Meet Our Bicycle Program Coordinator Lynn Thorpe

Lynn Thorpe of Davis has soared through the sky in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti plains in Africa and sailed along European rivers, but he says there is nothing quite like a good bike ride to Winters.

“For me, riding my bike is therapy,” Thorpe said. “It’s an easy way for me to sort through the nonsense in my head and figure out what’s important and what isn’t.”

Thorpe received his first bike at age 8, but it wasn’t until he moved to Davis in the 1980s that he began riding a bicycle continuously. When he retired from the California Attorney General’s office, he purchased a road bike and began training for 100-mile fun rides, hoping to one day ride in Europe. That dream came true a few years ago when he had the opportunity to participate in a bicycle tour in Ireland with his daughter.

Around the same time Thorpe retired, his neighbor, Joan Gerriets, was working with her friend Jan Judson to create Make It Happen for Yolo County. One day Gerriets asked if he would be willing to help move some furniture for youth in the program.

“I don’t really know what made me say yes to volunteering,” Thorpe said. “It seemed like a worthy cause, and I thought sure I can move furniture. Then I met the kids. The more you get to deal with them, the more fun it is. They’re so grateful for the help and it reminds me how truly fortunate I’ve been. Whatever nonsense I think is not perfect, all I have to do is think about those kids.”

For almost a decade, Thorpe has been helping to pick up donated furniture and bring the items to our clients’ homes. In spring 2025, we asked if he would be willing to be our volunteer Bicycle Program Coordinator since we knew he was an avid cyclist.

“They asked me on the completely false premise that I know bikes,” Thorpe said laughing. “I ride bikes, that’s different. But I agreed and I’ve really enjoyed being part of that program and getting to talk to the youth about their bicycle needs and bike safety without being too preachy. They’ve had enough fingers wagged at them. I just give them the facts, and they can decide what to do.”

While he performs basic bicycle maintenance – like changing seats, tubes and tires – Thorpe works with Martin Luther King Junior High School’s Bicycle Program in Davis for more advanced maintenance. He focuses on ensuring each client is fitted well to a bicycle and maintaining our inventory of used bicycles and brand-new helmets, locks and lights.

“I spend time talking to each youth about how they envision using the bicycle, and then that points me in the right direction,” Thorpe said. “Our students usually need a reliable bike like a cruiser that they can get around town on, especially if they don’t have much experience riding a bike. But our clients who are referred from Yolo County’s health and human services or probation departments often need a bicycle with multiple gears because they are commuting farther to get to work.”

Thorpe also worked with our intern last year to create a video that shows other Make It Happen volunteers how to properly fit a bicycle for a client, including how to determine client needs so they can make an informed decision.

The program now maintains an inventory of approximately 20 bicycles at any given time, as well as 20 helmets, locks and lights. When the program began, our bicycles filled half a storage bay. The program has since grown to fill a full bay, and we expect to provide a bicycle, helmet, lock and light to 35 clients this year.

“It’s really gratifying to help these youth instead of just horsing around on my bike,” Thorpe said. “These bicycles allow our clients to do pretty much anything they need to do. They may not be able to go to Tahoe, but they can be independent and go to the grocery store.”

When he is not riding, volunteering, traveling or checking activities off his “One of These Days” list – like learning to make his mom’s apple pie – the retired lawyer has been caring for ill family members and cooking dinner with his wife who retired last year from her job as an attorney.

“After I retired, my wife still worked for several years, so I tried to have dinner ready or in process when she came home,” Thorpe said. “I would tell her to sit and enjoy a glass of wine while I cook. When I was working, there were plenty of times I was in trial, and she was the one doing the work at home, so it was my turn. Now it’s more of a joint effort. That’s the whole nature of partnership.”

He said he continues to volunteer with Make It Happen because it’s a tangible task that makes a big difference.

“There’s only so much navel-gazing one can handle,” Thorpe said. “Interacting with these young people helps you connect in this world that is not always pleasant and feel like you’re doing something positive. I can’t even imagine being in their shoes sometimes, so anything I can do to help with that lift, I’m happy to do it.”