Boys and Girls Club Bike Repair Event Summary

Over the past school year GABA with volunteers from Raytheon sponsored bike repair workshops and rodeos at each of the 6 Tucson's Boys and Girls Clubs.  On the right is Karen, from Raytheon, repairing a flat on a rear tire.  These events were well attended by the club members as over a hundred bikes were repaired.  The repairs included simple tube patching or replacements, replacing seats, replacing pedals, derailleur adjustments, brake adjustments, replacing single piece cranks, tire replacements, replacing handle bar grips, tightening bottom brackets and axel bearings and rebuilding several coaster brakes.  Almost every bike was ridden away by the proud and very thankful owner.  Sadly several bikes were not repairable.

As seen on the right, kids waited patiently for their bike to be repaired.  Some were very eager to learn how to remove and fix flat tires,  After a bike was finished, its owner gave it  a test ride around the El Rio Club park area before being taken home.

The free bike repair workshop was paid for by GABA with Ajo Bikes and Sabino Cycles providing parts at a big discount.

Here are two opportunities to help with this event in the future.  The first one is to volunteer to help with this event next year.  All skill levels are needed from simple tube repair, to removing wheels and replacing cranks.  The events are scheduled for 3 hours and 3 events will be held in the fall and 3 in the spring.  Volunteering for just one workshop would be helpful.

The other opportunity is to help the kids without a bike.  If you have a suitable bike, working or not, for these kids, a 20" BMX bike for example, or know of someone who wants to donate it.  GABA will refurbish the bike and donate it to the Boys and Girls Club.  For either opportunity please contact either This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .