Chicago Bike Blog

Ride Free

The other night, I watched the movie The Magic of Flight with my family. While the stunts, the discipline and skill of the pilots were all spectacular, I started thinking about the idea of freedom frequently associated with flying. "Free as a bird," we humans always say. And, indeed, many of the pilots interviewed for the movie commented on the remarkable feeling of freedom they experienced when flying an airplane.
No doubt, that the development of an airplane afforded us the freedom of travel that earlier we could only dream about. Nevertheless, it struck me that the freedom the pilots referred to was reserved only for the few, the elite, who chose flying as their profession and life's work. Furthermore, this freedom is dependent upon a highly sophisticated, very expensive, and gas-powered (usually) machine. Further still, the thrill of this particular brand of freedom carries with it incredibly high risk that few are willing to take.
Don't get me wrong. I admire pilots and flying as much as the next person. But the point is, that something that is so expensive, so risky, and so depended on a set of highly specialized skills does not offer a lot of freedom to the average Jane or Joe.   
I submit that the humble bicycle should be the vehicle of choice for freedom seeking individuals. Yes, I know, the only truly independent mode of travel for us humans are our own two feet. However, a bicycle provides faster and more efficient transportation, as well as the option to carry substantial loads, all at a very reasonable cost.
All-in-all, the bicycle provides basic, non-polluting transportation, and can contribute to lowering traffic congestion and improving air quality.
The bicycle liberates us from the car trap: from traffic, from dependence on fossil fuels, from doing what is accepted, and from complacency. Because it is powered by you, it offers a sense of independence and freedom to travel efficiently from one place to another, to change directions, take shortcuts (or "longcuts") in a way a car cannot. It can free us from the daily stresses, from the constraints of traffic, crowds and noise.
The bicycle can be a vehicle for social change. Many organizations use bikes to empower people around the world. Bicycles have also been used effectively in raising funds and awareness in a fight against a number of diseases. But, even aside from organized initiatives, every time you get on a bicycle to get someplace, you are implicitly speaking out against transportation choices our society makes, policies and decisions espoused by our government, and for personal freedom and self-determination.
And that's what traveling by bike is all about. It's about inventiveness, going slightly against the grain, and discretely thumbing your nose at all the conformists stuck in their cars. They are sitting in traffics, and you are flying by, with that cool breeze on your back.

Why Ride A Recumbent?

Why do we sell recumbents? Who would want one? And why (especially given their price)?!
Well, we have been selling them for close to fourteen years largely because ... nobody else around here does. The market for recumbents is quite small, but because Rapid Transit is one of very few shops in the greater Chicago area that carries them, we pull customers from far and wide.

The market is saturated with look-alike bikes. Recumbents provide a healthy dose of excitement, both for the customers, and for us. Recumbents allow us to fill the needs of those customers who would not be well-served by a standard upright bike. We are approached by people who are older, who have had to give up cycling because of back or other injuries, or who cannot get comfortable on a standard bike for reasons of their own.
But let me dispel the notion that recumbents are for the aged and infirm. The main reason our customers are attracted to recumbents is because they combine good ergonomics and high performance with spectacular success. Recumbents are not clunky (OK, some are, but making a generalization would be like saying that upright bikes are clunky because you know cruisers are).
They can be quite fast. (For examples of top speeds, click here and here.) Although the top speed potential varies from model to model, and is highly dependent on the rider, all recumbents offer an aerodynamic edge. You slice into the wind with your feet rather than your torso, thus minimizing wind resistance. Although you can't stand up on the pedals to crank a recumbent to top speed, you can brace your back firmly against the seat, and achieve a similar result. And all the while you can enjoy the scenery without straining your neck.

(drawing by Gary Varvel)

Who rides recumbents? Several of our most dedicated recumbent customers have been folks were over 70. The youngest person to ever buy one from us was 14. But, in general, recumbent enthusiasts represent a pretty broad range of the population.
And the price? Most recumbents are not cheap, but they are also not cheaply made. Many of the ones we sell are hand-made in the US. They cannot be easily mass-produced. A lot of thought and care goes into the frame design, which has to be complemented with carefully chosen components and accessories.
Here are some ideas from Lightning Cycle Dynamics about offsetting the initial high cost of a recumbent:
The average cost of operating a car is about 50 cents per mile (VERY conservative and somewhat dated statistic, but, hey, let's use it). If you ride your recumbent 2000 a year (that's ONLY 5.5 miles per day), you are saving $1000. In two years, you recumbent has paid for itself. After that, it's actually making you money!

Just a Commuter

You are not a racer.
You are not a triathelete.
You are not a mountain biker.
You are not fixie.
You may not even consider yourself a "cyclist" in a sense that implies a hobby, a passion, and a substantial and conscious investment of time and money.

Yet, you ride a bike.
The bike you ride may not be a very special kind of bike.
After all, a bike is not a status symbol. It is a tool.
And like other tools, it needs to be handy and practical.
It needs to get you from point A to point B.
But you ride it most days, if not every day.

You are just a commuter.

Cheap Bikes in Chicago

It seems that quite a few people are googling "cheap bikes". In my humble opinion, bicycles, even pricier ones, are one of the most affordable transportation choices around. However, I can also appreciate the fact that there are a lot of folks out there who find it difficult to fork over a few hundred dollars to purchase a new bicycle (please see below for Rapid Transit bike prices).
If you are in the market for a bargain, please remember that you will not get one at Walmart, or another large-box retailer. For a good discussion on the bike-shaped objects these retailers carry, please click here.
A better choice would be to find a decent second-hand bicycle from a reputable source. What is a reputable source? That's a hard question. The last thing you want to do is inadvertently end up with a stolen bike. However,  there is certainly a lot to be said for re-using existing resources. Here are a few places you may want to try for used bikes:

• Working Bikes Cooperative
• Uptown Bikes at 4653 N. Broadway in Chicago
• A local garage sale, where you can be pretty sure the bike being sold belonged to the person selling it.

Here is a list of things you might want to think about before purchasing a used bike:

1. Are you compromising on fit, because it appears to be such a great deal?
2. There may be substantial wear on the hidden bearing assemblies, that may translate into a fairly high repair bill down the line.
3. Once the bicycle changes hands, original manufacturers warranty no longer applies (this is obviously less relevant if you are buying an older three-speed or cruiser, but could be important if you are buying a newish road or mountain bike).
4. A private seller will rarely offer any satisfaction guarantee.
5. It may take a lot of time and searching to locate the right used bike for you.
6. After you have paid for any repairs or modifications on the used bike, are you still getting a bargain? For example, even if the bike is in decent riding condition, you may still want:

• different (better, smoother, puncture resistant) tires
• more comfortable saddle
• taller stem, or seatpost, or both
• different handlebars

People can and do find great deals on used bikes. I bought a terrific single-speed Schwinn Breeze several years ago for $30. But make sure you expectations and budget are realistic. You may find that you can get an affordable new bike that fits you and your purpose better. Rapid Transit (as well as other retailers who sell new bikes) carries bikes at a range of different price points that may fit your budget. True, our multi-speed street bikes we stock tend to start around $350 or even $400. But there is a reason for that. Cheaper hybrids and mountain are certainly available form  various manufacturers, but for urban commuters, they simply do not offer dependable quality. We do offer simpler, single and three-speed bikes in the $200-300 range.
Whatever bike you decide to buy, used or new, you can always visit us for recommendations, advice and mechanical evaluation  of any used bike you  may be considering.

Cool Bikes on Cool Globes

If you haven't checked out the Cool Globes installation on the lakefront, do it soon! Here are a few images of how bikes can contribute to saving our home planet:

   

Commuting Essentials 2

Five essential things you need to have when commuting by bike:

1. Helmet.
2. Spare tube. A patch kit will not repair every flat. Keep it at home for the tubes that can be saved.
3. Pump.
   Note: you should also have practiced changing a flat, so that when one occurs, you'll know what to do. If you have non-quick release wheels (including ones with locking skewers) make sure you carry a device that will allow you to remove the wheel if you get a flat.
4. Rain gear.
5. Emergency transportation cash.

Commuting Essentials

Top ten items to turn your bike into a commuter bike:

1. Puncture resistant tires. Don't skimp on these. Good ones, such as Schwalbe and Continental, are worth every dime.
   
   
2. Lock. Have a good lock, and a good strategy.
   
3. Locking wheel skewers. Save time when you lock up.
4. Rear rack.
5. Pannier. (Or milk crate.)
6. Lights. Blinkers in the city are synonymous with cyclists. Wear them.
   
7. Fenders.
8. Rear view mirror.
9. Toe clips or clip-in pedals.
10. Horn or bell. (Or get used to yelling to -- NOT AT -- other road users.)

Coupon

Please click on the coupon to enlarge, print and come in to redeem. (Any of the coupons may be used together, however, they may not be combined with additional discounts, such as CBF.)

Selling Cycling

Every year, the bicycle industry has tried come up with an elaborate scheme to increase participation and interest in cycling. It is interesting that while the industry clearly always supported bicycle advocacy, only in recent years did they really embrace the idea of cycling for transportation. Currently, advocacy and bike-friendly communities are the favorite buzzwords in the industry.

I don't know where the industry experts have been hanging out, but in our neck of the woods, interest in cycling is anything but declining. I have wondered that maybe I see the future of cycling a little differently, because Rapid Transit happens to attract Chicago's commuters, and other cycling advocates.

The phrase "happens to attract" connotes passivity. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we have set up elaborate traps to lure you folks into our store. We let you bring your bikes in. We offered you fenders, lights, rain suits, shoe covers, puncture-proof tires and BOB trailers. We insisted that hybrids were cool. Heck, we insisted recumbents were cool. We talked up bicycle commuting everywhere we turned. To show that we believe in your cause, we too commuted by bike. We even commuted by bike in winter. We figured you'd fall for it.

Seriously, folks, I don't believe that billboards and slogans can turn us into a nation of cyclists overnight. If the cycling industry finally gets its act together enough to come up with a national ad campaign, that'll be icing on the cake. But the real work needs to happen in each individual community, in each individual store, one rider at a time.

We do the work of converting people into cyclists every single day. With a novice rider, we don't rush things. We take the time to explain different types of bikes, and different riding styles, and help him or her figure out what will work best. We patiently explain locks, gears and quick releases. With someone who is a recreational rider, we point out gear, accessories and upgrades that can turn their bike into a commuting vehicle. If they mention pain or discomfort, we recommend alterations to the existing bike, or suggest they try a recumbent. With experienced riders, we try to make sure we have selection of products to meet the demands of daily commuting, perform on-the -spot repairs, or offer them a loaner bike while theirs is being serviced. We share stories of biking, offer classes, tips and opinions, and a place to hang out.

If this is a trap, it has worked for us. Bicycle advocates, critical massers, messengers, commuters and cycling aficionados from all walks of life patronize our store, and it looks like they like it here.

And we are darned glad they do.

Cardboard Recycling

It was very out of character for a do-gooder Chicago bike shop to toss out its voluminous cardboard waste in the trash for thirteen years. After all, we are all about promoting sustainable living and treading (or rolling, as the case may be) lightly on the planet.
Well, after several unsuccessful attempts at finding a carboard recycling service, we got one. Here it is:

Thanks to the persistence of Alee Peoples and the services of RSI.