What To Do With Old Bikes

Whether you have a bent frame or a severely rusted chain, it may be time to part ways with your old bike. But how exactly do you get rid of your old bicycle?

Instead of leaving your old bikes in landfills, you can upcycle, recycle, or donate them to charity. Intrigued? Read on to learn more about how to do it.

What To Do With Unwanted Bicycles

Dumping your waste in the garbage, dumpsters, vacant lots, alleys, or open desert locations is not only bad for the environment but also illegal.

Instead, we recommend disposing of your old bicycles using the methods below.

Donate to Charity

Donating your gently used bike to a local charity shop or national charity organization is a responsible and environmentally friendly option. Many large charities like The Salvation Army have listed bikes as an acceptable item in their donations list.

For example, here are bike non-profits to consider donating to in the Bay Area:

• Bike Kitchen
• Cycles of Change
• Biketopia
• Bad Business Model Bikes (local Castro Valley favorite)

Many social enterprises specialize in recycling or refurbishing old bicycles for reuse or proper disposal. These refurbished bikes are often sold or given to communities in need.

However, they only accept bikes in usable or refurbish-able condition. Some organizations may be interested in certain bike models only. We recommend calling ahead to see if they’re willing to take them.

Parts Exchange

Considering repairing your bike? You can trade in or exchange worn-out components for new or different parts! Additionally, bike shops or online communities may organize a parts exchange, where participants can bring in their old bike parts and exchange them for new or used ones in good condition. It provides an opportunity to upgrade your old bike and promotes sustainability by reducing waste.

Get Creative (Upcycling)

Upcycling old bicycles is a creative and eco-friendly solution for unwanted bikes. From planters to kitchen storage and more, the options for repurposing old bikes are endless.

If you’re an avid creative who loves to work on personal home projects, why not turn your old bike into eye-catching home decor?

There are many ways you can transform your old bicycle into indoor and outdoor items, such as:

• Bike-wheel pot racks: A bicycle wheel’s radial spoke design creates an excellent storage solution for pots, pans, and kitchen tools. The spinning wheel makes all utensils easily accessible.
• Bike planters: A popular upcycling method for old bikes is to convert them into planters, which can be placed near trees or made mobile.
• Wall decor: Bikes can be intriguing decor. Hang them up on fences or walls, or throw in a few vibrant flowers and plants to give them extra color.
• Kitchen turntable spinner: The bike wheel’s center axle is great for spinning on the road, but it can also spin your spices and hot sauces! Use it as your kitchen turntable spinner, so your guests can quickly grab utensils or condiments they need to enjoy their meal.

Sell It

If your bike is still in relatively good condition, you can make some extra money by getting rid of it. By selling it, you’re providing someone else with the opportunity to use and enjoy it, reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.

The best places to sell your old bike are either an online marketplace or an in-person exchange, such as pawn shops or garage sales. Let’s look at the best places you can sell your used bike:

• Facebook Marketplace: This is one of the easiest ways to sell your bike because it lets you list your items in minutes. Snap a few photos and briefly describe the bike’s condition – and you’re good to go! The algorithm will show your listing to people in your community searching for used bikes.
• eBay: eBay is the go-to online marketplace for buying and selling used items. Set up a listing by uploading photos and providing a brief description of its condition to sell your used bike on eBay. Listing your bike on eBay is free; however, a 10% final value fee will be assessed when your item sells.
• Bicycle Blue Book: This platform was first built to help people evaluate the value of their used bikes. Now it’s become a marketplace where thousands of people seek to buy and sell used bikes. A trade-in feature allows you to trade in your older bike to receive in-store credit for an upgrade.

Recycle It

This eco-friendly option conserves natural resources and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Recycling old bikes involves breaking down the metal and rubber components, which can be melted down and used to create new products. By choosing to recycle, you are positively impacting the environment and contributing to sustainable practices. Bonus karma points!

Before recycling, take note of the condition of your bike. Donating is the smarter choice if it’s usable or fixable. Even if you can’t wholly repair it, it may still have functional parts to help fix other bikes.

If your bicycle has reached the end of its life cycle, most parts can still be recycled, including chains, brake pads, and the metal and rubber frame. These materials will be broken down and turned into new products.

Not all recycling facilities accept bikes, so contact your local center first to see if they will allow it.

Bike Removal Service

Hauling your bike can be challenging in the Bay Area, especially if you don’t own a truck or van. It’s time-consuming and labor-intensive, so it’s understandable why most people leave bikes collecting dust in their garages.

Fortunately, professional bike removal companies can dispose of your bike for you along with all other household goods and sporting equipment. Reputable providers like Nixxit offer same-day removal and pick it up from your home or curb. Hiring a professional junk removal company is the easiest and most convenient method for you and your garage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most frequently asked questions about getting rid of your old bike.

Are Old Bikes Worth Fixing?

Generally speaking, fixing an old bike isn’t worth it since it can cost as much as purchasing a new one. However, there are some instances where it may be worth it. For example, a rare model bike with a high market value and sentimental attachment is worth the repairs.

Where’s the Best Place To Sell an Old Bike?

Pawn shops can immediately take it off your hands and give you cash in exchange. However, online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, eBay, Bicycle Book Book, and the Pro’s Closet have the most buyers, so you’re sure to get the most value out of them.

Need to Get Rid of Old Junk? Call Us!

We understand it can be hard to say goodbye to your old bike, especially if it holds sentimental value. But the peace of mind from a clutter-free space is well worth it.

Don’t let your home’s garage clutter with rusted old bikes. Instead, let a professional bike removal company like Nixxit haul them away for you.

At Nixxit, we offer full-service junk removal – specializing in labor-intensive jobs like bikes or exercise equipment. If you’ve got a lot of bulky items around your house, we recommend contacting Nixxit to have our specialists eliminate your old bicycles and other junk – hassle-free!