More from Austin

Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop is an intersting place. Is it just that it is a really cool bike shop owned by Lance Armstrong or is it Lance Armstrong's bike shop, so it's cool?  Maybe it's both.  I haven't visited a bunch of bike shops in my time nor have a visited some of the most highly regarded bike shops in the U.S., like "Above Category" in Mill Valley, CA (http://www.abovecategorycycling.com/).  However, I'll say that it was the coolest shop I've been too. Folks that don't like Lance or who've been to a lot more shops, would probably disagree.   

Obviously, the store is Trek centric and the basement, home to the fit studio and training center, was no different.

One thing worth noting about the shop, the same as most things in life, is that your perception of a place or events depend on a lot of things. We visited during a fun trip with friends for a great cause, on a day with beautiful weather, which was made nicer by finding the perfect jersey for our small team (and my favorite jersey yet) and even nicer by enjoying an espresso drink from Juan Pelota Cafe (part of Mellow Johnny's), outside with said weather and said newly purchased jersey in hand.

I love coffee and espresso (no, I don't have a problem, I just need a cup or two in the morning and I'm set), but I'll admit I don't know much about it.  One thing I do know is that the espresso maker Juan Pelota Cafe has is a very nice, highly respected, "La Marzocco."  (http://www.lamarzocco.com/)  You want the home or professional lite version of their espresso machine? It'll set you back $6,400.  Yikes, that kind of money can only be spent on bike stuff...

Which is what this bike might set you back (plus another $2,000 probably).  I had a little bike envy when I saw this white Trek Madone.  To be honest though, I'd take the Cervelo S3 over this...that's for you Toon, good choice.

And finally I get to the jersey and what I pinned on my back.  I really think I'd be riding if I wasn't a cancer survivor, but who knows.  That's kind of why I started and was lucky enough to get the riding itch while living in Monterey, CA, a perfect place for riding. I did the old yellow "survivor" sign, but more importantly this year and when I did one of these rides back in 2008, I wore a sign for the mother-in-law that I never got to meet.  That's something that I think about a lot.  I wish I could have and hoping I will in the very distant future.