Tips to Get Your Bike Ready for Springtime Riding

Strolling along Vine Avenue in Park Ridge, passersby may notice something peculiar in the storefront window of what otherwise appears to be a typical local bike shop — a bright red, white and blue inflated Bozo the Clown doll. Step into the small store, packed from floor to ceiling with rows of wheels and new bicycles, and you’re likely to be greeted by a second smiling face, that of owner Bob “Bozo” Kosmicki.

Kosmicki, who has owned the 60-plus year old business, Bob’s Bike Shop of Park Ridge, 141 Vine Ave., since 1980, said a friend of his uncle’s was responsible for first calling him by his unique nickname when he was seven years old.

“And it just stuck,” Kosmicki said.

When getting your bicycle ready for riding after it’s been sitting all winter, there are a number of things to watch out for, Kosmicki said. One tip is to make sure the inner tube doesn’t get stuck between the tire and wheel when you inflate it. Check out the video posted with this story to see Kosmicki speak about getting bicycles ready for the warm weather.