Category: Uncategorized

We’ve had some great new volunteers at the shop these past few months as people helped us prepare for the Kids Bike Swaps in June and July.

Bikes for kids are a good cause to support, and perhaps people are not as intimidated about working on kids bikes. They sound easy, but in truth kids bikes can take lots of time due to hard wear and cheap parts.

For the rest of the summer we’ll take a break from kids bikes* . Volunteers are still needed, however. We fix adult bikes year-round to get them back on the road at a reasonable price  – and to pay the rent.

A basic principle of Sharing Wheels is that bikes are for everyone. So is our shop. Stop in during shop hours to turn a wrench, help with “paperwork” (might be on our computer), pet Tango or assist with housekeeping, literal or figurative. There’s always something to do and people who love bikes of all types at Sharing Wheels.

*See you in the fall when we get bikes ready for Christmas House.

Lots of volunteers in the shop today helping get kids bikes ready for the Kids Bike Swap next Sunday, June 10. Feel free to stop by the shop during open hours this week to get greasy for an hour or two.

Kids bikes can be really easy – or really hard, since manufacturers do not generally build them for the long-term. Either way, getting a bike ready to continue its life with a new kid who wants it is very gratifying.

You also get to use tools you don’t usually pickup in a bike shop – this Huffy had a hammer taken to the wheel, along with vice grips. And some hairspray for the new grips.

There’s something for all skill levels to do, from pumping tires to adjusting a loose hub. You learn a lot working on kids bikes, including how heavy they are!

When you come to the shop, don’t be surprised to be greeted by the cutest little critter this side of canine.

Even if you don’t like dogs, we promise he won’t intimidate you or bother you – just tell him “no.”

But, if you tell him to “dance,” he just might do that. He’d also be happy to chase a ball or eat some grease off the floor.

That’s Tango, the shop dog.

Some days, he arrives by bike. He rides, but he doesn’t pedal. If his mom is riding up a hill, she might kick him off the bike and make him run alongside. That makes Tango happy.

So does hanging out with Sharing Wheels volunteers.

P.S. – If you ask Kristi, “What kind of dog is Tango?” she will tell you he’s a “golden wow-wow.” That means a mix of golden retriever and chihuahua. Or is he a daschund-chihuahua, also known as a “chi-weinie.” Ah heck – he’s a mutt!