Milwaukee, WI

When most people cut down an alley, they only see heaps of unwanted trash and green bins stuffed with garbage. As an avid cyclist, it can sometimes feel like a trip through death row. Go down enough alleys and you will inevitably see a mass of bent spokes, a rusted frame, or a pair of handlebars poking out of the debris. Every week there seems to be a new pile of bikes waiting for the scrappers, or worse, to be forgotten in a landfill. Every week, a new bike waiting to be saved.

If you haven’t noticed already, Milwaukee has a huge biking community. Go out on a sunny day and you’ll see kids riding to the park, mountain bikers heading to the trails, fitness enthusiasts on perfectly tuned machines, and college students racing to classes. Unfortunately, most people don’t know the first thing about bike maintenance, and when a problem arises, many assume their bikes have reached the end of the road. Instead of seeking repair, they ride their bikes into the ground, toss them out, and buy a new one. As outrageous as it sounds, I once stopped someone who was going to trash his one year old bike because it had a flat tire.

Not only is this a matter of unnecessary waste, but many bikers like myself want those bikes for parts. Last summer I set out to make a new road bike as cheaply as possible. Having a decent bike doesn’t always entail throwing down a few hundred dollars on brand new equipment.
Frame – a 1980s Schwinn sanded and repainted.
Handlebars – from a beach cruiser, chopped and flipped upside down.
Cranks and chainwheel – found by the road, caked with rust. Removed the rust to reveal a gorgeous chrome finish.
Seat – traded for a $100 racing model. Fixed a small tear with superglue.

I am not saying that everyone should go out and refurbish a bike of their own, or even learn all the ins and outs of bike repair. I own a car and I can hardly remember what type of oil to put in it (something with a W…). That’s why we have mechanics. The point is, think twice the next time you decide to toss out your old bike. Get it fixed, sell it to a bike shop, or generously donate it to someone in need. Remember the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Even the infamous banana-seat is coveted by custom builders. You simply never know what that old bike will mean to someone else.

If you want to learn more about fixing up that old beater of yours, I highly recommend Gerry Lauzon’s excellent blog, How to Fix Bikes. If nothing else, it’s worth a look for pictures of custom bikes.

If you still want to get rid of your old bike, here are some people that might be interested:

Cory the Bike Fixer
2410 N Murray Ave / 414-967-9446
Details: A staple of the East Side, it seems like everyone has bought a bike from Cory. What many people don’t know is that he also buys used bikes to repair and resell. He does not accept most department store brands.

Ben’s Cycle & Fitness
1018 W Lincoln Ave / 1-888-275-5111
Details: Ben’s main shop sells new bikes and equipment, but cross the street and get ready for a surprise. Inside is a gutted auditorium filled with used bikes, parts, and reduced overstock.

Milwaukee Bicycle Collective
2910 W Clybourn St / 414-431-0825
Details: More than just a great place to meet new people, the Bicycle Collective offers a youth program and incredibly cheap classes in bike repair. Of course, this means they also have a constant need for things to fix.

YMCA Holton Youth Center
510 E Burleigh St / 414-264-9622
Details: Take a trip by the Holton Youth Center and peak in the basement window. It’s an amazing sight. Sitting down there is row after row of bikes for needy kids. If you want to help your community, this is an excellent opportunity.