Lee's Bicycles

[Conan71]

+1, great response SXSW.

I think you could definitely design around a neighborhood without really upsetting your store forumula and function.  Sure it would cost a little more to come up with and impliment a design that is better than a bland small box which matches the area. 

[AVERAGE JOE]

Just turn the whole site plan so it faces 36th Street, not Peoria. There's an entrance to the new QT model on the front corners of the building. That corner could be pretty close to the sidewalk if they got a little creative with their site plan. Face the front to the north and slide the building eastward toward Peoria. Put additional parking to the back of the lot "behind" (in reality, to the side) of the building. The store would be plenty visible for northbound drivers on Peoria -- you'd see the gas pump canopy from blocks away.

[PonderInc]

Several months ago, I heard a rumor that Lee's might be headed to someplace on/near Cherry Street.  Haven't heard anything else since then.

[Markk]

I'm sure there is a certain know-it-all member who will post a cyptic response to this thread that suggests something about he/she knows re the plans for this site, in order to invite questions and inflate his/her ego.

[Townsend]

I'm sure there is a certain know-it-all member who will post a cyptic response to this thread that suggests something about he/she knows re the plans for this site, in order to invite questions and inflate his/her ego.

Does his moniker rhyme with "farted"?

[SXSW]

If they could create a full-service bike shop like Mellow Johnnys (owned by Lance Armstrong) in downtown Austin that would be really cool, either in Brookside, Cherry Street, or downtown.  Downtown would be good just because it could serve as a place for bike commuters to store their bikes during the day and would also have showers/locker rooms, which is what Johnnys provides downtown Austin bikers.  Johnnys is first and foremost a bike shop that sells and repairs bikes, but also has a coffee shop and the aforementioned showers/locker rooms.  One of the buildings in Blue Dome would be perfect for this type of setup.

http://www.mellowjohnnys.com/theshop.php

[Red Arrow]

If they could create a full-service bike shop like Mellow Johnnys (owned by Lance Armstrong) in downtown Austin that would be really cool, either in Brookside, Cherry Street, or downtown.  Downtown would be good just because it could serve as a place for bike commuters to store their bikes during the day and would also have showers/locker rooms, which is what Johnnys provides downtown Austin bikers.  Johnnys is first and foremost a bike shop that sells and repairs bikes, but also has a coffee shop and the aforementioned showers/locker rooms.  One of the buildings in Blue Dome would be perfect for this type of setup.

http://www.mellowjohnnys.com/theshop.php

That would take a big load off of individual employers to provide showers/lockers for their employees.  I may be a more practical/successful approach to make it easier for people to bike to work.

[SXSW]

That would take a big load off of individual employers to provide showers/lockers for their employees.  I may be a more practical/successful approach to make it easier for people to bike to work.

My cousin works in downtown Austin but lives about 2 miles from downtown.  He hadn't riden a bike in years and always drove to work but after this place opened he decided to give it a try because he finally had a place where he could shower, change, and keep his bike during the day only a few blocks from his office tower.  He says it's really helped those interested in biking to work and I think such a place could do the same in downtown Tulsa.  Tulsa doesn't have the same dense population right next to downtown like Austin does but there are people living in Riverview, Cherry Street, Maple Ridge, and maybe as far as Brookside (via the MV Trail) that would commute by bike into downtown if they had a place to shower and change.  Just a thought for Lee's to consider.  If not Lee's than maybe the Soundpony guys would be interested in doing something similar.

[swake]

My cousin works in downtown Austin but lives about 2 miles from downtown.  He hadn't riden a bike in years and always drove to work but after this place opened he decided to give it a try because he finally had a place where he could shower, change, and keep his bike during the day only a few blocks from his office tower.  He says it's really helped those interested in biking to work and I think such a place could do the same in downtown Tulsa.  Tulsa doesn't have the same dense population right next to downtown like Austin does but there are people living in Riverview, Cherry Street, Maple Ridge, and maybe as far as Brookside (via the MV Trail) that would commute by bike into downtown if they had a place to shower and change.  Just a thought for Lee's to consider.  If not Lee's than maybe the Soundpony guys would be interested in doing something similar.

There was a bike shop for years until not too long ago at 6th and Boston, and there's one at I think 13th and Boulder too.

[SXSW]

There was a bike shop for years until not too long ago at 6th and Boston, and there's one at I think 13th and Boulder too.

I'm pretty sure the one at 6th & Boston closed awhile back, it was in that really ugly parking garage.  G Oscar Bikes is at 16th & Main and is still going strong.  None of them have anything like Johnnys when it comes to locker rooms/showers being part of the bike shop. 

[Conan71]

I'm pretty sure the one at 6th & Boston closed awhile back, it was in that really ugly parking garage.  G Oscar Bikes is at 16th & Main and is still going strong.  None of them have anything like Johnnys when it comes to locker rooms/showers being part of the bike shop. 

Something like that downtown with some sort of shuttle service would be a great idea.  That may not even be necessary, most people who bicycle don't have a problem walking a few blocks either.  I think usage would be limited (+/- 200 people/day?) but still, getting 200 people out of their cars doesn't hurt anything.

Going to the website and feedback from friends says that MJ's is one of the coolest bike shops on the planet.  I've not made the pilgramage to Mellow Johnny's yet, but plan to when I go to a MTB race in Feb. near Austin or go back a month later for a rowing regatta, or when I do the Houston to Austin MS-150 ride in April, so I've got three opportunities in the spring to check out the set up there. 

I work near 41st & highway 75 and live near 31st & Yale.  I'd gladly bike to work every day if not for needing my truck to go on sales calls during the day.  We've got a suite in our offices with a shower, so I don't have the no shower excuse.

[SXSW]

Something like that downtown with some sort of shuttle service would be a great idea.  That may not even be necessary, most people who bicycle don't have a problem walking a few blocks either.  I think usage would be limited (+/- 200 people/day?) but still, getting 200 people out of their cars doesn't hurt anything.

Going to the website and feedback from friends says that MJ's is one of the coolest bike shops on the planet.  I've not made the pilgramage to Mellow Johnny's yet, but plan to when I go to a MTB race in Feb. near Austin or go back a month later for a rowing regatta, or when I do the Houston to Austin MS-150 ride in April, so I've got three opportunities in the spring to check out the set up there. 

I work near 41st & highway 75 and live near 31st & Yale.  I'd gladly bike to work every day if not for needing my truck to go on sales calls during the day.  We've got a suite in our offices with a shower, so I don't have the no shower excuse.

If you're down there you should check it out and let us know what you think.  Some jobs you have to have a car to go places around the city but lots of jobs where you're working at a desk in an office all day, like the ones you mostly find downtown, would be perfect for bike commuting if you don't live too far and have access to showers. 

[Conan71]

If you're down there you should check it out and let us know what you think.  Some jobs you have to have a car to go places around the city but lots of jobs where you're working at a desk in an office all day, like the ones you mostly find downtown, would be perfect for bike commuting if you don't live too far and have access to showers. 

Absolutely.  I know there are some members on here who bike downtown and back with some regularity.  There's definitely many people who live within a comfortable bike commute to downtown who would take advantage of it if they had a place to clean up and a safe place to stash the bike.

If I had a company vehicle at work or a second car at home, I'd leave one of them at the office and bike, no question, 36th St. and the river trails work very conveniently for me to bike to work or bike to rowing practice at the boathouse at RWFP.

[janiedoll]

I have it from a very reliable source that if all the "t"s are crossed and the "i"s dotted, Lee's Bike Shop will be within 4 blocks of its very first location!  Now who knows where that was?

[Conan71]

From my 411 which is pretty solid, that would have to be within four blocks of 2nd & Frankfurt. 

I'm hearing the concept of Mellow Johnny's isn't exactly foreign to these guys.  I hope this works out and it's supported.  Major gamble, but if they can create the right atmosphere, it will be successful.