I guess I might be tootin' my own horn but I've started doing cool and I'm only relaying this to maybe motivate some other folks to do the same.

I a pretty regular commuter and as such have had many conversations at work about why I ride. Most people I talk too won't have anything to do with commuting but every now and then I find someone with a spark so I ask them "Would you ride a bike if you had one?" and if the answer is a sincere "yes", I give them one.

Now I'm a retired enlisted man so I don't have a ton of money, but I can fix just about anything on a bike. So I scrounge the pawn shops and Goodwill stores and pick up any good quality bikes I can get my hands on. Most hardtails with a rigid fork can be bought (around here) for les than $50.

Anyway, here are my results;

Wendy: Single mother/grandmother mid- 40s. I gave her a Schwinn Sierra and she rode it alot. Somebody stole it off her porch and she was so heartbroken that she mised a day of work. I found a pink Specialized Crossroads and fixed it up for her. She rides to work just about every day.

Larry: Married, works part time. I had him buy a Diamondback that I'd found in a pawnshop and fixed it up for him. He rode it for a year and wanted a better bike so I found him a Schwinn Paramount and bought the Diamondback from him to give to

Tony: Single, no drivers license(!) walks to work. Gave him the Diamondback and he was so, so happy. I thought he was going to cry. He'll ride a bunch, I'm sure.

Brion: I found a Specialized Allez at the Goodwill and bought it for almost nothing. Brion asked me about getting a bike so I gave him the Allez. It had been spray-painted and removing the paint had also removed some of the original finish. He likes it so much that he's sent it away to be powder-coated. Now rides with clippless pedals.

Connie: Married with two boys. She wanted to ride with her boys and maybe to work now and then so I gave her a Specialized Rockhopper in perfect condition. We'll see how this one turns out.

This has taken place over the last two years and has brought me much pleasure.

Most people want two things: To lose weight and save money. Commuting does both.

Anyway if youy have some spare change and can fix up a bike, find someone to give it to and see how great that makes you feel.