Moving down there next summer (or so it seems). Any recommendations on good LBS and tri-specific shops in the area?
Chainwheel Drive in Clearwater and Florida Bicycle Sports in St. Pete.
Though not really a tri shop…Dud Thames in Tampa. Good high end bike shop. I used that shop alot when I lived there. Steve is an awesome mechanic. I trusted NO one else wtih my bikes, except Steve, or me!! I’ll also second Chainwheel Drive over in Clearwater, they were good , too.
Florida Bicycle Sports - huge inventory, very knowledgeable personnel, more tri oriented than road.
Ciao,
Couldn’t disagree with you more on the Dud Thames recommendation. Florida Bicycle Sports is definitely the best shop in the Bay area. I’ve heard good things also about Chainwheel Dirve and Outspokin’, but have never shopped at either one much. If you’re moving to Tampa, there’s not much in the immediate area, FBS and Chainwheel are on the other side of the bay (St. Pete/Clearwater) about a 45 minute or more drive depending on where you’ll be. If you’re relocating, I highly recommend living near the Suncoast trail - - its a 42 mile long bicycle trail closed off to vehicular traffic. I live 3 miles from the trailhead and can do a century ride without ever having to get out on the roads too much. The Pinellas Trail in St. Pete is also a long bicycle trail, but way too many people and cross roads for any serious rding. PM if you want some more info on the area. By the way, mid-November and highs in the 80s.
The best tri shop in the tampa bay area now is OUTSPOKIN in Largo, they are the official dealer of both Cervelo & Giant bikes and have at lot of tri specific expertise. They are also the only shop to sponsor a Triathlon team, that has both the Top AG’s in the area and a number of MOP’s and BOP. Group rides - training advice etc is all available from the shop. Just ask for the owner Val, and she will hook you up with the different training groups depending on your ability, goals etc. There are several good Master swim teams in the area too, and a good number of races, I have lived and raced down here since the 80’s and it is one of the best places to train and race in the country. If you need any other info just let me know
I highly agree with feviking about Outspokin in Largo. They have the best customer service by far. If the don’t carry product you need/want, the owner will go out of her way to get it for you. I used to shop at Chainwheel and never got near the customer service I get at Outspokin. Check it out. www.outspokin.net
Thanks to all of you for the great advice thus far. I had no idea about the Suncoast Trail, although I am certainly looking forward to it. I’ve been fortunate to live a couple of places with good closed or otherwise restricted biking paths or roads and this sounds like another winner.
We just moved here this summer and the shop in Clearwater, and St pete’s are nice we have a small bike shop in Brandon called Aj’s they are knowledgeable on all types of bike and provide quick service. It is not tri specific but still a greatlittle shop. The object is getting our bikes back repaired and quick. They did. a great job building up two wheelsets. Suncoast is a great ride and several good pools in the area.
i’ll second the outspokin’ recommendation. very good customer service and they just got the cervelo line to go with the giant. i’m not sure if they still carry felt and i think they are also getting cannondale. that’s what i heard. they are not a huge store so not a lot of eye candy. but if you know what you want they will get it, fast. chainwheel drive has a real good reputation but it’s gone down hill lately. they lost there head mechanic who had been there for about a million years. lou’s was a good tri shop but they went under a while back. florida bike sports is supposed to be good for tri fits and some lines of tri bikes, haven’t heard much about them.
you may want to contact the Mad Dogs tri club in st pete. huge club, lots of training rides, runs and swims. lots of good people who like to train and party.
the sun coast trail is great. but it’s 41 miles along side a highway (separated by a large chainlink fence) with mostly a swamp on the other side for the first part, hills for the second part (little hills - it is florida!). eventually it gets old. but a lot of good riders out there on weekends. they just hooked it up to starkey park. so you can add that to the ride. nice park. 6.5 miles from parking lot to the suncoast trail. good restrooms, great for bricks.
a lot of riders go to San Antonio, FL on weekends. it’s about 45 min or more (depending on where you are) north of tampa. great riding, rolling hills, cooler temps, farm country now but getting built up fast.
good luck
I’ll second a couple of the recommendations above for both Florida Bicycle Sports (www.floridabicyclesports.com) and Outspokin (www.outspokin.net ) they support both the triathlon and road racing communities and have outstanding personal service and people that go above and beyond to help you out.
Also as billb said I would definitely check out The St. Pete Mad Dogs (www.stpetemaddogs.com ) and join them when you move to the Tampa Bay area. They have a lot of training activities, events and parties always going on and are a real fun supportive group and it is a great way to meet other triathletes in the area.
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Carrollwood Bicycle Emporium.
If Dave does not have it he will get it for you.