Used Bicycles: All sustainability? So you think you find a used bike shop? Way to go. Buying a used bike will save you money, preserve the environment and encourage the recycling process in general, which leads to more people being able help themselves and their environment.
Used bicycles are a win-win proposal. I have heard people express concerns that used bicycles are not likely to last as long, they will break sooner only because they were used more.
But someone who rides bikes regularly knows that there will be the repairs to be made from time to time if the bike is brand new or second hand.
If you live in a big city, there are entire sub-cultures of cycling enthusiasts and these people can be certain of your best allies to find where the best bike shops are, which bike shops deal in motorcycles of opportunity and / or offer a reasonable price and quality service repair bicycles.
If you live in an area that has independent publications next to the press, pick up a few. Chances are you'll find listings of some of the cooler bike shops.
And almost every town or city has Salvation Army centers and other resale stores like that. These are wonderful places to find used bikes. Be sure to call ahead and see if they have bikes. Sometimes, especially in large cities, certain types of objects will all be at a particular location. It is better to know in advance if you go to the right place for the best chance of finding a bike.
There are also online auction sites where you can search auctions by location. This way, you can search all new and motorcycles for sale at auction from sellers who live near you. When you take the cost of shipping the online shopping experience, many viable items and options come to light.
Then there is the good old days of ads in the local newspaper. If you do not see something right away, keep checking back each week and you are sure to come across ads used bike thereafter.
Posted on April 2, 2010.