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BikeBack

New bikes for old!

BikeBack is the name of Life Cycle UK's new bicycle recycling project. Unwanted bikes are donated to the project by the public and by organisations such as the police, universities and rail operators. We then renovate them. Every component is inspected, worn out parts are replaced, anything misaligned or damaged is put right. All this takes place in our shiny new workshop, the Life Cycle Centre.

BikeBack also provides on-going opportunities for young people to gain work experience. Teenagers referred to our Bike Generation project learn cycle maintenance skills an are then able to help with the bike recycling. Renovated bicycles are given, free of charge, to local people to use for everyday transport, for leisure and for healthy recreation.

We particularly want to help those most disadvantaged in society: job seekers, low income families, students, refugees and asylum seekers, and people with health issues.

How to donate a bike

If you have an unwanted bike gathering dust somewhere we would love to have it and could put it to very good use. Please drop it off at the CREATE Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol BS1 6XN (map and directions here). Just wheel the bike into reception, say that it is a donation for recycling and someone will take it off you. The CREATE Centre opens Monday to Friday 9.00 to 17.00 (closed at weekends).

We're not able to collect bicycles from individual households but we make periodic collections from large organisations that have quantities of bikes available. If you work for such an organisation, please phone the office and we'll arrange to pick the bikes up.

How to get a free bike

We don't give bikes to individual members of the public. Instead, we donate rennovated bikes to Bristol-based community orgnaisations (such as charities, housing projects, rehab schemes, job centres, the NHS etc.)  If you work for such an organisation and you have clients that would benefit from having a bike of their own, you need to register with BikeBack. Click the link at the bottom of this page, but first of all it is very important that you consider the following issues. Does your client

• Know how to cycle safely and confidently on-road in traffic?  
• Know how to maintain their bike in safe working order or can they afford to pay for it to be serviced regularly in a bike shop? 
• Own a good quality bike lock?
• Own reliable front and rear lights for riding after dark?

If the answer to these questions is no it is not appropriate to refer them to us for a bike until these issues have been overcome. We would be pleased to help and can offer:

• Cycle training. One-to-one lessons with an instructor to learn the skills they need to cycle safely on the road. £30
• Bike maintenance training. Group lessons that enables people to undertake basic maintenace tasks needed to keep their bike safe and roadworthy. £60
• Advice about lights and cycle security. Free leaflet available.
• Cycle route information. Wide range of free maps available.

If you've addressed the above issues download a BikeBack registration form. Once you've completed and returned the form you may refer your clients to us and they can arrange to visit the Life Cycle Centre in Knowle West, Bristol to be given a bike that meets their needs.

Other sources of help

The Freecycle network is a way for people to give away unwanted items and for those in need to ask for them. If you're on a low income and need a bike Freecycle might be able to help.