Leila’s Bike Journey at Blackstone Bicycle Works

“I can ride a bike!” Leila proudly exclaimed as she rode by herself for the first time. 

Leila is an outgoing, 16-year-old participant in Blackstone Bicycle Works’ (BBW) Earn-A-Bike summer camp. While many camp participants arrived with some riding experience, Leila didn’t know how to ride a bike. However, the teen challenged herself and could bike within five days of the camp.

“My first time riding a bike was difficult. I wanted to jump right into pedaling. It didn’t work. Bruce [one of the BBW instructors] taught me how to,” Leila shared.

Beyond mastering cycling and learning about bikes, biking has been a way for her to build up her stamina. As she explores her biking pace and speed and understands how to plan her bike ride, she says, “it puts me in a good mindset.” 

Eager to learn more about bikes, Leila has been coming back to BBW to attend community classes and bike rides, even volunteering during BBW’s Open Shop to assist patrons in fixing their bikes. 

This is the kind of passion that Blackstone Bicycle Works hopes to ignite—a love of both cycling and community involvement.