Practically Classics Forum

I am looking to buy a new pedal bike, and therefore my old one is surplus to requirements which I’d like to sell for charity given the adventures I’ve had with it.

I’ll get straight to the point: It’s a crappy bike, bought for £70 from Kwik Save (remember those?) all the way back in 1996. I remember distinctly some spoilt turd in school I knew who’s parents had just bought him a £900 bike took the piss out of it all the time saying it wouldn’t last 5 minutes and because of that, I’d love to sell it for a massive amount for charity ( I’d just love to rub it in his face that the bike has lasted nigh on 20 years and then it sells for a healthy sum albeit for charity).

I’ve had quite a few adventures with this bike, and if I could get a suitably funny description for it maybe the ad would go viral and make some good money for the chosen charity. Like I say the bike has been through a lot with me including cycling the Le Mans track, being fished out of the Woking Canal, survived 3 attempted thefts etc etc. I’ve done a few thousand miles on it and its on its 3rd set of brake pads, 4th front and 6th rear tyre, the seat is seized, the chain has so much wear in the links I’m surprised it hasn’t snapped, the brakes (cantilever type) are shockingly shite, and I’m surprised I’ve not snapped the plastic brake levers by now and 1st gear isn’t selectable It’s heavy, slow, rusty, dirty and looks like crap but its seen me good and I’d like to let it go with a bang and give all the proceeds to charity.

Would ebay be best for this as only one person can bid an amount, or would say a raffle be better?

good luck with this mate..

Personally I would have thought that Ebay would be the best idea but as you say, it all depends on who bids and if they appreciate the history of the bike and how much it means to you and the charity - and that's all down to good publicity. Suggest you take advice from your chosen charity to see if they have any experience of anything similar - they will probably have a Facebook page and Twitter account which can be used to get the message out there to all their supporters. Get some decent photos of you and the bike - even better if you can find some old ones from back in the day when it was new and how it looks now - get these to the local paper so they can run a piece for you - if you do all the work for them it makes it so much easier as all they do is cut and paste. Also publicity on local radio - often interested in anything a bit daft .

Good luck !

Mike

Cheers guys, I'll see how I go. I know it's worth jack but then I've seen a standard football sell for £200 just because the money went to charity.

let us know if you have a face book page, it might help to spread the info..

Thank you Richard, thats a good idea. Will do when I set one up!