Chicago Bike Blog

Bike Solidarity

Happy Birthday, Y'all!

March is a big time for birthdays around here. Happy Birthday Ronnie, Alee, Deborah & Chris!

And, a big sigh of relief, as Rapid Transit completes it's 13th year in business.
Thanks to all.

Say it isn't so...

Hook'em up!
In an effort to stem the wave of child obesity, Fisher Price has unleashed this ferocious beast on millions of unsuspecting and eager toddlers, and their parents. Company propaganda reads: "It’s a stationary bike, a learning center, and an arcade game system—all rolled into one! Smart Cycle plugs right into your TV, ready to take kids on learning adventures like no other."
Hmm...  I guess this is just another entry in the new genre of "active participation" video games. A video game, nonetheless. Sure, it's great to park your toddler in front of the TV (pedaling or not), so that you can get a few things done around the house. But how will he really learn, if he doesn't get any cuts and bruises?!

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the galaxy...
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News (BRAIN), the trade magazine for the bicycle industry reported earlier this month that the specialty juvenile bicycle market is small and shrinking. According to the article, most parents, even within the industry, turn to mass merchants for childrens' bikes. While a handful of bike companies make higher performance juvenile bicycles, of the 10 juvenile product managers, only two had children of an age to ride these types of bicycles.

As long as the bike has SAFELY FUNCTIONING BRAKES, properly filled up tires, and fits the child, it doesn't matter all that much what kind of bike it is. But, please, make it a bike that is actually ridden outdoors. For more on kids' bikes, click here.

Command central

Looks pretty empty (and surprisingly neat) in the late evening hours, but this is where the action is during the day. It was made by our own Ronnie LoBello; to see how, click here.

Landmarks

There are two local Wicker Park landmarks in this picture. One is relatively new. I call it a landmark, because of how frequently I see it photographed. It is the bike that hangs on the sign post above Rapid Transit. It is 13 years old.
The water reservoir on top of the old warehouse building in the background is probably more than 80 years old. I beg your pardon. WAS.
It doesn't exist anymore.
The building was torn down, along with the reservoir, to make room for something called the Urban Sandbox, or Playlot, or something.
Go figure.

How many bikes?

Our bike garage is brimming. We are going out of town, and bikes have to be more securely stored. The bike garage (actually an enclosed front porch) has become a staging area. Good opportunity to finally really confront the number of bikes we have. We are a family of four.
There is my bike, which I have proudly owned since 1989, your basic mountain bike, now highly personalized city commuter (that's 1).
Peter has a bike, which, at age 10, he is in the process of outgrowing (that's 2, but may soon become 3, as we have not made arrangements to pass down the outgrown bike).
Nadia has a bike, which she firmly believes she is ourgrowing, and will certainly outgrow it immediately when Peter gets the new bike (that's 3, possibly 4, or maybe even 5 depending on how rapidly the outgrowing progresses).
There is the bike that both Peter and Nadia have now outgrown (that's 4)
Then there are Chris' bikes: the new recumbent, the old recumbent, the Slingshot mountain bike, the folding bike, and the bike for errands (that's 9, I think).
And finally, the bikes that count as more or less than one: the family tandem and the trailabike (that's 1.5 plus 0.5, added to the existing 9 for a total of 11)
Eleven real, and as many as 13 hypothetical bikes crammed into a space the size of a small bathroom.

Rhythms

Suddenly, spring came upon us. Not the demure spring that sometimes arrives in a cozy sweatshirt, confused about what shoes she should wear. This spring came on shamelessly in a midriff-baring top, short-shorts, and flip-flops (lots of hyphens here), sporting shocking pink toenail polish!

80 degrees on March 26.

The bike shop is still reeling from the cold that gripped Chicago from mid-January through most of February. Each winter takes a toll, threatening to put us out of business. We can usually count on the die-hard commuters to keep the heart beating. But when the cold persists  beyond a week, we start to lose even those hardy souls.  Then, the only breathing bodies that visit the shop are those who suffer from buyer's remorse, and come in to get a refund...

The skeletal crew remains, but eventually those who can get income elsewhere take a voluntary leave. No one will ever come in a buy another thing from us again.

80 degrees on March 26. It is five minutes to 10. The saucily clad young woman with pink toes is rattling the bike shop gates. Behind her a tightly squeezed throng of cycling enthusiasts is waiting to burst through the door. The skeletal crew on the inside braces for impact.

The season has officially begun. From year to year, we never really know when that day will arrive. It has come as early as middle of February, and as late as tax day in April, but has never failed to catch us with our cycling shorts only half-way up. We beg your pardon and your patience if you happen to catch us on such a day. You can always visit us earlier in the year, when we can give you royal treatment and undivided attention.

Otherwise, take a number, put a smile on your face, and please bear with us as we compose ourselves. Spring's here!