Arlington Heights bike swap pedals on through rain, snow

Saturday may have been a terrible day for a bicycle ride.

But for anyone who attended the Arlington Heights Bicycle Club's annual bike swap in Arlington Heights, it was an opportunity to get a good deal.

More than 90 people were lined up about 20 minutes before the gates opened at the tennis courts in Centennial Park. An estimated 600 bicycles were waiting to be sold on the other side of the fence.

Organizers said the event is an opportunity for the community to sell or buy unneeded bicycles or bike equipment, including helmets, pumps and tires. It's also a fundraiser for the club.

Gene Zaworski, director of the swap, says the annual event is a great place to find bikes for kids and adults.

"People would rather buy a used bike than a $400 new bike," he said.

Mount Prospect resident Margaret Ciorobitca brought a bike to sell during Saturday's event. She was hoping to find another bicycle to take home.

"I think it's an excellent event for anybody, especially if you have kids because they outgrow their bikes so quickly," Ciorobitca said. "Instead of spending $200, you can buy something for $30 or $40. Then you can use it for a year and swap it again for something different."

Zaworski said most of the bikes sold during the event are for kids. But he said a whole gamut of bicycles was available, including road bikes and hybrids.

"We can sell about 400 bikes in four hours," he said.

When a bike or piece of equipment sold, the owners got 85 percent of the sale price, while the bicycle club collected 15 percent.

Despite Saturday's weather, Robert Stender showed up nearly an hour early to get a spot in line.

"I'm hoping to get some good deals on some bikes," said the Skokie resident, who has attended many previous swaps. "It's a good place for parts, too."