This past week our neighbor had left a BMX sitting outside his storage house next door. After watching it sit for 2 days I was wondering if it would get picked off. So I left a note tacked up near the door where the bike sat, took the bike next door to my shop and went to work on it. 2 days later the neighbor shows up and we talked about the bike, he loves the idea of my wanting to give it to a fatherless boy that doesnt have a bike.

I posted the bike on facebook describing my desires for the bike and in 5min it was spoken for. Last night the bike was being enjoyed by a little boy that was bikeless for the summer but now has something to ride on with his friends. No more being left behind.

Here is a pic of the BMX:



I've put out another bulletin on facebook to my locals for neglected and pitched BMX's for the purpose of reconditioning for bikeless boys. We'll see what happens.

That is really, really nice of you. I can imagine that you changed that little boy's whole summer. You and your neighbor are good people.

Excellent idea. Don't forget bikeless girls, though...

I wrench at a local charity which takes unwanted bikes, cannibalises for parts those that can't be saved, and reconditions the rest. Most we sell, cheap, back into the local community, and the revenue keeps us going. It also allows us to donate a couple of hundred bikes a year to disadvantaged people here and in sub-Saharan Africa. So far (just over five years) we've received over 10,000 bikes, almost all of which would have just gone to landfill.

This is super for you to do this, boys or girls, what you did/are doing is the right thing to do. How about Children need bikes? Regardless, y'all done real good here.

Bill

I also wrench for a charity bike shop. All bikes are donated, every type, age, and condition imaginable. We sell them for very reasonable prices. Lots of them where bought and just never ridden, some are well used.
The best part is seeing the smile on a kids face as he rides his 'new' bike out the door.
BTW, you did something good.

OldsCool, what a great thing to do.

Making the world a better place one bike at a time. I like this a lot.

Thanx, ya'll. We'll see where this goes. I want to give them away and try to stick with that as much as I'm able. So far, I've been contacted by facebook friends (local) that should generate a pickup of 3 and possibly 6 neglected bikes. My neighbor says he still has 3 of his 80s childhood BMX's that he may be bringing to me.

No, I'll not neglect the girls. I have 2 girls bikes coming in next week. But I want to target the boys since bikes are so much a part of their life.

Great what you are doing.

Around here we get LOTS of girls riding - little, adult. In fact, if I take a ride - as I am going to do shortly - I will see more female riders - many who pass me on top quality road bikes, then I will see guys.

So, both male and female!!

Keep up the good work.

You are setting an example for all of us.

A great gesture on your part. No child should go without a bike. Well Done!

Think of this as your new ministry OldsCool.

Bill

We have a lot of refugees coming into our area, previously from Kosovo, now mostly from Somalia. I have picked up bikes left at the swap shop at our local recycling center, rehabbed them (clean, de-rust, repack wheel bearings and bottom brackets, tires and tubes as needed) and given them to the agencies involved in resettling the families. The kids like them, but for the adults it has allowed some of them to get jobs or attend school. Some of these folks have never seen a flush toilet, but they all know how to ride a bike!

That's what I'm thinking, Bill. Thanx and God bless you.

That's a good work, Mike. Keep it up!

+10

I must be spending too much time on facebook. I was looking for the "like" button.

I had totally forgotten about it but we have a guy like that here in Bristol. In fact, I used to work with him before we both retired.
What reminded me was seeing a boy pushing his bike with a broken and very rusty chain as I did a slow loop through town. I slowed to chat briefly and he told me he was on his way to the bike guy. "You mean Mario", I asked? "Yeah, that's him". Fixing bikes is an excellent way to do useful work during retirement.

OldsCOOL, chasm54, leob1, and MikeWMass:

What you are doing is very admirable. You are spreading the joy of bicycling to those who probably could not experience it on their own. Keep up the good work, guys! You are leaving the world a better place than you found it.

+1 to all of you doing this for the boys. God Bless and keep you safe in your rides and your activities. We do this every Christmas at our Church, for the Men's group, The Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and I enjoy doing the work so much. Maybe I can talk to the men about doing this more often.

Bill

+1!

Here's a fellow in Little Rock who's done the same, Recycle Bikes for Kids. His operation grows and grows. He's known all over the metro area.