[windchimes ringing]
[light-hearted instrumental]
- Many times in life, things start out of necessity.
Mike Van Dusseldorf began fixing bicycles in his garage
because of just that.
- Mike Van Dusseldorf: My wife and I had some bikes that we rode
and little things would break on the way
so I'd start carrying tools and stuff
and tweaking on them,
and it was just kind of something that I enjoyed.
Soon, what started because of a need
shifted gears to become a hobby,
and then, once more to become a passion.
Got your road bikes, your BMX bikes,
you got jump bikes and gravel bikes and racing bikes
and they're all designed for a different purpose.
It was this chain of events that moved Mike
to meet a different kind of need.
There's so many people that are homeless that
I've kind of always had a passion for helping the homeless
and so forth.
I've done it pretty much my whole life
and I realized that there's a lot of people that needed bikes.
It just made sense to me
that that was something that I needed to do.
So, Mike fixes and donates bicycles
to people experiencing homelessness
or lacking transportation.
I put out a notice online basically on Facebook
just saying this is what Dell I want to do
and it was three, four days
and I had probably 40, 50 bikes show up
and it just kind of started piling up from there.
His message spoke volumes, literally.
His yard became a hub for old donated bikes.
Creating a surplus of use parts and materials
that would otherwise remain stationary.
I mean, I have some that, basically, just need a chain
or need to have something adjusted.
That might take me 15 minutes.
And then, I have others that are completely shot
and some of those, you know,
I might spend four, five, six hours on.
Each bike serves a purpose.
So you know that's the thing.
That says it's a 26", but this rim is for a 24".
Even if that purpose takes a little figuring out
to fit into place.
But half of what I'm doing now, I had to learn myself.
And I had no clues to what I was doing.
I had people that would donate tools or something.
I didn't even know what they were.
Have to look it up and find out what is this for.
And I think that's really what I love about it.
You know, I hate puzzles, but I like mechanics
and I think this is kind of a meshing of that.
It's a puzzling mechanic.
- Mike has cycled through
countless pairs of handle bars, cassettes, and pedals.
- Giving away close to 500 bicycles
to people simply needing a ride.
It's not so much about just helping people
but it kind of helps you, too, you know.
In a way, like a gives you that sense of belonging
and that sense of "I matter"
and you're doing something that's not just for you.
You know, you're helping other people and by giving them joy.
That's kind of what keeps you going.
His giving has expanded,
adding non-perishable food items to the list.
All are supplied through donations,
either from the community or himself.
It's a chance to further help people
find a better path in life.
Life is like riding a bicycle.
If you want to keep your balance,
you have to keep moving.
And I think that's the biggest thing
is just don't give up and give people hope.
Keep 'em moving.
- For some, these stacks of broken down bikes
might look a bit overwhelming or deflating.
But to Mike, he sees something different:
kindness.
- Yes, it's a lot to look at
and it's kind of tacky looking, sure,
but at the same time, every time that somebody looks at it,
I can just say,
"No, this is beautiful because this is human kindness,"
you know, and I think that that to me is really what it embodies
is just kindness and loving one another
and being there to help each other.
What greater thing is there than being able to do that?
I mean,
I love it. [laughs]
[gears chiming]