Royal Oak bicycle swap meet

 

By Mike Eliasohn

Having moved in October 2023 from St. Joseph in the southwest corner of Michigan to just north of Port Huron, how could I not go for what would be my first time to the 8th annual Royal Oak Classic Bicycle Swap Meet on Sunday. Sept. 15, 2024?

So at 9 a.m. I was in my car and about an hour and 61 miles later, I was there. (For any non-Michiganians reading this, Port Huron and Royal Oak are in southeast Michigan, north of Detroit.)

One of the more interesting bikes to me was this 1970 Schwinn Sting-Ray Run-A-Bout, supposedly never ridden, and priced at $1,250. Price back in 1970 was $69.95. Three speeds, 16x1-3/4 tires and 31.5 inch wheelbase. Rather than engineer and then manufacture a complete new folding bike, better sized for adults, Schwinn apparently took a kid-sized bike and fitted it with an extra long seat post and handlebars / stem and adult saddle. (Mike E. photo) 

Owner Bob Ashton took it home unsold, so if interested, email the writer (mikethebike2325@comcast.net) and I'll give you his contact information.

      Vintage Schwinn catalogs can be found online, so here's the photo and description from the 1970 catalog:b

Schwinn Run-A-Bout

The novel compact-size bike that's an ideal fold-up bike for campers, sportsmen, pilots yachtsmen, and hunters.

.....It Packs!

Sets up fast without tools. Trigger 3-speed control. Lightweight mattress saddle, extra-long seat post. Fast and easy adjustments. Front and rear caliper brakes. Gripper Slik rear tire. 
Colors: Campus green, Sierra brown.

The Royal Oak event is organized by Paul and Anne Kleppert, who ran what was then the Ann Arbor-Saline Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet through 2019. It resumed under new management at the Monroe County fairgrounds in 2022.  (The newly renamed Monroe Classic Bicycle and Minibike Show, Swap Meet and Auction will be April 27, 2025).

The event took place at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market, mostly occupying the east half of the building and outside, on the east side. (Farmers sell their goods there on Fridays during the growing/harvest season and on Saturdays year-round.  On Sundays, the building becomes a flea market, with vendors selling such things as antiques and clothing, which continued on Sept. 15, in addition to bicycles.)

Paul posted numerous photos of his event on thecabe.com (Classic & Antique Bicycle Exchange).  Here's three of them, which give an overall view of the event: 

I only saw two recumbents for sale, this Vision (above)  for $300 and this Giant Revive and this Giant Revive with 7-speed hub gear and rear suspension for $150. Advanced Transportation Products in Seattle made various Vision recumbents from 1991-2003. Giant is still very much in business, but the Revive is no longer part of the lineup. (Mike E. photos)

Two views of this Alex Moulton APB-7, with its take-apart frame, front and rear suspension and 7-speed hub gear. Gilbert Anderson, proprietor of North Road Bicycle (northroadbicycle.com) had it for sale for $1,800. ($2,000+ is a more typical price, according to what was written on the price tag.) Alex Moulton died in 2012, but the Moulton Bicycle Co. (moultonbicycles.co.uk) is still in business in the United Kingdom, though the APB-7 is no longer in the lineup.  After the swap meet was over, Anderson and his wife had a long drive home to Yanceyville, N.C. They and many vendors came to Royal Oak after participating in the Memory Lane Classics Antique and Classic Bicycle Swap Meet Sept. 12-14 in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Mike E. photos)

The swap meet started at 8 a.m. and I arrived about an hour later and took this photo before I got inside the Farmer's Market building.  So presumably this belonged to a vendor who still had lots of merchandise left to unload. The date of the 2025 event hasn't been announced yet. (Mike E. photo)

R.I.P.: Bill Frey (1943-2024)

Bill racing his original Tour Easy at the Michigan HPV Rally at Waterford Hills, probably in the late 1980s.

Sad news, especially for us HPV old-timers. Bill Frey – racer, commuter to work on his Tour Easy recumbent, long-time Michigan HPV Association officer and good guy – died Aug. 29 at age 80.

Our condolences to his wife, Connie, and their children, Chris and Jenny.

Bill later upgraded to an Easy Racer Fold Easy. Here he is demonstrating its features at a Michigan HPV Rally.

Here is his obituary:

December 3, 1943 – August 29, 2024

William Hugh Frey of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2024, with his family at his side. He was 80 years old.

Bill is lovingly remembered by his wife of 50 years, Connie Frey; their children, Chris Frey of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Jenny Fowler of El Cerrito, California; his daughter-in-law, Leslie Calhoun, son-in-law, Rich Fowler; grandchildren, Owen, James, Declan, and Lila; siblings, Dave Frey (Esther) of California, Virginia Griffis (David) of Arizona, brother-in-law Jeff of Oregon and many beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and their families. Bill is predeceased by his parents, Hugh and Dorotha Frey, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and his sister, Jeanne Reaves, of Portland, Oregon.

Bill loved his family, and especially his four grandchildren. He also loved math, bicycling, paddling, sailing, singing, summers at Torch Lake, and always finding the scenic route.

Raised in Indianapolis, Bill graduated from North Central High School in 1961. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in 1965 and a PhD from Stanford University in applied math engineering, concluding with a memorable postdoc in Belgium. 

Bill's love of geometry led him to Detroit, Michigan, and the Math Department at General Motors, where he worked for 32 years. His research focused on developable surfaces, triangulations, and computational geometry, which resulted in mathematical models to represent the stamping of sheet metal in emerging computerized design. He was awarded 2 patents for variable curvature tube and draw die. When later advising his children and grandchildren on career paths, he always stressed the importance of finding work they truly enjoy, like he did.

A lifelong outdoorsman, Bill's adventurous spirit was sparked during his youthful sailing days with his siblings on Walloon Lake in Michigan. His adventures continued when he met his wife, Connie, through the American Youth Hostels in Detroit, bonding over French classes and sailing.

The combination of Bill's love of maps and the outdoors expressed itself in all sorts of unlikely adventures over the years. Practically unheard of in the 1970s and 80s, Bill mastered the best routes to bicycle the 12 miles from their house in Grosse Pointe Farms to his job at the GM Tech Center in Warren. Bill also felt it was "less hassle" to walk his beloved orange canoe, using portable wheels, the mile from their home to Lake Saint Clair. Further adventures followed when he outfitted that same canoe with a hand-made custom sailing rig. 

Bill, Connie, Chris, and Jenny frequently traveled to visit relatives across the country in their iconic blue van. They often camped along the way, including at many National Parks. Annual gatherings of family at their cottages in northern Michigan created more opportunities for fun in the water and woods, card-playing, and singing.

Bill and Connie shared their love of the outdoors with their children, grandchildren, and the community. Bill led trainings on Effective Cycling and was a founding member of the League of Michigan Bicyclists. He switched from upright to recumbent bikes and was active with the Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association. 

Bill was proud of the many years that he served as an Assistant Scout Master to Troop 479, teaching essential skills in camping, cycling, and citizenship in the community. Through Scouts, he also taught generations of kids how to tie various practical and sailing knots. 

Bill served on the local parks committee to improve the Grosse Pointe Farms Pier Park, a treasured walking spot. Later in life, he combined his love of maps and math with civic engagement by volunteering and making contributions to the state's new nonpartisan redistricting process.

When he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Bill participated in a clinical trial to further knowledge on the treatment of the illness. He greatly appreciated the kind medical doctors, nurses, and staff who supported him on his journey.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held this fall, date and location to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory can be made to the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB.org) or the Grass River Natural Area (grassriver.org).

Here's Bill competing on the Fold Easy, with homemade tail fairing, at the Michigan Human Powered Speed Challenge in July 2009 at the Ford Motor Co. proving grounds near Romeo. 

Here's a memory (slightly edited) of Bill from Wally Kiehler. The original version was addressed to Chris Frey:

I met Bill & Mike Eliasohn & Mike Mowett & many others at the Waterford rally in 1992.

I didn’t know that any one else in our Grosse Pointe area had or rode a recumbent, so we became friends immediately.  

Occasionally we would pass each other riding along Lake Shore Drive.  Or I would ride by Roland Court to see if he was outside working in his yard. 

He always preferred the Easy Racers Tour Easy.  And later he and your mother got the folding models.  I remember Bill was always our MHPVA “treasurer” and “statistician”.  Never missed showing up for our annual Waterford rally.  He drew up our Waterford course map and distances.  He helped a lot with the timing equipment.  

But I think he was most interested in the “practicality” of recumbents, rather than the “racing” of them.  I can picture him racing carrying a pannier bag. 

In 2014. when I was riding coast-2-coast with Cycle America he met with me in Farwell, Mich. where we camped for the night.  He drove south from his property at Torch Lake to visit and take me out to dinner.  And around 2016 our MHPVA was dissolved.  Our club has a photo of the past officers/members. 

A few months later Bill stopped by my house on Hawthorne to drop off a couple MHPVA things because I was president for 10 years.  My last Dalmac was in 2017.  And we ride right past your parents' property on Torch Lake. 

And I think Bill met with me and my small group at that restaurant north of his property and on the Clam River. 

Note: Bill originally was MHPVA vice president, then secretary and ultimately treasurer and oversaw its dissolution as a non-profit organization in 2016.

Photos, introduction and editing by Mike Eliasohn. 

As mentioned in his obituary, Bill was a founding member of the League of Michigan Bicyclists (www.lmb.org).  Here's the tribute to Bill that LMB emailed to members:

Dear Friends, It is with heartfelt sorrow that we share the passing of Bill Frey, a founding member of the League of Michigan Bicyclists who played a significant role in shaping our community and mission. Bill’s adventurous spirit and dedication as a trailblazer in cycling helped pave the way for the growth of LMB and bicycling advocacy throughout Michigan. In an interview we did with Bill for LMB’s 40th Anniversary magazine, he fondly recalled the early days of LMB and shared his vision for improving bicycling across the state. You can read his reflections and memories in the article we published. If you have any stories or photos of Bill, his family would love to hear from you. Please share your memories and condolences at his page: LMB.org/BillFrey. Bill’s family has kindly expressed the importance LMB held in his life, and in lieu of flowers, they have suggested a donation in his memory to continue his legacy of making Michigan a better place to ride.   Continue Bill's Legacy   Bill’s impact on our cycling community will be deeply missed. We are grateful for his contributions and will carry forward his passion for making Michigan’s roads safer and better for bicyclists.

 

39th Michigan HPV Rally - June 15-16, 2024

 Action in Sunday morning's 25-lap race for streamliners and streetliners. In front is Jonathan Walters in a built-in-Romania Bulk velomobile. He finished second in the race, but first in the street liner class for the weekend. (Mike Eliasohn photo)

COMPLETE RESULTS, VIDEOS AND MORE PHOTOS CAN BE SEEN on the HPRA: Human Powered Race America Facebook page. For results only, click on:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fVg3sPRuCqgc2vH8u_uAXnWqX-ypaqb5bMjcl5x23ns/htmlview

By Mike Eliasohn

The 39th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston – the location since 1986 – drew its best turnout in years with 33 competitors.

The big turnout was due in large part to 14 students from the University of Toronto HPV Design Team, of whom 13 raced (someone has to take the photos). There also were at least four newcomers, including Thomas Bergeron and Charles-Antoine Daignault, who came from Quebec, Canada – about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), they said. Another first-timer, Larry Seidman, came from Colorado, but he flew.

Other competitors came from Michigan, of course, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio,  Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Maryland. (Apologies to any states I missed.)

Here's the top three finishers in each class:

Streamliners (8 entries) – 1) Dennis Grelk, Donnellson, Iowa, 290 points; John Simon, Portland, 275; Bryce Warren, Univ. of Toronto, 202.  Streetliner (5 entries) – 1) Jonathan Walters, Cincinnati, Ohio, Bulk velomobile, 300; 2) Rick Toler, Dayton, Ohio,  W9 velomobile, 275; 3) Jeff Hunn, North Manchester, Ind., DFXL velomobile.

Stock (20 entries) – 1) Daryl Hanger, Mooresville, Ind., NoCom Velocraft, 265; 2) Dennis Grelk, homebuilt low racer, 264; 3) Rob Lloyd, Whitmore Lake, homebuilt low racer, 215. 

Daryl Hanger of Mooresville, Ind., on his Velokraft NoCom won the stock class over 19 competitors. His 265 total points from five events was only 1 point more scored by Dennis Grelk. (Dan Glatch photo)

Women (1 entrant) – 1) Peggy Thompson, Bel Aire, Md., G4 front-wheel-drive recumbent, 300. Note: Jane Hunn of North Manchester participated in a Bulk Mk1 velomobile with electric assist, so points were not counted.

Tricycles (4 entries) – 1) Larry Seidman, Colorado Springs, Colo., TerraTrike Spyder, 280; 2) Craig Siebe, Dayton, Ohio, ICE Adventure, 275; 3) Marshall Randall, Rockford, GreenSpeed Aero, 60 (one-hour only).  No entries in junior or multi-rider classes.

Almost ready to start the first one-hour time trial on Saturday morning. (Mike E. photo)

Following are the top two in each class in each event. If only one name is listed, only that person participated:

SATURDAY:

One-hour time trial (two separate time trials were conducted. The track is 1.4 miles around.):  Streamliner – 1) Dennis Grelk, 24 laps, average speed 32.75 mph / 52.71 kph RALLY RECORD, 2) John Simon, 21 laps. Streetliner – 1) Jonathan Walters, 21 laps, 28.67 mph / 46.13 kph CLASS RECORD, 2) Rick Toler, 20 laps.

Stock – 1) Jonathan Walters, NoCom low racer, 19 laps, 25.99 mph/ 41.82 kph, 2) Dennis Grelk, 19 laps, 25.59 mph / 41.18 kph. Tricycles – Marshall Randall, 16 laps, 21.45 mph / 34.52, 2) Joe Pixley, 15 laps.  (Note; Marshall also raced his GreenSpeed Aero in the first one-hour for mostly streamliners and streetliners, 18 laps, 23.23 mph / 37.39 kph.) Women – Peggy Thompson, 14 laps, 19.32 mph / 31.10 kph.

High and low – Ishtey Amminger of Memphis, Tenn., on his CruzBike Vendetta and Marshall Randall on his GreenSpeed Aero in the second one hour for unfaired vehicles.  (Dan Glatch  photo)

Riders line up, ready to start the hill climb. At right is Charles Brown of Southfield, Behind him is Peggy Thompson of Bel Aire, Md. (Mike E. photo)

In the hill climb / coast down, riders start at the bottom of the hill, are timed getting to the top of the hill (a distance of about 605 feet), then stop pedaling, then see how far they can coast before their vehicle comes to a stop. (Riders mark where they stopped, writing their vehicle numbers with chalk on the pavement.) Thus, it's a test of a vehicle and rider's hill climbing abilities, followed by a test of their vehicle's aerodynamics and rolling resistance.

Hill climb: Stock – 1) Ethan Elbaz, U-T, 18.803 seconds, 2) Daryl Hanger, 20.573. Streetllner – 1) Jonathan Walters, 21.012 CLASS RECORD, 2) Rick Toler, 23.172. Streamliner – 1) Bryce Warren, U-T, 24.916, 2) Dennis Grelk, 26.673. Women – Peggy Thompson, 38.612. Tricycles –  1) Larry Seidman, 40.19, 2) Craig Siebe, 47.762.

Coast down: Streamliner – 1) Dennis Grelk (1st overall); 2) John Simon (7th overall). Streetliner – 1) Jonathan Walters (2nd overall), 2) Rick Toler (3rd overall). Stock – 1) Dennis Grelk (6th overall), 2) Ron Thompson (10th overall). Women – 1) Peggy Thompson (15th overall). Tricycles – 1) Craig Siebe (23rd overall), 2) Larry Seidman (28th overall).

All five velomobiles competing at the rally were made at the Velomobileworld.com factory in Romania. From left: Jane Hunn (Bülk), John Burrell (Bülk), Jeff Hunn (DFXL), Jonathan Walters (Bülk) and Rick Toler (W9). (Dan Glatch photo)

Events on Saturday ran behind schedule, resulting in cancellation of the standing start kilometer and the urban transportation contest.

The three streamliners from the University of Toronto HPV Design Team. Students have a fourth streamliner under construction (plus a two-rider pedal-powered airplane), but didn't get it done in time for the rally. (U-T photo)

And a rear view. 

SUNDAY

Flying start 200-foot sprint: Streetliner – 1) Jonathan Walters, 45.139 mph / 72.644 kph (1st overall), CLASS RECORD, 2) Rick Toler, 40.119 mph / 64.565 kph.  Streamliner – 1) Dennis Grelk, 43,428 mph / 69.981 (2nd overall). Stock – 1 tie) Daryl Hanger and Dennis Grelk, both 37.753 mph / 60.758 kph. Women - 1) Peggy Thompson, 25.652 mph / 41.282 kph. Tricycles – 1) Larry Seidman, 23.430 / 37.707 kph, 2) Craig Siebe, 20.737 mph / 33.372 kph.

In addition to competing in the stock class (shown here) on his home-built bike, Dennis Grelk of Donnellson, Iowa, completed in his Cuda W streamliner (built by Warren Beauchamp). And, he operated the scoring system for all events. He won the streamliner class and finished second in the stock class, "losing" by only 1 point. (Dan Glatch photo)

Two road races end when the winner completes the set number of laps. Following riders complete the lap they are on. Course does not include the hill:

20 lap road race (12.5 miles): Stock – 1) Dennis Grelk, 29:39.680, 25.25 mph / 40.63 kph, 2) Daryl Hanger, 20 laps completed. Women – 1) Peggy Thompson, 15 laps, 18.65 mph / 30.02 kph (8th overall), CLASS RECORD. Tricycles – Larry Seidman, 15 laps, 17.75 mph / 28.56 kph. 2) Craig Siebe.

25 lap road race (15.6 miles): Streamliner – Dennis Grelk, 25 laps, 28.012 mph / 45.08 kph, 1st overall, 2) John Simon, 24 laps, 26.316 / 42.35 kph, 3rd overall. Streetliner – 1) Jonathan Walters, 24 laps, 26.342 mph / 42.39 kph, 2nd overall, CLASS RECORD, 2) Rick Toler, 22 laps, 24.296 mph / 39.10 kph.

Mike Mowett of Detroit not only competed on his Morciglio M1, finishing 4th in the stock class, he also was co-organizer of the rally, compiled the results, set up timing traps, traffic cones, etc.for events and did other tasks. (Dan Glatch photo)

Ron Thompson of Bel Aire, Md., competed on two of his innovative G4 front wheel drive bikes and his wife, Peggy, on another G4 (below). In the stock class, he finished 6th with the old bike and 13th with his latest version, shown here. The new bike has a steel frame, with wheels, seat and faring made of carbon fiber. For more information, www.g4bikes,com. (Dan Glatch photo)

Coming all the way from Quebec, Canada, were Charles-Antoine Daignault (left) from Laval on his Optima Baron and Thomas Bergeron from Granby on his Optima Lynx. (Mike E. photo)

The dates of the 2025 Michigan HPV Rally – the 40th annual – probably won't be known until January. Car events get priority in setting the schedule at the Waterford Hills track. After the 2025 schedule is set for the car events, rally organizers Mike Mowett and Mike Eliasohn get a choice of still open weekends (usually three). 

Thank you to all who helped conduct the rally, plus those who competed; some did both. In addition to Mike Mowett and Dennis Grelk, already mentioned, Garrie Hill did the technical inspections and arranged the insurance, and Dan Glatch helped with some events and took photos, in addition to competing.

If you have any thoughts about next year's rally, or related topics, please contact Mike E. at mikethebike2325@comcast.net or Mike M. at mowett@aol.com.

If you spot anything that needs correcting, please contact the author, Mike E. And I'm always looking for articles or topics for this blog, so submissions or suggestions are welcome.

After the competition was over, all 14 members of the University of Toronto HPV Design Team posed for this photo, with some of their vehicles. This was the 12th year the U-T has participated in the Michigan rally (not all years were consecutive). (U-T photo)

RECORDS SET at the 2024 Michigan HPV Rally, by Mike Mowett

Dennis Grelk ONE-HOUR STREAMLINER, 32.75 miles (52.71 km), in Warren Beauchamp's old Cuda-W streamliner.  This broke the old record of 32.52 miles set by Dennis in 2011 in the Barracuda. That mark was just ahead 0.02 miles (some could say a tie depending on how they navigated each turn) with the 32.50 miles ridden by Rick Gritters' 32.50 miles in 2005.  

Note: there are racers held by upright riders on the track several times a year. The fastest packs have averaged 28-29 mph for races lasting about an hour. So I think it's safe to say that Dennis holds the track record. 

Then after this, Dennis raced the Unfaired One hour, where both he and Jonathan Walters set one-hour records last year, breaking the long-standing SuperStock and Stock records of Frank Geyer. 

Jonathan Walters ONE-HOUR STREETLINER, 28.67 miles (46.13 km), in his new Bulk velomobile acquired only a month ago. This broke Tony Levand's 26.97 miles record set in his self-built Carp Coroplast liner, set in 2019. Jonathan has done an incredible course record over 35 mph for 10 miles at the long-running Cleves time trial near his home. The previous record holder is the current USA national 40K record holder. Jonathan also says he was "saving some energy" for the unfaired one-hour that followed this race, where he again raced Dennis. 

Jonathan Walters, 200-FOOT SPRINT STREET-LINER (VELO), 45.14 mph (72.64 kph) in his Bulk velomobile (see above). He broke the record of Michael Hinterseher 41.15 mph set in 2018 in his Milan velomobile. (Michael made a guest appearance on Sunday.)  Jonathan also tied the Strava KOM over the segment that starts from the top of the hill to the end of the back straightaway which is used for this event. He averaged almost 40 mph doing that stretch in 40 seconds. The other guy who did that was likely in one of the strong upright racing groups that flew over the top of the hill in a pack. This was opposed to a standing start used in our event. 

 Peggy Thompson 20-LAP WOMEN, 18.65 mph on her husband's Ron Thompson's self-built G4 front-wheel-drive recumbent. This broke Jane Hunn's record of 17.87 mph on a Sunset lowracer set way back in 2004, when we used that course on a regular basis. Jane is now riding a velomobile with e-assist. 

Jonathan Walters, 25-LAP STREETLINER (VELO), 26.34 mph in his Bulk velomobile, breaking Jeff Hunn's 23.73 mph set in his DF velomobile in 2023. 

Jonathan Walters, HILL CLIMB - STREETLINER (VELO), 21.01 seconds kind of broke my own hill climb record of 18.50 seconds set on a Trek upright with bodysock. I'll have to give Jonathan this record because he DERAILLED LIKE 4 TIMES trying the hill climb with his NoCom (STOCK CLASS) before discovering the boom was cracked, causing the issue.

Monroe Bicycle Show and Swap meet – May 5, 2024

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MICHIGAN HPV RALLY AND ONLINE REGISTRATION IS BELOW, DATED FEB. 10, 2024

By Mike Eliasohn (text and photos, unless noted)

I like to say there are cycle enthusiasts and cycling enthusiasts, though some are both.

To some cycling enthusiasts, it's not a good Saturday unless they pedaled at least 50 miles. 

But to cycle enthusiasts, the bike is the thing – it's historic, or reminds them of their first bike they owned as a kid, or is just interesting. To them, a perfect Saturday is spent in their garage or basement, working on their bikes (or one of them).

It's for the latter that the Monroe Bicycle Show and Swap (the official name) exists. The 43rd annual took place Sunday, May 5, at the Monroe County fairgrounds.  (For the unknowing, that's in the southeast corner of Michigan.)

One of the older bikes at the show, a 1911 Racycle track racing bike with 60 tooth chainring and wood rims. Not quite ready yet for sale, said Edwin Moses of Ed's Vintage and Classic Bikes in Philadelphia.

This 1902 Columbia Model 81 shaft drive was for sale by Moses (at left), for $1,600. Wheel rims are wood. He also had another shaft drive for sale.

It was the Ann Arbor-Saline Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet, held at the Washtenaw County fairgrounds, through 2019. There was no show in 2020 and 2021, then under new promoters, it moved to the Monroe County fairgrounds in 2022.

The latter is a big improvement over the former location. Unlike Washtenaw, all the roads are paved (great for test rides) and the main Expo Building and two smaller exhibition buildings are only used for that purpose during the Monroe County Fair. Some of the exhibit buildings at the Washtenaw grounds housed livestock during the Washtenaw County Fair, had dirt floors, and many months later, retained the odor, when bikes were on display.

The renamed 44th annual Monroe Classic Bicycle and Minibike Show, Swap Meet and Auction will be April 27, 2025, at the Monroe County fairgrounds.

Recumbents for sale were few, but there was this Infinity, made by Ace Tool & Engineering in Mooresville, Ind. This was the original version, with rear stays made from sections of straight square tubing.  Production started in 1981. The second version, with rear stays made of bent round tubing, started in 1987. At right is a Bickerton Portable folding bike, manufactured in the United Kingdom, then in Australia, then back in the U.K., from 1972-89. Asking price for the Infinity was $1,250 and if unsold, the would-be seller said he would content to take it home to Wisconsin, which he ended up doing.  The Bickerton was priced at $85. I (Mike E.) don't know if it sold. Frames of the Infinity and Bickerton are aluminum.

Had there been a prize for "biggest chainring," this GreenSpeed Aero would have won. Intended for racing, the rider is very low to the ground.  I don't know the price, or if it sold. (Photo was taken in the Expo Building the day before the show, when I was helping a vendor set up.)

Close to the Aero, and presumably the same seller, was this low racer without a name. I (Mike E.) emailed the photo to Mike Mowett, since he races one, to ask if he knew the make. Here's his reply: John Morciglio confirms that’s his very first M1 lowracer, built in about 2008. This was after Chris Evans on his Velokraft NoCom infamously passed John at a local Michigan park. John got up to him in the parking lot of the park, talked to him and studied the NoCom and said “I can build something like that”. What we see in that photo is the result!  It was done without molds, just carbon over foam construction. I have those same gunfighter handlebars on my M1 built by him (with male and female molds) within a year. Actually before this carbon one,  John did build a wooden M1 that was rideable and painted red. It was primarily to get a feel for legs, pedals, hand reach etc. Updates: When built, John lived in Waterford. He now lives in Florida. For more, go to John's Facebook page, Fast Bikes Loud Guitars.

Update: Since the Monroe show, the owner, in Ann Arbor, sold the bike to recumbent builder and racer Rob Lloyd of nearby Whitmore Lake, who already has started modifications.

The deal of the day, at least to recumbent or semi-recumbent enthusiasts. I photographed this CCM (Canadian brand) Evo earlier in the day. As 3 p.m. closing time was approaching and people were leaving, the buyer of the CCM wheeled it past me. He told me it was priced at $75, but bought it for $40. It did need some repair. The Evo has a "restraint" to keep the rider from sliding off the back of the seat, but lacks a backrest.

ReBike, introduced in the1990s, was an effort to produce an entry level low-cost recumbent, compared to what else was on the market at the time.  But it was heavy. An undated price sheet I have from a dealer listed it at $390 + $35 shipping. This one was priced at $100.

Schwinn Stringrays, which date back to the late 1960S, are very popular. Not only suitable for kids, they also can be ridden – and are – by short adults, who want to look cool. If you want to buy a vintage one in good condition, expect to pay several hundred dollars for a 1-speed, and lots more for a 5-speed. Schwinn still makes a similar Stringray, but it's the model with a 20-inch back wheel and 16-inch front, with springer fork. These two Stingrays were entered in the judging; they were not for sale. (Photo from monroebikeshow.com Facebook page.)

Schwinn MiniTwinns, dating to the late 1960s, are popular among at least some collectors.

I saw another one at the show priced at $1,200 and one listed on eBay at $2,000.

Brian Pikielek (right), owner of BikeTech bicycle shop in Detroit, with the buyer of a 1960s Schwinn Town & Country triple Brian was selling. Brian let me (Mike E.) use some of the outdoor vendor space he paid for to set up a table in my futile effort to sell some cycling books and other items. But I was able to give away some files containing brochures, articles, etc., about various bicycle topics.

If you need some bicycle parts, common or rare, Brian probably has it in stock – as well as new and used bicycles. He also does repairs. BikeTech is at 18401 E. Warren Ave., Detroit; phone number 313-884-2453.

I didn't have time to find the person who knew something about this interesting creation, which appeared to be a custom built. Obviously intended for off-road use, but not on narrow trails.

Need a part or parts, be it wheels or anything else for a bicycle. Chances are it could be found  at the Monroe show.

The following photos, taken inside the Expo Building, are from the monroebikeshow.com Facebook page.

These bikes were entered in the judging in various categories; they were not for sale. Photos of the winners in nine categories can be seen on the website (under "photos").

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