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I REALLY did it...

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I REALLY did it...

Old 05-16-21, 08:07 PM
  #1  
montclairbobbyb 
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I REALLY did it...

I realize I've been talking about selling off most of my bike collection for awhile (on this and other forums), when suddenly I came to a moment of clarity... and I actually DONATED (yes, gave away) 18 of my bikes, some of which I vowed would never leave my stable... (ok, I'm being a bit dramatic perhaps)... to a GREAT COMMUNITY organization in Asbury Park, NJ called Second Life Bikes. If you're local to NJ you probably know about it... If not you should. Kerri Martin founded this "store" a good 10 or so years ago, and has been teaching local kids in the community how to fix and care for (and ultimately work their way towards owning) a bike from the store. The work they do for the community is simply awe-inspiring, and I am SO HAPPY (weepy-eyed, actually) to bestow 18 of my favorite things to these folks in hopes they will ALL find homes with someone for whom a bike can REALLY make a difference in their life (JUST as it has for so many of us lucky ones).

I'm not trying to score pats on the back or a place in bicycle heaven... Kerri Martin and her team have already got that well-covered. No, for me it's simply about being around these bicycles (and among a community of bike lovers like this forum)... The hours I spent restoring, building, riding, showing them off to anyone who would stop me to talk about them... all these things have brought me such great joy... AND THAT ALONE is enough. But to know there will be someone out there who will find one of these gems and make it his/hers... that's every part as much of the true joy of restoring classic and vintage bikes.

I don't even want to start listing what I donated... only to say if you're in the market for a project bike or something that is ready-to-ride, Second Life Bikes may have one for you (because they also have bikes for sale, to help fund their great organization). They also accept donations of frames, wheels, parts, accessories... and TIME... If you like to wrench and fix up bikes (well duh, stupid assertion), Second Life can ALWAYS use a hand.

Please check em out. I love these folks.

Peace,
Bobby Birmingham


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Old 05-16-21, 08:26 PM
  #2  
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-----



looks like the Ridgeline gets a wee spot o exercise as well

is the montclair in your handle a reference to Montclair NJ?

several years back i purchased a used automobile whose original owner was in Montclair

my home is nearby another Montclair - this one is a neighbourhood in Oakland, CA

all best wishes!


-----
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Old 05-16-21, 08:31 PM
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Bobby It is a good feeling to give someone a present, even better the way you did it. You don't have to worry about if they will take care of the gift as you do not know who will get each bike. I gave a lot of parts and wheels to the local co-op when I sold my house three years ago. There eyes lit up and it made me happy to do it. Selling is OK if you really need the money. I have been in many hobby's and see people get compulsive and start buying more than is really needed. I know it is hard to do but I am happy for you and your generosity. .
Ed
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Old 05-16-21, 08:58 PM
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Bravo - that's a great way to do it.

-Kurt
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Old 05-17-21, 12:12 AM
  #5  
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Good for you and for what it is worth, I have been there and done that a time or two myself. Helping others is a wonderful way to live your life.
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Old 05-17-21, 01:02 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by montclairbobbyb
I realize I've been talking about selling off most of my bike collection for awhile (on this and other forums), when suddenly I came to a moment of clarity... and I actually DONATED (yes, gave away) 18 of my bikes, some of which I vowed would never leave my stable... (ok, I'm being a bit dramatic perhaps)... to a GREAT COMMUNITY organization in Asbury Park, NJ called Second Life Bikes. If you're local to NJ you probably know about it... If not you should. Kerri Martin founded this "store" a good 10 or so years ago, and has been teaching local kids in the community how to fix and care for (and ultimately work their way towards owning) a bike from the store. The work they do for the community is simply awe-inspiring, and I am SO HAPPY (weepy-eyed, actually) to bestow 18 of my favorite things to these folks in hopes they will ALL find homes with someone for whom a bike can REALLY make a difference in their life (JUST as it has for so many of us lucky ones).

I'm not trying to score pats on the back or a place in bicycle heaven... Kerri Martin and her team have already got that well-covered. No, for me it's simply about being around these bicycles (and among a community of bike lovers like this forum)... The hours I spent restoring, building, riding, showing them off to anyone who would stop me to talk about them... all these things have brought me such great joy... AND THAT ALONE is enough. But to know there will be someone out there who will find one of these gems and make it his/hers... that's every part as much of the true joy of restoring classic and vintage bikes.

I don't even want to start listing what I donated... only to say if you're in the market for a project bike or something that is ready-to-ride, Second Life Bikes may have one for you (because they also have bikes for sale, to help fund their great organization). They also accept donations of frames, wheels, parts, accessories... and TIME... If you like to wrench and fix up bikes (well duh, stupid assertion), Second Life can ALWAYS use a hand.

Please check em out. I love these folks.

Peace,
Bobby Birmingham


​​​​​​​
Wow !
Good for you !
Reckon karma will pay you back ten fold !
I have been given , and given away a fair few machines over the years .
Either end of the deal it is a good feeling .

HAve fun !
Be safe !
Ride bike(s)
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Old 05-17-21, 10:05 AM
  #7  
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We'll have to start calling this the Bobby Birmingham Challenge.

If you can afford to, at some point in your life, give most or all of your bikes away.
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Old 05-17-21, 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by gugie
If you can afford to, at some point in your life, give most or all of your bikes away.
And if you don't want to get rid of your own bikes, do your best to fix up unwanted bikes and give them away - or find bike share providers retiring their bikes and help them repurpose them for personal use and then give them away.

-Kurt
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Old 05-18-21, 07:17 AM
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Originally Posted by cudak888
And if you don't want to get rid of your own bikes, do your best to fix up unwanted bikes and give them away - or find bike share providers retiring their bikes and help them repurpose them for personal use and then give them away.

-Kurt
Or, join/start a bicycle co-op like I and two other guys did. Since then we have collected thousands of bikes, salvaging some for components and sending the more worthy ones to Africa. The group, of which I speak, is Bicycles for Humanity. My guess is that there are bike co-ops or humanitarian groups just like the one we started in every major city in the US, Canada and Europe.

Due to illness, I had to retire from being an active member but by that time we had sent over 6000 bikes, and components, and wheel chairs and... to people in need in Namibia...

This is a donation to our group from a near by city...


Bikes that are not appropriate for use in third world riding conditions are refurbished and sold locally...
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Old 05-18-21, 09:28 AM
  #10  
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Congrats! I am SO glad I did not take you up on your offer to discuss what you were selling...I see 3-5 bikes, at least, that I would have ended up with......Glad they are going to new and hopefully forever homes!
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Old 05-18-21, 11:00 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by EddyR
(I) see people get compulsive and start buying more than is really needed...
Exactly!...er, no,sorry, don't know anyone like that on this forum.
Well done Bobby.

Wish my name was as cool as yours....Warren Birmingham. Nope, doesn't work.
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Old 05-18-21, 12:34 PM
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Bravo, OP! Those weren't $0.00 bikes you donated either! Being able to give to an organization that helps others both here and/or abroad is rewarding in and of itself. Do we see the beneficiaries in person? Very likely no, and very likely we'll never. And it's not for the "points" but like you've said, as the bicycle has given you joy, so you are delighted to pass the joy (and resulting freedom of mobility/movement/etc) along to others. Not a "I should do this" but a "I want to do this." I've been blessed to be a part of a local non-profit bike shop that does the similar things, volunteering the last several years (covid stuff put the clamp down on it, so that sucked). We're starting up again, so hopefully it will get to a time slot that I can work with.
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Old 05-18-21, 05:33 PM
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"A moment of clarity" indeed. Well played sir.
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Old 05-19-21, 01:36 AM
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Way to go

Way to go. Great way to make a donation..

I would like to see a co-op here in SE Wisconsin. Only ones I know are in Milwaukee, not any that I know of here in Kenosha area.
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Old 05-19-21, 06:40 AM
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A very honorable move on your part and kudos to you. I go into a local bike coop near me because I don't have a decent space or all the tools to fix bikes so I am grateful that places like these exist for people like me. They sell the bikes that people like yourself donate, to fund all the equipment, tools, space, etc...and it all goes to charity.

It's such a nice thing to see in this particular time, especially as I browse through market sites and see so many people trying to sell their bikes at outrageous prices, taking advantage of a hot bike market and short supply.
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Old 05-19-21, 07:03 AM
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Impressive! My new plan on the way out, and in case it catches me by surprise, I’m showing this to my wife.
Tim
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Old 05-19-21, 01:16 PM
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I have long donated various surplus items to charitable organizations, but I have started advertising free stuff in our local NextDoor.com, and I have held "everything free" yard sales. It is great to help one's neighbors.
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Old 05-19-21, 06:13 PM
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Good stuff. Kerri and Second Life are both great.
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Old 05-20-21, 09:30 AM
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Your write off on the Brooks saddles alone would be almost 4 digits. Glad to see it all went to a good cause. I must have missed it, but why did you clean house and what did you keep? I ask because I have been contemplating emptying my parts bin and donating it all because the longer I hold on to all this stuff I'll just keep building up new bikes, selling them and then adding more parts.

Second Life Bikes looks like a worthy charity, next time I'm heading down the shore I will swing up there and make a donation.
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Old 05-20-21, 11:09 AM
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Great philanthropy. I donated my stash 20 years ago after a divorce, to the local bike co-op. Now I've got a new stash that I need to deal with......
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Old 05-20-21, 11:52 AM
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Kudos to you!
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