Bike Shop Stories

(1999) This is a short but in-depth documentary about Upgrade Cycle Shop in Wicker Park, Chicago. Upgrade Cycle is one of the very few independently (not chain) owned bike shops in Chicago that does sales, component upgrades, and repair. The owner of Upgrade Cycle is interviewed about how the shop began and his personal ideology behind fostering a shop that is focused on the love of bikes and biking, rather than a shop as a solely commercial enterprise. Additionally, one of Upgrade's mechanics is interviewed about how his love for bikes began. The piece is a compliment to Tom Frisch's other work "Chicago Messenger" which interviews Chicago bike messengers.

This longer documentary short is a compliment to Tom Frisch's other work "Chicago Messenger" which interviews Chicago bike messengers. These two shorts and the other related pieces were shown during Tom Frisch's MFA Thesis Exhibition.

More information can be found on the EVL website --
http://www.evl.uic.edu/core.php?mod=4&type=5&indi=102

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• EVL
• Electronic
• Visualization
• Laboratory
• Bike
• Shop
• Stories
• Upgrade
• Cycle
• Chicago
• Tom
• Frisch

[MrHMX23]

Yes the Bike Shop is still open

Upgrade Cycle Works

1130 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642

upgradecycle . com

[hahabunny]

is the shop still open?

[ericacarman]

its nice to see someone who is passionate about there job! you must offer a good service! without the ego some bke shop owners wll have always seeming to think they now more than the customer does and speaking to them on the level!

[chucholetsm8one]

What is the address of this joint??

[jeeze]

Great documentary, captures the essences of working with old school folks. I grew up as a young bike rat in Santa Barbara, Ca. And following a mechanic, Sergio, who taught me skills in mountain biking, I now work at the shop where I was raised and work under him. I'm proud to say that Hazards Cyclesort has been around since 1914. Keep it real!

[TigerMTB]

Hey, this is the first bike shop I got to visit in ChiTown. Great clerk, friendly service, easy access! I'll be seeing you again!

[genya111]

good job! I wish we had a bike shop like this where I live its about time somone did somthing like this!

[trx1961]

as long as your happy,thats all that counts