For anyone who’s been reading Cycle Bum, you’ll know that James, the author, has been waxing poetic about his time working at Big Wheel Cycles in West Campus. Unfortunately, this walk down memory lane has been inspired by the fact that Big Wheel will be going out of business due to its lease being cancelled so the owner can expand the gas station next door (YUCK!)
ATXBS had this post from the owner of Big Wheel:
My name is Paul, and I work over at Big Wheel Cycles. We’ve met once or twice on the Full Moon Cruises/Critical Masses etc. My shop’s lease got yanked out from under us, so we’re going out of business (to make room for a brand new gas station). I was wondering if you’d be willing to post our sale to your website. We’ve got a bunch of really cool bikes for every type of rider (including some really great steel frames), and everything has to go. We’re doing 25% off all bikes/frames and 30% off all parts, so if people need something now is the time to get it. We’re at the corner of 24th and Rio Grande.
It’s always sad to hear about a bike business going under, especially to make way for more gas consumption. If you’ve patronized Big Wheel, stop by and tell the guys thanks and take advantage of the great deals to help them close up the shop.
Big Wheel Cycles
702 West 24th St
Austin, Texas 78705
Phone: (512) 472-4447
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10 am-7 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 12 pm-5 pm
on Jun 16th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Sucky! Charlie has sold me both my (subsequently stolen) Hoo Koos over the last many years plus loved them with good service.
More importantly the guys working there have always LIVED cycling and so they know what they’re doing and know what they’re talking about (like shopping Whole Earth Provisions rather than REI).
What this loss means is we’re losing a REAL bike shop and, as posts on other forums have noted, the fake bike shops are still popping up.
Alas. The irony here is sad…less bikes and bike loving owners…more homage to corn and the automobile.
Sigh.
-paige
on Aug 25th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
[...] find the place you’re looking for. In that time, we’ve had a couple new shops open and unfortunately lost one so it was time for an update of the page and map. Bike Shops in Central Austin. Click map for [...]
on Apr 17th, 2010 at 11:25 am
My cobalt blue gary fisher cobia 29er was stolen yesterday (4/16/10) and I can’t locate serial #. I bought it from Discovery (who became Big Wheels). Anybody know if that store reopened, or how I could track down data the owner may still have??? Thanks.