I heard about this place by word of mouth a couple of weeks ago. This random dude I met hanging out at Strictly Cycles told me about it while we were chatting about vintage bikes. He said: "oh man, you have to check out this place in Bayonne, it's FULL of old school Schwinn's. You'd love it" He then proceeded to call his wife for the number and address since they really didn't have anything online. Actually, this is probably the only detailed mention about them on the internet right now. Anyways, he got the info and passed it on to me. I decided that I should go scope them out since they were in my area. This past Saturday was a pretty soggy one so I figured I'd spend the afternoon scoping out bikes since I couldn't really ride...
Once I saw the old school sign out front I knew I was in for a real treat...
As I went to open the door of my car I saw some scurvy lookin dude riding a trike in the mirror coming my way. I grabbed this snap as he rode by. Another good sign. Note his license plate...
During the drive here I was REALLY hoping the place wouldn't be a wash out. As you can see my fears were immediately alleviated once I realized I'd struck nerdy cycling GOLD...
Another view facing the front door...
Close up shots of the wall case...
I TOTALLY wasn't expecting to find such a LARGE collection of restored schwinn bikes. This is defineatly the most I've ever seen in one place. Not to mention THE BEST job you could possibly do. Steve, the owner and his son Paul are awesome! Putting the effort into some of the details of these bikes is reeeedonkulous! One of many examples: A SUPERBELY restored 1954 Jaguar Schwinn Cruiser...
1968 Schwinn Krate bike. All original...
Sweet deluxe Tornado...
SICKEST Schwinn tandem EVER!!! Fully restored...
Killer 1970 Schwinn chrome Paramount. All original...
A pleathura of paramounts! Various years...
Now... This thing FUCKING KILLED ME! A 1910 Iver Johnson track bike in AMAZING condition despite being nearly a HUNDRED years old. This bike is SO SICK. It's crazy to know that this bike was raced at most likely all of the local Velodromes back in the day. I felt all warm and tingly just looking at it. Steve told me that the tubulars even held air in them. Unreal...
Oh those bars!
The headbadge is just pure fucking GOLD man...
Even the decal is in amazing condition...
Awesome rear stay and box pinstriping...
Inch pitch drive train...
The saddle was a bit worse for wear since it's leather. Still awesome looking though...
I was really, really stoked about my visit to Eddie's Cycle City. Steve and his son Paul were true bike nerds, super cool and down to earth to talk to. Steve showed me a couple of old schwinn books and filled me in on some of the old local cycling lore. Like how there used to be a Velodrome in Fort Lee (the town over from mine) and how Richard Sachs is actually from Bayonne. A buddy of his being the one who got him (Sachs) into cycling. He also told me about a Cycling museum not too far away that I had no idea about. I plan on checking that place out another day...
If you're interested in learning more about the local track racing history check out this awesome article originally featured in the May 1990 issue of
Bicycling Magazine about Pop Brennan and his two son's old bike shop in NJ. I actually enjoyed it enough to go and check out the address of the old shop. The building is still there but the area is now the GNARLIEST ghetto...
For more pictures of Eddy Cycle City be sure to Check out my
Flickr set...
Eddy's Cycle City of Bayonne NJ visit...
I first discovered these hubs on Zipp's website and was HOTT for them from the start. You know anything Zipp puts out is going to be quality and FAST as fuck. The best part about them is they don't look like all the other super techy shit they put out (not that there's anything wrong with that). Just straight up chrome with a touch of classic style drilling. I got a set of these a few months ago and was SUPER stoked on them. They're nice, solid and WWWICKED smooth. They're so smooth that when you spin them it's like a skateboard wheel, and they weren't even broken in! Most other hubs I've owned are nowhere near that smooth. I had them built up and I have to say: SICK! It's like rolling on glass. I had them laced to clinchers so I can only imagine how much faster and smoother they'd be with Tubulars. As far as the difference between say Phil Wood hubs, with my current set up, minimal. I think you'd notice a bigger difference with Tubulars. The one major set back to these hubs is the price. Retail is a gut wrenching $460. BUT, if you can get past that hurdle you'll def have NO regrets AT ALL. The other thing is that they used to offer these hubs in a 32 hole as well. But according to the Zipp rep, the guys there said they were a pain in the ass to make in that drilling and my set would be the LAST they would make. According to the site they're offered in a 28 hole only. Hopefully that was an exageration and they'll still be available for custom orders. Lord knows I'd fancy another set!
