A Lifelong Passion for Bikes Powers a Generous Donation
Bikes to Africa
On 1st May, Re-Cycle volunteer David made a special trip to Surrey to collect a large donation from Brian – a man who has dedicated years to giving old bikes a second life.
Bagshot Bikes to Africa
A Shared Passion for Bicycle Rescue
Brian, a retired mechanical engineer, has always had a deep commitment to preventing bikes being scrapped. Together with his wife, Celia, he spent many years restoring and selling countless bicycles online.
The garden filled with bicycles, until during the pandemic an increase in demand for bikes meant that, with Celia’s help, Brian was able to sell most of his collection. Celia was relieved to have her garden back.
Bikes to Africa
Bikes to Africa
The Garden Fills Again
However, Brian’s dedication did not waver and he soon began again to collect and rebuild bicycles, but Celia found the process of selling too time-consuming and took a step back to concentrate on her own gardening hobby.
The number of bikes grew to well over 50 – and once again they filled the garden. Many of the children’s bikes were donated to a local hospice, but with slow sales and limited storage space, Celia and Brian looked for another solution.
They were already aware of Re-Cycle and got in touch to see if some of their remaining bikes could be put to good use overseas.
Bagshot Bikes to Africa
Bagshot Bikes to Africa
Collection Day
Volunteer driver David arrived with the Re-Cycle van and managed to load over 30 bikes.
Nearly all of the bikes had been carefully restored by Brian, many with new cables and parts. The condition and quality of the donation was great – unlike many bulk collections, where some bikes are only suitable for parts, the majority of Brian’s are perfect for use in Africa.
Bagshot Bikes to Africa
Bagshot 
Bikes to A
Bagshot Bikes to Africafrica
Preparing the Bikes for Africa
The bikes are now being prepped at our warehouse for their journey to Sierra Leone. Before shipping, each bike is compacted to maximise container space – this involves removing pedals, turning handlebars and taking off the front wheel.
These small but essential steps help us send more bikes per shipment, increasing the impact of every donation.
Bagshot Bikes to Africa
Bagshot Bikes to Africa
We are so grateful to individuals like Brian and Celia, who not only care about saving bikes, but also choose to support Re-Cycle’s mission. Their donation will soon be part of a container heading to Africa, where it will help transform lives – improving access to education, employment and healthcare.
We look forward to following the journey of these bikes and sharing the impact they’ll have on communities across Africa.
