Bikes for Tykes 

When Rich Wu talks about Bikes for Tykes, it’s not about numbers – though they’re impressive. It’s all about people. “It really started with one bike,” Wu said. “I saw one for sale for $15 when I moved back to Oklahoma in 2017, around the holidays, and I thought, what better way to show love?” 

That simple decision led to what many in the Deer Creek and Edmond area now know as Bikes for Tykes, a grassroots effort to recycle donated bicycles and put them in the hands of kids who would not otherwise have one. Wu partners closely with Trent Hickey, who has led holiday bike giveaways in the community and has given away bikes from his business, Don Hickey Used Cars and Trucks, since the mid- 2010s. 

“Trent took me to my first bike race back in 2014 and told me his story of overcoming adversity,” Wu said. “He has always felt called to give back. He is incredibly inspiring.” 

“At first it was just a handful of bikes,” he said. “Then people started calling me ‘the bike guy.’ Almost every week, someone sends me a message asking how to donate or who to contact.” By 2019, Bikes for Tykes expanded through community Facebook groups, including Deer Creek Parents Facebook page. That year, Wu helped collect 178 bikes. The following year, it jumped to 373. 

“I had this goal of one bike per day,” he said. “I love goals, probably from my old job working with numbers.” Wu has personally collected more than 2,000 bikes and tracks each one in a detailed spreadsheet. “I log the date, the source, the color, even what it was worth originally,” he said. “It’s extra work, but it matters to me.” 

The bikes are refurbished by Hickey, often with volunteers. “For every 10 bikes we used to get, we could piece together about three ready-to-ride bikes. Now it’s closer to seven out of 10.” Wu said, “It is borderline magic.” 

The donations still amaze him, and some still stop him in his tracks. “Sometimes someone donates a bike that was bought at a real bike shop, not a big box store,” he said. “They could resell it and make money, but instead they want to pay it forward.” 

A major turning point came in 2020 when Jason Brady, owner of Above + Beyond Service Company, offered storage space and later paid for a storage unit. “That night changed everything,” Wu said. “It took the cap off our community service.” 

The work is often emotional. “You see families come through, and it hits you,” Wu said. “It enables them to make their kid’s day – or even year.” Jen, Wu’s wife encourages him. Wu fondly recalls a time when she squeezed his arm and told him, “This is a good thing that you do.” 

For Wu, Bikes for Tykes reflects something bigger. “Oklahomans are good people,” he said. “The Oklahoma Standard is real. People want to help people, and I’m proud to call this state home.” 

To follow their journey, donate a bike, or learn how to get involved, find “Bikes For Tykes – Deer Creek” on Facebook.