What the Heck is Wonder Wheels?

Do you remember your first bike? I bet you can tell me what colour it was, what it looked like and maybe even the brand and model. But those weren’t the important things I’d bet. I loved my first bike, with a fixed gear and 12” solid tires, but I didn’t realize at the time it was a little limiting. It obviously wouldn’t coast and its top speed was modest. My second bike opened up the world for me. Coasting felt just like flying after my fixie, and all of a sudden I could go anywhere I wanted. Friends didn’t have to live close and I had my first real freedom. Bike riding changed my life.

In those days it seemed like every kid had a bike but that’s no longer the case, even here on the North Shore. Families struggling to pay rent and put food on the table don’t have disposable income for kids’ bikes.

How Did Wonder Wheels Come To Be?

This isn’t a new problem and James Wilson (owner of Obsession:Bikes here in North Van) got wind of a solution back in 2006. He stumbled upon an organization called Bikes for Tykes, from Naples Florida. The idea was simple; take kids’ bikes that were no longer needed, fix them up so they were safe, fun and functional, and distribute them to kids from disadvantaged families to add some joy to their lives and give them a bit of a head start in life.

James loved the idea and he jumped right in. In the first year Obsession:Bikes fixed up 14 bikes and every year that grew. That year he discovered Family Services of the North Shore, an organization that provided help for the families he was trying to reach. That was the start of a great partnership to distribute the bikes to the kids who needed them most. 

Challenges

What Does it Take to Outfit a New Rider? For years now each new rider has also been given a brand new helmet. On top of that almost all of the bikes get new tires and most get new pedals, grips and saddle. Bikes with hand brakes and gears get new cables and housing. Add the 90-minute average build time to refurbish each of the hundreds of bikes and it becomes clear that there is a hefty cost to putting this monumental task together.

One way to get involved is by donating a kids’ bike that is no longer needed. Bikes with 24 or 26” wheels are in particularly high demand but just about any bike will be accepted; teenagers are also part of the program, and even adults once the kids’ needs are met. 

How Many Bikes are Needed to Meet Kids’ Needs?

Each year the program grew and the shop collected bikes year round, eventually storing them in a shipping container. More recently, since the program has grown so large, James has handed it off to Family Services of the North Shore but stayed involved, both with his employees leading the refurbishing crew, and by collecting bikes and promoting the program. Last year, Wonder Wheels, the rechristened  program, gave away 240 bikes. That’s a great accomplishment but it was also a disappointment for James and the crew because they had requests for 320.  The goal this year is to put together 350 bikes, but that’s going to take some community involvement.

What Goes Into Outfitting a Bike, and a Kid?

For years now each new rider has also been given a brand new helmet. On top of that almost all of the bikes get new tires and most get new pedals, grips and saddle. Bikes with hand brakes and gears get new cables and housing. Add the 90-minute average build time to refurbish each of the hundreds of bikes and it becomes clear that there is a hefty cost to putting this monumental task together. The goal for this year is to reduce last year’s shortfall, but the needs have grown as well and the requests are pushing past 400. To make that happen in just a few weeks, it’s going to take community involvement.