Bicycle Alchemy in Spring City

I made a new friend this week. His name is Howard and he repairs bicycles. Actually, he brings old bicycles that have been given up for dead back to life. He is really good at doing this.

Most of the people I meet operate out of one of two orientations. There are those that are oriented toward problem solving. They react and respond to circumstances and their orientation is to make problems go away. Then there are those that are oriented toward creation. They bring new things into being. Howard belongs to the latter. He speaks with enthusiasm about the bikes that he has rescued, repaired, and placed back into use. It's beautiful to see his work. He transforms what someone considered junk into rideable art. He practices bicycle alchemy.

When we throw stuff away, I am realizing that there no longer is an away in which to throw them. As Howard says, "Our landfills are "filling up with too much metal." We are too easily disposed to throw out, toss, move on, and "forget about it." Howard creates really cool bikes and sells them out of his home. A laid off robotic engineer, he has a gift for working with machinery, and breathing new life into it.

He takes me on a tour of bicycle history. I see a fine Motobecane, and remember my first 10 speed. That bike and I were inseparable during college. There are Schwinns of all kinds, Raleighs, Bridgestones, Pugeots, and some bike names I have never heard. These are all masterfully repaired and awaiting their return to life helping a commuter, a senior, a college student, or a bike addict like myself.

Howard's business is seasonal in that more people buy bikes in the spring and summer. Each spring brings a resurgence of college students out to Spring City looking for a beater to ride around campus or a mountain bike to take up to French Creek State Park. Here's the kicker. Now is the best time to see Howard and get your own piece of bicycling history restored to its former glory. No bike is sold unless everything works the way it was designed. Howard is a bit on the persnickety side, and that's good in a bike mechanic.

Howard also does repairs. He has a steady stream of customers during the heavy riding season. Now is a perfect time to get your garaged bike, the one you always intend to get repaired over to Howard and to let him do his magic. It's also a good time to by a bike for Christmas. You are buying a piece of history as well as a means of transportation. Think of it as functional art! If you'd like to make an appointment to talk with Howard you can contact him by email at: thehow1@juno.com.

 As Freddy Mercury blasted out, "Get on your bikes and Ride!"

You'd better do it soon though. Just found out that because of a 40 million dollar shortfall, Montgomery County may shut down the Perkiomen trail! Ouch.