We rely on the public to donate bikes.
“We welcome bikes that are sound, in OK condition, that we can get going again quickly, and that someone will want to ride once they’re fixed.”
We accept all bikes, all ages, all styles.
We also welcome accessories (helmets lights locks) and bike parts.
Donate a bike to us:
Many bikes donated haven’t been ridden for a while, and need a bit of work to get them ready to hand on to someone. Our skilled volunteers know what to do. On average we have 1-2 hours to spend on a bike, to clean it, check it, do repairs & test it. So if a bike can be got going in that time – we can accept it.
Some bikes are not much use to a recycling scheme and we can’t accept them. These would be bikes e.g covered in heavy rust, heavily used and worn out, need major repairs, or parts of very low quality. We have tried those bikes in the past, but they take too long to fix up and get looking nice, and cost us too much in parts. Even if we get them mechanically OK and safe to ride – no one wants to ride a rusty bike.
Exceptions – BMX, dragsters & historic bikes (pre 1960s), we accept in almost any condition, to sell as fund-raisers.
NB – we don’t usually pick bikes up – sorry – you’ll need to bring them to us. The charities that do pick-ups – Salvos, Vinnies – are large organisations, with their own vehicles and warehouses, and paid staff. We are just a few volunteers, working out of shipping containers, in our spare time, on a small budget.
For more information on what we do/don’t take, & where to take bikes… read on ….
What we can accept
A little wear & tear; a little surface rust; flat tyres; are ok. Most bikes we’re offered have these, we can fix them easily. (however if the bike has large areas covered in rust, e.g was stored outdoors, not much use to us – see below)
- If a bike’s been stored indoors or under cover, it’ll usually be OK.
- Most models, makes and styles are ok.
- We accept bikes for toddlers, children, teenagers and adults.
- ‘Budget brand bikes’ – e.g Huffy, Cyclops, Dunlop, Kent, Southern Star, Northern Star, – we only accept if unridden, or as-new.
- We take bikes of any age. Our clients prefer modern bikes, as they like to ride what they see other people riding. But older bikes are also useful – we can sell them to raise funds.
- BMX bikes and dragsters – we accept in any condition. These have a large following of enthusiastis who enjoy restoring them, and we can sell them to raise funds.
what we don’t accept:
For most types of bike, we can’t accept…..
- Bikes with heavy rusting, in some parts or all parts – e.g kept outside, rained on.
- Worn-out bikes and badly damaged bikes
- Bikes with many parts missing or unserviceable.
Other stuff you can donate to us:
The people we help also need the following:
- bike helmets
- locks, lights, racks, etc
- spare parts General purpose parts in good condition can help us get other bikes going. High-end parts e.g Campagnolo, Shimano 105, Mavic, – and pre 1970s parts – can be sold to raise funds.
- damaged bikes (for salvaging parts).
- tools
We also accept cash donations – though unlike donations to larger charities – we do not have DRG status, so donations to us are not tax-deductible, and you cannot claim them on your tax.
How the recycling scheme operates:
Most bikes end up either handed on to people in need, sold to raise funds to run the scheme or used for parts. We aim to use donations efficiently, and we try to put all donations to good use.
All bikes received, get an individual number, to track them through the scheme. Most bikes capable of being recycled will be recycled – they get a clean, a check & service and road test before being handed on or sold to raise funds. Bikes not worth attempting to put back into use are dismantled for usable parts. For example these are very rusty, worn out or not able to be repaired satisfactorily even with substantial time and effort.
The bikes are cleaned, checked systematically, serviced, adjusted and repaired where needed. Bikes are then test-ridden, and marked as OK to hand on. We do not do complete overhauls ( strip/clean/rebuild), or building up from scratch, as it takes several hours to produce just one finished bike, and we can’t meet demand. People in need can get an appointment to visit the workshop to pick a bike out or can have a bike delivered to their care organisation.
Bikes surplus to requirements, are offered for sale to the general public for fund-raising. These are often high-value bikes , where selling one bike provides funds to repair several other bikes. Older or unusual bikes, of interest mainly to cycling enthusiasts and collectors, are sold ‘as is’. These funds keep the workshop running, buy parts, pay expenses etc. We use surplus funds to help refugees and asylum seekers in other ways – in accord with our charitable aims and constitution.
In the 2021-22 financial year, we recycled 1,267 bikes. We returned 1,118 to active use and used the remainder for parts. Of the 1,118, 474 were given to people in need and 644 sold to raise funds.
Further details in the 2022 annual report.
Arrangements for donating bikes.
Our workshop is at 111 Franklin Street, Adelaide.
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11 to 5, Saturday 10 to 3, Sunday and Monday closed.
We’re there most of those times. If the workshop’s unattended – please go to reception in the main building.
Most bikes will fit in a car boot or hatchback, provided you take the wheels off. Just let the tyres down, then undo the quick release or retaining bolt. With the air out of the tyres, the wheel should pass easily between the brake blocks. The frame is usually small enough to fit, lying down flat. Then the wheels go on top.
2 or more bikes – put both frames in first, one on top of each other. Then all 4 wheels on top.
Donating large numbers of bikes (10 or more) please contact us, depending on circumstances, we may be able to assist with transport, happy to discuss.
Adelaide Community Bike Workshop 