Hello – I am pleased to be Bike Newport’s new full-time Bike Garage Manager. You may have run into me in the Annex. I started working with Ric there last June. I really enjoyed meeting and working with Newport’s summer riders. I’m excited to bring the skills and knowledge I gained at the Annex across the alley to the Bike Garage where I can help get more people riding – and keep them riding.
There’s a sense of freedom and joy that I get only when riding a bike. It may be the nostalgia for sunny afternoons when riding the neighborhood with friends after school. Or maybe not having to wait for a family member to take me somewhere. I hop on a bike and feel free to go where I want as fast or as slow as I want.
Before moving to Newport, I was the senior bike mechanic for a shop in Northern Virginia. Many of our customers were daily commuters. They were avoiding the stress of commuting into DC, with its notorious traffic delays and congestion. Sadly, many of them were still stressed on their bikes. It was not the ride that was stressful, it was the concern that they may have a mechanical failure. Their chain could pop off, or they could get a flat tire. So I taught a trail side maintenance class to give them the confidence that even if they did have a problem, they could get home safely. Many returning customers would relay how much more they could enjoy the commute, knowing that they had the skills to change a flat.
Our Community Bike Garage is not only a place to fix your bike, it is a place to learn. If you want to get hands on, and maybe a little greasy, you can come in and use our tools to fix up your bike. If you are unsure of what is wrong with your bike, our mechanics will help diagnose the problem. We are happy to teach any skill you need to fix the bike. If your bike is already tuned and ready for the season, you can still come and learn on any of the donated bikes. We not only want to get your bike up and running, we want to give you the confidence that you can keep the bike rolling. And I hope that you will find that unique feeling of freedom and joy on your bike.
Winter hours in the Community Bike Garage are Mondays from 2-7pm and Tuesday through Friday from 2-5pm. There is no appointment necessary. I hope to see you there whether it’s to fix a bike, learn a new skill, or just have a chat.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me: mark.simms@bikenewportri.org.
Bike Newport