WORK: KT the Bike Mechanic
KT owns Velo Brooklyn Bushwick Bike Shop. A Virginia native, her first job in New York was as a bike messenger in Manhattan for nine years. Two years ago, she opened up her own bike repair shop on DeKalb and Central. She’s been in every biking accident you can think of — hit by cars, hit by other bikers, hit by cars and bounced into oncoming traffic “like a human pinball.” Her obsession with fixing bikes has shifted into a passion for making a living out it for a happy, healthy life — and longer if she can work less.
music: “Golden Thing” by Throwing Muses
Great interview!
this place is great. she hooked me up, really knows her stuff
We love KT way out here in Japan. If you want to see one of her legendary bike accidents, check out the documentary “Pedal”. KT gets rammed by a car at a NYC intersection during an alley cat race. This girl has nine lives. BTW, KT is also a figure skating teacher?? WTF? She never fails to surprise.
Tony! Yes, not only a FS teacher, but she volunteered as a coach for the Harlem Figure Skating Club when she lived in Manhattan, a fabulous inner city program for kids, keep a B average in school, free skates and lessons! Unfortunately she had to give that up when she moved to Brooklyn, too far a commute :(
Hi, KT’s mom here. I started a Facebook page for her and you’re welcomed to “fan” her :)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-NY/Bushwick-Bike-Shop-Velo-Brooklyn/106308796057115
There’s a link to the New York Magazine’s Best Bike Shop 2010 too.
(there’s many links to BushwickBk too, they’ve been super to her)
Also on my blog, there’s a section on my blogroll called Girl With A Wrench, includes a segment from Shepard Smith’s Fox News show. Also the Pedal trailer where she gets “whacked” at the end. I can LOL about it now.
KT is great !
She fix the brakes and straighten wheels on my old Schwinn Continental.
This was after I almost get killed Evergreen ave.
A true asset to the communiety.
-N
Thanks DeniseVB for the link! You’ve got a great kid there. Nice work.
Tony
KT might mean well, but damn is she hard to work with. Repeatedly forgot to order parts, did halfass jobs, and then blames the customer…all with a salty attitude
This was some time ago & I know she was overwhelmed but get outa the kitch if you cant take the heat.
Ill go to Bravo on Wilson anyday over Velo…unless you really need your neon parts and fixed gear only accessories to look cool in bushwick…buena suerte
She had to order parts, —doubt it.
You must have some yuppie, euro, weird or really screwed up bike. Another example of you trust fund $$ babies who never swung a wrench in you life (KT can, and a big one BTW) That’s why you trust fund brats are hated in this community.
You bitch yet your argument is devoid of any tech details to collaborate your claim with this BS story.
This blog allows you to voice your opinion (like some of my stuff people here hate)
But I don’t buy devoid of detail rant BS story..sorry dude
-Nino