Lincoln Bike Kitchen helps man get back in the saddle after bicycle theft

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)- A Lincoln man recovering from a near-fatal car crash hit a roadblock when a tool for his recovery was stolen.

Joshua Lueders was left paralyzed in one leg after a car crash in 2020.  While on the road to rehab, he started using a stationary bicycle.

Eventually, Lueders connected with the Lincoln Bike Kitchen, which provided him with a bicycle for his road to recovery.

One day, Lueders left his bike, which was secured with a padlock, while he went to the store.  But when he returned, the bicycle was gone.

“It’s just like getting punched in the gut,” he said.

Lueders said the bicycle gave him a sense of independence due to his limited mobility.

Thankfully, the Lincoln Bike Kitchen stepped in and provided Lueders with a new ride.

“I was beyond thankful for them the first time around, but to do it again, that was massive,” he said.