Kruch bikes donation helps YER share joy of cycling
Corey Kruchkowski donated 15 of his awesome Kruch Custom Steel Bicycle’s-built G-Trex to Youth en Route for our programs. It’s our largest donation to date! Painted in YER’s dynamic Blue and Yellow, these bikes will be part of the fleets we use at schools to teach basic cycling skills.
“We’ve had our first G-Trex at schools this year and it’s the one that kids gravitate to. It just looks so awesome,” said Youth en Route program manager Kimberley Nelson. As we implement the new bicycles, staff will get first dibs because we have gear we need in the panniers and they work so well for that. Over time, we expect to use these bikes as “rewards” for kids who listen and follow all safety instructions. It will be an amazing carrot.”
While our fleets are made up of good, sturdy and safe bikes, we know some of the bikes can be heavy and the gearing a bit clunky. Having these bikes will show kids what a light, well-designed and agile bike is like to ride. “It’s kind of like driving a Ferrari, compared to a Ford,” said Operations Manager Mario Rocha. (Not that we like those driving analogies.)
Where it all began
The Kruch story is an interesting one. A artist, welder and metalworker who just happens to be six-foot-six, Kruch had a hard time finding a bike to fit him. Back in 2018, he put his thinking cap on.
“I always loved bicycles. I bought custom bikes for myself. But then realized with my hobbies being metal-working and welding, it was something I could do myself,” he says. It started in 2018 with friends and family, building metal-framed bikes. He got really busy during the height of the pandemic. Soon after, Kruch opened his workshop and then created the business, selling custom bikes to people all over the world from right here in Calgary, selling mountain bikes, gravel bikes, and in the last few years the urban-focused G-Trex.
“These are the perfect urban bicycle. It’s really customizable. You can add bags and racks, different tire sizes and widths. It’s really agile,” explains Kruch. What does that mean? Well the G-Trex can go from pumptracks to pavement, and from gravel to not-so-grueling off-road riding.
Youth en Route staff love the upright geometry and wide handlebars that make it easy to ride and watch over our classes of students learning to cycle safely.
Watch for our G-trex’s as we ride around Calgary
Youth en Route is grateful for this generous donation. On top of using that in our school fleets, we’ll have some for prizes at upcoming events and raffles. As well, we’ll ride them when we can at local events. Watch for the beautiful Blue or Yellow Models on the cycletracks downtown as we go Hallowheelin’ with the Calgary Climate Hub.
“This is a perfect example of the bike industry in Calgary gearing up to support our work,” said Laura Shutiak, Youth en Route’s executive director. “When we give a student a decent used bike, it’s very often their first bike, but it’s probably not their last.
“It’s so amazing that our students can experience the amazing bike innovation happening right here in Calgary and they may consider Kruch as an option for the second or third bike. These are a great, durable, all-weather vehicle.”
Check out Kruch’s full line on Custom Handmade Bicycles | Kruch | Calgary
