Two New Volunteer Wrenchers Complete 1st Bikes

Welcome Ryland and Andrea, two new volunteer mechanics to our team!

They both are fast becoming experts at refurbishing small child size bikes and will soon be working on larger youth and adult bikes. Our mechanic training program includes a detailed process of cleaning, adjusting or replacing, every part of a bike.

Did you know that the bicycle coaster brake in use today on child bikes was invented in 1898?

We take apart the coaster brake, inspect all of the parts, clean and grease the entire brake. A coaster brake is designed to run with all its internal parts coated in grease for quiet operation and smooth engagement.

Youth Earner Gets a Cool Fat Tire Bike

A lucky bike earner gets a like new, Mongoose Fat Tire bike. We don't get many of these and not usually in such great condition. We hope he enjoys the freedom riding up and down the alleys in his neighborhood, to his friends, parks and other favorite places. And he will be ready for some winter snow riding.

When I was his age, I had a green Schwinn Varsity 3-Speed, hand-me-down from my cousin. Most of my friends had similar 3-speed, state of the art bikes.

I wonder what my friends and I would have thought about a bike like that Fat Tire! Bikes sure have changed!

Wheels for Winners Collaborates with Bike Repair Program at Madison Public Library

Natalie Schad, Wheels volunteer and Dane Co Youth Education Program Manager for WI Bike Fed, organized a great collaboration with the Madison Public Library to teach people basic bike maintenance. This great collaboration includes Wheels for Winners, DreamBikes - Madison North and the Wisconsin Bike Fed.

The events took place at the end of August at the Alicia Ashman and Goodman South Library branches. See the great Capital Times article below to learn more.

https://captimes.com/news/community/bike-repair-program-at-madison-public-library-provides-how-to-lessons/article_3a062b88-649d-11ef-9ddb-63303c77be3c.html

Alan Crossley, Wheels for Winners volunteer mechanic, works on a bike for the Care and Repair program.

Photo by NICHOLAS GARTON of the Capital Times