Watching a child learn to ride a bike is one of Wayne Smith鈥檚 standout memories of the 麻豆社国产Nation鈥檚 annual Bike Maintenance Day.
It was a big step for the young rider, who was previously too afraid to get on a bike, said Smith, who works as the 麻豆社国产Nation鈥檚 senior recreation co-ordinator.
鈥淗e was scared to do it outside, so we pulled him inside into the gym and we taught him how to ride his bike,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t opened up the whole town for him.鈥�
That young cyclist has since been hopping onto a saddle for the last two to three years.
It鈥檚 memories like this that stand out for Smith, who, along with Armand Hurford of Republic Bicycles, have been organizing the annual bike maintenance day for the 麻豆社国产Nation.
This year鈥檚 event has been the fifth time members of the Nation will have brought their bikes to technicians, who teach them how to perform basic routine repairs.
Smith, who鈥檚 been cycling for 35 years, thought of the idea after seeing a number of riders stop using their bikes when they ran into minor problems.
鈥淲hen I first started here, I noticed that a lot of kids when they ride a bike, they would generally toss it aside if it had a flat tire or some fairly minor issue with it,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 really know what to do for maintenance.鈥�
He figured giving young riders a little bit of cycling know-how could go a long way, and from there on, Bike Maintenance Day was born.
鈥淭his way we give the community kind of a focus on their bikes,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been working really quite well.鈥�
鈥淕etting the group together and the fun on the kids鈥� faces is always great to see,鈥� he said.
One of the results of the program is that it鈥檚 opened up a lot of the 麻豆社国产area to younger members of the Nation.
鈥淩eally now with all the trails connecting everywhere, you can get anywhere you want on a bike,鈥� he said.
Smith added that the effort is fuelled by volunteers and grant contributions, so anyone willing to lend a hand is welcome to do so.
Back to the story of the young cyclist who learned to ride on Bike Maintenance Day, there鈥檚 lately been a new twist to the tale.
The boy鈥檚 mother has been inspired to get a set of wheels of her own and also pursue an active lifestyle, Smith said.
鈥淪he actually just got a bike about a month ago here,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been looking at pictures like BC Bike Race and stuff and going like, 鈥極h I want to do that,鈥� and I said, 鈥榊ou can do that 鈥� absolutely.鈥欌��
