My name is John Mendivil, I founded Upstart Crow Bicycle Works with the intent of improving every customer's cycling experience. This means I do not care what kind of bike you are riding, a "clunker" or high end racing bike; each bike is given careful and loving attention. 

I have been repairing bicycles for many years, both in all types of bicycle shops and on my own. Currently, I am doing some work on bicycle fleets, and operating my own small but very well-equipped shop. I perform most bicycle repairs, tune-ups, overhauls, etc. as well as a considerable amount of custom wheel building and frame repairs.

Photo: Chasing or tapping threads of a bottom bracket after the shell has been silver brazed onto the seat tube.

I consider wheels to be part of what makes bicycles elegant.  As such, I strive to create handbuilt wheels that are carefully tensioned and trued to create a wheel that is not only strong, but also a joy to ride on.  I have been building, repairing, and truing wheels for many years; I am thought to be very good at it. I enjoy building handbuilt wheels, but usually people looking for a simple "replacement" wheel have no need of this service. It can be costly, and well, cheap wheels abound.

For whatever reason, I tend to service two communities when it comes to wheels, those looking for the most basic wheel they can find, and those looking for a high end or special application wheel. Generally, I have little to do with the more profitable middle! I have time and energy only for select wheel builds, repairs, and frame building. First, always first, those desperate for a wheel or wheel repair, who might not have the money to have it done it a bike shop, as well as those who cannot wait for a bike shop to build them a special wheel. Typically, I serve people who earn their living on their bicycle or who rely on it for transportation. (Knowing I grew up in a family where my mother raised all her chidren without ever having a car or a driver's license and relied almost exclusively on her bicycle, you will understand my bias). Generally, this portion of my clients need immediate service, and my door is always open. Pricing, as with similar bicycle repairs, is negotiable and payments, if necessary, are completely flexible.

And then there are the special application and high end wheels. Special wheels are just that, special, you can't buy them in any bike shop. Accordingly, prices and job times vary. High end wheels, well, you know what you want and you are someone who is looking for the strength and beauty only a handmade wheel can provide. My prices are among the highest, I make no apologies. I work so carefully that I usually just break even on these. I do not rush these. 

 Much of my wheel work is repairing wheels; I do not like to see the thought, materials, and work that went into building a wheel wasted. Often, I enjoy the challenge.  I am happy to build with your favorite repurposed hub, but do not build with used spokes, rims, or spoke nipples. Generally, I use DT Swiss or Wheelsmith spokes and can custom cut most spoke lengthes. I am happy to look at your damaged wheel to see if it can be economically and reliably repaired.

If you order a handbuilt wheel, you can expect a wheel that is dished perfectly, is at optimum tension, and generally will run true.  My wheels are strong, and I have never had a wheel fail or anything but happy customers.

Photo: Special application wheel for electric recumbent, photo taken while on mechanical support for Green Riders cross country ride.