Hammerhead Bicycles

This review should’ve been posted a year ago but it took me a while to try other places and realise what I was missing (better late than never?).
Another reviewer said «Finally, a bike shop owned by a rider, for the riders of a particular creed… discerning riders of high end bikes with character.» Which is fine, but I visited this shop as a newbie bike commuter who needed basic bike tuneups/​service and got treated extremely poorly.
I went in to Hammerhead Bikes with newly purchased vintage touring bike that needed only a tune-​up and new tires & brake cables… it was in the neighborhood and my brother (avid cyclist/​tourer/​bike geek) said he’d heard good things about ‘em. I selected some new tires from their catalogue, placed my order, left my bike with them for the supposed week of service… and:
1) Never heard back. After 1.5 weeks I called and was told that oops, they weren’t sure they could get those tires, it might take a few more days.
2) After another week I stopped by. Turns out they’d finished the work on my bike (never called to let me know, despite taking my number more than once). They’d mounted a different set of tires on my bike than I’d selected.
3) New tires not only looked quite different than what I’d desired AND were more expensive. The tires weren’t mounted perfectly evenly – you could spin them and watch the tread lines wave back and forth.
4) A month after starting bike commuting (50+ miles per week) I dropped by another bike shop because my brakes were rubbing against the rims… guy at new bike shop stopped everything, adjusted brake cables (what, no two week wait!!!), then asked if he could re-​set my tires for free because they were mounted so poorly. Which he also did immediately. Which is when I discovered that the puncture-​resistant tubes I’d paid for at Hammerhead weren’t there, just cheapo standard tubes. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice.
So, I guess part of this is my fault – I should’ve thrown a fit at Hammerhead never bothering to call me to update me on service, never bothering to okay more expensive items with me, etc… but as a newbie cyclist I veered towards nice and timid and just accepted their shoddy behaviour. A year of cycling and other shop experiences has changed my attitude and not only will I never go back, I’ve spread the word among all other urban commuters I know to avoid this place at all costs. Which now looks even easier, since it looks like Hammerhead has disappeared from its current location.

This isn’t really a review so much as it is a plea to find a working phone number for this place so I can try to give them some of my $$ for a frame I’m looking to purchase.
Anyone have a phone number for HH as the one listed on this page doesn’t work.
I called the Tulsa shop to get a ballpark price on a frameset, but I would rather speak to the locals.
Thanks!

HH is the only shop that sees my bike. They are always on time and honest. Adam, thanks for getting my bike up and running. The knowledge in that little red shop is truly impressive. Check out True Fab’s 6″ travel 29er these guys don’t sit around and wait for other companies to innovate they make it happen right there.
Bottom line best shop in Central Texas hands down. Oh and they have a pump track!

FIVE star crew, service and pump track

I have spent as much money on bikes at hammerhead as some have spent on their cars. Seriously. But if you are concerned about getting the best bikes on the market, from the best shop, there is no other choice.
Austin is blessed with more quality shops than cities several times our size, but Hammerhead stands out.
They won’t sell you a bike, they make sure that the bike you are buying is right for you. Rarely, when you go to a shop, will someone take the time to really understand how you ride, where you ride, and what your biking aspirations are. The guys at Hammerhead go out of their way to make sure that you are sized properly and that the bike you choose is exactly right for you. You can trust them.
When I bought my most recent bike, it was a combination of a new frame, some existing parts from a 5 year old bike, and a bunch of brand new components. Many shops look down on this because they think it is some kind of compromise. But the Hammerhead guys understood and delivered the perfect solution for me.
In the past I have gone to drop off the bike for reparis only to be told «hold on» and they do it while they wait.
Great wheel building, I have had mine rebuilt twice and both times they were outstanding.
One of the things that really sets HH apart from many shops is the way that they support the Austin bike scene. They sponsor things and they get involved. They ride our trails, they lead clinics, they live the life. And that is what you need from your bike partner.

After you’ve been riding for a while, you know what you want, and you don’t want to screw around. You want expert and honest advice on parts and repairs, and Cody and the crew will give you exactly that.
Small example:
I went in there over a year ago, for the seemingly simple purchase of tires, and had my mind made up. Cody talked to me for a while, and since he personally knows his customers, he knows my riding style, and was able to recommend tires I never would have considered otherwise, and the tires are fantastic! I’ve used the same combo for over a year now, and I keep going back.
By the way, Hammerhead has THE BEST DEALS on tires in town, hands down!
Let’s talk about their demo bike fleet. The bikes they have to demo are high end bikes, not entry level. We’re talking Knolly, Ellsworth, Intense, Titus, BMC. There’s no place in Austin, or maybe even Texas that will let you take out a bike like that.
Before you make your next bike purchase at one of the bigger stores in town, do yourself and the next ten years of your riding life a favor, and visit with Cody for a few minutes. Visit the
website and watch the video, it explains it all.

Hammerhead Bikes is by far and away the best shop in town. I have frequented and even called a few other shops in town «my shop,» that is until I stumbled upon Cody and his operation.
I first met Cody on a group ride at City Park not long after assuming ownership of the shop. At that time the words Hammerhead in my circle of riding buddies resonated of a crowd that I was not privy too. However I stopped into the newly opened shop for a simple request of some new wheel liners, and left with a desire to ride my bike like no other. Cody managed to light a fire within me that previously only a really really great day on the trail would.
I visited again to pick up some parts, very simple parts (brake pads) and left with a new desire, I discovered on that day that I am a 29’er rider. I haven’t looked back since then.
I have since come to grow very fond of Cody and the other members of the shop. You will frequently find me hanging out at the shop, occasionally i might even be doing something worth while rather than just taking up space. The shop is great for not only getting your latest fix, but to just be in an environment that truly exudes the essence of what it is to be a biker.
Anything you need, the crew at Hammerhead bikes can handle it.

Hands down the best bike shop in town in terms of service. This is the way all small businesses should be run. People that are passionate about what they do. Also, their coffee is good. The only negative is they aren’t open on Saturday.

These guys are the best. They really do know more about the mechanics of the bike than any other shop I have been to in town… I have recently built two new bikes and had them assembled by austin bikes and another partially assembled by bicycle sports shop. both of those guys messed up big time and admitted no fault but blamed it on the parts i had. Hammerhead basically did what the others said could not be done and charged me less for doing it. They know what they do and do it well. Go to these guys and you will not regret it. I have found my shop!

Only shop in town for me. Cody spells it out straight, isn’t looking to give you more than you want, and he always has great product in stock.
What’s more he rides and races, so he has a hands-​on approach to his products.
Visit Hammerhead and you’ll be happy.

Finally, a bike shop owned by a rider, for the riders of a particular creed… Discerning riders of high end bikes with character.
I had been to many of the shops in the area and while most of them were full of nice sales people… they just weren’t «getting» it. Some shops specialized in Tri stuff… Some in road bikes, some were just to big for their own good… Then I found this diamond in the ruff.
The shop is owner operated and is about the size of a garage. They have most of the high end brands you would want… Titus, Intense, Ellsworth, Ventana, Chumba and so on. They also have demo bikes. Imagine that? You get to take a bike for a couple of days and ride it on a real trail before you get to buy it! None of this parking lot speed bump curb testing, this is the real deal.
They also build your bike to order, to the exact specs you want. How are the prices? Damn good. My bike came it at under $ 300 compared to what a place like Competative Cyclist could sell it to me for. And I would still have to pay shipping and a build up from them.
All in all, a pleasure to deal with Corey and a great shop to go to. I will be frequenting this place for years to come.