Friends of the Flock: Transit Cycles
We wouldn't be the Black Sheep without our flock! We're honored and stoked to share this interview with Jenna Majchrzak from Transit Cycles. We think y'all will make fast friends.
Tucson, AZ | Est. 2014
Owned and operated by Jenna Majchrzak, Transit Cycles's primary focus is and will always be to provide the best service to the bikes you already own and help you outfit them for whatever kind of road or trail you like to ride. They have a floor full of bicycles ready to go home from Esker Cycles, State Bicycle Co., Surly, Salsa and what’s left from All-City. They are THE shop in southern Arizona for Revel Bikes, Omnium Cargo Bikes and Xtracycle.
They like to keep their shelves full of the best bikepacking, touring and commuter racks and bags from Oveja Negra, local guys Bags By Bird and Stay Rippie, Road Runner Bags and Outer Shell from California and from elsewhere: North Street, Sim Works, Revelate Designs, Ortlieb and Old Man Mountain. Occasionally, you’ll find some one-off handmade bags—if you’re lucky!
Whether you’ve had your bike for decades or it’s brand spankin’ new, Jenna and her team have the technical skills and knowledge to show you what’s up, without sounding like a bunch of know-it-alls.
Jenna has been a Service Manager, Bomb Defuser, Demo Coordinator and General Pee-on, but for over 20 years she has been a Professional Bicycle Mechanic (workbench and hair circa 2005? at Towpath Bike in Rochester, NY).
She assembles bikes, bleeds brakes, performs suspension overhauls and she can build one mean set of wheels. She can also toe your cantilevers pads, adjust your steering head bearings and fix a flat. No job is too great or small. Always the student, she holds current industry certifications from Shimano, SRAM, Bosch and more. Get to know Jenna and Transit below!
Tell us a brief history of your bike shop—your origin story.
I purchased Transit Cycles in January 2021 from my good friend Duncan who opened the shop in January of 2014. The shop has morphed from a commuter and cargo bike shop to a bikepacking and adventure riding outfitter with a strong focus on community.
What's niche do you fill in your community? I.e. What's your jam?
Our specialty is service. I'm a career mechanic with over 20 years at various workbenches. I build wheels (with my personal Morizumi spoke machine) and service all kinds of suspension parts. My coworker has been working on bikes since she was in her early teens (she's 24 now) and she's freaking amazing.
Have a fun trail story to share—something funny/amazing/unbelievable that’s happened while out riding your bike or bikepacking?
Oh jeez, how about the time a few years ago, right after I bought Transit, when I was invited to ride with some friends including- living legend Alexandera Houchin. My derailleur broke sometime between my last ride and when I arrived in the Dragoon Mountains (still dunno how). I had three stupid gears. I couldn't keep up. I was dying. She told me something that just crushed me—if you just ride more, you'll be better at it. After riding for decades, that was a hard pill to swallow, but it made me realize I was working too much.
What’s your favorite trail to ride on your home turf?
I'm a big fan of Max Shemwell aka Maximum Shredwell.
What’s a bikepacking route or trail you have your bucket list?
Baja, all the way.
What’s your current favorite bike to rip and why?
My Esker Japhy Single Speed 30x18. No dropper, 120 fork, 710mm handlebar.
What bike do you *wish* you could get your hands on to rip and why?
A 2003 Mt. Tam—it's when I fell in love with actual mountain bikes.
As a beloved bike shop vendor of Oveja Negra bags, you are part of the flock! What makes you a “black sheep?” How do you vibe with the concept of counter-culture, going against the grain, standing out in the crowd, being EXTRAordinary in your field, work, community and life?
As the only bad bitch, 1-woman owned bike shop in the whole dang state of Arizona, we can start there. Some of the boys hate that and, well, whatever. Go cry in your milk. But as a bike shop owner, I get the feeling that a lot of folks expect me to be a super fucking racer girl. And I am kinda fast I guess, but I'm more into working with folks in my community which is ironically now seen as some weirdly radical act. I'm an active board member and volunteer with El Grupo Youth Cycling. My friends and I host regular community bike rides, a yearly Cranksgiving (that we call Bikestuffing because we're writing the story) and my husband Steve and I organize a semi-secret 120+ mile gravel-ish race around southern Arizona called The Bell Breaker.
Anything else people of the world should know about you, your shop, your service, your style?
If you're friendly, you're welcome here. If you're new to the sport, you're welcome here. If you've been doin this shit for decades but you're sick of the bro shops, you're welcome here. If you blow in hard and make demands, think we're gonna drop it all for you and let you get out with a discount—buzz all the way off. We're here for the queer kids, the weird kids, the introverts and misfits who don't feel like "real cyclists" cuz they don't fit the "perfect mold". Come on over y'all, we'll save you a spot.
XOXOX,
Jenna, Linus, Pnut and Spencer
[Pnut, co-worker, hype man and friend to all.]
[Spencer, co-worker and bike-opinion-haver.]
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