Elgin helps kids 'earn a bike'

For Selena Rodriguez, 11, it was love at first sight.

The Elgin resident outgrew her bicycle earlier this year and had her heart set on a shiny new one she'd seen at Wal-Mart.

But it was not meant to be.

"I couldn't buy it in the store because it was too expensive," she said quietly.

In Jerome Redmond's case, his only bike - one he'd had for three years - was stolen a month before school let out for the summer in Chicago.

The 12-year-old, who hails from the South Side of Chicago and is staying with relatives in Elgin this summer, would love to get another bike.

With hard work and perseverance, that will become a reality for both kids.

As part of a new endeavor associated with Elgin Police Department's open gym program, officers have furnished three boys and three girls with used bikes they will learn how to fix in the seven-week "Earn a Bike" program at Abbott Middle School, which meets every Wednesday.

School liaison officers run the open gym program at the school and Detective Kathy Schreiner, the officer at Gifford Street High School, is in charge of the bike maintenance portion.

Her husband, Elgin Detective Brian Gorcowski, an avid bike rider, is teaching the class, along with their 20-year-old son Nick Schreiner and personnel from the Village Pedaler in South Elgin - all are volunteering their time for this.

The kids will learn what's wrong with their bikes and how to fix the problems.

The best part? It won't cost them a dime.

"You will get greasy, you will get dirty," Gorcowski warned the kids on the first day. "It's just a part of bike maintenance."

If they stick with the program, the kids get to keep the bikes at the end.

"That's kind of that hook to keep them interested in working on it," Detective Schreiner said.

The program also is an opportunity for the kids to learn different skills and immerse themselves in the sport that has made Lance Armstrong a household name.

On the first day of class, the excited kids discussed the Tour de France, learned the proper terms for certain parts - for example, a seat is really called a saddle - how to measure a tire's air pressure and how to properly clean sprockets with chemicals.

"Instead of coming in looking to play basketball, they'll be exercising their minds," said Sgt. Gary Neal, supervisor of the school liaison program.

The bikes, donated by the Elgin Police Department, sat unclaimed for years and some have definitely seen better days.

The issues facing Selena's bike are very technical but in the end won't require a lot of work - its wobbly rear tire needs fixing and she will also remove its chain guard.

"It's not in bad shape at all, Gorcowski said.

But Jerome's bike needs a new chain, sprocket, bike pads and saddle, Gorcowski said.

"I think it's going to be hard work, because it looks old and rusty," Jerome said.

However, he is up to the challenge and is eager to get the bike back on the road.

"It looks cool," he said. "I can't wait to ride it."