Bicycle Recycling even BSO's

[stevetailor125]

I have just had to retire from the job I have done for more years than I care to remember, I've been doing electronics since the age of 7 and as my eyes are getting worse at the age of 49 have finally been forced to hang up the soldering iron. I live in a pretty low wage if any area and after a trip to the tip came up with an idea to keep me busy. I'm planning on reconditing bicycles and selling or hiring them at a price everyone can afford. I do have the blessing of the LBS as I don't affect their customer base, might affect the local cash converters.
I have done my own bike maintenance for years and would welcome other opinions before I start.

 

[_aD]

Insurance would be a must - but also try to get the "business" side set-up before you start. Work out pricing, return policies, check-lists before selling a bike etc. and make sure you tell HMRC, as well. It's so much easier having this all set-up before getting started rather than bodge it as you go along.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1. It isa cracking idea but you may need to get some kind of formal qualification before you offer the bikes as fit for purpose (as you have rebuilt them)

Insurance would be a must - but also try to get the "business" side set-up before you start. Work out pricing, return policies, check-lists before selling a bike etc. and make sure you tell HMRC, as well. It's so much easier having this all set-up before getting started rather than bodge it as you go along.

 

[Hilldodger]

Throw full suspension mountain bikes away and don't waste your time on them.

 

[stevetailor125]

Thanks the one thing I didnt want to do is stand on cyclemagics toes, its only a local thing. Business wise I'm contacting my insurance company as I've ran my own electronic servicing business until now and thought I'd stay with who I know. I'll chase up the local colleges abput qualifcations, all this advice is more than welcome, keep it coming,its how I learn

 

[Soltydog]

A good source for cheap bikes to recycle maybe your local train stations.
At Hull they have regular clearouts of abondened bikes & when at York last week I noticed they are due to tag bikes & remove them after a month if the tags are still on

 

[SurlyNomad]

Steve, hope it all works out for you. It sounds a fantastic idea mate well done on you for thinking and doing it, putting something like this into your community. Make sure (like said above) that everything is put in place before you start.

 

[stevetailor125]

Thanks everyone, I wanted other cyclists opinion before I moved the idea forward

 

[cloggsy]

Really good idea!

Best of luck with it!

 

[Munchkin100]

Brilliant idea.... you only have to take a trip down your local tip and see how many bikes are just dumped, possibly with minor problems people just cant be bothered to repair, instead of getting their hands oily they would rather go down to Halfords and buy another, or the latest model!

 

[summerdays]

Throw full suspension mountain bikes away and don't waste your time on them.

I know several bike recycling groups in Bristol that take them... they are used as donor bikes, stripping them of the reusable parts. One of them has been nominated for an award:

Bristol Bike Project shortlisted for The Observer Ethical Awards

http://www.betterbybike.info/bristol-bike-project-shortlisted-for-the-observer-ethical-awards

We got rid of two of our old bikes to another source in Bristol, and I've since come across a third one working with children in one of the poorer wards of the city helping kids do up bikes.