Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's)

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Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's)

chocolatefreak

Nov 18, 08 12:15

Post #1 of 16 (284 views)

Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's)	Can't Post

I'll be moving to the Tampa area shortly from out of state and am looking into shipping my road and mtn bikes from my current LBS to a bike store in Tampa, that I would hope to continue to use while I live there. I'm not sure exactly what part of town I'll be living in yet (New Tampa/Wesley Chapel or Carrollwood perhaps? places closer to the water would be really far from work sadly), so I think my priority now is finding a store that has been trustworthy /dependable etc.- mainly because I've already spent $$ getting my road bike fitted already, and I want to make sure that I trust whoever will put it back together for me in Tampa. My other option is buying roof racks for my car but I'm not sure I want to bother with that expense since I could fit my bike in my car very easily any time I wasn't traveling across the country, plus the pain of taking the bikes on and off my car (especially a 20+ lb mtn bike) is a big negative for me.

Besides my bike store q, I'm hoping that Tampa area locals can just comment on the difficulty of running and biking from the part of town they live in or having to drive far to get to safe biking and running. I've been spoiled in always being able to bike or run out my door, as well as being able to drive 15-20 mins to get to a different park/ trail. With the limitations of not wanting an hour commute to work (near 75 and Fletcher), and wanting to feel very safe where I live (if I could leave my bike in my car overnight sometimes and not be concerned, that'd be great), are there more biker/runner friendly communities that you would recommend or any place you think I should absolutely avoid? Thanks for any advice you can offer!

sake

Nov 18, 08 12:39

Post #2 of 16 (278 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'll start with the 2nd questions first. If you're moving near I-75 & Fletcher, you're going to be real close (probably a few minutes) to Flatwoods park. I used to ride my mountain bike out there on their trails, which I think are about ~ 20 miles worth of trails. It's really flat, and depending on where you're coming from, you'll probably laugh at what Floridians consider "mountain" biking. There's better mountain biking in Brooksville and Alafia, but it would be a decent drive. You can also road bike at Flatwoods. I think they have a ~ 7 mile loop (that would get old real quick to me so I never go there for road biking). The Suncoast trail would be a 15-20 minute drive and it's 84 miles (roundtrip) of uninterrupted biking on a wide trail with no cars and relatively few cross streets to worry about. You'd also be close to some big group rides out of San Antonio, check the Tampa Bay Freewheelers website for maps.

As for the safety issue, I could tell you more with specific info. The area around USF is not safe, but the New Tampa area has some nice communities. Feel free to PM me with specifics if you want.

Bike stores...ugh.....I go to Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium for most basic stuff because they're the only close shop to me (and, I think, they own and run the other 2 shops in Tampa). There are some good shops in St. Pete/Clearwater, but not too many in Tampa. If all you plan to do is ship your bike to them and have them unpack it and put it back together, they'll be fine with that.

gmellish

Nov 18, 08 13:24

Post #3 of 16 (263 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I recommend Kris Greene Cycles. He is now retired as a fireman. 8133764671 or 8132386459 He has built several of my bikes and repairs all of them. I have him rebuild each bike fron scratch periodically---my P3C 2x year. Mostly deals with higher end bikes--not grocery bikes. He normally will fix bikes right away or with little delay. I have dealt with most of the shops in the Bay area --most are too slow for my needs. The training sites mentioned in the other post are all good. Flatwoods is safest but it is flat. There is another trail in Polk County north from Polk City--the Van Fleet trail---40 some miles through the Green Swamp. For hills San Antonio is closest(park at the ballfield) San Antonio Cyclery has maps and advice available. St pete Maddogs is a good support group although they practice a long way(25 miles)fron I-75 and fletcher(see their website). Happy to chat with you on the phone--contact info in on site.8138312268 Clermont(northwest of Orlando is also a possibity for hill training. San Antonio and Clermont are both good for hills but both require considerable caution to protect yourself from yahoos fueled up with Red Bull and vodka and pulling cattle trailers that they have never figured out are wider than their pickups. Vehicles in Florida must give a cyclist at least 3 foot clearance(under a new state law)but that is small consolation if you have just been whacked. The Tampa Bay area is one of the worst in the country for bicycle fatalities although to be fair many of them are riding bikes at night with no lights. The Tampabaywheelers is another support group although I have gone on only one ride with them. Dont forget St Anthony's Tri opens up dec 1 at 9am. It sells it 4500 slots very quickly. See www.satriathlon.com. Welcome to the Bay area I have lived here for many years. My wife got me into tris 6 years--have finished IMFL 05 06 07 08

bermudabill

Nov 18, 08 13:31

Post #4 of 16 (260 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

look into the Suncoast Parkway. highway with a 41 mile bike path along it.
look into San Antonio, hilly area outside of Tampa, lots of weekend rides.
look into Outspokin Bike shop in largo, they have an advert here on slowtwitch, FIST and Retuel (i believe), owner does IM, good poeple.
look into Maddogs Tri Club, one of the largest in the country.
good luck

chocolatefreak

Nov 18, 08 20:56

Post #5 of 16 (239 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [bermudabill] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks all for the responses and offers for help! If you don't mind, I'll likely try to contact you individually closer to the end of the yr when I'm narrowing down housing possibilities/ locations and have learned to better accept a 45 min commute...

I've heard the St.Pete Mad Dogs club mentioned before, and in checking their website it seems like the usual workout locations are a bit of a distance from where I'd likely be living. But hopefully the club is big enough so that I can find people meeting up in Tampa. I'm a fan of finding group rides (on the slower end of things) since I usually feel uncomfortable riding out as a female by myself, for those 'just in case' /safety issues. I definitely want to do their St.Anthony's tri - will I be able to wait until end of Jan to sign up or might it fill up within a month? That will be a great motivation for getting back to swimming since my A races this yr were trail races.

I've also heard the Flatwoods Park mentioned (by my future co-workers when I expressed my requirement for parks :) ) and they mentioned that the commute on Morris Bridge Rd would supposedly be preferable to Bruce B Downs, but it also seems like that would leave me far from road biking opportunities since I agree that a 7 mile loop is great for running but not road biking! And in case my q's didn't make it obvious, things like school systems and whatnot are of no interest to me, so how else do I choose a place to live except for commute time and biking opportunities :) ? Thanks again!

irodetoday

Nov 19, 08 6:23

Post #6 of 16 (224 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [sake] [In reply to]	Can't Post

whatever happened to Lou's Bikes in Largo. He was the Original Gangsta!

bermudabill

Nov 19, 08 6:30

Post #7 of 16 (220 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [irodetoday] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Lou closed down a few year ago. competition is tough in that area with some good bike shops to choose from. Outspokin, Chainwheel Drive and then Bicyclesports opened in St Pete. all good shops.

DISKA

Nov 19, 08 7:24

Post #8 of 16 (201 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

i lived in south tampa for almost 9 years (recently moved to socal in july). my husband and i even compiled a list of group rides and routes in the area. you can find it here: http://www.5skaggs.com/...des_Tampa-StPete.htm. you'll be able to get to the Suncoast Trail to ride and/or run on easily if you move to north tampa. flatwoods is also a good training spot but it's only a 7 mile loop so it can get pretty boring. there is a bike store in that area called university bicycle center. I believe it's on Fletcher.

If you decide to live closer to south tampa, which i recommend, kris greene is the bike guru of the area. he runs his biz from his garage. a lot of kris's fans are on fetishes. there is also flying fish bicycles on macdill ave. good mechanics but not too sure about their fitting capabilities. they sell mostly giants/treks.

in the years we lived in tampa, we found ourselves always heading to st. pete on the weekends for group rides. there are a bunch of organized rides that leave the northshore pool saturdays and sundays which are split up according to levels. pinellas county has a number of good bike stores, including outspokin in largo and florida bicycle store on central ave. the former is run by val tavanese, who is certified as a F.I.S.T. tribike fitter; her store sells a good line of cervelos and treks.

as for leaving your bike in your car? bad idea. btw, you won't be needing your mountain bike. there aren't any mountains in florida.

(This post was edited by DISKA on Nov 19, 08 8:00)

chocolatefreak

Nov 19, 08 10:28

Post #9 of 16 (165 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [DISKA] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wow your website is awesome DISKA! Thanks for pointing it out to me. I'm much more interested in road than mountain biking anyways. I sorta landed head first last yr off my mtn bike (tried to more somersault off but couldn't get my foot unclipped in time!) so some nice safe trails minus the mtn would be fine :) . It sounds like Tampa-ites agree that biking in St.Pete is good, so I'll have to accept the drive on the wknds to get that nice riding in. And if there's certain neighborhood/regions of 'South' Tampa that you don't think would be horrible a drive on weekdays to Fletcher/75, let me know thanks!

mgmoore7

Nov 19, 08 11:10

Post #10 of 16 (153 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Others have covered it pretty well.

I will just highlight that San Antonio which is just a little N or Tampa attracts alot of riders every weekend. The roads are not busy and the hills are the best within a reasonable distance from Tampa area. Clermont has good hills and is very well known for biking and it probably about 1-1.5 hours from Tampa area. There are many events there each year.

I live in Land O Lakes and am 15 min from the Suncoast Parkway & San Antonio and about 25 minutes from Flatwoods. Also, in some areas the neighborhoods can be quite large and offer many miles of riding with minimal traffic.

DISKA

Nov 19, 08 11:36

Post #11 of 16 (142 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

hey, thanks. funny you should mention the clipping-in difference. i made my first attempt to mountain bike last weekend and because the cleats are positioned further back on the mountain bike shoes, i had a devil of a time getting clipped in and fell twice on inclines. it was like learning how to ride a bike all over again---definitely a lesson in frustration.

so many folks drive over to the north shore pool in st. pete. but once you're there you will be able to swim at the pool since they open it to non-residents (for a small fee) and you can brick your ride with a nice jaunt down coffee pot blvd in old northeast. in hindsight, my family would have loved living in st pete vs tampa if it were not for the commute and the bad public schools.

i think you would enjoy south tampa. you can ride and run on bayshore blvd and then through davis island (which to me besides flatwoods, is really the only safe place to ride in tampa proper). also, from south tampa, you can ride to picnic island and st. pete. it will be convenient from the training aspect of your life but the trip up i-275 and down fletcher will indeed suck. i would guess commute time during rush hour can vary from 25 min to 45 from hyde park. if you are moving from cali or nyc, that may not seem like a lot. don't know what your budget is for housing but w/the economy the way it is, you may find some good deals in hyde park or the soho district.

if you do decide to live up north for convenience, the san antonio ballpark and thonotasassa are nice, hilly riding locales that will be closer to where you live. there are several group rides that leave the ballpark on both saturday and sunday. there is also the greco ride, which to some, is considered fast, furious and at times uncivilized.

DocVijay

Nov 19, 08 12:45

Post #12 of 16 (123 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I live in New Tampa, and ride Flatwoods very often. Yes, at only 7 miles it can get repetitive, but it's wide, smooth, there are water stops, and there are no cars. I can't think of a safer place to ride. If you ride with music then it's not too bad. There are also lots of mountain bike trails. Mostly flat, but still fun.

New Tampa is a great place to live. The ONLY bad thing I can think of about the area is the traffic. The roads have not kept up with the number of people. Otherwise, it's clean, quiet and safe. Also, if you have kids, the schools in the area are all excellent. I can fill you in on other areas you are thinking of as well.

Alafia State Park is also a really great place to ride the MTB. TOns of trail from easy to really hard. Lots of fun.

The Suncoast trail is a great asset for the area.

Bike Shops:
Oliver's Cycle Sports - right across from Flatwoods on Bruce B. Downs in New Tampa. Great local shop. Randy who runs the place is a great guy. Haven't steered me wrong yet. Carry Trek and Gary Fisher.

Flying Fish (formerly Dud Thames) - another good shop, been around for a long time. They carry Specialized, Felt, Cannondale, Orbea. Good guys. Joel (Joe-el) is a wonderful mechanic and a great guy. He does the local tri's too.

Florida Bicycle Sports - in St. Pete near downtown. Great place. Lots of tri stuff. FIST. Kuota, Orbea, Look...

Chainwheel Drive - another great shop. Really big. Lots of tri stuff.

Outspokin - in Largo and is another great shop.

University Bicycle - on Fletcher near I-275. Pretty good store. Been there a long time. Good selection, but it's been about 10 years since I've ben there...

There is another bike shop beyween Fowler and Fletcher on 56th st. I beleive. Haven't been there ever, so I can't really tell you about it.

I've lived in Tampa since 1979. I'm also a member of the Mad Dogs (just registered for St. A's last weekend..!). If you need any more info, just ask.

Millco

Nov 19, 08 12:55

Post #13 of 16 (120 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [DocVijay] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Flatwoods is a great place to ride, except the Chilli's right outside the entrance drives me crazy with the good smells when I make the turn around!!

I crave fajitas every time I ride up there!!

Triburger

Nov 19, 08 13:12

Post #14 of 16 (111 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [DocVijay] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Gotta agree with you about flying fish. That salesman talked with me for about an hour about tri stuff, and I love the felt i got from them.

Whats so bad about being a dreamer? ~Chris McCormack

triguy98

Nov 19, 08 16:14

Post #15 of 16 (92 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Lots of good advice given by a great many people. I would stay away from University Bike Center, though. They have a great selection, but their customer service is horrible. I mean really, really bad. I have been in there a couple times with cash in hand to buy items, and left because no one would help me. Incidents are not restricted to a time frame either, I have been back to give them "one more shot" a few times over the years.
My favorite Tampa shop is Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium on Dale Mabry. Fantastic people all around. If you are not a Trek person, visit Bill at Temple Terrace Schwinn. I bought a road bike from him 10 years ago, didnt visit for 5 years, and he remembered my name and what i bought. He sells Kestrel and Giant, and is a triathlete and coach.

The big tri shops in St. Pete/ Clearwater are awesome, but at least a 45 minute drive.

Scot

Nov 19, 08 16:49

Post #16 of 16 (84 views)

Re: Fave Tampa bike store? (and other miscellany Tampa bike/run q's) [chocolatefreak] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In response to your questions. Enter St. Anthony' s on december 1 it sells out the first day. You can enter St. Anthony's and Morton Plant Mease a sprint race in Clearwater in July together a few days before the start of registration. It is a great race. We have been in tampa for three years and the skaggs website was a huge help in us finding our way around here for our triathlon and cycling pursuits. For riding we have not used our Mt. Bikes since we have been here due to really no mountains but you can ride the road bike/tri bike year round.The above mentioned Flatwoods, Suncoast trail, and San Antionio are your options but we prefer Cleremont which is about 70 minutes to the east for us in Brandon there are actual climbs there and it resembles the types of roads we had in Pennsylvania. We use Bikeworks in Brandon it is closer to where we live and features the eurobikes my wife and I ride. Good luck with the move and probably will see you at Flatwoods because we ride there a lot.