Giving Back With Bikes

    I remember when I first fell in love with mountain biking. I was 8 years old. I often rode with the kids in my neighborhood. Practicing tricks and doing jumps gave me such a rush. 

    The only thing was, my bike kept breaking. It was an older bike. And it wasn’t meant for mountain biking. So I taught myself how to do repairs by watching YouTube videos. That helped, but there were some things I just couldn’t fix. 

    I decided to ask my mom for a real mountain bike. The one I wanted was very expensive, so she said no. But she encouraged me to earn the money for it myself. 

    And that gave me the idea for my business. 

    I remember when I first fell in love with mountain biking. I was 8. I rode with the kids in my neighborhood. I loved doing tricks and jumps.

    But my bike kept breaking. It was an older bike. And it wasn’t meant for mountain biking. So I taught myself how to do repairs by watching YouTube videos. Still, there were some things I just couldn’t fix.

    I asked my mom for a real mountain bike. The one I wanted was very expensive, so she said no. But she encouraged me to earn the money for it myself.

    That gave me the idea for my business.

    I fell in love with mountain biking when I was 8 years old. I often rode with the kids in my neighborhood. Practicing tricks and doing jumps gave me an incredible rush.

    The only problem was that my bike kept breaking. It was an older bike, and it wasn’t meant for mountain biking. I taught myself how to do repairs by watching YouTube videos, but there were some things I just couldn’t fix.

    I decided to ask my mother for a real mountain bike. The one I wanted was very expensive, so she said no—but she encouraged me to earn the money for it myself.

    And that gave me the idea for my business.

    In the spring of 2020, Dom Fixes Bikes was born. It was during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many repair shops were closed. I began repairing bikes out of our garage. 

    Since I had a ton of free time, I was able to fix a lot of bikes—very quickly. Soon we became the place to go for bike repairs. We had a pay-what-you-want system. That meant if people wanted to give more, they could. If they didn’t have enough, that was OK too.

    My mom helped me create a Facebook page to promote the business. Happy customers also spread the word. Soon I got really busy! But I didn’t mind. I loved fixing bikes, so it never felt like a job.

    Within a few months, I earned the money I needed. 

    I bought my dream mountain bike, and it felt amazing! 

    Even after I met my goal, we decided to keep the business open. By the end of that year, I had saved up some extra money. I was so proud. And I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. 

    In 2020, Dom Fixes Bikes was born. It was during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many repair shops were closed. I began repairing bikes out of our garage.

    I had a ton of free time, so I was able to fix a lot of bikes very quickly. Soon we became the place to go for bike repairs. We had a pay-what-you-want system. If people wanted to give more, they could. If they didn’t have enough, that was OK.

    My mom helped me make a Facebook page to promote the business. Happy customers spread the word too. Soon I was really busy! But I didn’t mind. I loved fixing bikes.

    Within a few months, I had the money I needed.
I bought my dream bike. It felt great!

    Even after I met my goal, we kept the business open. By the end of that year, I had saved up some extra money. And I knew exactly what to do with it.

    In the spring of 2020, Dom Fixes Bikes was born. Many repair shops were closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so I began repairing bikes out of our garage.

    Since I had plenty of free time, I was able to fix a lot of bikes—very quickly. Soon we became the place to go for bike repairs. We had a pay-what-you-want system—in other words, people could pay more if they wanted to, and those who didn’t have much money could still get their bikes repaired.

    My mom helped me create a Facebook page to promote the business, and satisfied customers also spread the word. Before long, I was extremely busy—but I wasn’t complaining. I enjoyed repairing bikes, so it never felt like a job.

    Within a few months, I earned the money I needed. I bought my dream mountain bike, and it felt amazing!

    Even after I reached my goal, we decided to keep the business open. By the end of that year, I had saved up some extra money. I was really proud of that, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

    When I first started, people were so generous. They donated extra money, bike parts, and tools. I knew I wanted to give back to the same community that helped me get to where I was. 

    That year, we used the extra money to buy six brand-new bikes. We donated them to kids in need for Christmas. We also started refurbishing used bikes to make them as good as new again. Each year, we’re able to donate about 100 to 200 refurbished bikes to local schools and other groups. 

    In 2023, we decided to make Dom Fixes Bikes a nonprofit organization. We still fix bikes, and people can still pay what they want. The money we earn helps buy new bikes for people in need. 

    Anyone can apply for a bike through our website. Each Christmas, we’ve continued the tradition of giving kids new bikes. Last year, we donated 160. 

    When I first started, people were so generous. They donated extra money, bike parts, and tools. I wanted to give back to the community that helped me.

    That year, we used the extra money to buy six brand-new bikes. We donated them to kids in need for Christmas. We also started refurbishing used bikes to make them as good as new. Each year, we donate about 100 to 200 refurbished bikes to local schools and other groups.

    In 2023, we decided to make Dom Fixes Bikes a nonprofit organization. We still fix bikes, and people can still pay what they want. The money we earn helps buy new bikes for people in need.

    Anyone can apply for a bike through our website. Each Christmas, we give kids new bikes. Last year, we donated 160.

    When I started my business, people were very generous. They donated extra money, bike parts, and tools. I knew I wanted to give back to the same community that had helped me get to where I was.

    That year, we used the extra money to purchase six brand-new bikes, and we donated them to kids in need for Christmas. We also started refurbishing used bikes to make them as good as new again. Each year, we’re able to donate about 100 to 200 refurbished bikes to local schools and other groups.

    In 2023, we decided to make Dom Fixes Bikes a nonprofit organization. We still fix bikes, and people can still pay what they want. The money we earn helps buy new bikes for people in need.

    Anyone can apply for a bike through our website. Each Christmas, we’ve continued the tradition of giving kids new bikes. Last year, we donated 160.

    I no longer work in a garage. Two years ago, we opened up our own storefront. On one of the walls inside, I’ve hung up all the thank-you notes and photos we’ve received. I’ve also put up the newspaper articles that have been written about us. I love looking back on everything we’ve done in the past five years. We’ve come a long way. 

    The reason I got into biking is because it gives me a sense of freedom. When you’re a kid, you can’t just go for a drive. But you can always go places on your bike. I bike with my friends, and we always have fun. It clears my head too. 

    That’s why I hope Dom Fixes Bikes can keep growing. I’d love to open up a second location so we can help more people. I think everyone who wants to ride a bike should get the chance to ride—and to feel that same sense of freedom too. 

    I no longer work in a garage. Two years ago, we opened a storefront. On a wall inside, I’ve hung up all the notes and photos we’ve gotten. I’ve also put up the news articles that have been written about us. I love looking back on all we’ve done in the past five years.

    I got into biking because it gives me a sense of freedom. When you’re a kid, you can’t just go for a drive. But you can go places on your bike. I bike with my friends, and we always have fun. It clears my head too.

    I hope Dom Fixes Bikes can keep growing. I’d love to open a second location and help more people. I think everyone who wants to ride a bike should get the chance to ride—and feel that sense of freedom. 

    I no longer work in a garage. Two years ago, we opened up our own storefront. On one of the walls inside, I’ve hung up all the thank-you notes and photographs we’ve received. I’ve also put up the newspaper articles that have been written about us. I love looking back on everything we’ve accomplished in the past five years.

    The reason I got into biking is that it gives me a sense of freedom. When you’re a kid, you can’t just go for a drive—but you can always go places on your bike. Biking with my friends is fun and a great way to clear my head. 

    That’s why I hope Dom Fixes Bikes can continue growing. I’d love to open a second location so we can help more people. I think everyone who wants to ride a bike should get the chance to ride—and to experience that same sense of freedom too.