Skeletal frames hang from the ceiling like a spider's last meal.
Tired tubes, cranks, shafts and shifters sit in their own little corners and their own little chairs.
A single sheet of paper Scotch-taped to the door of the little garage on 10th Street near West Main Street whispers the presence of Bicycle Repair.
Operated by Todd Ely, the shop specializes in turning old garage-bound bikes into reliable transportation.
"I don't like fancy titles that don't mean anything and my name doesn't say what I do. That's why I just called the shop "Bicycle Repair," Mr. Ely laughs, leaning near the workbench of his partner, Nick Nichols.
Mr. Nichols customizes new Caloi-brand bicycles, retro-look with modern hardware. Mr Ely customizes old hardware with old hardware.
"With Nick involved, we're talking about changing the name to Basic Cycles. I think that's still pretty accurate," Mr. Ely says.
Extra-ordinary
Obviously, Mr. Ely is not your normal businessman. The 31-year old Gordonsville native looks like a young Richard Dreyfuss and runs Bicycle Repair like a hippie social worker.
He works shirtless and sometimes shoeless. Neighborhood kids are welcome to loiter, beg or borrow but not steal. Trusted customers are loaned tools to fix their own bikes.
Most of all, Mr. Ely's prices are low, way low.
"I do this because I'm into getting people onto bikes and if people can afford to fix a bike, they might ride more," he explains. "For every driver driving up and down the street there's a potential bicyclist, which would make the world a better place."
For 17 years Todd Ely has practiced what he preaches and made a living at what he loves: bicycles.
At 14 he often rode his bicycle from Gordonsville to Charlottesville. At 31 he rode his bicycle from Charlottesville to Barboursville for rehearsals in the Four County Players' presentations of "Shakespeare at the Ruins."
"It's just something I love. I scavenge, collect and keep all sorts of old parts so I have a bit of everything for anything that needs fixing," he said. "It's like a living history lesson in here."
Potholes
Although business has been great since the shop opened full time in March, there have been a few bumps in the road. Bicycle Repair is in a neighborhood known as "transitional" in real estate parlance.
There is a bit of poverty in the area. There is a bit of crime, too. One time someone stole Mr. Ely's wallet, ripping off $100. Another time someone stole his $2,000 road bike.
That doesn't reflect how the community has treated me, because people have been great. Most everyone has been cool. I really haven't had that many problems and I feel like I'm providing a service," he explains.
"There are people in this community who need their bikes for transportation. I understand that. Sometimes they can't pay and give me food instead of money. They need their bikes and I can help," he says.
The success of Bicycle Repair has helped quash critical comments on Mr. Ely's lifestyle, comments suggesting he grow up, get a real job and join the 9-to-5 Snake Pit.
"I love what I'm doing. I'm making more money now than I ever have, which is not that much. I've gotten into acting and even a little modeling and I'm having fun," he explains.
"Sure, I'm interested in doing something with my life," he admits when pressed. "I am doing something with my life: I'm living it."