A little moonlighting

Marc Taylor of Westmont started offering bicycle tune-ups along Chicago's lakefront so he could make money to support his competitive cycling hobby.

That was several years ago, and he hasn't had much time to train or race ever since.

Taylor, who teaches history and psychology for West Chicago Community High School District 94, is co-owner of Lakeshore Bike 'n' Tune at 3650 N. Recreation Drive, Chicago, five miles north of downtown along Lake Michigan.

"The shop satisfies the entrepreneurial cravings I had in college, but I still get to teach and connect with kids through teaching," Taylor said. "It's the best of both worlds."

Taylor got into the bicycle tune-up business in 2002 as a way to make more money during the summer months.

He called friend and fellow cyclist Demien March of Bartlett to see if he knew anyone who needed a bike tune-up.

March didn't. But the two had always joked about going down to Lake Michigan and offering tune-ups along the lakefront's bike path.

"On second consideration, it didn't sound like such a bad idea," Taylor said.

Grabbing his portable bike repair stand, a tool box and a lawn chair, Taylor fashioned a sandwich board that read, "Bike tune-ups $20," and headed downtown.

On the first day he came home with $200.

"I sat out there every weekday for the rest of that summer," Taylor said.

Before long, in addition to doing tune-ups, Taylor was selling tires, tubes and used bike parts out of the trunk of his car.

"The cops would chase me away occasionally, but they all liked me," Taylor said. "They respected the fact that I was out there doing a service for people. And since they were bicycle police, they liked bikes anyway."

That winter, Taylor got permission from the Chicago Park District to rent a small space along the bike path legally. After building a small kiosk on the 10-by-12-foot spot, Lakeshore Bike 'n' Tune was born in 2003.

"The whole operation cost $500 to $600 a month," Taylor said. "But now it was in control of me as much as I was in control of it. I had to be down there every day."

March soon partnered up with Taylor in the business, running the shop one day each weekend so Taylor could race.

Each of the last four summers, the kiosk's total sales have increased by 50 percent each year.

For next summer, Lakeshore Bike 'n' Tune will expand by 15 feet, and a brick-and-mortar shop is in the works at a location nearby for 2009.

In addition to offering a pick-up and delivery service, Taylor gives free safety checks, makes house calls, organizes safety clinics and conducts workshops on how to repair your own bike.

Now Taylor sees Lakeshore Bike 'n' Tune as part of Chicago's grassroots cycling movement.

"I've been to a lot of big cities," he said, "and you see more bikes on Chicago streets than just about anywhere."

The tune-up stand also has given Taylor an opportunity to bring four or five of his students into the shop as assistants each summer.

Doing so gives him a chance to have a better rapport with kids.

"In the classroom, you're so removed," Taylor said. "They never really know you. You never really know them."

The kiosk is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in June, July and August, and weekends in April, May, September and October.

A map of the pick-up and delivery coverage area can be seen at the kiosk's Web site, www.lakeshorebike.com.