what to do with an old commuter bike?

[biking_fox]

It's had 8 years of manchester's steets potholes and cardrivers. Is there a market for an alu framed (CF fork) bike that the LBS says 'is starting to show signs of corrosion' or should I just scrap it?

Keeping it is not an option missus is really adamant about this!

Will post pics of shiney new wonderfullness in a bit when I've got it set up just right

 

[numbnuts]

In my area most people tend to throw them over hedges

 

[jimboalee]

Does that LBS do 'Part ex'?
Does that LBS have 'Used bikes' out front?

Yes. Yes,,,

They want to buy it of you and out front for more than they paid you for it.

That's good business sense.

If you go down this road, that's NOT good consumer sense.

Advertise it.

 

[swee'pea99]

'starting to show signs of corrosion'

Um, what signs would these be? As I understand it, alu doesn't really corrode, as such. It's not like iron or steel, where rust gets worse and worse; with alu, you just get a layer of oxide and then that's it - the layer acts as a kind of protective coat, and it stops there. (I have a 20 year old aluminium bike and it's fine.)

 

[HJ]

See if there is a bike recycling scheme near you...

 

[biking_fox]

what signs would these be?

Dunno for sure, but anywhere the coating's been exposed it's gone kind of powdery/rough round that area - bolts for bottle cages, where the rack pbolts fitted, any screw threads etc. I don't think it's structurally weak - I've been riding it quite happily, and would continue to do so, but I don't really know.

 

[swee'pea99]

Sounds fine to me, and nothing to worry about. Try googling 'can aluminum rust' - you'll come up with lots of hits like this. Enjoy your shiney new wonderfullness by all means, but don't suppose it means your old beastie's only fit for the knacker's yard.

 

[Coco]

What type of bike is it?

 

[ComedyPilot]

Build a tall bike.

 

[J4CKO]

Ebay !

 

[skrx]

In my area most people tend to throw them over hedges

In my area people just leave stuff outside -- a working bike would be gone within a couple of hours. A broken bike by nightfall. Recycling at it's best!

It's not just poor bits of London -- I picked up a slightly broken child's kick scooter in South Kensington, and had great fun riding it home drunk :-).

Assuming it's ridable, I'd put the bike on Gumtree, see if your council has a bike recycling project, or if you really can't be bothered leave it outside with a note "not wanted -- works fine!"

 

[GrasB]

Give it to a group like OWL

 

[Speicher]

You could find a group like OWL in Manchester on this site

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/2...sh_and_waste/942/a-z_of_recycling_and_waste/3

or google "Recycling Bicycles in Manchester" to see if there is another one nearer you.

I have no connection to them, but have found that is the easiest way to find how to recycle bicycles.

 

[TheDoctor]

The last bike I got shot of, I just left it parked on my local high street.
Gone within hours.

Admittedly, I did the same with my Brommie, only that was locked. And it went quicker...

 

[PBancroft]

Funeral pyre.