photo: Denyse Leventman/Hot Shots By Dee
It’s like Christmas for cyclists—on November 12, a chunk of Fourth Avenue will be shut down to make room for the Bicycle Swap, a semi-annual event put on by the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association (GABA) in which all things bicycle will be up for grabs.
Whether you’re looking for a new set of handlebars, a bike seat or a vintage collector’s item, chances are, you’ll find it here.
“People show up from all over the West to sell their leftover bicycle parts, shops will come down and bring their inventory, everyone sets up on the sides of the street and anything bike-related is welcome,” said Greg Yares, Bicycle Swap coordinator for GABA. “If you like bicycles, it’s wonderful, because you’ll never know what you’ll find.”
The swap begins at 8 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m., on Fourth Avenue between Sixth and Ninth Streets. For cyclists, a bike valet will be provided by El Grupo.
“I’ve been told it’s the second largest bicycle swap meet in North America, and the cool thing is, it’s free, free, free,” said Kurt Tallis, Fourth Avenue Merchant’s Association Events & Marketing Director.
The Greater Arizona Bicycling Association is a local non-profit, non-competitive bicycling club that provides bicycling education and hosts a variety of local rides. They have held the swap twice annually since 1999—once in the spring, and once in the fall, typically the week before El Tour de Tucson. GABA does not charge vendors to participate in the swap, and Yares said the event usually brings out about 3,000-4,000 sellers and shoppers.
“It’s great to have it on Fourth Avenue, because the bike nuts can come down, and their friends and family members that aren’t bike nuts can walk around, go shopping, or eat lunch,” Yares said.
The event also helps support small local businesses on Fourth Avenue, said Tallis. “It’s good for everyone,” Tallis added. “It’s good for the community, good for the merchants, good for the soul; events like these are the fabric that makes up who we are.”
Visit BikeGABA.org and FourthAvenue.org for more GABA and Fourth Avenue events.
