We make every effort to ensure that the bikes we restore have come from good homes, and go, at a fair price, to good homes. Their only fault, apart from their initial decrepitude and disrepair, is lack of use. We make sure they are roadworthy when they leave our shed, to bike shop standards.
Whilst we cannot be absolutely sure as to the provenance of every one of our donated bikes, we take care to ensure that they or their components weren’t parted unwillingly from their owner, and won’t let any that we suspect into the workshop. We are very good at smelling rats, and if one farts, we report it to the South Melbourne Police, who we have a good working relationship with. So if you want to volunteer or donate, keep in mind that we’ve got a responsibility to the cycling community, and that we stick by what we’ve said here.
We charge money for our bikes; the amount is at our discretion (always a fair bit less than market value), because BAC Bikes believes that bikes themselves are not currency, and don’t belong in second-hand or pawnshops. They’re to be ridden by people that need them, and we make every effort to ensure that this is where they end up. We do not aim to make a profit, in line with UnitingCare’s ethos, but to cover running costs and expenses only. Nor should any of our participants.
Post a comment if you’d like any clarification of the above.
1 Comment
August 1, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I used to work with Jeremy Lewis, and saw him yesterday. He sent me your web link.
I have four little kids that we wish to resume more riding with.
1.Our two adult bikes need maintenance, one slips gear. Do you do maintenance on existing bikes (I understand you will have a fee schedule)?
2.One of my kids is nearly eight, and we are having difficulty moving her off training wheels. The answer might be one of those trailling bikes- the type you join to the adult bike and the child rides behind. Do you have any for sale?.
3.I also would like to attach a device to the towbar of the car, I’m not sure if there is one that will hold more than 4 bikes. Again, do you sell such devices.
Finally, we have at least one old bike you can have to recycle, probably more if I really have a good look under the house.