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TALL ORDER Julian Mandujano, owner of Watsonville Cyclery on East Fifth Street, said his shop can handle everything from a basic bicycle tune-up to manufacturing a bike from the ground up.
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Tarmo Hannula
Passion on wheels
Watsonville Cyclery owner pushes public safety, involvement
When Bike Santa Cruz County approached South County officials to start up a monthly community bike ride, Watsonville Cyclery owner Julian “Jules” Mandujano was eager to get involved. Every last Friday of the month, Mandujano ofers up his business at 25 East 5th St. as a starting point for the Watsonville Bike Party. Residents gather in the cyclery's parking lot before heading out onto the streets later in the evening, donning helmets, reflective clothing and safety lights.
“It’s a great way for people to get involved and work for bike safety,” Mandujano said.
The City of Watsonville is in the process of building a secure infrastructure for bicycles. Recently, bright green bike lanes were added all over the city, and more are planned. Mandujano says it’s a good start, but that there is still a long way to go.
“After buying a bike people still ask me, ‘So, where can I ride this?’” he said. “I point them to places… the sloughs, the levees. But it’s just not obvious.”
Watsonville Cyclery was established almost 14 years ago, with nine of those years at its current location. Mandujano sells everything from cruisers and tricycles to BMX and electric pedal-assist bikes. He says that the selection available at Watsonville Cyclery is meant to support the community— it’s less about the latest and greatest technologies and more about getting people out riding.
“We’re a smaller shop than those big, fancy shops in Santa Cruz,” he said. “I’m not going to sell you a super-fancy, expensive bike. It’s a totally diferent community down here… that’s who I’m here for.” The business also ofers bike repairs, from basic tune-ups to complete overhauls. On the side, Mandujano tinkers in the back of his shop—he has constructed two “tall bikes,” one from metal and the other bamboo, along with his friend from Calfee Design in La Selva Beach.
One thing Mandujano emphasizes is the importance of finding the right bike. Just because your friend has one type doesn’t ➝ 9
