Snow doesn’t stop donation-toting cyclists

None of Wheat Ridge Cyclery’s employees are named Dasher, or Dancer, or Prancer, or Vixen. But 18 of them did load up “sleighs” full of warm clothes, food and toys, and took off –; on bicycles –; over snow-covered streets to deliver them to the Denver Rescue Mission warehouse.

“Part of our mission here at Wheat Ridge Cyclery is to give back,” said Jeremy Jancovic, who coordinated the project, which ended with the biked-in donation run on Dec. 18. “We wanted to do something for the holidays, so we began collecting donations about three weeks before Thanksgiving.”

Through a combination of in-store displays, customer outreach and social media posts, employees at the store amassed more than 500 pounds of food and gifts.

The idea to donate goods to the Denver Rescue Mission came from Wheat Ridge Cyclery’s marketing director, Gil McCormick, Jancovic said. “This year, just our employees built and delivered the sleighs. In the future, we hope to push this event out to the larger cycling community.”

The two sleighs themselves were actually bicycle trailers outfitted with festive cutouts on the sides. Each sleigh was so heavy “it’s like dragging a car tire behind you on a bicycle,” Jancovic said. Other riders wore packs filled with donations, or carried them in panniers on their bikes.

Steve Acuna, in creative productions for Wheat Ridge Cyclery, said that although the weather was a balmy 48 degrees, the amount of snow on the streets presented a challenge for the two sleigh drivers and seven other riders.

“It’s 11 miles from the shop to the Denver Rescue Mission warehouse on 39th Avenue, and it took us a little over an hour to get there,” he said. “The roads were really snow-packed, so we rode a mix of mountain bikes and fat bikes. Things got pretty sloppy on some streets that had not been plowed.”

People the riders encountered along the way waved and cheered them on, Acuna said. “And our delivery was well received at the Mission –; people were excited to see us.”

Alexxa Gagner, director of public relations for the Denver Rescue Mission, said the organization appreciated the donations –; and the unique way they were delivered.

“When I heard they were coming on bicycles, I thought it was especially fitting,” said Gagner. “We are very grateful that Wheat Ridge Cyclery reached out to their customers and donated to the Denver Rescue Mission on their behalf.”

Like Jancovic, Acuna said the event represented the company’s core values. “It’s important for us to participate with our community,” Acuna said. “Our sleigh ride was fun. It involved bicycles, and it helped others. What could be better?”

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