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Athena Cycles
Category: Shopping Sporting Goods Bikes Bikes [Edit]
11740 Ventura BlvdStudio City, CA 91614
Neighborhood: Studio City
(818) 761-0784
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
In our Woodland Hills bike shop, we present a selection of the finest road and mountain bikes available, as well as quality bikes for getting around… read more »
35 reviews for Athena Cycles
Review Highlights
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"Howard is a great guy and Robbie is an awesome wrench." In 20 reviews -
"The owner is always there and ready to help." In 3 reviews -
"He is a Valley native, and really knows his stuff." In 4 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Dale F.
Sherman Oaks, CA
4/18/2012
I've been to several kinds of bike shops, from 'big box bike shops' to mom&pop shops. Howard's shop is the best 'neighborhood' bike shop. A great place to bounce bike questions and get logical answers.
Howard isn't the 'pushy' sales type considering he is both mechanic and bike shop owner. He lives and breathes bikes and I really trust his work. I recommend everyone I know to his shop and they are always happy.
I liken him to "The Dude" in the movie "The Big Lebowski" He is a very easy going guy. -
Review from Danny R.
Valencia, CA
9/22/2011
I've been to numerous bike shops and Howard (the owner) definitely give me the best customer service ever.
I came in to bleed my hydraulic brake. He only charges half of what it would cost anywhere else. When I got home i was playing around and loosen some screw up that cost the oil to drip out. I thought there was a leak in the system since its a 10 year old brake. The next day i decided to buy a $100 brake kit. But Howard insists on checking the brake for me. He fixed the problem and Howard wouldn't take my money. How much more honest and helpfull can you be? I was gonna spend $100 then after fixing my stupid doing..he wouldn't let me pay him.
This is the first time I came in his store. I'm not writing this review cause i'm his good friend.
It's so hard to find an honest person these days.
Thanks Howard!! -
Review from Scott P.
N HOLLYWOOD, CA
3/3/2012
Good place. Good people.
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Review from M.H. K.
Studio City, CA
9/17/2011
Great little local bike shop!! Went in to get some help fixing the gears on my boy's bike, and while I was there I asked about a bike rack for the car. Howard was great. He was willing to fix the bike on our schedule, and even though it wasn't really urgent, he took the time to fix the gears on the spot and get my kids up and running. Then he helped us pick out a good bike rack ($70 v. $1000 that they were charging for a hitch and rack at Land Rover!) and - without my even asking - walked out to the car and set everything up for us and showed me how to install to rack myself. What a godsend for a single mom w/ two boys! Thanks Athena Cycles!!!
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Review from jason s.
Los Angeles, CA
10/12/2009
The only bike shop in LA to go to. There seems to be 2 types of bike shops out there. Those that want to take all your money and treat you like an idiot and those that want to help you out and get you back on your bike at a reasonable and fair price. Athena is the little local bike shop that pretty much caters to all bikers. Childrens bikes, Womens Bikes, Road, Mountain, Cruiser he has a small inventory but carries a pretty full selection of bikes.
Howard knows his stuff and if he doesn't have something in your size he can get it.
I have always seen Howard treat customers with amazing respect and whether you are a Mom shopping for your childs first bike or a professional team racer Athena is the place to go. -
Review from Mika M.
Los Angeles, CA
5/21/2009
I would've given them a 4 star but they sold me a basket that is pretty shitty. I mean, it doesn't fit well onto my rack, and at almost 50 dollars I don't foresee myself using it again. PLUS I just called them and no one picked up :(
I badly need a truing :( -
Review from Courage D.
Harrisburg, PA
2/5/2009
A great shop if you are looking for a good deal.
Howard knows darn near everything there is to know about bikes, and this is by far my favorite local bike shop in the valley.
I went to Bicycle Johns, and was treated like a leper with open, pussy wounds, and at the time I had quite a bit of change that i'd saved to buy a bike! But I'll slam them later....
I walked in to Athena and the owner, Howard, greeted me with warmth and generosity. He actually listened to what I wanted, and from there we talked about all of the options that he could possibly offer.
I've since bought two bikes from him, a cruiser and a road bike.
One of the most important aspects of a bike shop for me is the ability to repair bikes. I rebuilt an old Motobecane at the Bicycle Kitchen 4 years ago. When I could not figure out the best ways to repair it on my own, Howard and his staff have always been very helpful in figuring out the best solution for my riding needs AND pocket book.
All I can say without a doubt is that if you have money to spend on a bike, go see Howard during the process.
I'm truly loving my Masi!!! -
Review from Heart C.
Los Angeles, CA
7/25/2008
This is like the coolest most chill bike shop in LA. Howard, the owner, has been a working bike mechanic for nearly 30 years (since he was 14 yrs old) . Whatever your needs this guy will hook you up. The shop is small but the love is large. All kinds of bikes, baskets and accessories.
Howard and his staff have a real passion for bicycles. They sell and fix bikes all week, then ride every weekend night. So they just don't do this for a business, it is a lifestyle. -
Review from Alma K.
Los Angeles, CA
3/11/2011
Howard and his team just set me up with the best commuter bike--I couldn't be happier with it! I've been a regular at Athena Cycles for the last year and a half and each and every time I've gone in there with a question, a broken chain, or a need for new brakes, I've always found what I was looking for, had my questions answered, and been treated like a real VIP customer. Seriously, if you cycle and you have yet to check out Athena Cycles, you're really missing out because between Howard and the rest of his crew, they know basically everything there is to know about bikes and they're happy to give suggestions to help make you a better cyclist. I love this place!
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Review from Toby S.
Studio City, CA
4/23/2009
Fantastic bike shop.
Howard is a great guy, knows his stuff, always looking for other ways to fix your problems without breaking the bank, 8 times out of 10 I come away without spending any money but with the fix I needed. You can really trust his advice.
I have actually stopped using ebay a source of components so that I can support my local store. You should all do the same.
PS - He is a proud supporter of our local elementary school. Always donates something for the annual auction ect. -
Review from Alejandro E.
Los Angeles, CA
1/9/2011
I was looking around for a good bike for my wife at a fair price for her Christmas gift and Howard gave me a great deal on an old Nishiki in perfect condition. If you don't know, Nishiki was one of the first companies to make mountain bikes and the Japanese make amazing bikes. This Nishiki rides like a dream. I have a Specialized and I'm slightly jealous of her bike now. Anyway, these guys are awesome and although I got my bike at Bike Connection just down the road, I think I'll be switching teams for good.
Thanks Athena Cycles! -
Review from Alisha A.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
4/26/2010
I'm not sure how it happened that after all these Yelpers reported good experiences with Athena that I would have such a bad one...
The first thing to go wrong was that after I strapped two bikes on my trunk rack and drove all the way across the valley to get here, I showed up during the posted hours of operation, and the shop was locked up and empty, with no "Back in one hour" sign or anything. So I left a message on the answering machine.
I did get a call back to let me know that if I forewarned them of my arrival, he would be there. So I set up a time on another day, loaded up my bikes again, and went over again.
I explained that one bike needed a new tube (simple enough) but the other was a "gift" that had been sitting on someone's balcony for a long time and had two flat tires, a crusty seat and cracked handle grips. I asked for it to be "fixed up" - mentioning new tubes, a new seat, and new handle grips.
Because there was no rush, I wasn't surprised that it was a couple of days before I was called to pick up the bikes. What I WAS surprised about was that I went back, and all that had been done was one new tube on the newer bike, and that old bike that needed all the "fixing up" - NOTHING had been done to it but air in the tires. And my bill was already around $75.
Thinking that perhaps I simply hadn't been clear, I asked again for a new seat and new handle grips. I got what I wanted, but my bill went up to $110. I wasn't thrilled with the service and I didn't think I'd gotten a bargain, but I was reasonably satisfied.
Imagine my disappointment when my boyfriend rode the "fixer-upper" just a couple of times before the back tube practically disintegrated! It had been so old that it simply couldn't hold air anymore. This time I opted to just replace the tube myself (cost me $7.50) and the whole time I was doing it I was internally grumbling about the "expert" at Athena Cycles who had decided the old tubes were good and just needed $50 worth of air in them. Sheesh.....
I will never go back there. -
Review from matt s.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
8/19/2011
Athena is a great family owned shop. Howard and staff are helpful and honest.
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Review from Michael G.
North Hollywood, CA
8/5/2010
I got very very lucky, I found a very collectable bicycle frame at a yard sale, a Hetchins Magnum Opus. I got it very cheaply at this yard sale or I would not have even been able to afford it, its that special and that collectable.
But any way... I was looking around to find a shop that I wanted to work with on building up this special bicycle. I went to more than just a few places. I wanted a place that at the very least knew what a Hetchins was and how special it was. I went to all of the supposed high end places and they didn't even recognize the Hetchins name, they didn't even notice that it was really ornate and hand made and a lugged frame, so nope this is not the shop for me.
of all the places that I went to only two shops immediatly knew what a Hetchins was. One of the shops was very interested in buying the bike from me (even though I had expressed no interest in selling it) and made me an offer but then when it got to time to talk about building the bike up the owner handed me off to just the mechanic that had no idea what a Hetchins was.
Athena Cycles, the owner is the mechanic. He knew exactly what I had, he measured me and measured the frame and said, wow you got lucky it even fits you. No one had even thought of that before him, including me. He personally built my bike up for me, he did not jump right on it and start forcing things to fit, he messaged it and helped me find things that would fit with out forcing things and doing a hack job.
So now I have a 1987 Hetchins Magnum Opus II with 2009 Campy Choros 11 speed groupo, Zero Gravity brakes, Mavic Ksyrium SL 700 wheels, a brand new but vintage looking Brooks saddle, Carbon Fiber Cork wrapped Easton handle bars, and this really cool Nito (hand built in Japan) lugged quill stem that goes with all of the lug work on the frame.
I have since brought him a few other bikes that I have in the back yard and he has fixed them up for friends to ride with me. I have bought numberous little things from him like computers that tell you how far and how fast you are peddling. He has always been over the top helpful with advise on what I should or should not get. He is always too inexpensive with what he is charging, and so I usually give him more than he is asking. He is just great to deal with, not fast, but great quality work; which is great for me I am not in a hurry but I want things done right and this is the place. -
Review from Lay K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/20/2011
Howard is amazing. He really cares about his customers and takes pride in his store. I adore him and I always find what I'm looking for here.
Def should check it out. -
Review from Dino C.
N HOLLYWOOD, CA
12/21/2011
Howard for president. I recently had my mountain bike serviced at this great little shop. Honest, quick and quality service at a very reasonable price. Hope that more people will discover Athena Cycles.
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Review from Carlos R.
North Hollywood, CA
9/9/2010 6 Check-ins Here
let's see...
i love the owner, Howard, and staff, specially the homie, Remy.
it's a great place to get a KHS.
if you need work on your bike, handle your scandal here. trust.
this little breaks the size matters rule. it's small but still will satisfy your every bike need. sucios!
wish i'd known they're a KHS dealer, i would've gotten my bike from here, no questions asked =/ -
Review from Giovanna D.
Sherman Oaks, CA
4/25/2011
After some positive Yelping, I decided to give them a shot at replacing the tires on my mountain bike. Now, I'm in love. Howard was super nice. No up-selling, no BS. He even gave me a free (and much needed) tune-up. I've already sent over a couple of friends. Ever since I moved away from Bike Kitchen territory, I've been looking for a good alternative. Now I've found it!
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Review from Laura M.
Los Angeles, CA
4/1/2011
Howard was recommeded to me by my biker neighbors downstairs. He and his employee answered my 20 questions and then some with sincere smiles and thoughtful help. We ended up walking out with a KHS single speed at a very reasonable price. Definitely recommend them!
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Review from William S.
North Hollywood, CA
5/26/2011
This place is awesome! The owner is always there and ready to help. He asks when you need your bike back and will knock it out quick if you need him to. I have an aging Cannondale that I bring in every year for a tuneup, and my bike is good to go for a year - virtually silent when riding. As for repairs, they listen to your needs and give you very affordable but solid solutions, i.e., they don't try to sell you a new wheel because you got a flat tire. If you roll up to this place on a nice day, odds are the staff will be working underneath the canopy outside. The jump up when they see you and help you with your bike, almost instantaneously diagnosing it. Best bike shop in Los Angeles.
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Review from Alex C.
Los Angeles, CA
4/26/2007
This is seriously the best neighborhood bicycle shop, The owner is Howard and he is the coolest L..A. Bicycle Duuuude around, Seriously like the Big Labowski kinda guy. But takes his riding and his shop in the most confident manner. If you are looking for a deal, and looking to purchase/Maintain your bike go here. He will dial you in a heartbeat. Athena Bicycles also coordinates various road/mountain rides on a weekly basis.
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Review from David W.
Burbank, CA
11/22/2010
I love love LOVE this bike store. I actually live in Burbank, but go to Athena Cycles because of the great service I get from Howard and crew. I got my commuter and road bikes from Athena, and now that I'm in the market for a mountain bike, I know where I'll start my search.
Howard knows everything there is to know about bikes. He's honest - there will be no selling you something you don't need. I've seen him send people to other bike shops for items he didn't have in stock.
If you're in the market for a bike, or bike repairs, do yourself a favor and check out Athena Cycles. -
Review from Tee C.
Los Angeles, CA
7/17/2011
Maybe it was a bad day.. Carmageddon spared the roads, but decided to give me crap for getting on a bike. I had just gotten a second hand bike that I thought needed new tubes, so I stopped at this place since it's down the street from my apartment. I had my friend come along since she knows more about bikes than I did. It was empty and seemed a bit unfriendly, which totally contradicts what all the reviews say :(. The man working there grabbed two tubes for me and I checked out. My friend stopped to look around the store and saw a cool bike, tried to ask about it and this kid who I think was one of the workers' son (probably around 7 years old or something) grabs my friend and said "you need to go now" and attempted to shove her out the door. Just.. wow. None of the people working there said anything otherwise, they just kind of stood around. Not a very welcoming feeling. Maybe someone shouldve smacked that kid (KIDDING!). When I got back home, we find that both inner tubes look used. One of the valves were rusted, the other one completely broken. Tell me that I just happened to get flukes, and that they aren't packaging used parts in new boxes. Going to try and return them, but after that, I don't think I'm going back.
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Review from Meredith P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2010
Lucy is a great bike, but I really thought otherwise until I took it to Howard's bike shop. I bought Lucy months ago off Craigslist on the cheap from some dude in South Central....let's just say Lucy need love. But I wasn't ready to give it to her, sadly, and after a few road rides I was having issues with the gears, chain, tires....you name it....so Lucy sat in my garage for a good 4 months.
Living in Echo Park, I knew there were a plethora of bike shops I could take Lucy too, but because I'm note a card carrying member of the hipster clan and don't know much about bikes to begin with, I was very hesitant to take Lucy to any of my neighborhood shops. This turned out to be a valid concern after reading the Yelp reviews for these shops....so Lucy sat, and waited.
I finally decided last week that now was the time, Lucy had to be repaired, I cringed from the neglect I had given her. So I broadened my search on Yelp for bike shops and lo and behold, Athena Cycles came up just up the 101 in studio city. Totally worth the traffic.
Howard knows his stuff. He helped me to see that all Lucy really needed was some new handlebar tape, tire tubes and a quick WD40 job and she would be good as new. He also gave me recommendations for tricking out my old Schwinn Varsity to keep Lucy turning heads.
Whether you know nothing about bikes or want to talk shop, Howard will hook you up and get you on your way! -
Review from Heather H.
North Hollywood, CA
3/3/2009
This is the best bike shop out there!!!! It's a small blink-and-you-might-miss-it place near Trader Joe's on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. What makes this place so great is the guy who runs it, Howard. He is a Valley native, and really knows his stuff. (He even was telling me what intersections I should avoid so I wouldn't run over stuff that would puncture my tires).
When I first bought my bike he absolutely gave me the best deal ( I went to three other bike shops to compare prices, his was the best by far). I'm definitely a bicycle novice, and he's never made me feel stupid, he is always honest and friendly, and really goes out of his way to help. I've gone in a couple times to buy accessories and get my tires fixed (10$ to fix a flat) and it's always been so easy!! In fact this last time I walked my bike a couple of miles up to the shop(the back tire had punctured) and to my horror saw the "Closed on Monday" sign on the door! Howard happened to be there getting his mail, and before I knew it, he was unlocking and wheeling my bike in to fix my tire, on his day off!! I recommend Athena Cycles to anyone for anything bike related. It and Howard are true valley gems. -
Review from Stewart I.
Los Angeles, CA
6/20/2009
I am not an avid cyclist. I'll tell you that up front, because going into one of these stores can feel a lot like buying clothing and lingerie for a woman you don't know. You don't know the size, you don't know what goes with what, you just might have a vague idea of what you're eventually after. I did my research before buying a bike, just enough to make me sound like a Wikipidiot.
I've asked at a few other bike shops and could feel the guy just itching to ask me if I wanted a pink basket and streamers on the handlebars. That wasn't the case at Athena Cycles. I walked in right before closing and met Howard, and after a brief conversation, he showed me the bike that was the best fit for me. He didn't tell me what bike was the best one for me; He listened to what I wanted to do, asked me a few questions, and gave me some options and price ranges. I had my eyes set on one, which I took for a ride around the block. When I returned, I noticed that the frame also came in black. He didn't flinch. He said that he could order that for me, and it would be ready the following week. Sure enough, I got a call the following week as soon as they got the bike, and they immediately put it together for me.
Paying for the bike was easy (they don't take Amex), and he told me to come back in a few weeks to get it fine tuned. That's what I call great service. It was easy, no pressure, and I'm returning for a few extras.
The bike is gorgeous, too, and I'm riding it to work every day. There's no buyer's remorse here. -
Review from Modern L.
Los Angeles, CA
9/11/2010
Helped get our super old bikes back into shape and up and riding again! Cheers to that! :D
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Review from Crickett H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/25/2010
I have found a shop I like, and I'm hard to please in that respect. I am very picky and hard on repair shops. I am mechanically minded and know when I'm hearing bs. This shop is one of those rare jewels where you have an owner who knows what he's talking about and is in it for the love of the thing he works on. I was in to pick up an accessory for my bike and asked about an issue my bike was having. He had a good idea what the issue was with my bike and he assured me that it would be an easy fix. He found just the accessory I needed and how to get it to fit my unique bike (folding mountain bike with full suspension). The ease of communication and personal attention sold me on this shop. I'm always happy when I find a shop like this that I can support. I will be back. BTW...there is a very limited amount of parking in the rear of the shop.
Listed in: Mechanicals
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Review from Charles K.
Los Angeles, CA
6/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
First review ever, this is were I got my bike (MASI Speciale Fixed) about a month ago. Howard is the man! I got a flat recently, figured the best place would be to take it here. Boom! fixed in just a minutes.
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Review from Ron H.
Studio City, CA
11/16/2007
It may be small but it's packed with personalty. Howard is a great guy and Robbie is an awesome wrench. It's no wonder many new bikes in the neighborhood are sporting Athena stickers on them. It's also one of the best 'hang out' spots on the blvd.
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Review from Leo M.
Sherman Oaks, CA
5/9/2007
Howard the owner kicks major butt. He is always ready to help, he answers all your questions and really wants you to enjoy your bike. I send everyone to him.
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Review from Donkey D.
Burbank, CA
6/5/2009
I met the owner of this fine establishment way back in '93. I thought it might be a good idea to replace a steel spring with a SRP titanium one on my mountain bike. If I knew a beforehand how difficult it was going to be. I would have never attempted to change out the spring. It's not worth the hassle! I brought the derailer in pieces to Howard, he advised to come back at the end of the business day for the derailer. He could have told me that I was SOL, but didn't! He said that he didn't need some stinking machine to assemble the complicated Shimano derailer. When I picked up the Shimano part, I think he only charged me $15 back then to put the part back together? He mentioned that it took him almost an hour to assemble the part. He said he was determined to assemble the part and made a game of it. Since that day I refer to him as my "Bike Guru". He gives you honest advice and doesn't try to sell you something you don't need and will talk you out of making a poor choice. The man doesn't have a sales pitch! The important thing to do is to listen carefully at what he tells you to do. It is very important now more than ever to support you local bike shops. Don't be confused with bikes sold at big chain department stores sometimes referred to as "Toy Store bikes", these bike are of low quality and are usually assembled wrong in the first place and have the potential to be dangerous. Don't you want your kids to have a safe and enjoyable experience while they are riding their bicycles? Toy store bikes are heavy bicycles and most independent shop refuse to work on these bicycles in fear of breaking the low quality parts that are usually not user friendly. You get what you pay for with toy store bicycles! Athena Cycles only sells high quality solid bicycles, like Masi (been around for 100 years) and KHS that are built correctly to begin with. These brands might not be familiar to some people but when you compare to other brands, you get a lot bang for your buck! Stop buying toy store bikes and El cheapo fixed gear bikes over the Internet! If you don't know what you are doing you are better of leaving the bikes in the box and leaving the work to a trained professional. While visiting the shop, I have witnessed several people attempt to build a low end bicycles and whatever they were unable to put together bring the bicycle to the shop. Attention: do it your selfer. If you don't have the right tools for the job or the experience you could damage a perfectly good part! With the economy the way it's been, it's important now more than ever to support your local independent bike shop!!! If Howard doesn't have what you are looking for, he always refers to other local shops to locate hard to find parts or service! You are in the presence of a BMX legend, Ididarod competitor, 30 year veteran in the bicycle industry and all around good human being when you shop at Athena Cycles. Athena Cycles is a strong supporter of the LAPD, local schools and AIDES ride participants. Athena Cycles will keep your bike rolling almost maintenance free! Since doing business with Athena Cycles, they have been extremely accommodating with all my bicycle crisis. They have posted hours, but sometimes when you think the shop is closed, they are still open! If the doors open, ask if it's OK to look around for those last minute items or those minor repairs. Howard stands by all the products he sells. He went above and beyond on a warranty issue for me! Pay with cash and you get the deals!
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Review from Robert D.
Studio City, CA
8/22/2007
Great guys over there. went out of their way to help a new customer.
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Review from Brooklyn B.
Los Angeles, CA
6/5/2010
Went in today with my bike that has been in my dad's garage since I moved out 3 years ago. The guy in there, didn't get his name, but he was young and not the owner, was awesome. Super helpful; didn't try to upsell me on anything. Replaced the broken tube for $11 and I was on my way with what felt like a new bike!
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Review from Andrea M.
Toluca Lake, CA
11/16/2010
doggone flat tire! smiles and ready help for this nerdy old lady on a late weekday afternoon. reasonable rate. thanks, athena!
