Weber students restore bicycles, delivering opportunity through ‘Gearing Up for Good’

OGDEN — A group of Weber School District students is gaining hands‑on experience while giving back to their community through a growing service program now in its third year.

The initiative, called “Gearing Up for Good,” teaches high school students bicycle repair skills so they can restore donated bikes and deliver them to elementary students across the district. The project is part of Weber School District’s Career and Technical Education program and is supported by the Weber School Foundation.

Students in Michael Blodgett’s bike mechanics class at Weber Innovation High School have spent the school year repairing bicycles of all sizes, replacing brake pads, adjusting wiring, tuning gears and ensuring each bike is safe and ready to ride.

“We learned how to fix the brakes, the brake pads, the wiring,” said junior Elizabeth Basilio, who joined the class partly to connect with her father, an avid cyclist. “I think it’s pretty amazing … it made me feel pretty nice.”

Blodgett said the class has refurbished 16 bikes this year alone. But for him, the project is about more than mechanical know‑how.

“I think it’s a great life lesson,” he said. “Sometimes we might feel a little beat up or abused, and with a little work and some elbow grease, we can make ourselves ‘do’ again.”

On Friday, Blodgett’s students delivered a new batch of bikes to surprised elementary students. Many of the recipients believed they were being checked out of school, or even sent to the principal’s office, before learning they had been selected for their hard work and positive example.

“I thought I was getting checked out,” said student Poppy Merchant. “Then when I saw … our principal, I thought, wait, am I in trouble?”

Instead, she was handed a newly restored bike, complete with a lock and helmet.

“They said, ‘This is your new bike. You won this beautiful new bike,’” she said.

The Weber School Foundation helped coordinate donations and distribution, ensuring the bikes reached students who would benefit from them the most.

CTE Director Rod Belnap said the program reflects the district’s mission to blend real‑world skills with meaningful service.

“Our students are not only building valuable career skills, but they are also making a direct and positive impact in the lives of younger students in our community,” he said.

For the high school students, the reward comes not only from the work but from seeing the joy their efforts create.

“Having free time, seeing the sunset … that’s beautiful,” Basilio said, reflecting on what cycling means to her.

And for the younger students receiving the bikes, the feeling is simple.

“Every kid should have the opportunity to ride a bike because it just feels so nice to do it,” Merchant said.

“Gearing Up for Good” continues to grow each year, offering both practical training and a powerful reminder of how small acts of service can open doors one bike at a time.

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