After-School Program Teaches Teens How to Fix, 'Earn a Bike'
2022-06-01
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1At Phoenix Bikes, a non-profit bicycle shop and educational center, students are learning their ABCs.
2That stands for the air, brakes, and chain of basic bike mechanics.
3Phoenix Bikes sells bikes to the public at their business in Arlington, Virginia.
4But it also teaches teenagers how to repair bikes.
5Most students at Phoenix start in its after-school "earn-a-bike program," at middle and high schools in and around Arlington County.
6Once a week over a 12 week period, students learn repair skills.
7They learn how to use tools, fix flat tires, align the wheels, and adjust brakes and gears.
8The first lesson involves taking the bike apart, or stripping it down to its basic structure, the frame.
9By doing this, they learn all the parts of a bike.
10In the first weeks, they work in small groups to repair a bike donated to the shop.
11The bikes often have missing or damaged parts.
12The finished bike is then given to a person in need from the community.
13Phoenix Bikes director Emily Gage said the shop partners with several local organizations to donate the bikes.
14Some bikes have been going to Afghan refugees resettled in the area.
15In the last four weeks of the program, students come to the shop to work on one of the donated bikes which they can then take home at no cost.
16Anthony Jimenez-Galindo is a student at nearby Wakefield High School.
17He just completed his bike.
18He said it was not in good shape at first but was the kind of bike he was looking for and could be made into something better.
19He said it had no brakes, no front tire, and was without a chain or a cassette, which controls the gears.
20"It was junky but it looked nice, that's really my only reason behind it. It was a very nice looking bike and... I was willing to go the extra mile to fix it."
21Jimenez-Galindo said he joined the program to get better at working with his hands and fixing things.
22"And also because I wanted to learn how to actually repair and fix a bike. And so far I'm learning pretty good."
23Wakefield student Owen Spiegel talked about what went into fixing his bike, as he put his finishing touches on it.
24"Well first when I started the bike I wanted to test, see how everything worked.
25So first I wanted to see how the brakes worked- brakes were not working at first.
26Other than that, first I went and put pedals on so I could test the gears and the gears seem to be working all fine.
27Then putting on the brakes-that was the hardest part.
28I had to completely reattach this brake and then I had to set this brake up so that, you know, it would actually work."
29Phoenix Bikes is teaching 300 to 400 young people this year.
30Phoenix communications coordinator Emily Rippy said the classes are fun and let students learn with their hands after sitting in the classroom all day at school.
31Gage added that bikes are interesting for teenagers especially because they are a means of transportation and freedom.
32Learning how to fix a bike can also be a fun challenge, she said.
33"It's complex enough to be challenging and to feel really worthwhile when they understand the skills, but simple enough that a teenager can learn. So it's just kind of the right level of challenge."
34Some students who finish the 12-week program go on to a higher-level bike mechanics class.
35Some race bikes for the shop's racing team.
36And others stay to volunteer at the store and fix more bikes to give away.
37Phoenix's current shop manager, Noe Cuadra, was an earn-a-bike student in high school.
38Other full-time Phoenix workers also went through the earn-a-bike program.
39Jimenez-Galindo said he hopes to return to the shop to fix bikes for the community and continue to learn.
40What is his favorite part of the experience?
41"Just, the joy, the satisfaction that I get after it's done. That now it's fully complete, and it's actually a bike instead of what was a husk of one."
42I'm Dan Novak.
1At Phoenix Bikes, a non-profit bicycle shop and educational center, students are learning their ABCs. That stands for the air, brakes, and chain of basic bike mechanics. 2Phoenix Bikes sells bikes to the public at their business in Arlington, Virginia. But it also teaches teenagers how to repair bikes. 3Most students at Phoenix start in its after-school "earn-a-bike program," at middle and high schools in and around Arlington County. Once a week over a 12 week period, students learn repair skills. They learn how to use tools, fix flat tires, align the wheels, and adjust brakes and gears. The first lesson involves taking the bike apart, or stripping it down to its basic structure, the frame. By doing this, they learn all the parts of a bike. 4In the first weeks, they work in small groups to repair a bike donated to the shop. The bikes often have missing or damaged parts. 5The finished bike is then given to a person in need from the community. Phoenix Bikes director Emily Gage said the shop partners with several local organizations to donate the bikes. Some bikes have been going to Afghan refugees resettled in the area. 6In the last four weeks of the program, students come to the shop to work on one of the donated bikes which they can then take home at no cost. 7Anthony Jimenez-Galindo is a student at nearby Wakefield High School. He just completed his bike. He said it was not in good shape at first but was the kind of bike he was looking for and could be made into something better. He said it had no brakes, no front tire, and was without a chain or a cassette, which controls the gears. 8"It was junky but it looked nice, that's really my only reason behind it. It was a very nice looking bike and... I was willing to go the extra mile to fix it." 9Jimenez-Galindo said he joined the program to get better at working with his hands and fixing things. 10"And also because I wanted to learn how to actually repair and fix a bike. And so far I'm learning pretty good." 11Wakefield student Owen Spiegel talked about what went into fixing his bike, as he put his finishing touches on it. 12"Well first when I started the bike I wanted to test, see how everything worked. So first I wanted to see how the brakes worked- brakes were not working at first. 13Other than that, first I went and put pedals on so I could test the gears and the gears seem to be working all fine. Then putting on the brakes-that was the hardest part. I had to completely reattach this brake and then I had to set this brake up so that, you know, it would actually work." 14Phoenix Bikes is teaching 300 to 400 young people this year. Phoenix communications coordinator Emily Rippy said the classes are fun and let students learn with their hands after sitting in the classroom all day at school. Gage added that bikes are interesting for teenagers especially because they are a means of transportation and freedom. Learning how to fix a bike can also be a fun challenge, she said. 15"It's complex enough to be challenging and to feel really worthwhile when they understand the skills, but simple enough that a teenager can learn. So it's just kind of the right level of challenge." 16Some students who finish the 12-week program go on to a higher-level bike mechanics class. Some race bikes for the shop's racing team. And others stay to volunteer at the store and fix more bikes to give away. Phoenix's current shop manager, Noe Cuadra, was an earn-a-bike student in high school. Other full-time Phoenix workers also went through the earn-a-bike program. 17Jimenez-Galindo said he hopes to return to the shop to fix bikes for the community and continue to learn. 18What is his favorite part of the experience? 19"Just, the joy, the satisfaction that I get after it's done. That now it's fully complete, and it's actually a bike instead of what was a husk of one." 20I'm Dan Novak. 21Dan Novak wrote this story for VOA Learning English. 22________________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24teenager - n a young person between ages 12 and 19 25adjust -v. to change something in a minor way to make it work better 26align - v. to change something so that it matches, fits or is in line with something else 27gear - n. a wheel in a machine that has teeth 28frame - n. the basic supporting structure of something 29challenge -n. a test of strength or skill, a difficult task to do 30husk - n. the outside of something that has had its insides removed