Fat tires, classic cruisers in Cudahy

Scott Wilke stopped counting the bikes in his collection at 400.

Acquired over the last 20 years, Wilke’s collection has evolved into an informal bike museum occupying 2,000 square feet of first-floor space at South Shore Cyclery, 4758 S. Packard Ave. in Cudahy.

Rows of his specimens rest on racks from two liquidated Kmarts inside the bike store, whose basement abounds with multiple rooms of neatly organized bikes and parts. A few bikes are tagged with information but most are simply displayed with no labels. Bicycle enthusiasts will notice historical and stylistic changes in gear shifter placement and other differences from bike to bike.

Wilke, a congenial 54-year-old who speaks casually but with precision, describes his passion simply, “I collect and I don’t sell.”

Wilke’s favorite models are big, comfortable cruisers manufactured by American companies from the 1920s onward. In particular, he collects balloon-tire bikes from 1933 to the late 1950s. The bikes are easy to mount, have cushioned saddles, and evoke relaxed fun. They stir memories of childhood freedom like a Normal Rockwell image. 

Some of his bikes predate World War II, but these are rare in part because many bikes were melted down for the war effort.

The historic collection touts a 1917 Harley-Davidson bicycle, a 1934 Schwinn Aerocycle in original condition (worth $10,000), and a 1937 Roadmaster with original accessories. Wilke’s personal favorite is a 1950s Schwinn Typhoon.

“Scott has one of the most impressive collections of cruiser bicycles we’ve come across,” said Jacob Harkins, editor of Kickstand Magazine. “He has every classic you could ever imagine and probably every fat-tired bicycle that’s been thrown to the curb in Wisconsin in the last two decades, too.”

Visitors are frequently excited to see a bicycle similar to the one they rode growing-up. And Wilke, with a sharp memory, enthusiastically recalls the stories of particular bikes. He acquired one that a returning soldier originally purchased with the bonus he received from the state of Wisconsin for his service in World War I.

“Also, just last year, I purchased a 1938 Roadmaster bicycle from a fellow in Hartford, Wis.,” Wilke said. “It was in complete condition and it was originally his father’s bike. His dad bought it in Antigo, Wis. with the intention of riding the bicycle-single speed!-from Antigo to Milwaukee to see the Wisconsin State Fair. I was told that he did it too!”

Consuming Hobby

In 2002, Wilke bought the South Shore Cyclery building, formerly Cudahy News & Hobby, and moved in his bicycle collection. Al Wroblewski subsequently moved the South Shore Cyclery business from South Milwaukee to Wilke’s building. In 2005, Wilke and Wroblewski became equal partners in the business. Wroblewski retired in 2006 and Wilke currently co-owns South Shore Cyclery with Steve Whitford, a certified master mechanic.

Wilke does accounting and administration for the shop and fields lots of calls about bicycles. “I make a lot of visits to people who call me who really don’t know what they have. Maybe one out of 10 or 12 are kind of interesting to me,” he said.

Wilke’s dedication to detail involves hands-on effort like mounting a headlight or detailed research work. “I’ll spend a lot of time researching what reflector went on the rear tire of a bike,” he said. While he frequently does partial restoration, he does not work on total restorations like stenciling on paint schemes. He prefers that old bikes have some patina.

When Wilke gets a break from his day job in the Third Ward running Leader Paper Products and moonlighting for the bike shop, he gets out for rides. Typically, he rides one of two modern road bikes, but he does occasionally enjoy a spin on a historic model.

Born and raised in Bay View, Wilke currently lives above his collection on Packard. He got into bicycling as part of a weight-loss program. After taking a bicycle maintenance course at MATC-twice, to hone his budding bike repair skills-Wilke came upon a hobbyist’s vintage bike collection when searching for a rare wheel replacement for his childhood bike. By the late 1980s he had started his own collection, expanding it through estate sale purchases.

When he began to run out of storage space in the Third Ward, he found his Cudahy building. “It meant enough to me that I traded away the downtown lifestyle to move here,” said Wilke.

Wilke’s informal bicycle museum is free and open to the public whenever the store is open.

South Shore Cyclery
4758 S. Packard Ave.
(414) 831-0211
southshorecyclery.com
Mon.-Fri. 11am-8pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 12pm-5pm.