Island Bikeworks gives back to community
Judd Payne loves giving locally. He said he sees his store, Island Bikeworks, as a ministry, where recently his family blessed some of the island children by giving away bikes.
“There are a lot of places you can donate to these days, but we were looking for a place that would actually stay on the island. The churches were what came to mind,” Payne said.
Island Bikeworks donated two bikes each to three different churches around the island: Fishers of Men Church, Pine Island United Methodist Church and Pine Island Community Church. Each church will receive one new bike with training wheels and a new medium sized bike for approximately 8 to 10 year olds. Payne said this was a great way to bless some island kids whose parents may be struggling as the holidays approached.
“That’s ideally who we’re trying to target — we’re letting each church determine who they may want to send the bikes to,” Payne said.
The motivation for gifting the bikes, he said, was a pay-it-forward kind of attitude, since Payne feels his family and business have been on the receiving end of the blessings. When you have been blessed, it’s your responsibility to pass that on, he said.
One of the highlights of owning Island Bikeworks, said Payne, is dealing with older people, who often feel as though they are done riding, because the hobby is far too active for them.
“They come in the shop and we spend enough time with them that we can figure out what bike would be a good fit — a lot of times it’s a recumbent bike, or even a three-wheeler, and then a lot of times we will electrify those for them, if it’s gotten to the point that it’s really difficult to get started from a complete stop, or if they want to still go out and ride with their friends who are a little bit younger and they just can’t keep up, or they don’t have the longevity,” Payne said.
At the end of the day there’s nothing like watching an older person smile as though they were a 6 year old, all over again, he said, as they realize they can still get out and enjoy the fresh air or ride around the neighborhood.
Payne describes the island as having a good vibe, adding that customers will often come by when they’re out biking just to say hello.
Island Bikeworks is at 10731 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia. Call 239-560-0320 or visit islandbikeworks.com for more information.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC, pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email