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.
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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