Chicago Bicycle Company
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The Chicago Bicycle Company operated from 1994 to 1997.
Founded and owned by Vermont Teddy Bear Company owner John Sortino, the company had its headquarters in Burlington, Vermont with production taking place in Chicago, Illinois. Based on tradition, the bicycle utilized an internal-gear hub, available in both 3,5 and 7-speed options.
Sortino hired a Burlington Vermont bike techinican, Mark P. Walker, assisted by Tim Matthewson of Champion Cycles, to provide a marketable bicycle that would appeal to commuters and people wishing to have a practical aternative to the mountain bike without the complication of derailleurs, and above all, made in the U.S. The bicycles sold for $500- $1000, depending on hubs, and options chosen by the customer. 50 framesets were originally fabricated by Tri-Angle Metal Fab in Milton, Vermont, and 50 more were made by Waterford Precision cycles of Waterford, Wisconsin, under the guise of Richard Schwinn (great grandson of Ignaz Schwinn) and Mark Muller. After that, the CBC built their own factory on 363 W. Erie in Chicago, Illinois, with design and administration remaining in Burlington, Vermont. Approximately 100 or more were made before the company went out of business in 1997.
The framesets were made from True Temper 4130 CrMo Steel with Reynolds 531 chainstays, and CBC’s own CrMo fork. The frames were powdercoated to any color to order, or to any of the several predetermined models. CBC offered Sachs 3,5, and 7 speed hubs, with Sum M25 rims. A selection of handlebars, saddles, mudguards, racks, were added per customer’s specs. The headbadge was made in Middlebury, Vermont by Danforth Pewterers, by lost-wax casting method. These badges cost $10 each to produce, and were hand fitted to every frame. The factory in Chicago had a first floor sales room that had a test track that customers could try the bikes out indoors.
The bicycle shown in the photos was one of 5, 22” frames made for the Burlington Police Department, with the Sachs 7-speed alloy front and rear hubs with dual drum brakes. Only one of these bicycles was known to have made it to the BPD for testing, the rest were lost after the company went out of business.
The Chicago bicycle was unfortunately ahead of its time,as many people were unwilling to spend more than $200 for what was perceived as a beach cruiser. The Chicago bicycle was much more than that, intended to become a tool to be used to get someone to work, or go for a nice ride on weekends on a trouble-free bicycle. Today, Joe Breeze is making a very similar bicycle that achieves all the Chicago bicycle was hoping to be, for about the same price tag.
John Sortino is also the owner of www.worldwidemonkey.com.
Mark Walker now works for Mobility Without Barriers www.worldmobility.org, designing all-terrain cycles for polio and land-mine victims in Ethiopia and India.
