.com

Bike rentals  http://www.mellowjohnnys.com/products-and-service/rentals/

Jim Ochowicz Book Signing

Date: November 18, 2011 @ 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Location: - Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop
400 Nueces St
Austin, TX 78701

Mellow Johnny's is hosting a book signing for BMC Racing Team Director Jim Ochowicz for his new book Team 7-Eleven: How an Unsung Band of American Cyclists Took on the World - and Won.

In 1980, there were exactly four professional bike racers in America. Six years later, America’s 7-Eleven cycling team would wear the coveted yellow jersey of the Tour de France. Soon after, the team would win Italy’s greatest race—the Giro d’Italia.

Team 7-Eleven is the extraordinary story of how two Olympic speed skaters, Jim Ochowicz and Eric Heiden, assembled a local band of amateur cyclists and turned them into one of the greatest powerhouses the sport has known.

Mellow Johnny's will have copies of the book for purchase in-store.

Jim Ochowicz is a two-time Olympic cyclist and former speedskater who cofounded the 7-Eleven cycling team in 1981. He managed 7-Eleven through 1990 and its successor, the Motorola Cycling Team, through 1996. He served six years as president of the board of directors of USA Cycling, and is currently the manager of the BMC Racing Team, whose rider Cadel Evans won the 2011 Tour de France. He was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1997.

Middle of the Road Ride (MOTR)--Fruit Loop 360

Date: November 19, 2011 @ 8:30 am to 11:30 am
Location: - Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop
400 Nueces
Austin, Texas

Led by the University of Texas Cycling Team

This ride is a great fit for the intermediate rider who has spent some time on the bike riding in groups and on urban roads, but is looking for a bit more challenge in distance and speed.   This no drop, co-ed ride averages 16-17mph and covers on average 30-35 miles on in-town bike routes and/or on roads with low to moderate traffic.  Riders for this group should have experience riding in groups, be able to change a tire and address minor mechanical issues and understand the etiquette of group riding.

MOTR will be treat riders to the Fruit Loop route.  This 30-mile route will take you out to Loop 360 heading north then back into town via Shoal Creek Blvd.  Don’t let the “short” distance fool you as this route has some challenging hills, great hill country views to distract you from the heavy breathing and fun decents that will put a smile on your face.

General group ride expectation:  helmet, bike in good working condition, water and nutrition, flat changing tools, and no headphones.  We encourage you to ride your bike to the ride.  If you do drive, please park in the street.

For pre-ride coffee or snack, meet at Juan Pelota Café a half hour before ride time.

For more information or questions contact us by email here.

Bike rentals  http://www.mellowjohnnys.com/products-and-service/rentals/

Post Turkey Day Guilt Breaker

Date: November 25, 2011 @ 8:30 am to 11:30 am
Location:

No need to fret over eating 3 plates on Thanksgiving. Overindulge Thursday and come unload some calories Friday morning with us. A 30-mile route with an 15-18 MPH pace. It's Austin so expect a couple hills, maybe a little wind, and some great guides to help keep the ride rolling smoothly. Meet at the shop at 8:30 or come a little early (we open at 8AM) and peruse the great deals we'll have as part of our Annual Post-Thanksgiving Sale. Everything in the store will be on sale!

General group ride expectation: helmet, bike in good working condition, water and nutrition, flat changing tools, no headphones, if driving please park in the street.

For pre-ride coffee or snack, meet at Juan Pelota Café a half hour before ride time.

For information contact Stephanie at ride@mellowjohnnys.com

Bike rentals http://www.mellowjohnnys.com/products-and-service/rentals/

Scout-a-Route: Turkey Afterburner

Date: November 26, 2011 @ 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: - Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop
400 Nueces
Austin, Texas

Due to the rain, today's ride is cancelled. 

These rides are co-hosted by Mellow Johnny’s and the Austin Cycling Association.  This no-drop, co-ed group ride is perfect for the cyclist new to riding or bike commuting, returning to the bike or just looking for a more casual ride.  The routes are designed to help riders navigate the city bike routes and other safe bike commuting options.

Thank you for making this a popular Saturday morning ride.  In response, we are now hosting two groups for this ride.  The first group is designed for those who can average 14-16mph for 20-30 miles with one or two regrouping points.  This group follows the same route but is provided with an extended mileage option. 

The second group is our traditional Scout-a-route.  We average 12mph for distances between 15-25 miles with regrouping points. 

Both rides are intended to explore, so leave your heart rate monitor at home, bring some spare dollars for the occasional refreshment stop and enjoy the view.  

Route:    Join us as we roll through scenic neighborhoods of west Austin and UT.  There are hills to climb but who cares...you can enjoy another slice of pie!

General group ride expectation:  helmet, bike in good working condition, water and nutrition, flat changing tools, and no headphones.  We encourage you to ride to the shop.  If you do drive, please park in the street.

 For pre-ride coffee or snack, meet at Juan Pelota Café a half hour before ride time. 

For more information or questions contact Stephanie at ride@mellowjohnnys.com

Major Taylor Birthday Ride

Date: November 26, 2011 @ 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: - Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop
400 Nueces St
Austin, TX 78701

Sorry folks, due to the rain this ride is cancelled. 

Nov. 26, 1878 -- Marshall W. Taylor is born in rural Indiana to a black couple who moved north from Kentucky around the time of the Civil War. Marshall "Major" Taylor goes on to become the first African-American cycling World Champion.

The Scout-A-Route Ride will be celebrating Major Taylor's birthday today in conjunction with the National Brotherhood of Cyclists and Major Taylor Clubs across the country.

This is the first in a series of Major Taylor Meet Up rides hosted by the Saturday Scout-A-Route to help launch Major Taylor Austin. Join us for coffee at 8:30 before the ride. See the Scout-A-Route Turkey Afterburner listing for more details. A shorter ride distance will be offered for those just looking to enjoy the view.

The Major Taylor Club of Austin TX focuses on inspiring a love of cycling in minority communities, as a healthy alternative mode of transportation, a competitive sport, a way of staying fit and as a way of building community through subculture.

email questions to eileen@mellowjohnnys.com

Driver’s Ed – 3 Foot Passing

Date: November 29, 2011 @ 11:01 am
Location:

How do we get drivers educated on bike laws? We start with the drivers that have a vested interest – that’s you, the cyclist.

The City of Austin passed a Vulnerable Road User ordinance after the state-wide bill was vetoed at the end of the 2009 Legislative session. The full text is at the end of this post. I want to just cover one portion here – sharing narrow lanes.

3 Feet for Passing - Not Really!

That’s why part of the ordinance reads:

“(b) An operator of a motor vehicle passing a vulnerable road user operating on a highway or street shall:
(1) vacate the lane in which the vulnerable road user is located if the highway has two or more marked lanes running in the same direction;”

So – if a cyclist is in the right lane, a car needs to move completely into the left lane to legally pass. As a driver, are you allowing your fellow cyclists their legal space?

I like to encourage riders to move far enough from the curb to clearly encourage drivers to do the right thing. Riding near  the gutter encourages drivers to stay in your lane as they pass putting you at risk. Riding farther out in the lane can be nerve-wracking on some roads so make wise choices for your routes. There are times when I will ride sections of North Lamar but most times I find another way since close alternatives are much calmer.

There is also a flip-side to this. Motor vehicles are also entitled to their legal space. Yup, that’s right, cyclists are not allowed to “filter” up the right side of a narrow lane even when the cars are stopped at a light. The cyclist is the one initiating an unsafe pass and the ordinance specifically lets a driver off the hook if you read the last sentence.

As a League (of American Bicyclists) Cycling Instructor, we LCIs like to say “It depends” in answer to questions about traffic laws.  In the case of filtering, some bike lanes are striped to the intersection while some wide lanes are not. Some intersections have a large percentage of drivers turning right while others don’t so your risk of being “right hooked” will vary. Learning the basics will help you make good choices out on the road – depending on the specific circumstances you’ll face.

Watch for more Driver’s Ed posts as we try to “Get drivers educated on bike laws.”

§ 12-1-35 VULNERABLE ROAD USERS.
(a) In this section, a Vulnerable Road User means:

(1) a pedestrian, including a runner, physically disabled person, child, skater, highway construction and maintenance worker, tow truck operator, utility worker, other worker with legitimate business in or near the road or right-of-way, or stranded motorist or passenger;

(2) a person on horseback;

(3) a person operating equipment other than a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, a bicycle, handcycle, horse-driven conveyance, or unprotected farm equipment; or

(4) a person operating a motorcycle, moped, motor-driven cycle, or motor-assisted scooter.

(b) An operator of a motor vehicle passing avulnerable road user operating on a
highway or street shall:

(1) vacate the lane in which the vulnerable road user is located if the highway has two or more marked lanes running in the same direction; or

(2) pass the vulnerable road user at a safe distance.

(c) For the purpose of Subsection (b)(2), when road conditions allow, safe distance
is at least:

(1) three feet if the operator’s vehicle is a passenger car or light truck; or

(2) six feet if the operator’s vehicle is a truck, other than a light truck, or a commercial motor vehicle as defined by Texas Transportation Code Section 522.003.

(d) An operator of a motor vehicle that is making a left turn at an intersection, including an intersection with an alley or private road or driveway, shall yield the right-of-way to a vulnerable road user who is approaching from the opposite direction and is in the intersection, or is in such proximity to the intersection as to be an immediate hazard.

(e) An operator of a motor vehicle may not overtake a vulnerable road user traveling in the same direction and subsequently make a right-hand turn in front of the vulnerable road user unless the operator is safely clear of the vulnerable road user, taking into account the speed at which the vulnerable road user is traveling and the braking requirements of the motor vehicle making the right-hand turn.

(f) An operator of a motor vehicle may not maneuver the vehicle in a manner that:

(1) is intended to cause intimidation or harassment to a vulnerable road user; or

(2) threatens a vulnerable road user.

(g) An operator of a motor vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with anyvulnerable road user on a roadway or inan intersection of roadways.

(h) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that at the time of the offense the vulnerable road user was acting in violation of the law.
Source: Ord. 20091022-030.

Ladies' Bike Maintenance Class

Date: November 30, 2011 @ 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: Mellow Johnnys
400 Nueces St