Road Cycling - I gave away a bike tonight.

I've been teaching cycling merit badge to some Boy Scouts in my son's Troop (see my other posts). I've had a few kids that I’ve had to loan bikes to so they could participate. Some of their folks can't afford a road bike, even a used one. My neighbor was going to trash an old Huffy road bike after he broke a few spokes.

I salvaged it and my son and I refinished it with new paint, cables, tires, grease, seat and grip tape. My LBS owner was real cool –as always- and cut me great prices on the products I needed and gave me some of their old stock for free. The bike turned out sweet and a kid now has a bike he can be proud of. He said. "Wow, it rides so smoothly" after his first ride.

I didn't post this to troll for ata'boys and compliments. I posted it because there have to be plenty of us on the Bike Forums looking for something to do with our old rides or something to do with our excess time. Those of us that can turn a wrench can make a kid happy for about $30 bucks and a few evenings of work. That's not a bad return on the joy we get from cycling.

The smile on this kid's face was worth far more than I gave him.

I'm going to make this a habit. :)

Good job. You have the best sig pic so far also...

can one atta boy ya anyhow? really that's very cool.
and I have to agree about your avatar/tinyhead whatever.
a little moloko me droogies? :D

I wish more people were like this!

wow, this is a great idea. our city has bike auctions every year and last year there were about 8 steel frame road bikes from the 80s that all were rideable(the best of which was destroyed between my stupidity and a well built cadillac bumber), next year I'll try and remember this. I had a great time fixing up one for myself after the accident, I might have a better time doing it for someone else.
Note: not only am I stealing your idea, I'm also stealing your avatar(I believe thats what its called) for my personal message name. Thank you fine sir

wow, this is a great idea. our city has bike auctions every year and last year there were about 8 steel frame road bikes from the 80s that all were rideable(the best of which was destroyed between my stupidity and a well built cadillac bumber), Thank you fine sir

If you guys have colleges or university's in your city's check with them, because every summer they probably throw away hundreds of bikes. Some of them aren't worth a dime, but some can be salvaged.

Nice job...you sound like my dad! I don't think he's ever driven by an old bike that's been put out by the curb, without at least stopping to see if it's salvagable. After a while he picked up so many that I think he started just cannibalizing them for parts.

Great job.

When I hear this it makes me even angrier that my ex-wife junked 2 women's comfort bikes. She didn't want to deal with them because they needed new tires and some maintenance. :mad:

Follow Up: The road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions.

Last week the kid, after months and 100's of miles where he learned to ride safely, blew a stop sign at about 30mph (not wearing the Giro helmet I gave him either) and T-boned a Nissan sedan. He is now minus his spleen, had a concussion and he spent six days of his life in a hospital.

Damn....

awesome.....way to go!

Follow Up: The road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions.

Last week the kid, after months and 100's of miles where he learned to ride safely, blew a stop sign at about 30mph (not wearing the Giro helmet I gave him either) and T-boned a Nissan sedan. He is now minus his spleen, had a concussion and he spent six days of his life in a hospital.

Damn....He's going to be OK right?

awesome.....way to go Did you even read ALL the posts?

He's going to be OK right?

Yes, he should be fine. That is the word from his dad. I'll have his bike fixed in a week or two, or I just may make him do most of the work under my supervision.

Yes, he should be fine. That is the word from his dad. I'll have his bike fixed in a week or two, or I just may make him do most of the work under my supervision.
Have him help It'll be theraputic

Quote: The smile on this kid's face was worth far more than I gave him.

Not looking for anything either but I've given away 4 bikes this year. I CAN'T pass up a schwinn, Puegeot, raleigh, etc at a yard sale. (once got a schwinn traveler 12 speed for a dollar! belongs to a local kid now. I see it often. ) So I buy it, fix it up and give it to someone I think in need. Latest was a Gary Fisher Tassajara, got it for $25, was rusty & neglected. Cleaned it up, got it running good , put wally-mart tires on it. Gave it to a local part time college kid working his way through school. Smile on his face was indeed priceless. Only problem- gave one to a guy who guy who works with me, he wanted one to ride with his kids, complained it lost tire pressure - (no pump), asked me to come pump it up, even asked for a helmet, just a pain in the Arse. Finally told him to give it to someone who cared about a bike. Now he's actually PO'ed at me, YEA!!!

Oh- Forgot to mention. anyone I give a bike to, I stipulate a 'condition' : Not for resell, only for passing on to someone deserving.

Last week the kid, after months and 100's of miles where he learned to ride safely, blew a stop sign at about 30mph (not wearing the Giro helmet I gave him either) and T-boned a Nissan sedan. He is now minus his spleen, had a concussion and he spent six days of his life in a hospital.

Damn....

Smart kid eh...

On long island there is an organization called freewheel that does things like this. They have given away many bikes to children in need and day laborers that need transportation. Most of the bikes given away are donated.

If you are in the are an interested in helping out:
http://www.lifreespace.org/freewheel/

Good job!

We run a program at the shop I work for where we take in donation bikes and fix them up for people. Customers supply the bikes and we either fix them up with our time and parts or if they are too bad, salvage any usable parts off them. Kids bikes often go to the local Boys and Girls club and adult bikes get handed out as needed. We've done some work with a local half way house since many of those adults can not get a drivers liscense and are trying to put there lives back together. Many times we'll give one away and never see them again, which is fine, but there was one guy we gave away a very nice Giant too and he rides that thing all over town. He now has a steady job (which he rides the bike too) and comes in at least once a year to get a tune up that he pays for. Every time he's in he tells us how much he loves that bike we gave him and you can just see the pride on his face......that is worth so much more then the times and materials we invest.

It's nice to know there are others out there doing something similar, not only is it just a great thing to do to help someone out but it gets more people on bikes which also good for all of us.