For more than 10 years now, BWorks volunteer Tim Quinn has been helping out in big ways in our bike shop. And in 2020, when the pandemic hit and our operations temporarily took a major shift, he began taking bikes to his home to help keep the work — and our amazing students — rolling on two wheels.
“Slowly, I acquired tools and a stand until I had my own little bike shop in the basement,” Tim says. “It’s nice to go down, turn on Spotify and work on bikes.”
His wife soon suggested he start keeping track of the many bikes he was refurbishing on behalf of BWorks. She gave him a calendar to start cataloging the bikes.
“Two years ago, the number {for that year alone] was 91 which pushed me to see if I could reach 100 this year,” Tim explains.
Earlier this month, Tim did just that, returning his 100th refurbished bike to the shop, where it will soon find an eager new owner. BWorks has had more than 500 children and teens graduate from Earn-A-Bike, Learn-To-Ride and Earn-A-Computer so far in 2023, and so the need for wonderful sets of wheels is an ongoing one.
Donated bikes come to BWorks in all sorts of states. Each of these machines gets a full going-over by our skilled mechanical team. But as Tim knows so well, some require a lot more work than others.
“The bikes I like the best are the ones that [computer shop manager and BWorks jack of all trades] Quorey refers to as those that need a lot of love,” Tim says.
He’s always up for a challenge, and the whole team is continually impressed by how beautiful each bike Tim works on looks when it returns to BWorks ready to ride.
“I’ve learned a lot from the staff and volunteers at BWorks,” Tim says. “The people I’ve met are genuinely good people. Shout out to MIke, Quorey, Patrick, John and Paul, who have taught me a lot and have become good friends. I’ve learned much and I know I’m not the best bike mechanic but I think I can claim bike detailing, making them look nice as my superpower. Thanks, BWorks, for all you’ve given me.”
At this holiday season, we want to express our deep gratitude to Tim and all of our incredibly devoted volunteers. You amaze us every day.