Books and bikes don't seem to have much in common, except maybe riding your bike to your favorite spot to read a book. But to Books on Wheels they are a tandem ride.

Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Ward Tefft, a book store owner, had spare books that he wanted to donate to the less fortunate. Also from Richmond, Shelley Briggs, founder of a nonprofit bike repair operation, wanted to encourage the mobility and free transportation bikes proivde. They met and discovered that books and bikes did have some things in common. Both were liberating, educational, and empowering. They decided to combine their interests. In order to be easily accessible and bring books to those who could not come to them, the duo purchased a 1993 minibus that became the Mo'Book Mo'Bike Mobile.

The Mobile is currently on a 14-day tour beginning in Richmond and ending in Chicago. At each destination they set up shop, Briggs pulls out her toolbox, bikes (if any have been donated), and bike parts; and Tefft sets up bins of books, carefully separated into categories. Throughout the day people drop by and get their bikes tuned up or repaired and browse through the books, taking home what they want. Books on Wheels depends solely on donations, so if you have any spare books or bikes or parts...

Books on Wheels makes a tour stop in Rochester on Saturday, July 14. The Mo'Book Mo'Bike Mobile will pull up to the Humboldt Recreation Center, 1045 Atlantic Avenue, 1-4 p.m. Take a spin over and catch up on some reading while your bike gets a check-up. For more information call 271-3361 ext. 240 or visit the website at www.bookonwheels.com.