Free Wheelin'

Remember when you would go to the local bike shop, just to get the feel, vibe, and flavor that let you know you were part of an extended family of riders?

There are not a lot of bike shops that still give those vibes… some but not like it was.

Unfortunately these days so many go to the computer to make purchases – and so many are losing out on the visceral shot of MOTO we used to get on a regular basis.

But there are some things you are not going to be able to accomplish on the web. Case in point -  haircuts and beard trims.

I am BBC – Bald by Choice. I have hair, but what was once a Ka-Zar-like pony tail has morphed into a hair style designed by Kohler.

During the winter I usually grow a beard - winter coat as it is. But keeping with the letters HWHL – Happy Wife, Happy Life - about 3 months into last year’s attempts at a Ned Kelly, Shira mentioned that she really enjoyed Dan Bisbee’s review on a chest-placed Moto Pack that he received as a door prize at the MotoMarathon in Vermont. The pack was designed and created by John Terzo who, in addition to being a barber par excellence by trade, is also an avid rider.

She mentioned that “maybe” we could ride down to Verona, New Jersey and hand deliver some of the January edition to John, and “Maybe” I could get my beard trimmed.

Spenser T. Cat, who has a very furry face, hissed and walked away. 

Yes, dear.

Here is a little backstory of our first learning of John's shop. Shira had needed an image for the magazine and had come across a Barber Shop with a very two-wheel feel. It was just an image so it was used, and a few months later we heard from John, as he is a reader and loved that we used his shop.

Truthfully, we never like to infringe on people's Nouns, but those who have ridden with me know I often say it is "easier to beg forgiveness than ask for permission." 

But John was not put out in the least. As time went by, we chatted briefly in email, Dan received a Moto Pak, and loved it, and now here were on Bloomfield Avenue in Verona, New Jersey strolling into one of the coolest Bike Barber Shops in the nation.

In the window was a sharp Triumph Scrambler (courtesy of Cross Country), along the walls, classic fuel tanks fill the space…. A giant screen TV had motorcycles zipping across.

A dozen Backroads were stacked under the Triumph. As the true New York Mets fan would say – Oh My God!

We were greeted by John, a buoyant and very upbeat fellow. He was just finishing up with a customer, who also rode. A lot of people coming through the door ride.

J.T.'s has been around for years – we like to think riders who need a shave and haircut would prefer this to some high-hair SuperCut.

We walked the shop, taking in all the motorcycle bits and bobs.

I took a seat in one of John’s classic barber chairs – complete with a bult-in ashtray. No smoking, just a classic and telling touch of days gone by – and the talk immediately slid through the turn and onto motorcycles and riding.

This place was worth the trip.

Needless to say, John deftly made me more presentable to my honey – we learned of his love of bikes, and how the MotoPack came about and, as we left, I realized that I had found a new home for my winter fur taming and grooming.

Like I said - you can do a lot on the web. Buy this, that and the other thing, do research, even have sex (I heard), but when you need a quality trimming, haircut or the like, and you want it with a very comfortable and two-wheel flair – take a ride to J.T.’s Barber Shop (jtsbarbershop.com) – easily ridden to in Verona, New Jersey, at 536 Bloomfield Avenue right off I-280 and Route 46 – just a few miles from Holsten’s Ice Cream – where we said goodbye to Tony Soprano. Some dessert after your J.T. Experience might be in order - just sayin’!