‘Mikes Bikes’ labor of love for Day
From our weekly issue dated March 04, 2009
Mike Day at work in his home-based workshop. (Photo provided)
During tough financial times, having a bicycle is often the cheapest, most practical mode of transportation.
And for children and young adults, it is also a road to fun, plus good exercise. Michael Day, a semiretired Illinois Valley golf pro, likes to repair broken bicycles and give them to valley youth to aid physical fitness.
Through his Mike’s Bikes project, he gives them away to those who can’t afford to buy one. He calls this his mission, and he wants to give two-wheelers to more young people in the area.
He has several bicycles awaiting new owners, as well as more bikes needing repair. Day has donated his work to children through the Illinois Valley Branch of Boys & Girls Club of the Rogue Valley and area schools.
“I don’t care where the kids come from,” Day said. “If they need a bike, I want to give one to them.
“My emphasis,” he said, “is to create a physically fit child and young adult; to help not being dependent on fuel for transportation, and to be proud of this gift of a bicycle.”
Besides his bicycling passion, Day has been involved in golf for 50 of his 71 years.
He said that he has driven on many streets to find bicycles relegated to leaning alongside houses because of being outgrown by a child, needing repair, or loss of interest by an owner. He thought it would be a great idea to repair and refurbish them; then give them away.
It’s a way of recycling something no longer useful to one person and making it useable to someone who wants it. This hobby has bloomed into a full-time avocation.
Newly repaired bicycles are offered to Lorna Byrne Middle and Evergreen Elementary schools, and the Boys & Girls Club. He tries to donate four to five bikes weekly. To obtain names of youth who need bicycles, and for donations to help pay for parts, Day has advertised in area newspapers, on KAJO Radio, and the Internet. He contacts the Boys & Girls Club, fraternal organizations, and schools.
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An enthusiastic bicyclist and accomplished bike mechanic, Day estimates the average cost of repairing each bicycle is $25, which he has gladly covered himself in the past. He works on approximately five bikes a week.
Bicycle parts most often needed are chains, tires, tubes, handlebar grips, cables and housings. The old bicycles also need cleaning and maintenance to make them safe and nice-looking again.
In order to keep the Mike’s Bikes program going, Day could use some continuing support from the community. He said that he has received help from various organizations, but that the list of youth needing bicycles is growing.
He plans to have cash donation sites in various places and events this spring and summer in order to help repair more bicycles and meet the rising demand for renovated bikes. He can be contacted directly about fund-raisers or making a donation to Mike’s Bikes at 597-4727.
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