Falls City Community BikeWorks has had a very busy fall season with lots of new volunteers. Among them we were especially fortunate to meet Nathaniel Green and Warren Fields, who have been dedicated and dependable volunteers for several months, and who typically volunteer as a team. We appreciate their can-do attitude around the shop – when they see a problem or task, they tackle it! As recognized Extraordinary Volunteers, Warren and Nathaniel will each receive an FCCB t-shirt and a $20 shop credit for parts/accessories.
We asked Nathaniel and Warren to answer a few questions so our readers can get to know them better:
FCCB: What’s the best part about volunteering at FCCB?
Nathaniel: The best part of volunteering at FCCB is that when I’m there, I’m giving back to the community and helping to improve people’s lives. Through the connections that I make and the opportunities for service at FCCB, I am able to grow, learn, and also help transform this community in which I live, work and raise my family.
Warren: I like to help people work on bikes.
FCCB: Why do you ride? What’s your favorite ride/route?
Nathaniel: I ride for commuting, I ride for pleasure, and I ride to discover my community. I am able to feel connected to the community when I ride. I really enjoy finding the city’s hidden gems, like the beautiful artwork under I-64 in Portland, a new shop on a side street I’ve never taken, or a neighbor that waved to me for the first time while I’m on my bike.
Warren: I like to ride so i can get plenty of exercise. My favorite place to ride is around the neighborhood.
FCCB: What’s the most interesting skill you’ve learned while volunteering with FCCB?
Nathaniel: It might seem mundane, but troubleshooting a flat and fixing a tire are the most interesting to me. I used to take my bike in to a shop to get my tires replaced or flats fixed. I had never taken time or effort to learn about fixing them. When I learned these basic concepts, it woke in me a desire to learn and be more in this field.
Warren: I like to watch people take the bikes apart. I really like to shine the bikes up and make them look new.
FCCB: Tell us about your bike – do you have a favorite bike now, or perhaps one from your past?
Nathaniel: I have an old Peugeot race bike from the 70’s that a friend of mine sold to me for a song. He had been diagnosed with a heart condition and couldn’t ride any more. It was my first road bike and has taken me to a lot of places.
Warren: I have an orange bike that I used to ride all over town. It has baskets on the sides and a rack on the back of it. It has a long pole with an orange flag attached to it that goes on the back of the bike.
FCCB: What can FCCB do better to serve you and others?
Nathaniel: I think the best way for FCCB to continue to serve the community would be to expand. There is an enormous potential for growth within the mission and scope of what FCCB does. With a larger space, the possibilities are endless. I would like to see a mobile bike clinic popping up in neighborhoods, vendor booths at local events and festivals, and scheduled biking events like road/dirt meets, bike shows and fundraisers.
Thanks for being a part of our community, Warren and Nathaniel!
