A free bike with a catch: How one Arlington shop is changing kids’ futures
An Arlington bike shop gives kids free bikes — but first they must earn them, learning repair skills that build confidence and future dreams.
ARLINGTON, Va. — The offer sounds almost suspicious at first — like a chain pulled a little too tight or a tire pumped just a bit too full.
A bike shop in Arlington gives away free bikes to any kid who wants one. But like any good deal, there’s a catch.
“The big thing with our program is that you earn it,” said Tom Shannon, executive director of Phoenix Bikes.
Before any child rides out with a bike of their own, they have to learn how to fix one.
Phoenix Bikes’ earn-a-bike program brings about 150 kids through its doors each year. Over eight weeks, students learn hands-on mechanics — everything from fixing derailleurs to replacing cassettes — guided by instructors whose enthusiasm is as much a part of the curriculum as the tools.
Beth Permenter, who leads Phoenix Bikes’ youth programs, says the shop’s culture is what keeps kids coming back.
“I think for some of the kids, it’s life-changing,” she said.
Parents notice the difference, too.
“We have parents who come back to us and say, ‘I don’t know what they said, but they absolutely love it,’” Shannon said.
For many of the students, bikes are the hook — but confidence is the real takeaway.
The program also gives teens space to imagine futures that stretch far beyond the shop walls.
Oliver Digeronimo hopes to one day work for Amtrak.
“I really feel a sense of community and belonging here,” he said.
Camilla Randi wants to become an engineer.
“So this is like perfect leading into it,” she said.
Reinaldo Fernandez dreams of joining the military and says he’s always been drawn to machines.
“I have a passion for anything with wheels and an engine,” he said. “And I did have dreams of having a bike shop and starting a program like this one.”
Even if their careers never involve bikes, Phoenix Bikes believes the skills — and confidence — last.
“We really believe that if you can get your hands on to work on a bike, you can unlock potential you didn’t know you had within you,” Shannon said.
What once seemed like an offer too good to be true now feels simple.
This isn’t just about earning a bike.
It’s about building a future.
