Scruffy skip rat or ecologically sound bike lover

[bancrobba]

I am unable to leave a dumped or unloved bike. It's some sort of illness.
Drive around with a multi-tool and constantly annoy my lovely wife with my latest little abandoned gem.

Here are (after a big clear out) a few of my projects waiting for better weather and lighter evenings.

I do kids bikes up and give them away. If I can't rescue the adult bikes I strip them for parts or create frankenbikes.
Loads of dumped bikes have been sold on my wife's e bay or on Gumtree, some have gone to my mates and are still going strong. Can't bear to see them dumped.
Most people I know think I should just move into a caravan.

 

[Brandane]

I am not familiar with English law, but in Scotland - going by the letter of the law - you would be a thief if you took anything from a skip!
I'm not inferring that I am in agreement with it, as it seems a bit OTT when you just intend to rescue someone else's discarded "rubbish". It would take a Police Officer to be having a very bad day to actually arrest you for it though.

 

[Mrs M]

Well done to you, doing up kids bikes and giving them away is a great thing to do
I learned to ride on a wee ancient, red bike donated by my next door neighbour

 

[bancrobba]

Should change my username to skiprobba!

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Well, I'm all for it. Of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra, surely reuse is the best? I'm always on the lookout. I bagged a 60s Moulton a couple of years ago. It is now my mum's shopping bike.

I can never seem to find a couple of BMX wheels though. I want to weld together a trailer.

 

[Booyaa]

Skip Rat but well done on fixing up and giving away kids bikes, what a great thing to do.

 

[Diggs]

I know exactly how you feel @bancrobba I've saved an old Sun Solo which is now the pub/shop bike and an old Peugeot U frame folder. There's an old cheapy BMX which is awaiting a tyre and a sunny day. They are usually left on owners front gardens on rubbish day, so I knock or drop a note through the door.

Here's the rescued Sun Solo on a trip to the seaside

 

[bancrobba]

I know exactly how you feel @bancrobba I've saved an old Sun Solo which is now the pub/shop bike and an old Peugeot U frame folder. There's an old cheapy BMX which is awaiting a tyre and a sunny day. They are usually left on owners front gardens on rubbish day, so I knock or drop a note through the door.

Here's the rescued Sun Solo on a trip to the seaside
View attachment 116077

I've got a Sun Solo that was found with a load of metal left out for scrap man. I was working and asked the guy who's house it was outside if it was OK to take it, he looked me straight in the eye and said, "Yeah, left it out coz I knew some pikey would want it!"
I'm going to keep hold of it and run it as a single speed.

 

[Diggs]

I've got a Sun Solo that was found with a load of metal left out for scrap man. I was working and asked the guy who's house it was outside if it was OK to take it, he looked me straight in the eye and said, "Yeah, left it out coz I knew some pikey would want it!"
I'm going to keep hold of it and run it as a single speed.

Exactly what I did with mine! It's been switched between single speed and I did run it fixed for a while. Always been a conversation starter

 

[bancrobba]

Exactly what I did with mine! It's been switched between single speed and I did run it fixed for a while. Always been a conversation starter

Got decent 700 wheels ready. Have a nice retro lightweight chrome rack earmarked for it. Got chainset, pedals and bb put away. Will sell my old hard tail and use the Solo as pub/shopping/park with kids bike.
Frame is in really tidy condition. Only outlay going to be bar tape.
Will probably end up with a bearded hipster in that there London when I have yet another clear out next year!

 

[Katherine]

During a big clear out of the garage, I took one of the kids old bikes to the tip and no sooner had I unloaded it from the boot of the car than someone came up and asked if they could have it. I was delighted to give it to them. Hope they were able to find new parts for it.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Good man @bancrobba

 

[Diggs]

I have paid way more than that for a bike.

Yeah you guys have never negotiated space for an extra bike with Mrs D!

 

[bancrobba]

Good man @bancrobba

Nah, it is some firm of illness!
Mrs b opened the car door couple of weeks ago to greet the kids as I parked on the drive. Her 3 little treasures had spent best part of 10 miles holding up an Elswick Puma above their heads.
Hard to describe the look she gave me as the kids recounted the journey to her.

Nice bike though.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Nah, it is some firm of illness!
Mrs b opened the car door couple of weeks ago to greet the kids as I parked on the drive. Her 3 little treasures had spent best part of 10 miles holding up an Elswick Puma above their heads.
Hard to describe the look she gave me as the kids recounted the journey to her.

Nice bike though.

Inspiring your kids too