From Rust to New

Brianna Dreger

Bike Club meets every Monday and Wednesday, advised by science teacher Thomas Brown. Bike Club does a few things for the community such as fixing bikes, riding out, and even racing. The members can choose what they want to do in the club and can even do more than one task. For example, a member can attend the meeting to go riding out and fix a bike another day during the week. So far, the present members of Bike Club prefer fixing bikes.

Once Brown and the Bike Club members fix a bike, they find someone to give the bike to. They can fix any kind of bikes. Anyone don’t have to already know how to fix bikes. They can also learn how to.

“We have been fixing the bike just this year, since September. I found it last year, someone threw it away. We just donated the bike yesterday.” Brown said. “We help people learn about their bikes, we can help with simple things like flat tires. We have one bike that was making a clinking noise and we were able to figure out what was wrong with it and fixed it. We have bikes that kids can borrow and we also have bikes that kids can fix up and keep if they want it.”

Not only do members fix bicycles, they also ride. Trips can be as far out as Old Wethersfield, the Meadows, and Folly Brook, which they take when weather cooperates. The trip can be up to six miles, but their top ride was 25 miles! A particular highlight is when Bike Club members ride to the Creamery, where he buys everyone a cup of ice cream!

Bike clubs members don’t only do activities using bikes, they attend events related to bikes such as a bike festival which is usually in June. There’s one event coming up this month.

“There’s a bike pedestrian meeting on October 30th at the Pitkin Center at night. That’s a meeting the town does to help make the town better for bikers and walkers.” Brown said.

Anyone is always welcome to join the Bike Club and I mean anyone. There’s a double seat bike so anyone who is blind or partially blind can ride out with the bike club members. The Bike Club is there for anyone who needs help fixing their bike. If you want to keep one, the club has plenty of extras collected. Experiment by trying out different kinds of bikes. If you want to race or have a relaxing ride, Brown will set up the date. You can borrow a bike anytime so you can ride out with friends.