Inspirations from the Klatch:

Repurposing more than bicycles

Walking in a Seattle crosswalk in 2017, Rob was struck by a car and severely injured. Comatose for over a month, he then began a difficult rehabilitation. It required starting over, learning how to walk, talk and eat again after a major TBI.

With no memory of the accident or where he lived, he didn’t remember working as a computer programmer. Early physical and cognitive gains were gradual and hard-earned. Despite losing his job and most of his friends he endured the endless hours of rehab, supported throughout by his wife Becky. Rob never lost his infectious smile or indomitable spirit. Some memories returned over time, notably his love of bicycles and fondness for ten years he worked in Pennsylvania bike shops growing up.

Three years after the accident, Rob was able to tuneup their bikes and ride with Becky again. His mechanical skills came back quickly but now required memory cues on Post-it notes as part of his toolbox.

For a school fundraiser for Becky’s niece in 2021, he offered free bike tuneups. The partnership of Rob’s mechanical skills and Becky’s incredible support produced a steady output of safe, well-tuned bicycles along with a renewed purpose for Rob. Becky soon created a website for friends and neighbors to schedule appointments. Word of mouth grew and since then Rob has tuned up more than 200 bikes.

But that wasn’t enough—remember that indomitable spirit mentioned above? Things really took off when Rob began searching online for neglected bikes needing repair. He joined the Buy Nothing community looking for free bikes to restore then give back. Since then he’s delighted 175 new riders and the number steadily increases.

Building on that success, Rob and Becky revised their process. Initially he’d locate a free bike and ask Becky to drive him to retrieve it, do the tuneup, then store it until he could re-donate to someone. Now when a bike appears on Buy Nothing, Rob simply posts a comment offering his expert tuneup free to the recipient if they bring it to him.

He currently has two bikes awaiting new riders and will finish another soon. No longer with a backlog of bicycles to donate, he also has more workspace.

Rob says his favorite thing is taking a photo of recipients with their ‘new-to-them’ free bike and sending it to the donor. Everyone shares the joy seeing a restored old bike going to a happy new rider by Rob’s repurposed expertise.

His message, “Everyone should let me be their expert free bike-mechanic friend.” We couldn’t agree more, Becky’s advocacy helped Rob recover former skills to thrive again. Also ride safely and wear a helmet!

How Buy Nothing works: 
To donate a bike, post a GIVE for free. If you need a bike, post an ASK.