Sting-Rays with chopper handle bars and brightly-colored banana seats.

There are English-made Raleighs and French-made Peugeots and even a bike made in China before retailers imported bikes from China. But most of the rides reflect the American manufacturing era of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, when people could buy bikes made by local craftsmen with local steel.

Tate, a practiced "picker" of vintage goods at garage and estate sales, looks admiringly at a Schwinn Paramount he says was handmade. The 54-year-old scoffs at today's imports sold at discount stores like Walmart.

"Those are good for a season. This bike," he said, pointing to an electric blue Murray built in Dayton in 1955, "the wheels have always been straight. This bike will last forever."

He's also fond of the Roadmasters and Camelbacks introducedby the Cleveland Welding Co. They're on display in the front window.

The selection draws the budget-conscious, the dreamers and the aficionados. All seem to bask at least briefly in nostalgia before remembering what they came for.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, Michael Polsinelli, a Shaker Heights chiropractor, stood near the center of the shop holding a silver bike frame lacking wheels.

"I'm a bike geek," he explained. "I came here asking, 'Do you have a Viscount frame?' Fifteen minutes later, I'm holding one in my hand. I love this place."

Moving through on a second visit was Mario Owens, 54, of Cleveland. He had brought his eight-year-old daughter, Marshay, whom he promised a bike like one he rode as a child.

It was hard to tell who was more enthused by that