It wasn’t the moment that La Porte resident Joe Collins first got the idea to fix used bikes for kids in need that he realized he was onto something special. It also wasn’t the moment when he gave away the first repaired bike or the moment he received money from a stranger to help cover the costs of bike parts. It was the moment he received a gift from a friend that led to his realization that he was doing something great for a lot of families.
Collins, who is the founder of Changing Gears, began the organization a couple months ago to give bicycles to kids whose families cannot afford one. The idea began after Collins purchased a new bike and asked the shop if there was anyone who fixed old or used ones. Collins wanted to give his old mountain bicycle to someone who could not afford a bike, but it needed a little tender loving care. He called a couple of bicycle shops, but the nearest place that had what he was looking for was in Chicago.
At that point, Collins decided he would fix the bike and give it to a child whose family may not be able to afford a bike. That idea then grew into Changing Gears.
“I just started asking people for bikes, and I had people bring me bikes,” Collins said. “I do just basic repairs, but it keeps growing and growing. I love it.”
Growing up, Collins enjoyed riding the trails and being outside. Adult life then took over, and he got away from riding. Now, within the last couple of years, his interest peaked again, and he is riding more and exploring.
“Growing up having a bike was a big deal to me. It was about freedom,” said 40-year-old Collins. “I was always outside. I’m a big fan of being outdoors and getting kids outdoors.”
Along with the thrill of freedom, Collins also has a mind that likes to take things apart, see how it works, and put it back together. He remembers taking his bike apart when he was younger, repainting it, and then putting it back together.
Collins said Changing Gears has taken over his garage and a lot of his free time, but he is not complaining. For the past two or three months Collins has used Facebook to get the word out about Changing Gears. Before that, it was fixing bikes for the neighborhood kids.
When Collins receives a used bicycle, he replaces the tires, tubes, chains, and brake pads. He also ensures the brakes work and are aligned. He will also replace the grips if needed, along with a good cleaning. He has repaired about 30 bicycles that he gave away and has about a dozen more he is working on. It costs an average of about $20 or more to repair the bikes.
“The best part is the kid’s reactions,” Collins said. “It has been pretty awesome.”
One of Collins favorite reactions was a girl who ran to her bike and started riding it before her mother was able to tell her to be careful.
As Collins continues to repair bikes, he has been getting messages of encouragement from the community, but the moment that helped convince him he was on the right path was when he received a bike stand from a friend. Collins realized he needed a bike stand shortly after he began working on the bike for Changing Gears. He mentioned it to his friend in passing and his friend came through after finding a bike stand at a garage sale.
“It was a pretty expensive bike stand,” Collins said. “I was like ‘this changes everything. This makes everything so much easier.’ I didn’t even tell my wife I needed a bike stand. Two days after I mentioned it to my friend, he dropped off this bike stand. It has changed everything on how I work on bikes.”
Unfortunately, his friend passed away from COVID-19 around Mother’s Day, but Collins holds memories close to his heart about how much of an awesome individual his friend was.
“Every time I put a bike in the bike stand, I think about him,” Collins said.
Collins said in the future he would like to be able to give away helmets with the bicycles. He also recently joined Maple City Bicycling Club. The club may soon be acquiring a building where safety workshops can be held.
“The more bikes I can get out, the better,” Collins said. “I’m excited about Maple City Bicycling Club and expanding into that. It will give me more room to work on bikes.”
He mentioned he is really looking forward to talking with the members of Maple City Bicycling Club and learning from them.
Not only does Collins help kids in need get a new ride, but he also helps families through United Way of Porter County. Collins is the rental assistance coordinator and helps families stay in their rental homes.
He and his wife, Nichole, are the proud parents of six kids.