Kenosha community comes together to gift students with repaired bicycles

KENOSHA, Milwaukee (CBS 58) -- Everyone remembers what it feels like to get your first bicycle. Last month, CBS 58 introduced you to a bicycle repair shop owner who spent several months fixing up old bikes found in the basement of an elementary school in Kenosha. On Friday, April 19, students received those bikes and memories to last a lifetime.

They say you never forget how to ride a bike, but sometimes you forget where you put them. 

“These bikes have been sitting down here for a while," said Kristy Makowka, the interim principal at Jefferson Elementary School.

At Jefferson, after a gym unit, those bikes were stuck in the basement. 

“It’s a little emotional," said Makowka. 

After a few calls, Total Cyclery owner Robby Gauss agreed to repair over 40 bicycles. 

“There’s a lot of people out there that want to help kids," said Gauss. 

Those tune up and elbow grease went a long way. Judy Vanderford taught physical education at Jefferson for 30 years. She remembers where the bikes have been and how far they've come. 

“Just to see the repairs that were done because they took a beating when I was teaching with them. I taught generations and generations and generations of kids," said Vanderford. 

For this community, these bikes are bigger than the school.

"It’s a beautiful legacy above and beyond the amazing people who have worked here and are a part of this community," said Makowka.

You never forget how to ride a bike and these students will never forget how they got theirs. 

“For our students to go enjoy the weather with new bikes is just more than we could ask for," said Makowka.