East Side Pedal Pushers: Our Kind of Bike Shop

After taking a life-changing bike tour about 15 years ago, Gresham decided he wanted to share his enthusiasm of cycling with the rest of the world. He moved to Austin and got involved with the Yellow Bike Project in its nascent stages, at one point running the project from his backyard in South Austin. Gresham was eventually a casualty of the escalating housing prices and relocated to the east side (a situation he is scared may repeat itself with his living situation on the East Side), opening the ESPP with a friend about 2 ½ years ago on the 2400 block of East 5th. He moved the shop to the current location (1100 E. 6th) in February and is enjoying the new locale, despite a recent break-in.

We know next to nothing about bikes, except Pink Floyd wrote a trippy song about them, we like riding them and they are an excellent communication alternative for city-dwellers. Gresham was apt help, and not in the pushy, salesy, insider technology-laden narrative style one might expect at other places. He showed us a few hybrid bikes and explained the differences between a few in which we were interested and let us go for a test ride. And we like that he didn’t make us feel stupid. We found one in which we were quite keen, but we had no cash on us (the store takes only cash and checks for now, a fact which kind of troubles Gresham, as he wants to provide convenience for his customers and feels kinda guilty about making them run down the street to the ATM) and both we and Gresham had to get over to the Alamo South to see movies. But you can guarantee we’re going back.

Gresham has a small selection of bikes that have been donated or that he has purchased at auctions or garage sales. He tunes them all up and makes them as-close-to-new as possible for sale. He even offers a free tune-up 30 days after purchase for every bike he sells. He also does repairs, which generally keep him busy during the slower winter months. So next time you need a used bike or have a clicking sound in your chain that is causing you some trouble, head over to The East Side Pedal Pushers. Sure you won’t have the slick linoleum floor or the salesman with shaved legs and the dozens of oversized promotional signage dangling in your face. And no, he doesn’t sell yellow wristbands. But don’t let that stop you. You’ll get a good deal from a good guy. And you’ll feel even more connected to the community you love. Ah, we’re getting weepy just thinking about it.

East Side Pedal Pushers
110 E. 6th St.
Monday-Saturday: Noon-7PM
512.826.3414