Mike and I have a personal relationship with bikes. So for our time in running the building our respect for bicycles is a cornerstone of its development. Neither Mike or I can stand to see bikes brought to the scrapyard.

In America there is a surplus of bikes often used for a year and then discarded, the mill easily receives a few kids bikes a week. It’s ironic for Mike to work on a Tonka kids bike when he used to make and sell high end titanium bikes.

But all bikes can shine. We brought the Tonka to a The Youth Center and one of the kids learned to ride on it.

The bike was a harbinger of freedom for women, a workhorse in the global South… we are committed to taking them despite the challenges.

• How we use so many surplus bikes


Bike Sale:
Some are fixed up and sold at the mill. If you need a bike we have bikes.

Africa:

A bike in the global south can mean a job, access to a doctor, literacy, a ride to school. Bikes are rare and expensive for those in a subsistence economy.

We have been working with Great Barrington resident and a good friend now Pauline Dongala.
Through Pauline we were able to send 26 bikes outfitted with sturdy racks to The Republic of Congo. They went to The Daniel M. Milondo Primary School. Pauline and her family founded the school 3 years ago.

Carrying water
Being from The States the water I drink comes from a tap. I have never experienced life without easy access to water. In the Global South water collection is taken on by women and girls.

Making weird bikes from bikes:

When you have too many bikes and you volunteer at the local youth center and you don’t like training wheels here’s what happens.

Double bike
Tandem made from two bikes
Side car bike
1860’6 high wheeler kid’s bike
Bicycle powered grain grinder
Carts made from bikes