Share the Ride Visits Kid's Bookhouse in Taiwan

Mar 18, 2015
by Ian Chu  
Share the ride 2014

Do you remember how it feels when you peddle forward for the very first time? Starting from last year, Pinkbike and Trailforks funded Share The Ride Foundation for bike donations to disadvantaged youngsters. Holding place globally, kids are able to receive new bikes, helmets, locks, and other equipment. The goal is to share the freedom of being on a bike to those kids with limited means, and to develop independence, persistence, and sense of achievement.

This year Share The Ride went to Kid's Bookhouse , established by “Uncle Chen” in Taitung, Taiwan. A few years ago, Uncle Chen let his son invite classmates to play at home after school. More and more little friends started gathering. Less than a couple of years hundreds of children consider Uncle’s home “the place to go.” He realizes that in Taitung, this remote corner of Taiwan, many kids are in fact from disadvantaged families. Their parents either have jobs in other cities or work for extended hours; they are unable to be home. Some children end up hanging at Internet café's after school. Uncle Chen thus decided to provide these kids a safe place to play with warm food to eat. So far there has been five Kid’s Bookhouse's in Taitung serving free food and school work tutoring. Uncle Chen’s good deed inspires many to join him.

This time, besides bringing new bikes and gear to the youngsters, Share The Ride also invited three riders in different disciplines to join the tour, including Giant MTB rider Dan Chiang, Volando road bike rider Yongda Qiu, and BMX rider Hankun Chen. We hope kids learn that bike is not only a transportation tool but a medium to realize their imagination. Three riders briefly introduced their disciplines and bike types, followed with basic skill introductions to handle different bikes. Kids were really excited to get on the bikes and some bolder ones just can’t wait to try advanced techniques. We really hope they can transform this excitement and curiosity when facing challenges in the future.

Share the ride 2014
  First time Share The Ride in Taiwan came to Taitung.

Share the ride 2014
  Kids help assemble bikes which was a novelty for them. Keep at it!

Share the ride 2014
  The host Ray Lin, also the founder of Love Bike Creative Group, gives the "bike pop quiz" and kids excitedly raise their hands weather they know the answers or not.

Share the ride 2014
  A kid so fabulously thrilled about our visit that he did some homework beforehand so he could get the answers right. He's awarded.

Share the ride 2014
  Kids really interested in Dan's stories despite little ideas the countries are for his riding as he mentioned them.

Share the ride 2014
  Volando road bike rider Yongda Qiu introducing his bike. Kids are really amazed by how a bike can be this light.

Share the ride 2014
  BMX rider Hankun Chen showing his BMX protection gears. Kids are very curious how a bike could function without brakes.

Share the ride 2014
  Dan demonstrating MTB skills.

Share the ride 2014
  That's how you ride a bike without brakes kids!

Share the ride 2014
  Warming exercise is necessary before hoping on a bike.

Share the ride 2014
  Big people also learn a great lesson when seeing kids enthusiastically try to handle a larger bike bigger than their own sizes.

Share the ride 2014
  Rolling forward on one's own makes this boy smile, the wonderful essence of riding a bike.

Share the ride 2014
  Kids give back by handing their hand-made post cards over to riders.

Share the ride 2014
  Kids roll forward with freedom and independence!


Share The Ride (Taiwan) is sponsored by:

Author
Giant Taiwan
LoveTaiwan
Modus
Njoy
720 Armour
VP
Volando

Author Info:
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Member since Oct 11, 2008
273 articles

8 Comments
  • 16 0
 So rad, share the ride is definitely one of the better bike related things I've spent my money on. Shelling out the dough for a pair of sixc bars doesn't even come close to the satisfaction I got from donating and reading these articles.
  • 1 0
 That's cool.
  • 5 0
 Share the ride is amazing! Introducing biking the right way to kids who otherwise wouldn't ever get a chance to be involved is empowering for those kids who are the future of biking and they will enjoy it for their lifetime !!
  • 1 0
 very cool. this is one way to get more attention for the future of biking, like in that one article the other day. also, southeast asia has a few bike parks that rival the likes of the best ones in north america. and there are no rules in the trails out there! not that that's a good thing, but it's all legal singeltrack!
  • 2 0
 The sheer joy on the faces of those kids is heart warming, it is so worth while!
  • 1 0
 All these articles are making me feel guilty for not donating. Will be making up for last year next time they are collecting donations
  • 2 0
 Sweet!
  • 1 0
 GOOD BOYS







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