Shop History

Rudy's is proud to be part of the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago for over 60 years.

Originally the store location at 5711 West Irving Park Road was called Lundin's Bike Shop, owned by Harry Lundin who first opened the store in 1937. At that time Rudy Kubica Sr. and his brother Paul were working at the Schwinn Bicycle Co. Rudy Sr. heard that Lundin was retiring and selling the store so he purchased the store in 1961 and changed the name to Rudy's Schwinn Cyclery. At first Rudy Sr. and his family lived behind the store with all 5 kids sharing the one bedroom. Later with the expansion of the business the name was changed to Rudy's Cycle and Fitness.

Rudy Jr. worked with his dad since he was a kid. He worked alongside him until 1984 when Rudy Sr. retired. Rudy Jr. took over the business and managed the growth of store for over 35 years until his retirement in 2021. Rudy Jr. continues to be an active cyclist while enjoying retirement and is a frequent customer.  

Rudy's Cycle & Fitness has always been run with the philosophy "IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CUSTOMER". Rudy's employees listen to their customers, ask questions and help them find the right bicycle for their needs. Rudy's Cycle also knows that time is important -- so they do the research for their customers by checking product reviews and forums, using bikes and accessories themselves, and belonging to cycling clubs to stay up to date with the latest and best products.

Since 2024, Rudy's has been owned by Christopher Keenan who is carrying on the Kubica Family traditional of serving the local community with all their cycling needs. Rudy's Cycle & Fitness is your local bike shop that will continue to serve and grow on the Nortwest side of Chicago for many years to come.