Coffee, bikes, and beer seem to go hand-in-hand. Bike-inspired cafes and bars have been popping up all over North America (and the world!) from Denver to Pittsburgh and Sedona to Vancouver. Find out how our favourite cycling cafes combine coffee, bikes and beer to create a fun new experience for cycling enthusiasts.
Over the Bar Bicycle Café (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
The Concept: Bikes. Burgers. Beers. Over the Bar (OTB) is a full-service bicycle-themed bar and restaurant catering to cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. “We served great food, and nothing but craft beer ever flows from our tap,” says owner Michael Kotyk.
The Bike Elements: Over the Bar isn’t a bike shop, but they promote cycling to their patrons and to the communities in which they’re located. Their menu items are named after cycling terms and cycling friends, and their cuisine is geared toward cyclists (pun intended). OTB even received a proclamation from the City of Pittsburgh for advocating for safer streets and promoting bicycling for people of all ages, both for recreation and as an alternative means of transportation.
The Cafe Elements: OTB serves burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups, all inspired by clcing. “We focus on high protein foods and healthy, vegetarian options.” They also use local products as much as possible to keep things fresh and healthy, and they even offer a secret paleo menu.
Sedona Bike & Bean (Sedona, Arizona)
The Concept: With a location in a world-renowned mountain biking destination, a 50-bike rental fleet, and coffee and espresso imported directly from Italy, Sedona Bike & Bean has been combining the coffee and bike cultures since its inception 20 years ago. Owner James Monahan says culture and professionalism are what set them apart: “It’s not just a bike shop, we live the lifestyle.”
The Bike Elements: Sedona Bike & Bean sells, rents, and services bikes, with a specialty in high volume rentals.
The Cafe Elements: Sedona Bike & Bean offers coffee drinks and home-baked goods including trail-type foods pre-packaged to grab and go with you on the trails, all made with the healthiest ingredients for perfect cycling fuel.
Musette Caffe (Vancouver, British Columbia)
The Concept: The concept of Musette is to provide a place where people can come and enjoy good vibes, whether you’re a cyclist or not. Their space is filled with cycling memorabilia, including musette bags dating from the 1950s to today. “It allows everyone to enjoy the feel of the cycling culture,” says owner Thomas Eleizegui.
The Bike Elements: Musette’s retail store is for customers who need a quick fix or an accessory. They sell Musette jerseys and caps and hope to expand the business to include local guided bike tours in their backyard of Vancouver.
The Cafe Elements: Musette sells 49th Parallel Coffee from a local roaster as well as pastries, sandwiches, and healthy bars
Denver Bicycle Café (Denver, Colorado)
The Concept: An active place with lots of folks doing the usual coffee shop activities and enjoying the freshly made, artisan coffee. At the same time, the bike shop is bustling during the busy months with flats and more serious repairs.
The Bike Elements: Denver Bicycle Cafe sells custom-built, made-to-order bikes starting with frames and is a full-service bicycle repair shop, doing everything from flat fixes to full tunes to fork overhauls. They welcome everyone from the community to visit their shop, from daily commuters, to road racers, to hardcore mountain bikers, or even non-cyclists and families.
The Cafe Elements: The cafe offers a rotating selection of locally roasted coffee and espresso drinks, from hand-made French presses to pour-over styles, a selection of on-tap craft beers, and snacks and nutrition bars from Enduro Bites, a local company that makes 400-calorie energy bars in Colorado Springs.
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