At no point have I said I`m a charity, I just do something good with my spare time. I tried to work with one of the local bike charity's but just couldn't get on with a lot of the snobby people already there so I left on good terms with them. I've worked in two bike shops, I left those because I wasn't happy doing it for a living. I've no qualifications but I've been fixing bikes since I could hold a spanner. The only time I charge people is when there has been a expense in the repair/refurbishment of the bike, sometimes ill even forget about the cost of the part if it means it will help somebody out.
I don't charge anybody anything for labour, I`m just there to help. I could rebuild a bike blindfolded. Not once have I ever let anybody ride a bike I haven't ridden a few times myself and I certainly don't let anybody ride a bike I've worked on until I`m happy with it. I had test ridden the bike myself three times on three different routes, I do this with all of the bikes I do up.
The bike was given to me after the previous owner purchased a bike from the LBS, she wanted it to be refurbished and put to good use by somebody who needed it.
I wont bother changing my number etc etc, I`m calling her bluff, until I get contacted by a solicitor. The thing that has annoyed me is she has took the absolute mick. I honestly don't care if people don't like what im doing etc etc, The fact is that I`m at least trying to help people out, trying to make a difference in my community, its not much but its something. BTW one of the bikes I gave away helped the new owner gain full time permanent employment because he now has his own form of transport.
Im just going to put this down as a bad experience and carry on.
