Royal Oak bicycle swap meet – Sept. 20, 2026

 Words and photos by Mike Eliasohn

Sunday, Sept. 20, was the 10th annual Royal Oak Classic Bicycle Swap Meet and the third  I have attended. 

Even for bicycle people like me who go there with no intention of buying anything, it's fun to see what's there – mostly old cruisers and banana seat bikes, and lots of parts.

The event took place at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, mostly occupying the east half of the building and outside, on the east side. (The market is open on Fridays to sellers of flowers, plants and vegetables and on Saturdays on Saturdays it's a "full farm market."  On Sundays, the building becomes a flea market, with vendors selling such things as antiques, books, CDs and clothing, which continued on Sept. 15, in addition to bicycles.)

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.  (What is now called the Monroe Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet – the 45th annual – will be April 25, 2027. www.MonroeBikeShow.com).

This Schwinn DX boys bike was priced at $1,200; the girls DX was $800.  Both beautifully restored bikes, from the same seller, had 24 inch wheels. The price tags did not give the year, but the DX was made in the late 1940s and 1950s. The boys bike had new old stock  tank and tires; the girls bike had new tires.

Unfortunately for the vendors who had outdoor spaces, it was raining during much of the day. The event ran from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The Schwinn-Mini Twinn was only manufactured in 1968 and reportedly only about 300 were made. With coaster brake, the price was $99.50; with automatic 2-speed hub, $107.50. No price tag on this bike, or I didn't write it down. Fully restored, this would be a cool cruiser for two small adults.

Raleigh Choppers were made in two series, from 1968-72 and 1972-85.  This is a 1973 3-speed, priced at $750. The seller also had a rusty 1970 Chopper for sale for $175.  I don't know if either one sold, but if interested, contact Mike E. at mikethebike2325@comcast.net and I can give you the seller's name and phone number.

These four Schwinn Sting-rays ranged in vintage from 1968-76 and in price from $950 for a 1976 5-speed to $2,400 for a 1969 5-speed.

Jeff Gentner specializes in creating interesting tricycles, this one made from a modern vintage Schwinn Sting-ray chopper with a tricycle axle off another Schwinn.  The Dearborn Heights resident also created the trailer, made entirely from six handlebars and two forks – all from Schwinns. Price for this one – tricycle and trailer – would be about $1,000.  I don't know if he sold it at the swap meet.  If interested in one of his creations, contact Mike E. and I can give you Jeff's phone number.