From the classroom to the outdoors, a local ranger repairs bikes so young people can enjoy cycling.

Chevene Simmons has been living in King City since 2021. He traded the classroom, where he taught science, for the outdoors and started working for the U.S. Forest Service at Los Padres National Forest in the spring of 2021. Since then, he has earned accolades. He won the 2023 Regional Forester and Station Director Honor Award on Diversity & Inclusion for his work in the Monterey Ranger District, for example.

Simmons also became the lead bike mechanic at the Greenfield Community Science Workshop, an organization that invites kids to learn scientific principles through activities, including bike repair. Simmons came across a bike repair event by chance. He was pedaling north of King City and stopped for lunch in Greenfield. He saw a large “free bike repair” sign, and stopped to ask about it.

“From that day, I’ve been coming around helping out,” he says. “I’m very passionate about connecting with the community.”

Simmons starting riding – and repairing his own bike – as a child and hasn’t stopped. In fact, he became so adept at repairing bikes at a young age that he would pull wrecks from junkyards, rebuild them and give them away.

Weekly: How did a science teacher end up working for the U.S. Forest Service?

Simmons: I was interested in possibly pursuing a career as an educator in higher education and looking at ways to take some steps toward that goal when Covid hit. I kind of changed perspectives. I really wanted to work somewhere where I would vacation, and if possible, be more connected to the outdoors. I did my research for a little over a year and was drawn to the vision and the mission of the Forest Service. I applied and got the job.

How do you feel when you ride a bike?

I feel free. There’s nothing like the wind whipping.

I feel there is a curiosity that’s there. I see things on the bike that I’ll never see from a car. I can have a better appreciation for the world around me. Everything slows down. You can hear the birds chirping. And if you wanted to, you could just stop and then take in whatever is around you. It’s fun. It’s free and I think it just allows me to stop for a minute and breathe.

If you could only have one bike for the rest of your life… ?

Oh my goodness! What a question. The rest of my life? It’s got to be a bike that can do it all. Something that’s lightweight. Nimble. Fun. I would say my hardtail mountain bike. Hardtail meaning there’s no suspension in the rear. It’s just a suspension fork in the front but it’s light enough that if I had to ride it on the road, I could do that – put some smoother tires on it. If I had to jump off and ride it off the road, I can do that.

What do you do when not riding?

I love to go on adventures. I like to go to new restaurants. I’m learning music; currently, I’m learning to play the harmonica and the trumpet. I’m working on writing a book that I started a while ago, so that’s something I do in my downtime.

The state of California is new to me. So every time I can go on a road trip somewhere, I like that, too. The first couple years I was in the state I worked so much so I’d pass by a lot of awesome places. Now I’m taking the time to actually stop, to be a tourist and to look and go to museums.

Any plans for Sea Otter Classic this year?

I may try to convince some of the staff at the Science Workshop and some of the youth to go out for one of the group bike rides. I think that’d be fun for everybody to actually ride at Sea Otter. It’d be memorable.

How so?

We’re going to go and volunteer. Whenever you can help out in any way, it makes it more impactful and memorable. I think we’ll be volunteering at the kids’ zone.

Just being there, helping out, I think it will show the kids that, hey, you have a place here, you’re welcome here. And they’re actually helping the event to be a success.

Any bike maintenance advice?

The best bike is the bike you have. I would say keep your bike inside, either in a shed or a garage, because bikes rust over time. When your cables get any rust or dirt and debris on them, they don’t move as freely. You can’t shift as cleanly and you may not be able to brake, and these are all safety concerns.

Even if you don’t ride it, turn the pedals once or twice a week – make sure everything’s moving.