For me, one of the biggest rewards of being a bicycle blogger is traveling to various cities and diving into their culture. In some cities, the culture is spearheaded by one body or shop. When you go to San Diego, the cycling scene has been sparked by none other than Velo Cult. Sky and the team prove that no matter where you are, you can ignite passion in cycling. Southern California may not strike you as a region rich in bicycles but that’s because you’ve yet to enter the cult.

Ever see that show Horders? Sure you have. It’s all about people who collect relentlessly and refuse to discard anything. While the team at Velo Cult isn’t that bad, you can see a certain degree of passion in their ever-growing stock and personal stable.

Like any bike shop, regardless of clientele, doing repairs is what keeps them afloat. I always say that you can tell what kind of shop you’re in by the bikes in the repair stand. Whether it’s a cruiser with a flat or a carbon fiber road bike getting a new groupo, what’s in the stand tells a lot about the work the shop is known for. Take this beauty for example. Pure Italian steel.

Hanging from the rafters like pieces of art, the collection at Velo Cult is inspiring enough to make even non-cyclists appreciate the soul craft that went into constructing them.

I love Eddy Merckx bikes…

The Campagnolo tool set is a collector’s holy grail. No one did it better than Campy and still, to this day, the Campy tool set is one of the most sought-after pieces of cycling history.

When I stepped into the cult, they offered me their version of Koolaid.

Just look at that mechanic’s area.

The guys are also working on a book that’s filled with, um, bike porn.

Here’s Moose, the shop dog. He guards the guys from the delinquents. If you’re diggin on these photos, check out more at my blog and my Flickr. Thanks to Sky and the crew at Velo Cult for showing me around!

- Prolly