Some of the "Co-Ops" are variations of the same. I can guarantee you that the hipsters working at one of the locals are pocketing all the really nice bikes for themselves. The crap gets shipped off to the third world, the middle brow stuff gets sold in their shop to cover expenses, and the nice stuff never sees the light of day.

I wouldn't mind this as long as they were making a fair donation for the gear - not just taking it.

My lucky thrift store has been hit by something like this in the last year or so. They used to have a nice bike, or even two everytime I went in. The one I visit
is an off site store, IE: not the main location. The supply of bikes went from nice/semi decent, to absolute magna/huffy junk, in less than a month. Someone is intercepting
the nicer bikes at the donation point. Probably an employee that knows the difference, was hired about that time, and is hoarding/flipping. The nicer bikes that do
make it to my store now, are beyond all repair.,,,,BD

Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want, but it wouldn't just immediately stop cold like that? Not after years?

Times are hard. People do things they shouldn't, and rationalize it.
Then we vote for them.

- Sorry about that Pastor - in no way was I impugning your good character! Please grant me absolution.

Sometimes twice,,,,BD

For some reason this reminds me of the George Carlin joke about religion...

Religion convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do... and there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll go to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity... but he loves you! ...and he needs money! He's all powerful, but he can't handle money!

+1 for pastorbob!

why doesn't he just ask god for the bikes?

Pastor Bob has gifted me as well (though I did eventually trade off that Robin Hood and, I think, came out better on the deal). So I still owe him -- or someone ...

Bob

I am involved with a local co-op and the nicer bikes end up going to the racing team that we sponsor for our kids or get sold on ebay and at swaps for operating expenses.

To be clear, I am most certainly not implying that co-ops are widely suspect, and I certainly apologize if I was careless with my words. I'm very familiar with one of my locals, which is top shelf. I have the utmost respect for the excellent teaching and work they do, and have made financial donations to them frequently. However, there is another local co-op that I've heard cherry picks for themselves.

Good eggs and bad eggs everywhere.

I wasn't offended or anything and I'm sure there are cases where you're right. I just didn't want people to get the idea that all, or even most, co-ops are theft rings. I'm not what would normally be considered a co-op kind of person...I definitely enjoy making money and I work for a corporation. At the same time, I really value what my particular co-op does and I see that it really helps some kids. It also promotes cycling by giving people that can't afford LBS repairs or tools an option for fixing their stuff. Sure...most of the volunteers could safely be labeled as dirty, silly, idealistic kids...but I was a dirty, silly, idealistic kid once.

One thing I find funny is that the kids who go there all want BMXs. We have a points system where kids have to earn so many points to get different bikes...and BMXs cost them the most. What you end up with is kids getting $50 wal-mart BMX bikes instead of Cannondales, mid-range Schwinns and Raleighs...etc. and work harder to do it! I try to explain that they could earn fewer points and get a more valuable bike...sell it and buy a new BMX, with profit left over...but they don't usually understand or are intimidated about trying to sell it.

Plenty of those here in Philly, you go over just before opening time and see all the workers coming in on their sweet as vintage rides.

Like those televangelists saying you should "Plant a seed" for greater wealth. You give them money, and you will be "rewarded" with money later.

So give them a bike, and you'll get 3 bikes someday.

Maybe the "church" is in Nigeria

One hundred rabbits do not make a horse. He could be on the level still TBD.

IMHO it's a scam!
My church group accepts ANY bike. Most of our donations are department store bikes. The few "skinny tire" bikes we get are usually Schwinn, Raleigh or Fuji. Mostly we get MTBs and kids bikes. While we do process some of the road bikes, the truth is, the folks who get these bikes would rather have sturdy mountain bikes and have little use for a vintage road bike.
The same goes for a riding club that's starting up. Most folks would rather have an MTB. They're not interested in those skinny tire bikes because they perceive they'll fall over because they are not stable. Few, have any idea what a Bianchi or any other esoteric brand is.
So my opinion is the ad is a total scam.

I vote for Pastor Bob too...

Now for a little irreverance that ILikeBikes statement reminded me of.

“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.”–Emo Philips

It's almost as if the would be flipper has taken this to heart.

What would Jesus ride?

Jesus was a mudder. He rode a Cannondale Prophet. j

I think I better watch myself, I resemble Clergyman Boggis on occasion.

Since it is for adults, I think it is a scam. Adults in the church could make modest donations to a fund to give him money to buy bikes. A worthy cause would be to put bikes together for kids to be introduced to riding and bicycle racing. That could easily be done by a church. I would be into that.