Oh hi Mark! Mark became somewhat of a regular in the shop during 2025. In fact, we have three 'regular' Marks who frequent the shop. They have several things in common, the first of which is that they are not 'regular' at all. And one of the NOT regular things that they have in common is they all leave with homework from time to time.
Mark Ilgenfritz leaves with homework, EVERY time. Mark wandered in off the street (he lives in the neighborhood) and offered up his services (he regularly repairs bikes at his home shop). We quickly put him to work stripping parts, especially those stuck and tricky ones. If you've ever walked into a Thursday night volunteer night and you couldn't hear yourself think, it was probably in part due to Mark attempting to persuade a seized bike part to release its hold on a frame. If he's not holding a wrench, you better believe he's swinging a hammer.
Mark comes with his own tools, although he often leaves (inadvertently) with one or two of ours (BUT he always brings them back). He also leaves with homework. It's typically a seized seat post or a bottom bracket no one could remove. At home he soaks, pounds, or cuts them free. And about Tuesday or Wednesday the following week he emails in a SITREP, giving us a detailed report on what he rescued, how he retrieved them, and what he will be returning on Thursday. Here's an example of a recent email from Mark: "I have the following to return for recycle and salvaged useable parts. Three steel frames, two partial lower bearing units, one triple ring crankset, one handlebar with brake levers, one fork unit and one pedal set."
The value of this is multi fold. Mark saves parts that our overseas mechanics can use to repair your old donated bikes once they arrive in country. He also fully strips a frame of various metals...so we can recycle them properly. Think about it like this, an aluminum bike frame has a steel seat post stuck in it. When we go to recycle that frame, it goes into the mixed metal pile because of the seat post...and we are paid pennies on the pound. When Mark frees all the metal from the frame, we can recycle that as aluminum which is typically closer to 30 cents a pound. Totally makes Cents!
But where Mark is most valuable is simply in the shop. First he comes in with a smile and upbeat attitude and who doesn't love that? And then he is quick to work with a new volunteer to lend his knowledge and help them navigate the shop while Todd is working with someone else or taking in a donated bike in the other room. Even the seasoned volunteer will turn to Mark when they come upon a part they aren't as familiar with, since all bikes aren't the same. And especially when a volunteer has a pedal, crank, or fork that simply won't budge, it's Mark to the rescue. Mark puts it in the vise and starts hammering. And if he can't liberate it immediately, guess where it's heading...home with Mark.