Contrary to popular bike beliefs, one size does not fit all, explained a senior volunteer at the Kiwanis Bike Program in Reno, Nevada. While mechanics in general may seem daunting at first to many, folks at Kiwanis make it easy.

Volunteers of all ages have the opportunity to pick and work on a bike, and even get to keep it after first giving at least 12 hours of their time. I had the chance to try out the system myself on a visit as part of their Earn-a-Bike program.

After having completed my hours, a senior volunteer and staff member led me into a back area filled in row after row of dusty frames ready for work. Bicycles come from all locations, notably the annual Burning Man festival.

Contrary to popular belief, he said, bicycles are not, "one size fits all." Rather, a good fit has three main components. Its frame must be long enough that an arm stretched from elbow to fingers fits right between a piece connecting the handlebars to the main frame. This ensures a rider can ride comfortably without bending the elbows not having to ride hunched over.

Next, the center bar of the frame must be low enough for a person to be able to comfortably get on or off. The rule of thumb says a person in a hurry could get off without hurting the crotch.

Lastly, the right sized-bike has a seat just above the waist, so the rider can lightly touch feet to fully stop, without dragging along the ground.

Because I had slightly longer arms than what the shop said their usual frames stocked, we eventually found a seat-less, pedal-less one that would do the trick! Luckily, the shop stocks a plethora of spare parts, so finding and re-sizing a seat would be no trouble at all.

In the weeks since then, I went on to build my own bike to keep. While I still have some loose ends to finish, I appreciate the work the shop has done to make life a little better for everyone.

The non-profit Kiwanis Club of Downtown Sparks operates the Kiwanis Bike Program Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. To serve the children of the world, the Bike Program strives to prevent pediatric trauma across northern Nevada. In addition to helping adults, children and families to practice safe and easy bike maintenance, they put on safety courses for locals at places like schools, runs and fairs.

Kiwanis Bikes is located at 145 Catron Dr., Reno, NV 89512.