This past weekend was the annual Midwest Bicycle Swap. It was also really cold and ridiculously windy. The weekend’s events were supposed to kick off Saturday evening with the annual Pre Swap Ride. In the past we would a ride around town with stops at a few of our garages for food and beverages. This year was to be different though as our town was hosting a big spring party with food, beer, live music and other forms of entertainment throughout the day and in to the evening. Our plan was to ride around and end at this party.
Mid day we got word that due to the weather the party was pretty much a bust so prior to the ride we made a change of plans and would ride to our house and then to Tim’s who is the swaps organizer. Nova and I quickly ran to the store to get beverages and snacks for our expected guests. Nova opted not to do the pre swap ride. I rode to the starting point and met up with 4 others. After hem hawing around for a bit in the freezing cold it was decided we’d skip riding to our house and just go straight to Tim’s which was just 2 blocks away. I did ride back to our house to retrieve the beverages that we had just bought and with my bag full of local craft beers I rode over to Tim’s. Nova arrived by car shortly after I did. Many others also showed up by car.
We had a great time talking bikes with everyone. Nova left prior to me and then I rode one more time against the freezing wind back home.
Sunday was swap day. I wasn’t selling this year so that meant I didn’t need to be there early. I did have a few things for the “free pile” though. I loaded my bike with my parts donations and a thermos full of coffee and arrived at the swap around 9:00am.
It was another great swap despite being so cold, windy and cloudy. I’d meant to take photos but forgot until many vendors we’re gone and others were packing up. I only snapped a couple pics. This was also about the time the sun finally came out.
My swap finds included a girls frame, handlebars, Wald basket, a front and reear wheel, 20″ fork and a pair of grips. Most of this was given to me or from the free pile. The girls frame I took to build up for this Thursday’s Cycle-Cross ride.
Also got this very cool art piece painted by a friend.
Not wanting to haul this stuff home on the bike I called for Nova to come pick me up. Back home I switched to an old bike and then Nova and I rode back to the swap to participate in the old bikes ride
Our monthly old bikes ride took place following the swap but due to the weather and everyone busy with the swap, just 5 of us rode. From the swap location we rode to the local VFW where we were met by some fellow swappers that drove. After socializing for a while Nova and I rode home thus ending the weekends bike events.