The changing of the tire

That proved to be a short stay, but Cory Farrer has moved into town and fills that void with Velofix, a 21st century version of a bike shop.

Velofix is many things at once. Its retail model combines the shopping depth of the internet along with expert bike repair, albeit with a remarkable twist of the hex wrench.

Velofix will come over to your house — or local place of business — to fix your bike. Farrer has a squad of mobile repair vans: red, spiffy vehicles stocked to the gills with tools and componentry.

Traditionalists can still wheel their rig into the shop, where they’ll find a space unlike the claustrophobic confines of many cycling emporiums. No bikes hanging from every rafter — Velofix maintains a limitless virtual inventory.

From there, Farrer has a selection of hand-picked manufacturers developed from owning and operating two cycling shops, one in San Francisco, the other in Marin County.

As a result, he can have a bike drop-shipped and ready to ride out the door in about the time it takes most stores to get around to resizing a new purchase.

But Velofix is more than bespoke bikes that weigh as little as a teacup. Farrer believes in community and inclusiveness and is geared toward meeting the needs of all riders, including everything for kids and general ankle-biters of all sizes to retirees who want to cruise down to the Tuesday Farmers Market to buy organic veggies from Lantern Farm — and maybe treat themselves to a confection from Flour Girl, too.

Farer recently moved here for all the things people love about Cloverdale.

“I’m in for the long haul,” he said. “I’m excited to be part of the retail renaissance of First Street.”

Farrer sees cycling as part of Cloverdale’s future.

“It’s a secret among locals,” he said, “that some of the best rides on the planet are outside our front door.”

As a form of community outreach, Velofix plans to support weekly group community rides led by Cloverdale cyclists, bike maintenance classes and critical mass events where everyone in town is invited to a safe, slow-moving municipal party on wheels.

The rest of the world is beginning to pay attention to cycling in the area. The annual Asti ride sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cloverdale draws cyclists from all over the country.

Velofix is located at 111 East First St. In the beginning as the operation ramps up, the retail storefront will be open by appointment. Meanwhile, the van repair service is already up and running, available through online booking at velofix.com.