BRISTOL BIKE PROJECT
Inside the community bike co-op that breathes life into tired bikes
A boom in bike buying in 2020 has made new ones hard to come by, but the alternative – buying second-hand – is fraught with complications. Fortunately, there are community co-ops like the Bristol Bike Project taking the hassle out of the process…
First, it was hand sanitiser, toilet paper and pasta. Next came flour, and then it was the turn of bikes, all to end up in short supply. Throughout last year’s lockdown, cycling boomed. Fewer cars on the road saw more people taking to two wheels to commute to work, to buy food and simply to exercise. Bike shops were deemed essential and spent the summer helping to keep key workers mobile.
According to the Department for Transport, cycling doubled on average throughout the week and tripled at the weekends. It helped that the government announced a £2bn active travel investment, alongside free bike servicing vouchers. City centres gained temporary cycling infrastructure and wider pavements for pedestrians to maintain social distancing.
Inevitably, there came a bike shortage. Large retailers sold all their stock and, as this issue goes to print, across the country people are collecting bikes they purchased six months ago. The second-hand market also saw a boom, with average prices on eBay soaring and Gumtree bikes selling as soon as they were published.
But with the influx of new customers taking to online retailers and national chains, it’s easy to forget the independent bike shops and bike co-ops that work to keep their communities rolling and their local economy thriving.
Second chance
While it’s tempting to buy new, there’s certainly a lesser-tapped market for second-hand road bikes that have been fully serviced and revitalised with new parts.
Throughout the UK, bike co-ops refurbish old donated bikes and redistribute them back into the local community. The donation-based notfor-profit model can keep the overall cost of sale bikes down, and pretty much guarantees that you’re not in danger of buying a stolen bike.
The Bristol Bike Project (BBP) is a member-led co-op that does just this. Adam Dolling is a professional mechanic there and, despite being a self-professed bike nerd with an appreciation for modern high-end bikes, he stresses the importance of keeping the second-hand bike market alive, as well as getting old bikes serviced to make them roadworthy.
For one thing, it’s a ordable. “If you buy second-hand from a reputable bike shop,” he says, “you could get a fully refurbished bike with a lot of new parts, for around half or threequarters of its new value.”
Take, for example, the 2010 Boardman Team Carbon road bike that was donated to BBP last year and sold for £500. “After assessing the condition of the carbon frameset and
components, we stripped and deep-cleaned it while checking for damage and wear,” Adam explains. “It wasn’t donated to us looking as good as it does now!”
“We replaced a lot of parts, swapping the original fork for a quality new-old-stock carbon fork, and the unbranded wheels for second-hand Mavic Aksiums with 25c Specialized Turbo tyres. We also upgraded the tired old Tektro calipers to Shimano 105 5800, which matched the rest of the groupset nicely.”
“After servicing or replacing all the bearings systems - hubs, headset and bottom bracket - we rebuilt it with new cables, brake pads, chain, cassette, bar tape and a brand-new 105 rear derailleur to keep the shifting nice and precise. We also fitted some basic, but good-quality M:Part alloy platform pedals, which are much better than plastic while you’re deciding if you want to clip in or not.”
For the same £500, you can now buy a Boardman SLR 8.6 brand new. This has an aluminium frame with carbon fork, Shimano Claris gearing, Tektro R315 brake calipers, and Boardman alloy wheels and finishing kit. In terms of value, the two just don’t compare.
As well as being a ordable, there are many other reasons you may choose a second-hand bike instead of buying new.
“Bikes may be a green and sustainable form of transportation, but the industry itself creates a huge amount of waste,” explains Krysia Williams, Community Coordinator at BBP. “Most industries focused on buying new leads to a throwaway culture, which we try to counteract, using what’s already available. We take perfectly decent bike frames and parts, give them some love and put them back out into the world.”
It’s also a great way to support local business, explains Jo Hellier, BBP’s Project Coordinator. “When you spend money at a community project, you invest directly back into that community.” Unlike buying new at a national or international chain, money spent at an independent business or community project stays within a small, local economy. It pays the sta , creates a space for volunteers and provides a service that gives back to the community.
Parts of the deal
It can be daunting to buy a second-hand bike, especially if you don’t know how to tell what sort of state it’s in. Jo recalls how frequently people arrive with a sub-£100 bike they bought from Gumtree or eBay. “They may have not paid much for it, but then it often turns out that the bike’s in really poor condition, with all its parts worn and it ends up costing a lot more to make it road-worthy,” she says.
The best advice is to buy a second-hand bike from a reputable dealer, ideally an independent bike shop or community co-op.
Adam says to check whether the bike’s been fully serviced, the cables, chain and other wearable parts have been replaced, and whether or not it comes with any warranty. “Beware anyone who sells second-hand bikes with rusty cables and cracked tyres, and says they’re fully serviced,” he warns.
“If you’re in a good shop where they want to get you set up with a decent second-hand bike, they should ask you as many questions as you ask them,” Krysia says. “Think about what you plan to use the bike for, whether it’s commuting, leisurely weekends or fitness, for example. Other considerations include: do you need something speedy? Do you need to carry it up flights of stairs? “The shop sta should be able to help you find a bike that’s suitable for your needs.”
Jo also stresses the importance of getting the right size and fit. “Take it for a test ride,” she says. “Test the brakes and gears, climb a hill and check that everything is working as seamlessly as it should be.”
“Beware anyone who sells second-hand bikes with rusty cables and cracked tyres, and says they’re fully serviced” ADAM DOLLING
Bikes without barriers
Being a non-profit organisation, all money made from repairs and sales are reinvested into BBP’s community work, which includes Social Cycle - providing a welcoming space for sociallyisolated adults - and After-School Bikes, where youngsters can work with a volunteer mechanic to fix their bikes.
The main part of BBP’s community work, though, is its Earn-a-Bike programme. Partnering with local organisations, they provide bikes to anyone with a barrier to employment, including refugees, asylum seekers, adults recovering from addiction and ex-o!enders, to help them access work opportunities and (re)integrate into society.
Bristol’s asylum seekers make up a large proportion of BBP’s beneficiaries, since access to a!ordable transport can be a huge obstacle for them in the UK. They’re not allowed to work, are only entitled to £37 a week to cover living costs and many have to attend regular appointments at a reporting o"ce eight miles from the city centre. Failing to make this appointment can threaten their asylum claim, but at £20 per week, a bus pass is out of the question. The Bristol Bike Project came into being 12 years ago primarily to help asylum seekers to overcome this issue.
Lianet and Yagne, a couple seeking asylum in Bristol, approached BBP for support last year.
They needed a way to get around, which was becoming increasingly urgent as they were soon to be moved to the outskirts of the city. Both are members of Borderlands - a Bristolbased charity that supports asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants - and they volunteer there to support others in the same position. Having bicycles has enabled them to do this.
“I am really thankful for my bike,” says Lianet. “I use it almost every day. In my economic situation I feel it gives me freedom and helps me feel relaxed. Just going out for a ride is all I need.”
Community projects often rely on volunteers to keep their services running, so not surprisingly, 2020 was a huge challenge. Jo explains how BBP faced the uncertainty, “When we first found out [about the upcoming UK lockdown], we got together and made some quick decisions about how to respond.”
“Because we’re a member-led co-op,” she continues, “it’s the people on the ground who get to make the decisions. Those directly a!ected by how Covid-19 impacted the workplace, they got to decide how we responded as a business, rather than someone in an o"ce somewhere. It makes us really resilient.”
“We’re well-versed in making collaborative decisions and working in solidarity with one another,” agrees Krysia. Thankfully, despite the challenges, the boom in cycling led to an influx of new customers, and while volunteering went on hold, behind the scenes the shop sta! continued preparing Earn-a-Bikes, alongside their usual day job.
No let up
“The shop’s been hugely popular,” says Krysia. “We’re happy to be getting people out and about safely, helping them to avoid public transport, and providing a form of exercise that benefits their physical and mental health.”
Adam elaborates, “The main challenge has been keeping up with demand. There’s been an increasing need for servicing, with people digging out old, unused bikes, as well as second-hand bike sales. This was in addition to our usual busy summer of work. It didn’t slow down as we went into the second lockdown in November, and it doesn’t show any signs of letting up just yet. We’ve mainly coped by relying on the shop team to work overtime and,
“When we first found out about the lockdown, we got together and made some quick decisions about how to respond” JO HELLIER
recently, by hiring another awesome mechanic. Welcome to the team, Tania!”
With a focus on community work and refurbishing donated bicycles, BBP is much more than simply a bike shop. Adam started volunteering five years ago, and honed his mechanical skills before switching careers and eventually becoming a Level 2 Cytech-qualified mechanic. But it’s not just his place of work. “I met almost all of my Bristol friends through BBP,” he says, “and I think that myself and a lot of other people would be a lot worse o without it.”
Krysia describes BBP as “an independent and autonomous community space, where the people who come to the Project have the greatest impact on the direction it takes”.
She explains the culture as DIT (do-ittogether), with an emphasis on teaching and skill sharing. “We build connections by inviting people into the space, teaching them mechanical skills, and providing the tools they need to gain a long-term sense of independence and empowerment.”
For Jo, it’s “a space owned by the community, where people can come without requiring a financial exchange.” She continues: “Before the pandemic, you could come in, socialise, get advice, have a cup of tea, and feel welcomed. It’s been really sad having to restrict people from coming in this year, and hopefully we can welcome everyone back soon.”