Summer of Volunteering

A couple weekends ago, I began this summer volunteering as a crew member of Castle Rock's Elephant Rock Bicycle Ride.  I drove back and forth all day to pick up weary bicyclists and transport them and their bicycles either to the next SAG Stop for emergency repairs or back to the starting location of the ride.  I had a great time and spent the day outdoors in wonderful weather.

I have been volunteering weekly for Project ReCycle as a bicycle mechanic since moving back to Colorado in 2014, and have been recently asked to step up to a position as Communications Manager.  In this volunteer position, I am responsible for keeping calendars current, writing newsletters, coordinating media coverage, and for shooting Internet video of tutorials, events, fund raising and training.  I like the opportunity for the experience I am getting working in a non-profit and the fact I can use my previous media experience as a television news and production videographer to support Project ReCycle in their mission.  And I am still welcome to use my hands to repair bicycles.  You can read more about Project ReCycle HERE.

In mid-June, I am driving the Project ReCycle truck during the premiere Ride The Rockies event, where the PR Team will be bicycling the beautiful Colorado mountains.  I will be setting up the truck, tent and tables in the communities the ride passes through, working a SAG stop, shooting photos of the Project ReCycle Bicycle Team riders, and sleeping on the ground each night in the mountains.  I rode Ride The Rockies back in 2001 and have been looking forward to supporting this event in some way because it is so professionally executed.  It was my best supported tour by bicycle, ever.
It may sound funny that I am supporting bicycling instead of backpacking, but after I broke my collar bone in 1998 and couldn't carry a backpack, bicycling became my great love.  Many years later, with ultralight equipment and lots of bone-healing, I have returned to my first love of backpacking, making my first overnight backpacking trip in 15 years (read about it here).  I still bicycle occasionally, but not the 200 mile weeks I used to ride.  And supporting Project ReCycle has given me a great community-centered opportunity to help children with bicycles.
It is something I did in the mid-1990's too.  I picked up children's bicycles that were in the trash, repaired them and saw they were freely given to needy children in the community.  The tearful, down-on-his-luck dad who was so thankful, hugging me tightly for the gift to his child is something I will never forget.  Too bad I didn't see the non-profit business opportunity of doing this at the time.  But the people at Project ReCycle did see it, followed through, and several years later, have asked me to help them.
So, while working a media job and volunteering for Project ReCycle, I will still be getting out this summer on overnight backpacking trips, starting after Ride The Rockies.  The tent I purchased for Ride The Rockies will be my same tent for backpacking this summer.  So you see, bicycling and backpacking in my life are both related in some way.
Maybe the jobs I applied for haven't worked out as I planned, or the cool business opportunities didn't materialize, but by hanging in there and continuing to volunteer for something important to me, life is working out, and that's the lesson.  And it is working out pretty well.

Project Recycle

Project Recycle

The retaining wall along Castle Rock's Plum Creek Trail near the Wolfensberger Road bridge is hand painted with art supporting Project Recycle.  This is a non-profit group that collects used bicycles and reconditions them for free, mostly as gifts for children and families.  These bicycles are given away both locally and they are shipped around the world.  I volunteer here occasionally as a bicycle mechanic.

Wall hand-painted art supporting Project Recycle

When I lived in Castle Rock before, I did this same thing on my own.  I would pick up child's bicycles or bike parts left out with the trash, throw it in my truck and would later recondition them and give them away.  Occasionally, I would purchase parts on sale and donate them to the cause of repairing a bike.  I called it ReBike.  A grown man in tears, accepting a reconditioned bicycle for his child at Christmas is something I will never forget.  I will gladly help an organization to do that same thing over and over.
I am an OK bicycle mechanic, am mostly self-taught and even own a few bicycle tools.  I used to own a bike repair stand until I wore it out.  Just rub me up in lithium grease, put some bike wrenches in my hands and point me toward a bike needing...help, adjustment, love...  I'm happy!
Project Recycle has several sets of professional work stations, and many bicycle tools available to use.  Spare and new used parts, lubes, oil and bearings are shelved and stored in cabinets and drawers.  Usable wheels, forks and frames are hung on racks so they can be easily located and reused.

The view of the wall looking north

Most of the 20,000 square feet of donated space at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital is split between repaired bicycles that are ready for shipment and bicycles waiting to be fixed.
The work process works like this:  There is a pile of bicycles is in the middle of the repair area.  You pick a bicycle and test it to see what it needs.  Usually, the headset may be frozen, the chain is rusted, the cables are loose.  You check brakes, pedals and the bottom bracket.  Pull on the wheels and handlebars to make sure they work OK.  There is a checklist to follow, just like at a local bicycle shop.  They even have shop aprons to keep your clothes clean and hand cleaner available to spiff up before you leave.
The people here are really nice.  Kent, the shop manager oversees the volunteers and makes sure we know the rules and sign the paperwork.  Then he helps us locate parts.  Patrick also has much bicycle repair experience, and he helps with the adjustments and the difficult, detailed repairs.  Both are very knowledgeable and are incredibly helpful. They even hold classes to teach students about bicycle repair.
I repaired two bicycles the last time I was there; a child's bike with training wheels and a mid-1980's hybrid bike for an adult.  And yes, I took some parts down to the bearings to get them right.  They weren't new, but they were safe and ride-ready.  Both will bring pleasure again for a long time.
This is a great place to volunteer your time Wednesday nights or Saturday mornings.  You can donate your old bicycles or your money to buy grease, tools and spare parts.  I'll be here routinely, fixing something children can enjoy for free.  And I'll be happy!