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The General Store

07.18.2010 by Ray Niekamp // 9 Comments

One of the delights of cycling in the country is being able to take a break at an old-fashioned general store.

Convenience stores at gas stations are plentiful, and cyclists use them a lot to take rest breaks, buy Gatorade and munchies, and take a nature break. A general store offers those services, (usually without gas) but also much more.

The “more” is the atmosphere.

The other day, I joined a 400-person group ride that offered distances up to 50 miles. The turnaround point for the 50-mile ride was Andice, Texas, a crossroads hamlet about 30 miles northwest of Austin. Those riders that made it all the way to Andice were treated to a break at the Andice General Store.

Cyclists converge on the Andice General Store during a group ride.

Biking has brought these old stores a new lease on life.  Andice is on the route of several well-known rides in the area, and cyclists can be found in abundance on the weekends.  To cater to their needs, the Andice General Store has made some alterations.

For example, the store no longer features two or three small aisles of groceries.  Groceries line the walls.  In the middle of the room, on a well-worn wood floor, are a few tables and chairs for people to sit and rest after a tough ride. The store also sells a pretty mean burger — another reason for the tables.

I grabbed a bottle of Gatorade, and took it to the counter.

“That’ll be $2.12,” said the lady. “I got the 12.”  Wow.

She looked at the Gatorade. “That hasn’t been in there long enough to cool off,” she said. “Over there, take a cup and some ice. It’s free.”

“Over there” was the soda dispenser. Not only did it have Coke and the other usual soft drinks, but one of the spigots was plain water. I waited in line as several cyclists added ice to their water bottles and then refilled for the trip back.

Local biking celebrities Mike Gaudion and Oleta take a break in the store.

I sat down with my Gatorade, and found myself across from two bikers who are favorites with everyone who sees them — Mike Gaudion and his poodle, Oleta.  Oleta rides on a special platform on Mike’s bike. She’ll tolerate breaks like this one, but she really wants to get back out and hit the road.

While we sat there, some locals came in. Dressed like the farmers they were, they seemed out of place surrounded by lycra and spandex. We would have been the oddballs just a few years ago.

Outside and around back, the store has built a modern “two holer,” one side for men, one for women. Cyclists waited patiently in short lines. Nearby, more tables sit under a canopy so bikers can enjoy their break under the hot Texas sun.

It’s tempting to hang around at the store too long. Take care of business, get rehydrated, maybe a small bite to eat, and get back to the ride. But the general store harkens back to another time, and for a lot of riders, that slower, simpler time has its attractions. Mix that with cycler-oriented amenities, and these places are not just stops — but must stops.

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Comments

  1. 331miles says

    July 18, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Great post. I love to find places like this to stop!

    Reply
  2. Weiland says

    July 18, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    Did you have one of their “World Famous” hamburgers? I’ve never tried one, but hear they are good.

    Reply
    • rainycamp says

      July 18, 2010 at 10:01 pm

      No, but I’ll get around to it eventually. A burger in the middle of a 50-mile ride in that heat probably wouldn’t sit too well with me.

      Reply
  3. Jeff says

    July 19, 2010 at 6:59 am

    Okay, I need to come back – I missed the General Store!

    Reply
  4. Andy Esquivel says

    July 19, 2010 at 8:26 am

    Reading this made me miss group rides in the mornings and stopping at places and pushing on. Brought back fond memories and maybe inspired me to start riding longer rides again. Maybe.

    Reply
  5. John says

    July 20, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    Every once in a while us bike riders stumble onto a blog we like. I did with this one. It’s nice to read about rides in different parts of the country. I’ll be around if you don’t mind.

    Reply
    • rainycamp says

      July 20, 2010 at 8:09 pm

      Thanks, John. I hope to check in regularly at your “A Midnight Rider” blog.

      Reply
  6. Laura says

    May 22, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    Thanks – I linked to your blog entry from my blog b/c I stopped at the Andice General Store this weekend! http://lfeeney.tumblr.com/post/5754503574/training-log-update-may-21-22-2011

    Reply
  7. A T says

    May 28, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    You got it all wrong. The “store” is, in fact, a restaurant. As such, the dog should have never been brought inside. The inside tables are not there for cyclists to “sit and relax after a tough ride” nor is the water and ice dispenser there to accommodate cyclists so they can grab a freebie. This is a business. We have limited seating and limited parking. Imagine yourself wanting a hamburger at the general store and pulling up to a parking lot strewn with bicycles and riders, a restroom plagued by a line of cyclists and a dining room filled with dogs and sweaty cyclists! Very inconsiderate behavior. The employees at the Andice General Store have tolerated much of this behavior in the past but not any more. You all can find another place to use as a cyclist clubhouse.

    Reply

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