Commuter Culture spent an afternoon drinking beer and chilling with Skip and Justin of No Brakes Atl. No Brakes is an independently owned Bike and Record Shop located in Kirkwood. Run by three friends Skip, Justin & Jon “Two Tone” (not pictured) the shop specializes in track components, custom built wheels, original apparel and accessories.
The ambiance of No Brakes is everything you would want a specialist, high end bicycle shop to be. Tucked away on a side street like a genuine mob hangout with absolutely no car parking. The storefront consists of a giant unicorn done in a flash art motif. I walk in and I’m greeted by Skip, a super friendly guy with a bicycle cog in his hand and grease on his face. The shop is small and inviting, Johnny Cash is playing on the stereo. Bicycle frames hang from the walls like works of art. I offer up a 12 pack of PBR in exchange for an interview, so we bust them open and talk about cycling and transportation in Atlanta.
What is your means of transportation?
Skip: I have a few bikes, but I ride a Bilenky commuter bike for everyday use.
Justin: I have a few bikes as well, but most of the time I ride my Level track bike.
Where are you from?
Skip: Florida
Justin: I’ve pretty much spent my whole life in Metro Atlanta. I grew up in East Point and moved to Atlanta a few years back.
What are you working on right now?
Skip: I’m working on this guy’s LeMond. He was recommended to us through the racing community. He dropped it off the other day and it’s been a bitch to fix.
Justin: Right now we’re kind of developing a race team. We sponsor the track club at Velodrome so we get hooked up with some decent business from that.
Favorite hang out in Atlanta?
Justin: Graveyard and Aces. Graveyard is cool but you need to be in the mood to party. There is always something going on, it’s just not that great if you want to chill. Aces is just down the street fromt the shop and it’s always the same dudes hanging out there. It’s where we have been hanging out a lot lately. Super chill atmosphere.
Most memorable story that makes you glad you ride a bike?
Justin: We held a promotional race to open the shop. The 777 race. It was a lucky themed race with poker game, lots of drinking that to lead to opening of the shop. It was a lot of fun, We had a ton of people come out.
Most sketchy story?
Skip: I had a lady pull a baseball bat on me. This woman did not like the fact that I was riding where she wanted to be driving so she starts honking and yelling. Same deal, it happens a lot so I just ignore it. Well, she doesn’t let up and finally I can’t take it anymore so I reciprocate. She pulls in front of me, pulls out a bat. This happened right in front of a federal building too. As she’s yielding the bat, threatening me she gets sideswiped by a cop. It turns out that this lady has a history of threatening people with a bat.
Justin: Oh! The father/son redneck team that got out and attacked me. I’m sitting at a red light, a truck pulls up and honks. No big deal, happens all the time in Atlanta. Words were exchanged and the 18 year old son gets out, walks over to me and swings at me on my bike. That’s it, one swing. He gets back in the truck, pulls on the curve and drives off. I was thinking “that was just weird.” Then two blocks up I hear this crazy truck revving it’s engine and it’s the father and son. The have circled the block, cut off traffic to pull along side of me. The son again takes a swing, this time while the truck is moving along side me. They pull ahead, cut me off and pin me between the truck and a curb. They both get out of the truck to throw down. At this point the incident has caught the attention of people around us and a huge dude intercedes and breaks it up just as a cop pulls up. I’ve had to go to court a couple of times because of that.
“Keep it Flashy.”
What would you say to promote cycling in Atlanta?
Skip: Our hope is that everyone from kids to the elderly can enjoy bike rides in the city.
Justin: Keep it flashy, keep it friendly. We hope that cycling in Atlanta keeps getting more popular but it needs to stay fresh.
Your opinion of transportation in Atlanta?
Skip: I think that bicyclists in Atlanta are hard core. Anyone can go to a city like San Francisco or New York and bike it, but it takes dedication to brave Atlanta streets. Ultimately, though, I really would want more people to cycle.
Justin: Transit is horrible. The bus isn’t even an option. The bus ads two extra hours to any commute. That’s not acceptable. The train is a joke, it goes in two directions. Cars just do not know how to deal with city traffic or with bikes. We have one person to every car and each person would just assume drive behind a bicyclist honking their horn yelling at you than to just drive around.
What is the future for cycling in Atlanta?
Skip: It’s possible that in 5 years bicycles will be the preferred way to travel. That’s more likely to happen than anything else.
Justin: The congestion will get so bad that something will have to happen. Soon we’ll have the choice of either sitting completely still in gridlock, biking or walking. It won’t be long before biking is quickest way to get around.
What is the most important thing to your daily commute?
Skip: Bike lanes. They are essential. Bike lanes and Piedmont Park make cycling so much more peaceful.
Justin: A job. I’m a messenger so I don’t leave the house until I have a run.
What is your favorite city to bike?
Skip: New York is cool but it’s too intense. I like Philly.
Justin: West Philly. It’s just chill. Any where you go in that city there are people hanging out.
What kind of beer do you drink?
Skip: Terrapin, Sweetwater, Red Brick. We’re really fortunate that Atlanta has two of the better brewers in the country.
Justin: I like the redneck stuff. Coors Light, Busch, Cheap Beer that does the trick.
Last thoughts?
Skip: It’s cool to get paid, have no boss and help people with their bikes.
Justin: I just want to say thanks to everyone who comes by the shop.
Thanks to Skip and Justin for taking the time to hang out. For more info visit nobrakesatl.com or stop by and check out their super cool shop.
184 Rogers St NE #301 Atlanta, GA 30317
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Pingback by No Brakes, Atlanta's Track Bike Boutique. 184 Rogers Street NE, Suite 301 ~ 404.373.8535 ~ bikes(at)nobrakesatl.com on February 3, 2009 at 2:05 am
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Pingback by Articles That Pull Traffic. | 7Wins.eu on March 29, 2009 at 10:59 am
Was that father/son attack in front of Utrecht Arts Supply? I think I witnessed that. Or was that someone else?
Comment by Michael on June 12, 2009 at 7:37 pm