British In the City

What to ask a repair shop in Atlanta, GA

• Do you work on my make and year? A shop that mostly sees late-model Japanese bikes may not want a 1978 twin, and it is better to hear that on the phone than at the counter.
• Will you mount tires I bring in, and what does that cost? Many shops will, some will not, and the ones that do usually charge more per tire than for rubber they sold you.
• What is the diagnostic fee, and does it come off the repair if I go ahead? Ask before the bike is on the lift.
• Appointment or walk-in, and what is the turnaround right now? In season a good shop can be two or three weeks out.
• Can you collect a bike that will not run, or do I need to arrange a tow? Some service shops have a trailer; most do not.

Humidity and heat are the maintenance story here. Corrosion on electrical connectors and fasteners shows up early, tires age in the sun even when they are not being ridden, and summer afternoons are for shade, not long stints. Riding season is long, so service intervals come around faster than the calendar suggests.

Worth the ride from Atlanta, GA

• Refuge Coffee Co. Clarkston

  Coffee

  Nonprofit roaster that employs resettled refugees, eleven miles east of downtown with a roomy lot before the north Georgia roads.

• Jackson Street Bridge

  Viewpoint

  The well-known Atlanta skyline photo spot, looking over the Downtown Connector.

• Stone Mountain Park

  Mountain View

  A five mile loop road circles the base of a granite dome, with a skyride to a summit view back to the skyline.

All 4 places worth the ride near Atlanta, GA →

Riding here?

Make British In the City a stop on your next ride. Find a route that passes by, schedule a group ride with it as the stop, or see how 2 Wheels in Common works for riders.