Teens earn bikes by learning to fix them

EVERETT — The red mountain bike looked ready for a rusty retirement.

The Stump Jumper, a classic from the late 1980s, had a broken axle, bent rims, no brakes, worn gear cables and tires that had seen too many trails.

"It was pretty beat up," said Ron Toppi, a bike mechanic who founded Sharing Wheels in Everett, a charity that fixes and donates used bicycles to those who need them. "It needed a lot of work."

Instead of repairing the bike himself, he took the Stump Jumper and his tools to the Cocoon House shelter for homeless teenagers in Everett.

In the past year, nine teens at the shelter have overhauled bikes with Sharing Wheels volunteers through its "earn-a-bike" program.

Using donated materials, teens spend six weeks learning to fix and care for a bike of their choosing. At the end of the class, the bike is theirs to keep, Toppi said.

"It’s worth more to them if they’ve worked for it, plus it gives them hands-on experience and mechanical skills," he said. "It helps build their confidence."

Larry, 17, who has lived at the 24-bed Cocoon House for about three weeks, selected the Stump Jumper from the dozens of bikes donated to Sharing Wheels. He plans to ride the bike to school and to his telemarketing job.

"It means so much to work on it, knowing that I did it and completed a bike on my own," said Larry, whose last name was withheld because of Cocoon House privacy rules.

Although he had raced and repaired BMX bikes, Larry said fixing the Stump Jumper was tougher than he expected.

"I thought I knew everything about bikes, but I found out I didn’t," he said, pointing to the bike’s bottom bracket — a part he learned about from Toppi.

"The good thing is that they’re not only fixing up a bike they can use, they’re gaining life skills," said Laura Zavala, director of residential services at Cocoon House. "They get the gratification of accomplishing a task that takes a while."

Last week, Larry and Sharing Wheels treasurer Kristi Knodell made final adjustments to his bike, fine-tuning the brakes, which were rubbing on the rim of the back wheel.

"The kids really love this," said Knodell, who frequently rides to Everett and has toured France and the Rocky Mountains on her bike. "You can often see a change in them by the end (of the class). It’s something they care about and really want to do."

Toppi, 39, said he hopes to eventually offer a vocational training program in bicycle repair. He’s searching for a permanent site in Everett that Sharing Wheels can use to store bikes and open a repair shop.

He launched Sharing Wheels two years ago after providing free bike repairs for men at the Everett Gospel Mission. The group’s aim is to give low-cost, reliable transportation to those who can’t afford to buy a bike.

Sharing Wheels volunteers still regularly work at the Gospel Mission and run an annual community bike swap where kids can trade in bikes they’ve outgrown for larger sizes.

Last year, Sharing Wheels donated 50 repaired children’s bikes to kids through the Christmas House in Everett. They’re hoping to give 100 bikes this year.

"I really think everyone should have a bike," said Toppi, whose passion for cycling started after he lost his driver’s license a decade ago because of a drinking problem.

He regained his license, but still prefers cycling.

"I only drive if I absolutely have to," he said. "Bikes changed my life. … I found out just how mobile you are on a bicycle. It’s freeing."

Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or schiffner@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Community Transit saw a 17% jump in ridership from 2023 to 2024. Photo courtesy of Community Transit.
Snohomish County transit agencies seeking comments on planning docs

Community Transit and Everett Transit are preparing documents that lay out a path for future service and infrastructure improvments.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen talks with Volunteers of America leadership to discuss the consequences of the federal cuts on Monday, June 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Federal cuts to LGBTQ+ youth hotline to hit Everett center

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, visited the call center Monday to discuss impacts of the cuts, including longer wait times and staff layoffs.

U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, right, goes over a Chinook Marsh Project map with Snohomish County Surface Water Management’s Michael Rustay, left, and Erik Stockdale, center, at the project site on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County receives $10 million grant for floodplain management

The state Department of Ecology funding will go toward 13 projects across the county working to restore habitat and support climate resiliency.

The Washington state Capitol. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)
These Washington laws take effect July 1

Fee hikes for hunting and fishing licenses, workplace protections for immigrants and… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.