Our Build-a-Bike program allows our members to refurbish a bike for their own use. You can choose from our assortment of donated bikes, and our volunteer mechanics will help you learn the skills to get your bike road-worthy. This is the best way to learn how to fix your bike and save money. The prices shown below include all the used parts necessary to fix your bike, and new parts are available to you at our discounted member pricing.
How it works:
First, you must be a member of The Bike Project to participate in this program.
Once you are a member, you can request a staffer to tag an available bike as a Build-a-Bike. You will fill out the contact information, as well as today’s date.
The staffer can tell you a “base” cost for the bike. The base cost includes any used parts necessary to complete the bike. Any new parts you use on the bike will be available at the member price for that part. Chains and tires are common new components used in the Build-a-Bike program. Additionally, a set of lights are included in the base cost. If you demonstrate you have lights and don’t need a set, you can deduct $5 from the base price.
Each time you work on the bike, update the tag with today’s date. This functions as the “last day worked on” date. If this is ever more that two weeks (14 days) old, the bike is assumed to have been abandoned and is available for other purposes, like a Build-a-Bike for someone else, or a refurbished bike.
You will pay for the build-a-bike base price and any new parts you used once you have finished it and it has passed a safety inspection by a Bike Project Staff Member. Any used or new parts obtained after you purchase your bike will be ala carte and you will need to pay separately for them.
The pricing on Build-a-Bikes typically follows this cost structure:
- $15 – Big box store bike (Magna, Roadmaster, etc)
- $25 – Cruisers
- $30 to $40 – 70s/80s dept store bike (Murray, Free Spirit, AMF, etc)
- $40 to $60 – Classic Schwinns and English 3-speeds, 70s/80s road bikes
- $60 to $150+ – Name brand bikes (Trek, Specialized, Giant, Fuji, etc.)
Remember that the new parts are in addition to the base prices shown above. Stop by to see what we have in stock.