ROAD TRIP
VANESSA ORR
W
hen you think of a museum, what first comes to mind? Priceless art? Imposing dinosaur skeletons and “taxidermized” beasts? Civil War relics or Revolutionary War cannons? While Pittsburgh has all of those and more, it is also home to some odder—but still just as intriguing—museums that cater to more specific interests. Bicycle Heaven Shop & Museum, for example, has more than 6,000 different types of bicycles on display; Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff is filled to the brim with rock-n-roll history and collectibles from the 1950s. And Randyland pretty much defies description—part art museum, part Pittsburgh social hub and one of the happiest places in the ‘burgh, it’s main attraction is its owner and artist-in-residence Randy Gilson. While all of these museums are well worth a visit simply for their cool factor alone, the fact that they are all free, and located on the Northside of Pittsburgh, makes them a mustvisit when stopping in the Golden Triangle.
Bicycle Heaven Bicycle Heaven is what happens when a guy likes to collect things…and then he rides that passion right into Trip Advisor’s #1 spot of things to do in Pittsburgh. Back in 1991, Craig Morrow found a bike in the trash that he decided to repair; flash forward three decades, and Morrow is now the curator and owner of the world’s largest bicycle museum. You’d think that if you’ve seen one bike you’ve seen them all, but nothing could be further from the truth. Two floors of a massive warehouse are filled with everything from Howdy Doody and Donald Duck kids’ bikes to the red-and-white striped racer that Pee-Wee Herman rode in his big adventure. And while you may consider bikes playthings, they are serious investments, too. Bicycle Heaven is the only place in the world to see 17 Bowden Spacelander bicycles (only 30 still exist); each is worth about $18,000 now, down from $50,000 in their original condition. You can spend hours in this museum, and you’re still not going to see everything inside, though I highly recommend making a stop in the Groovy Cranky Panky Socket Room—part art project and part, well, bike parts, it’s a psychedelic experience that you won’t soon forget. If you happen to be a bike rider, you can also find bike parts, bikes to trade, and even bikes to rent so you can see even more of the city. 26 | April 2021
BICYCLE HEAVEN 1800 PREBLE AVE 412-734-4034 BICYCLEHEAVEN.ORG
Old Town Crier
