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Once upon a time in America, Schwinn and bicycles were synonymous, and Chicago was the center of the two-wheeled, pedal-powered universe.

Baby boomers grew up riding or aspiring to ride a Schwinn – sturdy, sleek and sexy bikes such as the incomparable Sting-Ray chopper – built by the family-owned, Chicago-based company for nearly a century before it spun into bankruptcy in the 1990s.

The remarkable rise and fall of Schwinn is the subject of a new documentary by emerging filmmaker Daniel Clarke, tracing the history of the most iconic bike maker of the 20th century – once a brand on par with Coke or McDonald’s.

“It’s a story of 100 years of Americana, and really a rich story of 100 years of cycling as well,” said Clarke, 36.

The first full-le

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