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I give away.”

The recipients of Sperstad’s bike giveaways are vetted through local organizations that help those in need. Sperstad began the non-profit so he could give tax receipts to those who wanted one when donating their used bicycles to the cause.

Sperstad said his mission is two-fold, not only giving bikes to those who cannot afford one but also keeping bikes out of the landfill.

Sperstad is on the hunt for a space to keep donated bikes as he works to keep bikes out of the elements as donations come in.

The bike donation program is something Sperstad has always done since opening his shop.

“I’ve been here awhile, and that’s just the nature of who we are,” Sperstad said. “I used to be a pastor, and I was raised to help those that I can when I can. So, I guess I’m a giving kind of person and people know that.”

The store’s tagline is, “We want to help you ride right,” and to Sperstad, that means doing his best to fix any bike brought into the store. It also means he donates unsold helmets to a school program.

Sperstad once taught a child how to fix his bike after it was stolen and found in the river.

“It wasn’t work because we worked on it together,” he said. “Seeing his smile when he got back on his bike and rode away was all the payment I needed.”

Moments of outdoor beauty are often encountered by members of Mississippi Speed Record, four canoeists who want to set a new Guinness World Record for paddling. St. Cloud native Todd Foster is the group’s lead adviser of a team that will attempt to set a new fastest time down the 2,300mile waterway in May.