Refurbished bicycles make the ideal gift for kids

A bicycle can be much more than a toy for kids. It can be a way to get around and a great exercise tool as well. And, like many types of used sports equipment, purchasing a used bike is an ideal way to get stretch your budget further.

Some low-income kids in Portland, Oregon, recently got the gift of a used bicycle just in time for the holidays. According to The Oregonian, local non-profit organization The Community Cycling Center collected used bikes all year long and had volunteers refurbish them in time for the event. It took some 500 volunteers a total of 7,000-plus hours to get the old bicycles in tip-top shape to be used again.

In all, 400 kids between the ages of 2 and 10 received a used bike and a helmet. The kids also learned about bicycle safety and the importance of always wearing a helmet while riding.

"We want to make sure kids are wearing helmets whenever they're on wheels so they don't become patients," trauma nurse Mike Morrison told the newspaper.