Mike Smith:
10 o’clock, morning. Trail 103.3, KDTR-FM Florence–Missoula. I’m Mike Smith with a Spotlight on Local. Bob from Free Cycles is in the Trail studio. Hey, Bob.

Bob (Free Cycles):
Hey Mike, thanks for having me over again.

Mike Smith:
Yeah, very nice. We were saying—it’s been about two months?

Bob:
Yeah.

Mike:
Seems like you were just here.

Bob:
Yeah, it was winter then.

Mike:
Yeah, I like this.

Bob:
Yeah, this is cycling weather.

Mike:
Birds are singing, things are growing.

Bob:
Yeah, I mean—to you, everything is cycling weather if you’ve got the right gear.

Mike:
Rain gear, right clothes—

Bob:
That’s what I hear.

Mike:
Bundle up and every day’s a good day to ride.

Bob:
Yeah, yeah.

Mike:
We’re talking all things Free Cycles—some cool opportunities coming up, and for music too. But hey Bob, put on those headphones. I want to play this for you. Every time you come in, I try to find a bicycle song. Not new—this one’s quite old—but still. You know a lot about bikes… but how about bicycle songs?

Bob:
I know a little bit. This brings me back to when I was little.

Mike:
Oh—was this an animated thing?

Bob:
Might have been. I like it.

Mike:
It’s Yves Montand—“The Bicycle.”

Bob:
Makes me want to get my fiddle.

Mike:
Nice. He was kind of the Frank Sinatra of France.

Bob:
Are they still around? Can we get them in the bike shop?

Mike:
No, he’s passed—but what a beautiful song.

Mike:
I was thinking—you came in all fired up about the weather. Nice bicycle song to match.

Bob:
Yeah, endorphins are firing. Ride a bike, things get better. Mental health, physical health.

Mike:
We’ve got to fix crossing Reserve Street though.

Bob:
Yeah… what are we doing about that?

Mike:
“We?”

Bob:
Yeah, you and me—we’re just playing music!

Mike:
But we can talk to drivers about being patient. What’s the rush?

Bob:
Free Cycles is about helping people bike, walk, use transit—slow down. It’s about taking that first step. You don’t have to become Bob from Free Cycles… but you can start somewhere.

Mike:
Go to freecycles.org, stop by, get your bike fixed. Bring your bike in. I’m guessing thousands of listeners have a bike sitting in their garage with a flat tire.

Bob:
It’s a free service—we’ll teach you, help you. D-I-T: Do It Together. Your bike probably just needs a little love.

Mike:
You’re hiring right now?

Bob:
People, people, people. You don’t have to know bikes—that’s a bonus. We hire seasonal help. Summertime—things explode. Up to 200 people a day.

Mike:
Wow.

Bob:
It’s about relationships, not transactions. Be a people person. Show up for the mission.

Mike:
And if you’re mean…

Bob:
Still apply—we’ll get you on a bike!

Mike:
We’re coming off some great events too.

Bob:
Tom Catmull and Travis Yost show—that was special. Free Cycles is about community and fellowship. We bring people together.

Bob:
Upcoming: River Ramblers, bluegrass shows, Maya Wynn returning to Missoula, and more. Also community gatherings—nonprofits, birthdays, potlucks. The space is loaned, not rented.

Bob:
Free Cycles is that “third space”—a place to be without spending a lot of money. We don’t want money to be a barrier.

Bob:
Forever Campaign—paying off the building, expanding programs. Youth programs, pedal-powered systems, and taking the property off-grid. Donations welcome—every amount helps.

Mike:
Visit freecycles.org or stop by in person—three blocks west of Orange, just south of the river. Bring that bike out of the garage. Bob, appreciate everything you’re doing.

Bob:
Thanks, Mike.

Mike:
Tom Catmull played recently at Free Cycles—here’s his latest, “Hello LA.” On The Trail.