A space made for cyclists
Castelli Café
Cycling coffee shop and community
Cake. Coffee. Castelli.
Castelli Café is a community and events space designed for cyclists, where you can get a drink and some cake mid-ride, browse cycling kit or enjoy talks, demonstrations and group rides with likeminded people.
The maiden café launched in March 2023 at Pronto Bikes in Frome. It stocks its own blend of ethically sourced coffee, made by another independent local business, Clifton Coffee Company in Bristol.
Since the café’s part of a bike shop, you can bring your bike to get serviced and enjoy refreshments while you wait, or else browse the bicycles, Castelli garments and other cycling accessories on offer. Those not in the mood for coffee or hot drinks can choose from cold drinks, energy boosting smoothies and alcoholic beverages, or enjoy breakfast, lunch or one of a delicious range of cakes.
As well as offering nourishment and bike goodies, the shop hosts the Pronto Bikes Cycling Club, which runs a programme of rides that spans most days of the week. To complement these activities, Castelli Café holds events centred around notable occasions, such as the kick-off of Grand Tours or pro kit launches, and topics of importance, such as the accommodation of women within the sport.
Clothes
Beans and Cups
History of Castelli Café
Castelli Café was first piloted by Saddleback at the end of 2011 as a unique eCommerce space, dedicated to all things Castelli, at a time when the online retail boom had yet to commence. After 5 years, with the launch of Saddleback’s own website, it was mothballed.
A dedicated space
Offering Castelli customers more
The idea was resurrected shortly after the opening of Pronto Bikes, founding host of Castelli Café, in Frome in February 2021. The shop was co-founded by Justin and Kate Hoy after Justin started fixing bikes while on Furlough and realised there was an unmet demand for repairs in the area.
Do what you love
Exploring local cycling opportunities
One day Justin telephoned his friend Rich Mardle, Brand Director at Saddleback, for a casual chat, during which he mentioned that the couple were looking to take on the in-store café themselves. But every good cycling café needs a theme – why not Castelli?
Hatching a plan
Great cycling minds think alike
To create an inviting space and give the café personality, Saddleback designed and built tailormade coffee tables and benches, then inserted lit clothing alcoves and a 3m long workbench. Display units were also created for special exhibitions, such as the new Soudal Quick-Step kit, as well as for Castelli’s latest line.
The community's hub
A venue customers will love
The café’s launch party attracted 80 guests, over half of whom joined a group ride as part of the festivities. Pronto Bikes and Castelli Café have built up a strong cycling community in a short time, and we hope to replicate this success to support more local bike shops and engage more cyclists.
Attracting regulars
A place to meet, eat and be
If you’re feeling a craving for some fabulous Castelli Clifton Coffee on your ride – or even a tune-up and some new Castelli clothing – Pronto Bikes and Castelli Café are open six days a week. Do swing by to enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and catch up with fellow cyclists.