FIU staff member restores bike to blue-and-gold glory


John “Jay” Stewart has spent the last couple of months creating the ultimate FIU bike. It was a labor of love for Stewart, who works in Campus Services at Modesto A. Maidique Campus. He says he wanted to give the university, where he’s worked for more than 34 years, a token of his appreciation.

He spent 40 hours stripping the 1950s era replica, painting it and adding all the bells and whistles. No detail was spared – the seat is made to look like a football, the air valves are capped off with Panther heads and he built a hardwood stand to showcase the piece.

Stewart, who has restored more than 1,000 bikes as a hobby, hopes the  bicycle will be used at university events to showcase blue-and-gold pride.

“It’s all about FIU. That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “They gave me a home for half my life. It’s the least I can do.”

The university community pitched in on the effort, gathering FIU memorabilia to decorate the bike. Alina Alfonso, Alumni Relations’ office manager, and Duane Wiles, associate executive director of Alumni Relations, collected Panther decals and other odds and ends to polish off the ride.

Check out Stewart’s work in the video below:

Stewart presented the bike to FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg Aug. 10 at the Reagan House. “Unbelievable! I love it,” said Rosenberg, who placed it at the entrance of the house.

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