The weather was perfect for a Saturday on Memorial Day weekend. It was the type of sun-drenched day that gets kids to drag their bikes out of the garage and take a leisurely ride.

But for some children on Long Island, the garage is empty, as their families are too financially burdened to afford an item so identified with childhood summers. And that's why, rather than using the spectacular day to ride their own two-wheelers, sunbathe at the beach, or picnic in the park, many local residents spent much of May 23 assembling donated bicycles for needy children during Syosset Youth Services' (SYS) Build-a-Bike '98 program.

"I'm amazed at how many people in local areas here do not have certain needs like a bike," said Tom Montalbano, SYS adviser. "I say it's a need for a kid because a bike is a means of finding independence. It's the first thing you really take pride in."

Syosset residents from toddlers to seniors lined up and, in assembly line style, constructed a total of 218 BMX bikes from nine in the morning until late afternoon. Each participant had the responsibility of completing one task before passing the work-in-progress on to the next volunteer.

The tandems were later shipped to several charitable children organizations across Long Island, including St. Mary's Children and Family Services in Syosset, Hicksville Youth Council, Reflections Counseling Center in Plainview, Huntington Tri-CYA, Oyster Bay Youth and Family Counseling, Glen Cove Housing Authority, the Grenville Baker Boys and Girls Club in Locust Valley, Yes Counseling in Massapequa, and New York State Police Juvenile Officers Association.

St. Mary's, which houses children whose families are poor or in crisis, received 20 of the bikes, seven of which were presented as gifts to resident children at the facility's group homes. The remaining 13 will be shared among St. Mary's children when St. Mary's runs its occasional bike excursions around neighborhood parks.

Some of the children chosen to receive bikes showed up at the SYS event to be part of the volunteer effort, said Dawn Lewis, assistant director of St. Mary's residential care. "Participating in the program really helped the kids' self-esteem," she said. Not only did they get a sense of earning the bikes, but "they felt, 'I'm doing this to get to help out other people,'" said Lewis.

"We're finding needy families in the area," said Tom Bruno, director of the Hicksville Youth Council, which received 25 bikes. "We've found some of the kids through our programs. Also, one of our members is a school teacher, and she knows of some families."

Last Christmas, SYS had held a Recycle-a-Cycle program whereby used bicycles were successfully restored and donated to needy children. More recently, Commack company Intercounty Appliance Corp. and its marketing manager Jay Lebowitz was looking to donate over 200 unassembled bicycles originally collected for a promotion. Aware of SYS' previous work, Lebowitz offered the bikes to SYS with one stipulation ¬ they had to go to children.

Montalbano was thrilled to accept the donation, but immediately recognized a problem.

"We'd been looking for space to run our programs, but haven't been really successful We want a permanent space," he said. But being a transitory organization, SYS had no space available that could possibly hold 200 bicycles. Montalbano realized that this event would have to be out in the open. "So, I figured, let's have a block party." And so SYS advertised to local residents to drop by Sherman Drive and volunteer. "We try to turn anything we can into a community event," added the SYS director. At the event's peak, according to Montalbano, there were about 350 volunteers working together at once ¬ quite an impromptu work force.

SYS had trained several of its members beforehand, and bicycle experts were there to assist, so while most residents had no clue how to build bikes, the process remained organized. "People who are pros at this would be able to assemble them much quicker, but the point was to involve the community," said Montalbano.

"Many people who said they were coming for a half hour were still there seven hours later," said Montalbano.

SYS also made a heads-up move concerning protection for the new bike owners. "We had a bit of a dilemma," said Montalbano. "We felt uncomfortable giving away bicycles without helmets." Montalbano needed $1,500 in order to purchase one helmet for every bike assembled. ATL Recycling of Syosset generously provided the money.

Montalbano coordinated the program with the Town of Oyster Bay's Community Youth Services Division, under the direction of Tim Quill. Quill determined which organizations would receive the bikes, making sure that they would only go to needy kids, as the donor requested. He also supplied several large trucks to ship the bike parts, and was present during the shipping.

Quill explained his commitment to the program, stating that there is a "forgotten population" on Long Island that sometimes remains invisible to others. It is a population comprised of children who cannot enjoy such simple joys as riding a bike. "We live in such a beautiful area, it's the last thing you'd assume," said Quill.

"It's something years back that you just took for granted," said Quill. It's something you'd just expect people to have...I can't compliment Tommy enough," he said of Montalbano. "Not many people think of kids."

Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto was yet another town representative who joined the charitable effort, showing up on Saturday in support. Also attending were Nassau County Representative Ernest Jackson, Legislator Judy Jacobs, and Assemblyman David Sidikman.