There's Something About Burlington and Bicycles

Bicycles are ubiquitous in Burlington. Believe me. Big signs proclaim that bicycles are entitled to an entire lane, even on a busy two lane road, if there is no separate bike lane. All of Vermont is a biker's haven and heaven. There are probably more miles of bike path in Vermont than road since every road, save the two Interstates, is a bike route and there are a number of dedicated bike paths.

And, in our limited experience, a Motorhome, RV, Popup or even tenter without a bicycle per person is like a s'more without marshmallows.

So, after rationalizing all the reasons why Fran and I needed bikes and ignoring the fact that neither of us has been on a bike for more than thirty years, I decided we needed bikes. So onto the web I went. A lo and behold....

The Old Spokes Home Bicycle Shop and Museum on S. Winooski in Burlington. 

New Bicycles and Antiques in The Old Spokes Home

The first floor of the shop is dedicated to new bikes ($4000 anyone?), accessories and an extensive bicycle repair and rehabilitation facility. The second floor is literally stacked to the rafters with new and reconditioned used bikes.

The Used Bike Loft of the Old Spokes Home

One end of the building is a bicycle museum tracing the history and development of the bicycle.

The Bicycle Museum In The Old Spokes Home

More museum

We put ourselves in the capable hands of Brendan who had Fran on a spiffy, new, powder blue Jamis Hudson, size small, in relatively short order. I started out on a used, more-than-slightly battered three speed, almost like the one I got for my 10th birthday. Then, after donning the obligatory backward pointy helmets, we were directed by Brendan around the corner and up the hill to a couple of very quiet side streets between two cemeteries.

You may never forget how to ride a bike but you do forget how you weaved and wobbled learning. And if nobody is there to yell, "Use the brake!" your crotch can take quite a beating.

After a turn around the block Fran was no longer skeptical, only slightly dubious but willing to make the commitment. She advised me that she thought the price for my used, beat-up piece of junk was outrageous. So I ended up with a brand new 7 Speed Biria in classic black to go with Fran's 7 speed Jamis Hudson Sport.

A $1000 later we went back to Wilbur and North Beach Campground to await the delivery of our bicycles. It just doesn't seem right to call a $500 bicycle a bike. My first 3 speed English racer that I got for my 10th birthday cost $59 assembled. But that was then....

Shortly after 5, a very old Econoline van pulled up next to Wilbur. Brendan and the Old Spokes owner unloaded our bikes and check our fit on them. When we told the owner that we were full-timers in Wilbur, he recounted that he and his wife had gone around the world by bicycle for 2 1/2 years thirty years ago. They had budgeted $2500 a year each. That was then...

Fern (Right) and Templeton

And, of course, we need a place for Roscoe.