*Editor's note: This article was edited from its print version to correct Bicycle Heaven's phone number.
CHATEAU — Fans of all things pedal-powered from across the country converged on the Northside on May 3031 for the 16th Bicycle Heaven Annual Bicycle Show & Swap Meet.
Bicycle Heaven — which is the world’s largest bicycle museum — organizes this gathering of cycling enthusiasts to give them a chance to show off, and potentially sell, parts of their collection. Everything from retro easy-riders to sporty BMX bikes to novelty children’s bikes filled the parking lot of the Chateau-based attraction.
“We get people from all over the country,” said Bicycle Heaven owner Craig Morrow, citing visitors from as close as New York to as far as California.
Despite the often long distances attendees have to travel, Morrow said that repeat visitors to the meet are common. In his estimation, about half of the people who take part in the meet come every year.
One of those repeat participants at this year’s meet was Craig Finnerty, who was attending as a vendor. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Finnerty characterized himself as a “strictly BMX, early-to-mid-80s” collector, but greatly enjoys the myriad of different bikes he gets to see at the swap.
“It’s a lot of different variety,” he said. He also cited the “camaraderie” between enthusiasts at the meet as a highlight of the event.
Like many people, Finnerty got into cycling at a young age.
“It’s our first chance to work on stuff, so you work on your bike and that turns into bigger projects like working on cars,” he said. “I returned to bikes.”
Another attendee was Curtis Creer, of New York, who specializes in collecting bikes from the 60s and 70s. He has a special fondness for bikes with “banana seats,” as those were the kinds he grew up with.
Creer said while he enjoys visiting Bicycle Heaven, the meet is a chance to see some of the bikes Morrow hasn’t collected.
“He has a lot of bikes, but he doesn’t have everything,” he said.
Indeed, Morrow told The Chronicle that he had an eye on a bicycle brought to the meet, a 1975 bicycle which is the first carob-fibre bicycle ever made, designed by F.H. Appel Company.
As for Creer, he also had a fondness for the people he meets at meets, and said he has even met celebrities at bicycle events, including actor Robin Williams and talk show host Ricki Lake.
“You meet all kinds of people when it comes to bike meets,” he said. Bicycle Heaven will hold an additional Show & Swap Meet later this year, on Aug.
15-16. Attending the event is free, though there is a fee for vendor space if someone wishes to sell at the event.
For more information, contact Bicycle Heaven at (412) 734-4034 or visit bicycleheaven.org. The museum is located at 1800 Preble Ave. and is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
