BICYCLE WASHERS EARN EXTRA MONEY

Wearing matching T-shirts, the team of Heidi, Alisha and Tess stood ready Thursday morning for their second day in business. Soon customers were pedaling up to the door.

The young entrepreneurs have hit on a money-making idea that is drawing attention of other youngsters in their neighborhood.

"We're washing bikes," explained Heidi Vandergraaf, 11.

A few weeks ago the youngsters watched some teen-agers give a car a thorough washing. Tess Heisserer, 8, came up with the business plan for the bicycle wash.

A great business idea is nothing without a market, so Tess recruited her older brother to print up flyers on his computer to advertise the service.

"We put out flyers all through Stonebridge at houses with garages open where we could see they had bikes and kids," Heidi said.

Then they waited.

To the girl's surprise, people started arriving this week to have their bicycles washed.

Alisha Cochrane, 12, shared the secret to success in business: "Having a good attitude and hopefully doing a good job cleaning the bikes."

Heidi explained the process. "We wash it, dry it, put on paint cleaner and then wax it," she said. "It's a professional job."

The children aren't charging a set fee but rather are asking for donations. Ten percent of the money is being donated to charity.

"We're hoping to get more business," Alisha said. "We hope to keep the business going all summer."

"It's our summer job," said Tess.