Bicycle hoarding really can be for the greater good...

[Roadtrip]

Wow Cataboo, that story had me in stitches. I used to have a friend who would somehow FIND stray cats and couldn't help herself. She'd take them home and feed them and find good homes for them. It's amazing she didn't turn into some kind of cat horder or something, but she managed to find them all homes.

Good job on the good bike karma your passing around!!

Shannon

[pinkychique]

I was dating a guy a number of years ago who's dad hoarded bikes. Now I'm just as much of a hoarder, and he was talking about getting rid of his Specialized Allez Epic just like this :
http://scotland.inetgiant.co.uk/Edin...ws-300/3147667

I said I would take it, then never really had the need or reason to set it up, so it sat in the garage for a couple years. After a year of no longer dating the guy, my best friend was needing another bike because she mucked hers up in a crash and couldn't afford a new one. I polished it up, put new cables, chain and the derailleur that it needed on it and gave it to her. The components are such that it would probably retail for $1200 if I wanted to sell it, but now my best friend has a sweet bike that rides very smooth

Hoarding does come in handy!

[azfiddle]

My husband was the recipient of a "good karma" bike. About 6 or 7 years ago, he wanted to start bike commuting to work. At the time, I didn't actually take him too seriously, and didn't think he would stick to it. (What did I know? He proved me very wrong, and look at me now) We didn't have too much extra money to spend on a bike, but a friend mentioned that her father had passed away and had left 6 bikes. One was an older Miyata touring bike. She just gave him the bike. He rode it for over two years- thousands of miles, before acquiring other bikes he wanted to use for commuting.

It was such a generous gift, and made a huge difference in his life. We recently passed the bike on to another friend, and just asked that she return it if/when she stops using it or decides to replace it.

[Tri Girl]

I gave away one of my commuter bikes at one time to a friend who gave it to a client of hers (she's a counselor). This girl is in high school and needs transportation to get to school and her job. Her family life is horrible and her mom drinks so she cannot depend on her to take her to work and school. She started working at 15 so she could save money to buy lunch at school, clothes from the thrift store, and save some money for college one day. 2 years later and she still rides that bike to school and work every day. Makes me feel good that I'm a bike hoarder! Whenever my DH moans at my bike acquisitions, I remind him that we need to share our blessings.

and I was loaned a bike once. I wanted to try out a tri bike and a friend of mine lent me her nice TT bike for 4 months while I decided if I liked it. I did and bought one.

Give and receive.

[warneral]

love these stories

I can't even bear to sel off my trek 800 MTB from 14 years ago. I told DH that we could give it to ds when he gets big enough. It's still a good bike and wouldn't sell for much at all!

[chicagogal]

I only have 2 bikes because I sell bikes to buy bike stuff . . .

However, friend commutes to work by bike, but had her bike stolen. She had no idea how she was going to get to work, until I offered to lend her my "winter bike". She was very grateful and road it for several months until eventually buying herself a bike and giving mine back just in time for winter!

[Cataboo]

love these stories

I can't even bear to sel off my trek 800 MTB from 14 years ago. I told DH that we could give it to ds when he gets big enough. It's still a good bike and wouldn't sell for much at all!

The bike I gave to my Mom was a trek 800. I've been keeping an eye on craigslist for another one for myself, but haven't found one yet for the right price.

[arielmoon]

I am on the receiving end of the equation and I am very grateful! My attorney is a mountain bike racer and he insisted that I borrow his "old" bike so that I could find out what the big deal was. I have had to wait to get more healed from my accident but I will be out on the trails more this fall and winter.

Yay for people like you!!!