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Business & Tech

Gear Up For Spring Bike Rides

Tune up your bicycle and cross your fingers for warmer weather!

The weather may have been more wintry than warm this week, but Patch is optimistic about spring. And that means it’s time to dust off your bicycle and pull on your bike shorts.  Riding your bike is a great way to get in shape, reduce your carbon footprint, and with gasoline prices ever on the rise, even pad your wallet.

Patch visited three local bike shops and spoke (pun intended) with the experts for some advice on how to get your bicycle tuned up and ready to ride.

Jerry Diamond has owned and operated , across from the downtown since 1982. When it comes to getting your bike ready for spring, Diamond stresses maintenance.

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“It’s important to keep your bike safe and reliable,” he says. “If you take good care of your bike and maintain it regularly, chances are you won’t have any major repairs, unless you have an accident,” he says.

“Of course tires do dry out eventually. If your tires are six years old or more they have dried out enough to risk bursting and should probably be replaced. Otherwise, it doesn’t really take too much to keep your bike up and running smoothly. A little maintenance goes a long way.”

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Diamond offers complete service on all makes and models and a complete line of bicycle accessories. His showroom is filled with new models, but he also purchases used bicycles and takes trade-ins, refurbishing them and reselling them. Downstairs, he carries a full line of used bicycle in tip-top shape.

, another longtime Northbrook establishment, was opened in the mid ’60s. Owner George Garner had been a consultant for the Schwinn Company, and built the store here at the request of the company as a model of how a successful shop should be run. His son George Jr. is now in charge of most of the day-to-day operation of the business along with general manager Jim O’Connell, who has worked there for 32 years.  George Sr., now 88, is still an active part of the business as well.

“If you’ve been storing your bike in the garage on its tires, you’ll want to check the tires for dry rot and cracking,” advises Garner. “If the tires have been flat, there’s a greater chance of cracks and the tires may not be holding air anymore.  It’s fine to store you bike in the garage over the winter, just make sure the tires are inflated.”  Garner also suggests looking over the gears and brakes, lubing the chain and checking to make sure the nuts and bolts are all tight. 

George Garner Cyclery offers a basic spring tune-up as well as other repair work.   The shop offers a great selection of children’s bikes and adult bicycles as well as helmets, clothing and accessories. They do take trade-ins on the purchase of a new bike and sell refurbished used bikes (more available this time of year than later on). Their annual spring sale runs the first week of April.

 on Skokie Boulevard offers a huge selection of bikes, helmets, cycling shoes, jersey shorts and even sports nutrition.  They service all bicycle brands. Before the first ride of the season, store manager Larry Bussell suggests a spring safety inspection.

“Depending on how many miles you put on your bike every year, there are some basic adjustments that should be made.  It’s best to have it looked over, especially if you do put a lot of miles on your bike.”

Performance Bicycle will be offering a free basic bike clinic April 27 in the store. The shop’s website also provides a list of area bike clubs and descriptions of local rides and trails.

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