Volunteer Spotlight : James Sangroniz
BBP VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
JAMES SANGRONIZ
BBP: How did you first get involved with BBP?
A couple of years back, my wife volunteered me to help the staff at Garfield elementary transport a group of refugee kids to the Bike Project for the Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway. We loaded up a bunch of vans, trucks and SUVs with kids and took them down. All the kids were so excited, but polite and well behaved for the ride down. After we walked each child through the process, I was asked to help a little 1st grade boy learn to ride his bike. Let's call him Brawny. He had only been in the country for a couple months, didn't speak English, and barely understood what was going on. He'd never had a bike, had no clue how it worked, but was soooo excited. He was also fearless. I took him to a grassy area and tried to convey to him that you turn handlebars the direction you're falling. After a couple of minutes he was itching to go. On the street he jumped on his bike, pedal, wobble, pedal, wobble, across the street and CRASH, into the gutter on the other side. No permanent damage! Go again!
We had to get the kids home, but when we got to the apartments all the kids broke out their bikes in the parking lot, and it was a spontaneous new bike fest! Our little hero Brawny figured out how to go, but not stop. He had still not figured out how to brake. I had to give him another lesson. After a couple more crash landings, he got rolling at a pretty good clip and turned, coming back at us. I gave him a hand signal to bush backwards on the pedals to engage the coaster brake. He does. The bike screeches to halt. He almost goes over the handlebars, but he releases the brake, the bike wobbles forward under him. As the bike tips over for lack of speed, Brawny jumps off, on his feet, nailing the landing. His arms go up in victory! The crowd goes wild! The smile on his face is from ear to ear. That's a picture that still makes me laugh.
Well, a different kid had his new bike losing tire pressure a few hours after getting it. So, I decided to go back to the apartments the next day with my patch kit, pump, and tools. I ended up with a handful of kids lined up for minor tweaks and repairs. This made me immediately realize the need for the Mobile-Fix-It events that BBP does. It's not enough to just hand out bikes once a year. These kids love their bikes and it's a bummer when a flat tire or loose bolt stops all the fun.
BBP: Based on your experience, why would you encourage others to get involved with BBP?
I'm not the most warm, open person but I feel that the quality of our lives are largely determined by the quality of our relationships. What a great bunch of folks to have a relationship with! The BBP staff provides great leadership in doing what needs to be done, and doing what's right by the folks in our community that need it. Thank you Jimmy, Maureen, Emily, Devin, and everybody else on the BBP staff for your kind thoughtful leadership. The volunteers are dedicated, helpful, and fun. I have loved getting into bike repair with the help of Steve, Chris, Gary, Chuck, Leonard, Yumi, Troy, and dozens of others. Thanks to Veda and Raven for adding the youthful exuberance.
I recently retired, and work always provided me with a purpose. I was worried about losing that sense of purpose. Well, how's this for purpose: BBP promotes people’s independence and freedom by expanding their geographical limits through a simple machine called a bike. By promoting bicycle ridership and giving away so many bikes, BBP is doing something concrete about pressing problems like livability, pollution, and climate change. BBP enlivens our community with events like the Kids Bike Giveaway and the Goathead Fest. It builds and strengthens the community through its various programs. BBP brings joy to children.
BBP: What bike are you currently riding?
To get around town I have my trusty Trek Portland touring bike. We've been through a lot together.
On the trails I have an obnoxious fluorescent orange Cannondale Trail hardtail mountain bike . Got a great deal on it. It was on clearance because of the color.
BBP: My simple pleasures are… My simple pleasure is being Basque. My parents were immigrants, they taught me the language. I enjoy singing traditional songs, playing the traditional musical instruments, going to the festivals, playing the traditional sports, and eating the traditional food. Yum.
