May 19, 2021
Second Chance Bikes has been busy lately.
We got 2 phone calls last week - one from the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Vets, the other from a
World Relief volunteer. MWSHV said they have 3 bikes that had been given to vets who were using to
get to work, but all now Bad Order (term we used on the railroad 50 years ago for defective/out of
service). They wanted to know if I could take a look at them, perhaps fix them. I agreed to readily
as they are my top-priority market. Played phone tag for a couple of days coordinating a time, picked
up 2 of the 3 on Saturday that look like quick turnaround; third has a bad pedal crank and will take more time.
In the meantime, though, I got a call from a World Relief Friendship Partner volunteer. A Burmese
immigrant family had just bought a house and moved; now they are too close to school for bus (kids
are expected to walk or be driven) but it's too far for their pre-schooler. The volunteer had stopped
at a bike shop which sent her to me; she wanted to know if I had any used bike trailers available. Dad
has been putting the kid on a bike seat and walking the bike to school. Also wanted bikes for Mom, Dad,
and 6-yr old.
So I suddenly went from "I'm gonna focus on yard work" to "I've gotta fix 6 bikes and find a trailer!
"
I put a post on NextDoor explaining the need for a trailer; I had one ten minutes later! She
said she'd drop it off. The rest of the story is just the usual - check and inflate
tires, replace up to 4 cables, de-rust joints, chain, sprockets, replace brake shoes if needed, clean
and lubricate. Then test ride, do any additional tuneup of shifting and braking, add my label. Five
bikes are done, took a test ride pulling the trailer. The 6th bike I
will pick up at MWSHV tomorrow when I deliver the two. Here is the Burmese family's collection.
It will be delivered Thurs at 10:00 AM.
Update:
Dropped off the two at MWSHV yesterday and brought home the one with stripped threads in pedal
crank. I discovered one of my labels on the frame! It is gratifying to see that at least until
someone tried to put a left pedal on a right crank it has been serving someone. I don't
track them any more; started doing that the first year, but it is really pointless and takes
time I could be doing something productive. I assume it is one I donated to MWSHV a couple of
years ago. I Replaced the crank with one scavenged from a junker; also replaced
3 cables. I'll drop it off after delivering the 3 bikes and trailer to the Burmese family at 10 this morning.
Delivery to the Burmese family was everything I hoped it would be. Two parents, 4 kids, two puppies.
He put the youngest in the trailer and took a ride down the street.
They had just bought
bikes for their oldest two, eight and six, so didn't need the one I'd prepped for six.
After finishing with them I dropped the 3d bike at MWSHV and then took the little
white one planned for 6 yeaar old to Repeat Boutique, the "free shopping" facility for refugees and others
referred by churches or other agencies. When I dropped it there I found a 24" dual-suspension
bike just donated this morning. As is too often the case, it was donated because it was
unrideable. No brakes. So I took it home and replaced cables, adjusted, tuned front derailleur
which was throwing the chain off in high gear and returned it this afternoon. There was nobody in the
warehouse area so I went around to the front and spoke to the two volunteers staffing it today. Told
them I'd delivered two good bikes; they said bring them up here - they will go fast!. So I did. That's
seven refurbished bikes plus a trailer delivered in two days!
-finis