HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 08-23 Maplewood's 'Jack the bike guy' helps kids with special needs STAR TRIBUNE8/3/2016 Maplewood's'Jack the bike guy' helps kids with special needs - StarTribune.com
VARIETY
Maplewood's 'Jack the bike guy' helps
kids with special needs
Maplewood bicycle repairman believes all children, no matter their
abilities, should be able to ride a bike.
By Aimee Blanchette (http://www.startribune.com/aimee-blanchette/10644446/) Star Tribune
JULY 30, 2016 — 10:34AM
Jack Carlson fixes bikes with his hands, but he moves mountains with his heart.
At Strauss Skates and Bikes in Maplewood, Carlson has made it his personal mission to
remove barriers that keep kids with special needs from riding bikes.
"There's nothing better than seeing a kid experience the freedom of riding a bike for the
first time," he said.
Inspiration came a decade ago while he was working with a man whose daughter with
special needs couldn't ride a standard bicycle. As word spread throughout the
community, he got more requests from customers with special needs, each presenting
unique challenges and opportunities for solutions.
He was faced with the ultimate challenge when a young girl with 8 -inch legs came to him
with a dream of riding a bike. He made it happen.
"Jack has never given up on anyone," said owner Shaun Hastings. "He's never said no to anyone.
When a customer without arms wanted to ride a bike, Carlson pondered, puttered and
pounded, piecing together a three -wheeled bike so the girl could perform all functions
pedaling, braking, turning, gear -shifting —with her legs.
"If there's a will, there's a way," he said. "The best part is making something happen for
someone who never thought it was possible."
In his 30 years of working at Strauss Skates and Bikes, Carlson, 56, has earned the
reputation around the shop for being a jack-of-all-trades.
He works quietly, shying away from the spotlight and unaware of his impact. In the
local special -needs community, he's simply called "Jack the bike guy."
In a Facebook forum for Minnesota parents of special -needs children, one mother said
Jack "saved me $2,000.... he truly seems to care." Another mom said, "We will never
forget Jack."
That reputation sends customers from around the state to his door. Heather Kainz drove
from Virginia, Minn., to get her 4 -year-old son, Parker, a bike that would provide
adequate support. Parker uses a wheelchair and a walker for mobility, but wanted a bike
to cruise around with his older sisters and cousins. PROVIDED
Jack Carlson helped fit 4 -year-old Parker Kainz,
"A bike is something every single child should be able to experience, regardless of who has cerebral palsy, with an adaptive bike
ability," Kainz said. that provides him with extra support.
Individually adapted bicycles, like the kind Parker needs, come with a hefty price tag,
often more than $3,500.
"Figuring how to adapt a bike isn't the biggest challenge," Carlson said. "Funding is."
He works with several distributors of adaptive bikes, but when cost makes getting a new
bike prohibitive, he comes up with creative low-cost solutions.
It's not unusual for him to use parts from used bikes in the shop to create a custom bike.
Instead of ordering new foot pedal attachments for one customer, he cut down a pair of
plastic Rollerblade boots to bolt to the pedals.
"All it takes a little creativity," he said. "Every kid should be able to ride a bike without it
costing a fortune."
Minnspirations is a regular column about Minnesotans who inspire and move us.
aimee.blanchette@startribune.com 612-673-1715 aimeeblanchette
hftp://Www.startribune.com/maplewood-s-jack-the-bike-guy-helps-kids-with-special-needs/388605351/ 1 /1