Bikes make Pacoima man the wheel deal

[wtmusic]

"The overburdened 1984 Chevy van has become a fixture of sorts on Glenoaks Boulevard near Hansen Dam Municipal Golf Course - a quirky roadside attraction that has drawn curious gawkers and finger-pointing, along with a few snickers.

The van is laden with old bicycles - dozens, perhaps up to 100 - covering the sides and top, strapped on and tied down with rope and string.

The van's owner, Guillermo Manzo of Pacoima, moves it around a few feet every day in a sometimes-successful bid to avoid parking tickets, but other than that it is virtually a permanent sight around the course.

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'These bicycles have been discarded and unwanted,' Manzo said, speaking in Spanish. 'I fix them and make them work. And in that way, I make my life work.' Years ago, according to relatives, Manzo emigrated to Southern California from the Mexican state of Michoacan. He married, worked steadily and fathered four grown children.

Manzo doesn't like talking about what happened next, except that a series of setbacks triggered a downward spiral - and began his bicycle collection."

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