Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hi all,
I am looking to volunteer my time to help fix up bikes for the needy.

Do any of you know of an organization?

Cheers
Thomas

Drop into your local Vinnies or Salvos Thomas and explain what's on your mind, I've done a few for Vinnies.

Shaun

There's a bike recycle joint at ANU, down near the National Museum. It's a kind of sheltered workshop set up as far as I can figure out. The do up old bikes and sell 'em, though I'm not sure where the cash goes.

Cheers

The recyclery is a business. The money goes back into there pocket, not to a charity.

To the original poster: Why not start something? Get old bike, service them and then give them to the needy.

ifixbikes wrote:The recyclery is a business. The money goes back into there pocket, not to a charity.

To the original poster: Why not start something? Get old bike, service them and then give them to the needy.

Good to know and that fits with the vibe I'd gotten when I'd gone there. It struck me as bit of an odd place.

Thanks for the replies. Certainly given me some ideas. I might drop pedalpower an email.

There might already be some sort of group doing this.

There was a community group asking for donations of bikes on the southside. My partner thinks it may have been Southside COmmunity Centre or something like that. The had an ad in the southside chronicle or something. They may appreciate a free bike mech.

As for Recyclery, it is hardly a lucrative business. Yes it needs to turn a profit to survive, but they do a lot of work with people with disabilities. But, no, it isnt a charity.

If you're decent on maintenance, the Fitability tandems may want some assistance with maintenance. The tandems are used by visually impaired cyclists, If you're interested in doing some maintenance or would like to get involved as a pilot for a visually impaired stoker drop me a PM and I can put you in contact.

Russ.

Gday Thomas

Good on you for wanting to lend a hand. Heres another option/idea for you to look into http://hobartbikekitchen.org/

Thats a local group here in Hobart but im guessing there must be something like that in your area? Another tip might be to check out your local critical/courteous mass rides. They are a good place to network as they attract the pro-active types. And of course your local Lyons/Apex/Community clubs, if they dont run a program themselves theres a fair chance they will know who does.

Good luck with it mate, I hope you find something that fits.

cheers
Baldy

psike wrote:If you're decent on maintenance, the Fitability tandems may want some assistance with maintenance. The tandems are used by visually impaired cyclists, If you're interested in doing some maintenance or would like to get involved as a pilot for a visually impaired stoker drop me a PM and I can put you in contact.

Russ.

The lilac one has just had a pretty major overhaul by Ian Downing.

Howdy Pilgrims,

HA! Glad I searched first, someone else has usually asked the question first I am also looking to do some repair work for charity, did anyone find any (or know of any) groups around the Belconnen area?

Yehuwdiy,

I'm in the Belconnen area too. If you find any I'm happy to give a hand

Howdy LoveB,

I'll be phoning/ visiting a few opshops etc today. There is one in particulary where I have gotten to know the old ladies behind the counter pretty well. I'll see what I can dig up and shall report back!

Yay! let me know how you go

Well, drawing a blank so far, will keep trying though. Responses seem to vary from, "We don't get bikes donated" through to, "As long as the tyres stay up we don't care."

Who would have thought it was so hard to give your time away?

If I knew where to get free bikes I wouldnt mind doing it at home. Although that would probably anger the gf as I dont really have that big a space to work on bikes here

You know what LoveB, I've had that exact same idea. We are renting here in Canberra and alas no garage (at all...WTH...seriously). I wouldn't mind kicking in the cash to get a bike back on the road. I did it a little bit in Brisbane, gave the bikes to local migrant communities. They loved them, rode them every day as primary transport and looked after them.

Perhaps something will surface, fingers crossed

I did my finacees bike resto on the balcony. Paint and all. lol

If you end up doing work at your place I can come over and helps. Beats doing nothing. Or I can do some work here then bring it onto you sort of thing. And if I make spare cash I dont mind chipping in too!

Have a look at the work the Hobart Bike Kitchen has been doing. They may have links too

Ok, after having no luck with local charities I have decided to take things into my own hands. While in Brisbane a fixed up a few old clunkers and gave them to a local migrant/ refugee community. This worked well and the people who received them valued them. Everything was done at my pace, so there was no stress or timelines involved. My system worked something like this:

1. Fix old bikes to give away
2. Give bikes to those who need them as a primary mode of transport (i.e. can't afford to by own or car etc.)
3. Provide mechanical assistance to said people
4. If circumstances change and the bike is no longer needed, it is returned to the 'pool'.
5. Any rare/ collectable parts that came up were sold (usually fleabay) to pay for ongoing costs.

With regard to point 5 above, it is surprising how much you can spend on cables, housing, grease, bearings and brake pads. Thus the somewhat mercenary approach to this one point.

This worked well with one exception, maintenance over distance. Brisbane is a big place and driving around to donate/ pick-up/ fix bikes got to be very expensive. Canberra, although not so big, is still big enough to make this an issue.

The other day I was cogitating on this and realised that if there were a number of people across Canberra, who are from the forums, this may not be in issue. All requests could be funnelled off to the most appropriate person.

So, I'm putting out a request for the names and suburbs of anyone who is interested in helping. Once we have this list we can start looking for suitable recipients. If you are interested please post or pm me with your details, I shall then add them to the list below.

Volunteers

Belconnen - Dunlop - Yehuwdiy

you know I'm down for that!


Belconnen - loveb/paul

I have not checked my post of late, but yeah count me in, I am in Gungahlin.

If this is up and running i have two childrens bikes cobwebby but basically in pretty good nick. Would hate to throw them out one was very $$$$

Hi, it is kind of running. Everything is on hold until my new shed is built early in the new year. We have completed and donated a few bikes, btu have had to let many mroe go because of a lack of room. I'd be interested in the bikes, but in the new year. Not sure if you need to clean out the space now though!

No i can wait if you like, just let me know.