How to donate road bike stuff to a new home?

[michel700c]

"Bikes not Bombs" was a powerful message I saw on a sticker years ago, and reading here about the African racers makes me think that I would like to send get my good condition but retired road bike parts to a new home. I could sell the stuff on Ebay, but it sure would be nice to send it to riders that would appreciate it. Anybody know how to get this done? Any organizations that collect this stuff for shipment overseas?

 

[Oldman]

One place that recycles clothes and other stuff is part of a program shipping to Africa:

http://racing.garagebilliards.com/

 

[hiero2]

"Bikes not Bombs" was a powerful message I saw on a sticker years ago, and reading here about the African racers makes me think that I would like to send get my good condition but retired road bike parts to a new home. I could sell the stuff on Ebay, but it sure would be nice to send it to riders that would appreciate it. Anybody know how to get this done? Any organizations that collect this stuff for shipment overseas?

If BNB isn't still around - I'll take a look and see what I can find out. I will tell you this though - BNB found the recycling business to be very difficult, and far less productive than they would have wished. Last I recall hearing, they had tons and tons of many parts - like frames, brake levers, cranks, etc etc. But, they had very few of the parts that need replacing frequently - cables, brake shoes, etc etc, and the COST of getting the bikes back on the road in the target country made the whole thing a bad deal, or close to it. In other words, the cost was close to the cost of a new bike in the target country. Or something like that.

Maybe somebody else around here remembers more.

As for other orgs doing stuff, I know I've recently posted or others have, about Calfee for one, and somebody else (I'm trying to recall) doing something similar, but with metal frames. Then there is that kid racing news story --- hmmm. I'll have to go look.

 

[Aapjes]

Sell the old stuff on Ebay and donate money. I think many people overestimate the usefulness of their old 'crap' to third world countries. Generally they are better off with products that are locally produced and can thus be maintained locally.

 

[Frank71]

Namibia

The Bicycling Empowerment Network Namibia (BEN) is always in need of donated bikes. Their web addres is http://benbikes.org.za/namibia/.

The website contains a number of links to partner organisations in need of bikes and donations.

You can also contact Windhoek Pedal Power if you want to donate road bikes to disadvantaged junior cyclists. Their website is at http://www.wpp.iway.na/