The Secrets of Austin’s Mellow Johnny's

Just a few blocks south from the Texas Capitol in Downtown Austin, and directly across from a US Federal Courthouse, lies an unassuming circa 1955 warehouse with brick siding at the corner of 4th and Nueces. A black sign with white neon lights welcomes visitors to the city’s must-visit bicycle shop. I admire the clean typography and subtly placed 5 metal sleeves painted in UCI rainbow colors.

Welcome to Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop. Whether the owner still “has” those MJ’s or not may be disputable, but you are guaranteed to see a few of the recognizable jerseys hanging prominently on the walls inside. Within the 9000sqft building, we found playful art pieces, wall murals, a rental shop, coffee shop, merchandise, and plenty of well-displayed gravel bikes. But on the lower level is where things got interesting with its impressive Speed Shop Training Center and an off-limits area that I was eventually escorted out of and back upstairs. There we found old magazine covers, a Chumba frame, cool posters and signs of Colin Strickland. The boys said he often drops his bike off for service, although I would have to drive across town to the bike shop inside The Meteor to see his Allied Able up close.

Mellow Johnny’s say they have one goal: “To make you love riding your bike.”, and during our brief visit in the fall of 2019 we could certainly catch the vibe. Here are a few photos we took during that evening in Austin.