Video: Sharing the Ride in Richmond BC
It's comforting to know that despite the cantankerous nature of many world events these days, there are small pockets of do-gooders joining together to make awesome things happen. The biking industry and the community that surrounds it is a generous one, a fact that's clearly illustrated by everyone who banded together to make Share the Ride a reality in 2014. From the companies who donated the prizing that then encourages the Pinkbike audience donate, to the people who show up on the day to make the giving a reality, it's really conducive to a warm and fuzzy feeling. As 2014 drew to a close, and a curtain of rain and dreariness descended here in BC, a gaggle of these generous and enthusiastic individuals arrived at the Richmond Youth Service Agency to help build and distribute Share the Ride bikes to kids in need in the area.
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 Holiday goodies arrive in the form of Giant and Norco bike boxes at the Richmond Youth Service Agency. |
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| Santa's helpers were quick to get started building the bikes. |
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| With rain on the job outside, our volunteer bike builders filled every available space in the Richmond Youth Service Agency to prep the bikes for the kids' arrival in the afternoon. |
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| The Bike Room's Eli Relke wrenching one of many bikes on the day. |
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| Norco are never one to say no to any sort of advocacy party. The guys rolled up in the Norco truck and wasted no time setting up and getting to work. |
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| Jason Haycock from Norco has kids of his own and is always more than willing to help out with the Share the Ride cause. |
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| You may recognize this as one of the world's most skilled bike riders. Ryan Leech joined us for the morning to help build bikes. |
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| Followed by testing them. |
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| Trailforks' Bent Hillier was very enthusiastic about bike building for the day. |
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| Pinkbike's Tyler Maine helps get the Kali lids in place and ready. |
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| Eli Relke wrenches and rides. Bikes are fun no matter what your age. |
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| There was a new Abus lock on hand for each child. |
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| With the rain coming down in bucket loads outside, Santa took to the hallways inside to practice his skills before the kids showed up. |
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| Once the Giant and Norco bikes were built they were put into a holding room, ready for the kids. |
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| As the afternoon rolled along the kids, families and carers began to arrive. Here we are making sure the new Kali lids fit right. |
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| Sweet new TSG lid and a bike! |
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| Santa helps this family get comfortable on their new bikes. |
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| Santa, renowned for his joke telling prowess, didn't hold back on entertaining the kids with his one liners. |
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| As it turns out, Santa knows a thing or two about bike riding. |
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| One in four children in the Richmond area live below the poverty line. Some of these kids come from families where the parents suffer from a mental illness or suffer from an addiction and are unable to care and provide for their children. In these cases, social workers were on hand to collect bikes to deliver to these deserving children. |
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| Big smiles! |
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| The staff and helpers on hand really couldn't get enough of seeing the kids look so darn happy. A simple pleasure is shared in the gift of giving. |
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| This little lady couldn't get enough of the bell on her new bike. Santa couldn't help himself but do a jig every time it rang. |
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| Even though it was pouring outside that didn't stop some of the kids from making the most of it and going on a quick pedal with Santa in the rain. |
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| The Richmond Youth Service Agency really work on a shoestring budget to provide a safe place for kids to come after school and to provide programs that keep these kids engaged, off the streets and hopeful that they can have a bright future. |
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| Pinkbike's Tyler Maine, Mike Levy, Mike Kazimer and Rachelle Frazer know all too well how enriching bikes can be and spent the day helping out at the distribution. |
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| A big thanks go to the Muddbunnies, aka Santa's little helpers, for their boundless energy and enthusiasm on the day. |
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The helper crew from Norco included Ryan Leech, Kevin De Visser, Sean Brassil, Pete Stace-Smith, Chris Mayo, Samantha and Nick Balenzano and Jason Haycock aka Griz. Thank you all! |
| Thanks to everyone who donated. These children might not yet fully understand the endless possibilities that their new bikes will bring them, but at least they now know the simple pleasure of riding a bike. |
rysa.bc.ca
norco.com
giant-bicycles.com
muddbunnies.com
kaliprotectives.com
ridetsg.com
abus.com
Photos: @ReubenKrabbe
MENTIONS: @norcobicycles, @KaliProtectives, @muddbunnies
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16 Comments
- 19 0
csquared253
(Feb 3, 2015 at 1:58)
this is what the mtb community is about. give these kids a bike, and you're giving them the some really rad opportunities. Super stoked for the kids and super proud to be a part of share the ride. cheers pinkbike, ya done good.
- 14 2
cap6cap3
(Feb 3, 2015 at 0:11)
Tippie=santa? Everything makes sense now...
- 1 0
amirazemi
(Feb 3, 2015 at 0:21)
thnx buddy!
- 3 1
keatonmtb
(Feb 3, 2015 at 4:44)
I think he should go on the naughty list for not wearing a helmet
- 2 0
artificiallightmovement
(Feb 3, 2015 at 8:08)
that explains why most of my gifts from santa are bike related!
- 4 0
qduffy
(Feb 3, 2015 at 12:21)
I have a couple of kids of my own that love riding. I see the joy every time they get on their bikes. You bring joy to a child's face and that's honestly the best feeling ever.
Thanks to PB and all the donors!
- 2 0
jammy2bad
(Feb 3, 2015 at 11:33)
what a great thing to do ,great for the kids and great for there health .well done all .Maybe the same sort of thing could be organised here in the UK !!! I know if I was a kid I would of loved to received a bike for xmas ,Fantastic .
- 7 0
GnarsellusWallace
(Feb 3, 2015 at 0:28)
Just wonderful!
- 5 0
Dobbs59
(Feb 3, 2015 at 9:15)
In a world of squabbling over wheelsizes and shimano vs SRAM, it's nice to read a bit of the good stuff. Well done PB.
- 5 0
si-paton
(Feb 3, 2015 at 10:36)
Great work and such a worthy cause. Hats off to everyone that donated to make this happen along with all the volunteers.
- 2 0
TommiHXH
(Feb 4, 2015 at 4:04)
Whoo and yay! This is an amazing idea and should be replicated where possible all over the globe. If nothing else it gives underprivileged kids something that is theirs and that is new. I wonder how many of the 'daddy bought me a new Nomad C as my old Nomad was metal' appreciate their bike as much as any of these kids. Keep it up, you guys are awesome.
- 2 0
bigredride
(Feb 3, 2015 at 8:18)
fantastic all around. I remember my first gift of a bike...actually I remember them all! My first one had the cool plastic gas tank and coil stickers on the fork! Hopefully a life long passion for those kids.
- 4 0
saldemare
(Feb 3, 2015 at 6:14)
Just awesome!!!
- 3 0
Turner-99
(Feb 3, 2015 at 0:48)
Nothing like a ride in the pouring rain with Santa
- 4 0
godaddyeo
(Feb 3, 2015 at 6:43)
Thanks for SHARING!!!
- 1 0
Sshredder
(Feb 5, 2015 at 15:12)
BIKE LOVE!!!!!!!!! SHARE THE LOVE 
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