The past weekend, Felkerino and I made a field trip out to Arlington, Virginia, and peeked our heads into the new bike shop known as The Old Bike Shop.

We stopped by late in the day but Larry, the owner, was more than willing to stay after hours and chat with us about his recyclery.

The Old Bike Shop had its start at the Arlington County Farmers’ and Flea Market and now is a brick and mortar business. As the term recyclery suggests, the shop does not sell brand new bikes. Rather, it sells previously owned bikes that have been fixed up (depending on their condition) and made road ready.

Larry’s enthusiasm for bikes is evident, and his mission is clear. He aims to sell affordable, reliable, and attractive used bikes to people who want a bike for transportation.

There were a variety of mountain bikes, touring steeds, and a few mixtes on the shop floor. His affection for steel, lugs, and Japanese frames shows in the shop’s selection.

One of Larry’s Bianchi touring frames was calling my name. Beautiful color scheme! Unique and classy! Fully built! My size! $500! However, I could not justify the purchase of another touring bike and had to leave it behind for some other lucky purchaser.

The shop itself is also attractive, with hardwood floors and cool high ceilings. Plenty of space for bikes.

Larry has used some of the space to display bikes from his personal collection. If you ever want to see a chrome Paramount or a pretty old Alpine touring frame, among others, go ye to The Old Bike Shop!

In the bike repair zone, Larry was working on an old track bike. I don’t recall the bike’s vintage or what he planned to do with it, but I was fascinated by the fork, the aesthetic of the crank, and the old wooden wheels.

I’ll be back to The Old Bike Shop. Larry’s selection of bikes is ever-changing and his knowledge about bikes is impressive. Best of all, he has a way of making you feel like riding a bike is the greatest pursuit in the world.

The Old Bike Shop
2647 North Pershing Drive
Arlington, Virginia