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Monday 11am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 6pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Thursday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 6pm

Cutlass Velo

High end sales and service for passionate enthusiasts and dedicated athletes. Committed to building custom bicycles and custom wheels.

Detail oriented service for the discerning athlete.

10/09/2026

This one might ruffle some feathers.

It is a challenge to survey the landscape of the bicycle industry. The topography changes frequently. There is disruption that is all at once exciting, curious, and concerning.

Interpreting it really depends on who is standing behind the surveyor’s tripod.

What’s the primary feeling I currently experience? It’s that I currently don’t know where it feels good in order to enjoy participating within the industry.

Many manufacturers are reducing margins or requiring increased buy-in to preserve margins to only turn around and offer discounts multiple times throughout the year.

Distributors are stocking fewer items and/or opening their own consumer-direct models in order to stay afloat.

Cycling media feels corrupted by clickbait, hot takes, and pay-to-play stories.

A digital publication I had hoped to enjoy in its journalistic and editorial format has become another player in a scheme to falsely fortify its value by offering discounted purchasing codes for its members.

While a majority of my business is based in service, I do have a portion of retail sales dedicated to supporting my clients and doing custom builds. I have recommended to many of my clients that they become a paying subscriber to this aforementioned member-funded model because the writing, content, and passion are the driving forces for why it is such an excellent digital publication.

But maybe I just needed to accept the irrelevance of it all to how I operate my own business.

The number one seller I have in stock is me: Tommy Barse. One of one.

What the industry chooses to do, no matter the entity, is beyond my control.
It’s not a personal attack against me.

But I will question the decisions.

And I will reach out to colleagues and manufacturers to convey how some decisions can devalue, undercut, or go against the foundational values that initially attracted support.

Writing this has helped me to process these feelings. I feel confident in what I provide to my local community as well as the inspiration I have given to many that exist in this bicycle industry space.

Reminding myself that what I do is the antithesis of what is being produced and pushed in this current landscape. It’s honestly very liberating.

I will continue to fortify and grow Cutlass Velo in the best way that I can: with integrity, honesty, and good stewardship for a better experience for a wonderful community. That is staying true.

Photo by Igor Shteynbuk

09/18/2026

It's hard to believe almost a week has gone by since riding some of the most challenging terrain I've explored by bike.

What started out as a short innocuous excursion evolved into a metaphor to life as I have steered Cutlass Velo.

There were several road blocks for various reasons which required having to reset and reevaluate the journey.

One steep climb in particular (Cannon Hill Road), I had lost traction which stopped me dead in my tracks early in the ascent. I took a moment to drink some water and look at a map to see how much further to the reach monument at the top.
It was a greater distance than I was expecting: do I keep going or turn around and head back to camp?

I decided to walk a few yards further to more stable ground with better traction. The first pedal stroke stuck and off I went towards the historical peak that oversees Rowlesburg, WV.

When the trees opened up and the view welcomed my presence, I knew the effort was easily worth it despite the difficulty getting started again.

This ride invigorated me. It reinforced my ability to adapt, overcome, remain patient, and sustain optimism through frustrating circumstances.

Not unlike what it is to operate a business in an industry boiling with uncertainty, declining optimism, belligerent social media culture, a sense of withering interpersonal community due to digital constructs that isolate us... There's a lot to this fast food, fast fashion recipe for disaster.

That's why I'm proud that Cutlass Velo is akin to the high touch, slow food, human connection ethos that keeps me excited to work with you and all of my clients.

Just like on Cannon Hill Road; the rocky ascent is absolutely worth it.

Thanks for being here!

09/09/2026

We're entering a beautiful season for road riding.

Cyclocross is emerging; yawning from its slumber. Calendars are being plotted by eager participants.

The local area will soon be resplendent in fall colors.

New projects begin to weave on the loom this time of year.

This is a call to action to get started on these discussions sooner than later. It allows appropriate time to hone and refine the goals we develop together; then it's time to start implementing the ideas. Book time with me to learn what we can make possible together.

What an exciting time of year!

09/04/2026

Building Cutlass Velo over the years is a journey to build a temple.

There are countless building blocks. They are different shapes, sizes, colors, and materials.

Some that quickly come mind:

Calm, thoughtful, sometimes amusing, sometimes vulnerable, and intriguing discussions.

Engaged diagnoses and creative problem solving to ensure optimal safety and performance.

Bonding over lived experiences that enrich the process of working together.

Sharing knowledge to create more fulfillment in the pursuit of cycling joy.

It can’t be digitized: it’s right here in the studio between us.

This is a daily practice. There are times I may falter but I am resilient and dedicated to this journey.

I am grateful for the relationships that have been established because of Cutlass. I have people in my life who I admire and adore because of their authenticity.

In a world seemingly going adrift into an artificial landscape it is imperative to choose authenticity. And that’s an easy choice here at Cutlass Velo.

08/31/2026

Some bikes just look fast sitting still.

I recently sold this VAN RYSEL RCR-F Pro to a great friend and client. They've been incredibly hard to get but I finally lucked out.

A really killer spec for the price.

I swapped the tires out to Schwalbe Tires Pro One 30s. They have been a favorite of mine this summer.

Sorry to the rest of the dawn patrol (myself included) for the pain you may be enduring in the near future!

08/21/2026

Service is through the roof right now.

Lots of excitement for some things in the pipeline.

Stress is elevated but my spirit is on higher ground.

Feeling ready for the weekend.

08/11/2026

Intentional placement of it all.

This Campagnolo World Record group had a different target when I originally ordered it for this client.

Then TIME Bicycles released a limited run of rim brake Alpe D'Huez frames. I reached out to my client about this run and the rest is what you see here.

Builds should Invigorate. Inspire. Invoke. Impress.

Choose Cutlass Velo for your next build or to maximize the equipment you already love.

07/28/2026

In light of the recent blog post by Velo Orange I figured I should reintroduce myself to those of you who may not be familiar with me or Cutlass Velo.

My name is Tommy Barse. I’m a West Virginia-born, Maryland raised Baltimorean.

I started Cutlass Velo in late 2015 while I was still a full time bike messenger. Cutlass began as a custom wheel build and wheel service business. Sensing demand for a consistent, dedicated mechanic in Baltimore City, I switched to performing service beyond just wheels starting in 2018.

Cutlass is many things to me. It is a quilt; pieced together with many types of fabric and thread based on my lived experience. I treat it as an heirloom because of the many lessons and experiences that have been passed down to me; it is priceless.

The work is the work; there is nothing glamorous about it. It is dirty, it is frustrating, oftentimes it can be confusing (in a philosophical sense) and can even be disappointing. The flashiness and glitz seen on social media is quite often misleading.
It’s hard work - not always, of course, but while navigating all the intricacies of managing a business, managing expectations, and ensuring client safety and satisfaction, it compounds to being One Hell of a Job.

But I love it.

The relationships. The problem solving. The decisions. They have all contributed to the here and now.

Cutlass is the destination for anyone who wants their bike and equipment to work in harmony with their pursuit of the joy of cycling.
Whether that’s going for a spin around Druid Hill Park, chasing PRs on your regular routes, or chasing the top step of the podium: I am rooting for you.

If you have been on the fence to schedule for service or a custom build: make that commitment. I look forward to welcoming you into Cutlass.

Big thanks to Igor Velo Orange for the great photos.

07/26/2026

First week with my Velo Orange Chessie: excerpts from Grinduro and other musings thus far.

We started off on the paved tarmac heading into Lock Haven, PA then we dog-legged over the Mighty Susquehanna, and rode west along the river. In a few miles, we took a right turn onto a quiet road and shortly went left onto a steep gravel climb (Carrier Road) that was roughly 5 miles that averaged something like 4%.

Between the encroaching Canadian wildfire smoke and the morning fog, my efforts to syncopate the two metronomes of my breathing and my pedaling cadence was a challenge. Eventually, a wood thrush was cheering me on as I neared the top of the climb. I become so enthralled by birdsong when I'm riding. I both want to stop and listen but also continue to see what more I can hear during my forward momentum.

The Chessie was floating effortlessly skyward with me. Each pedal stroke went immediately into the tires as they gripped the softened and saturated gravel surface below. The gearing felt perfect, small jumps in the middle and higher gears for steady efforts, larger jumps in the climbing gears that felt like they were designed to match my legs’ rhythm. The only thing that took getting used to was how the front wheel wanted to wander a bit if I was climbing steeper terrain on the tops but it quickly felt confident and capable once I repositioned on the perfectly shaped Ekar GT hoods.

Sneaking over the second crest was where I let the Chessie and Schwalbes take control of the situation. I trust Velo Orange and Schwalbe know what they’re doing. So, I plunged into my intuition in the same fashion that I was careening down Hazard Road. The speed of the descent was exhilarating. The tires screeched and screamed while I hollered for more; the segmented steel fork soaked up the surface variations without hesitation; there was zero shimmy nor a hint of speed wobbles. I wish I had gone faster because nearing 40mph felt like the Chessie was just getting a Costco-like free sample taste for why it was made. But I kept a bit of reservation just in case - me and Chessie are only just getting to know each other’s qualities.

07/13/2026

I am proud to call this Velo Orange Chessie mine.

I'll do a proper photo shoot once I have my position dialed and steerer trimmed (if needed).

Thank you dearly to my friends that made this happen. More about this to come.

Address

2031 Clipper Park Road
Baltimore, MD
21211

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm

Website

http://www.cutlassvelo.com/

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