Credit: RVANews

Nathan Cushing of RVANews has a cool feature on the new and improved Carytown Bicycle Co. shop. Just two doors down from venerable Agees, the shop attempts to be not just a bike shop, but a space that’s “‘almost like Cheers,’ according to co-owner Tim Mullins, ‘”where people can come in, ‘have a beer and talk,’ and watch an international cycling race…”

Whoa, did he say beer? Is that BYOB? That’s pretty cool, as far as I’m concerned. I heard Spike Toler say a similar thing about her new bike shop, Coqui Cyclery, at the intersection of Forest Hill and Semmes avenues, except without the beer. They both want to offer more than just transactions — a new bike, parts, repairs. The guiding philosophy, Cushing writes, quoting Mullins, is, “Let’s create an experience.”

Hopefully, it works for both of them. In the meantime, check out the RVANews piece on Carytown Bikes.