Longhorn Bikes Statesman Article
Published in the Austin American Statesman
By Denise Gamino on Monday, July 09, 2007
These bikes hook second looks
Horns replace handlebars on these bicycles cool enough for Jesse James
Anyone can steer a bicycle in the typical manner, with chrome handlebars hardly worth a second glance.
Then, there are those who take things way too literally. They feel the need to steer a bicycle with a steer, or at least the part of a steer that, with a squint of imagination, sort of looks like handlebars.
These people ride around Austin on funky bikes gripping longhorn steer horns.
There are not yet enough of these longhorn bicycles to make a herd, but a definite ripple of delight tickles those who catch a glimpse.
“Some people take pictures,” said Jon Williams, a master carpenter and contractor whose horn handlebars are so long he can’t ride his bicycle on the sidewalk. “The ladies like it.”
“That’s good steering,” others yell.
Longhorn bicycles are created by Rene Martinez at his hot Longhorn Bikes shop made slightly bearable by a large, industrial-strength fan. Wheels and tires hang from the ceiling, and tools and rags cover a well-worn work table. Metal drawers overflow with gadgets. Music from KGSR radio fills the air. Kids who come in for low-rider bikes make fun of Martinez for listening to “K-Geezer.”
Martinez formerly ran a Mexican import business at this spot on East Cesar Chavez Street across the parking lot from Juan in a Million restaurant. Two years ago, Martinez and his friend Lynn Carter were passing time in the bike shop when Carter’s eyes rested on some leftover imported longhorn steer horns. He challenged Martinez to affix the horns on a bicycle.
A steer was born.
Soon after, Jesse James, cable television’s star auto and motorcycle mechanic who is married to actor Sandra Bullock, was a passenger in an SUV driving past Longhorn Bikes. James saw one of the longhorn bikes on display and had his driver pull over.
It was near closing time, so Martinez was outside getting ready to bring his display bikes inside. He instantly recognized the tattooed star of “Monster Garage.”
“Hey, Jesse!” he said. “What’s going on? It’s an honor to see you here.”
“I like your bike,” James said. “Is it for sale?”
“No, because it’s my advertising and I just made it.”
“Oh, come on. Come on.”
“Well, how much would you give me for it?”
“Two hundred.”
Martinez thought the bike was worth $500, so he didn’t give in to the celebrity car whiz.
James left, but not before his driver stopped to look back at Martinez. “Tell you what,” he said, “you ought to make these and sell them. That’s nice.”
Martinez, who also specializes in lowrider bicycles, has sold about a half-dozen of the longhorn bikes. The bikes cost about $500, but customers can also bring in their own horns. Or, Martinez will sell horns for $175 and install them for anyone who already has a bicycle.
Customer Williams found his longhorn horns at a dusty shop in Fort Worth.
“We had to hunt for them. We went to the Stockyards and went into a bunch of stores. Then we went to this gallery and they said they had a warehouse down the other street. We had to go upstairs and through three doors. It was a crazy, cool old building with wood floors. It was boiling hot up there.”
Eight pairs of longhorn horns were in the warehouse, so Williams quickly picked some out and paid $160.
He brought them to Martinez’s bike shop, but the steer horns were so big Martinez had to cut eight inches off each one. Now each horn measures 30 inches and looks huge on the black single-speed beach cruiser customized with 144-spoke wheels.
The bike, which Williams usually rides around his neighborhood north of Hyde Park, is missing just one thing, he said.
He needs to buy a cowbell.
dgamino@statesman.com; 445-3675
2007 Best of Austin Winnner!