Locals tune up bikes to help the homeless

A Ballard resident has organized an event to help both the homeless and the local biking community.

Scott DeWees (pictured), and his friends Kennan Wells and Ian Stewart, are hosting a bike tune up event where all proceeds will be donated to Mary’s Place and Compass Housing Alliance who support homeless members of the Seattle community.

“As I’ve ramped up my bike commuting this year I’ve seen firsthand the growing homeless population in northern and central Seattle. As you’re probably aware we’ve had a significant growth in our homeless population over the past few years,” says DeWees.

Wanting to help in his own way, DeWees challenged himself and two friends to raise money for the two Puget Sound non-profits by organizing a charity bike tune-up event they have dubbed “Help the homeless and help your bike.”

“Bikes need periodic maintenance to keep from wearing out. We’re offering a basic bike tune-up for mountain bikes or road bikes where 100% of the proceeds will go to our chosen charities that assist the homeless,” says DeWees.

The bike tune-ups will consist of the following:

• Test and adjust shifting for smoothness and to minimize wear
• Test and adjust brakes to be sure they won’t fail on the road
• Lube cable housings to keep from locking up
• Pump tires to ideal PSI to protect wheels and make for more comfortable rides
• Replace tire tubes (tubes not included, available for purchase) if necessary
• Clean and grease chain to protect from rust

In terms of cost, DeWees is asking that locals bring $40 to cover the service, which, according to him is less than most bike shops charge. For an additional $20 the team will give the bike a good washing and add more to the donation pool!

“Our goal for the day is to raise more than $1,000 to donate to charity,”says DeWees.

DeWees and his team have extensive experience with bikes and are excited to get their hands dirty to help raise funds for important local organizations.

The team will be taking reservations for bike tuning that will take place this Saturday, May 14. They ask that bikes are dropped off at DeWees’ North Ballard residence on Friday, May 14th, between 6 – 8 p.m. or on Saturday morning. Same-day service may be available if time allows.

“This isn’t a professional service, we’re not getting paid, so participants need to sign a liability waiver and acknowledge that we’re not professional bike mechanics. But we promise to do a good job,” says DeWees.

Participants must RSVP via email at scirate@gmail.com or call (360) 223-2875. Learn more about the team and the event via the event’s Facebook page.