A couple of years ago, I read a testimonial by someone my age in the paper about how riding a bike makes you feel like a kid again. I thought to myself, “That’s just what we need — let’s get bikes.”

My husband had taken many long-distance bike journeys through the United States and Ireland, and I figured this was a perfect couple activity for us: We would be together, get some exercise, get some fresh air and feel like kids again.

Our first trip was supposed to be reconnaissance — we were checking out the bike paths and seeing where they went. We are fortunate to have the Salt Creek bike path in our backyard. Once on that path, you can ride to Cermak Road and to the zoo or cross Wolf Road, go under the expressway and end up on a residential street that takes you to York Road. We crossed York Road with my husband cajoling: “Let’s see where this goes.” Not having been on a bike in 12 years, I was not too interested in seeing where the next path went, but where I went. We ended up at the McDonald’s headquarters on Jorie Boulevard and spent about an hour and half biking. The ride through the headquarters is lush and peaceful. It was a gloriously cool summer afternoon, and I lived to plan another bike trip.

With gasoline up to more than $4 a gallon, it seems there are many more people using bicycles as transportation and for running short errands. While standing in line at the grocery store, you might overhear a conversation about who will be carrying what, based upon the backpack or basket on each person’s bike.

The Wheel Thing, 15 S. La Grange Road, La Grange, owned by Bruce Glaser, can attest to the surge in bike riding.

George, the main mechanic at the shop, said, “We are seeing a lot of bike repairs and people coming in to buy new bikes as well.”

The other thing he has noticed is that the accessory sales are way up.

“People are buying baskets and bags so that they can carry things on their bikes.”

The Wheel Thing stocks bicycles ranging from the cruiser lines to the professional lines, including Specialized, Orbea, Gary Fisher and Greg Lemond. The shop also sponsors a Friday night ride, where a group rides from the shop in downtown La Grange to Waterfall Glen on the road. Glaser serves as the guide, and there have been a dozen people participating in recent weeks. Upon returning to the shop, adult beverages greet the group.

“We are finding that bicycling is becoming more and more popular,” George said.
I picked up a great map of Chicago area-bike paths — plenty of planning for summer bike rides. For information about the bikes, accessories or the Friday night ride, call (708) 352-3822.

If you are looking for a vintage bike, there is a spot right in our community where you might find the bike of your childhood. Rosebud Antiques, 5349 S. La Grange Road, Countryside, is the perfect spot to look for that treasure. Kim and Candy Sanders, owners of the shop, are continually on the lookout for vintage bicycles.

“It seems like everyone wants the bike of their childhood,” Candy said. “Big balloon tires are very popular in Chicago and becoming more so in the suburbs.”

Rosebud stocks only original bikes – no repaints — everything is original to the bikes.

“There was a young La Grange dad who came in recently looking for the exact same bike he had as a kid. We found it for him, and he said, ‘Great — I want my boy to have the same bike I did.’ He was happy as could be, and when I asked him how old his boy was, he said he was just born. He put the bike in shrink wrap and is storing it in the attic ’til his boy can ride it,” Candy laughed.

Many of the bikes are one-of-a-kind, and some of the names might be familiar: Jaguars, Corvettes, Speedsters, Racer, Sting Ray, Breeze, Starlet, Fleet, Monarch, Hornet, Traveler, Typhoon — all by Schwinn and all made in the U.S. There also are accessories, such as the vintage baskets, bugle horns and bells.

There is something special about riding a bike — the breeze blowing through your hair, the air rushing at your face, the speed of going down a hill. It’s liberating and doesn’t cost $4 a gallon.