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03
Jun 2023
The Harrogate charity that resurrects old bikes
In an era when back street bike shops are being replaced by high performance showrooms, a Harrogate charity keeps cycling affordable.
Resurrection Bikes was set up nine years ago by John Rowe, a cycling enthusiast who still leads the venture.
The basic idea remains the same: people donate bikes, which are resurrected back to life and sold in good condition for about half the price of a similar new model.
For people who enjoy cycling and don't want to spend vast sums, Resurrection Bikes has been a godsend, particularly since the demise of Ace Cycles on King's Road, which was one of the last old school bike shops.
Ace Cycles owner Tony — a legend in local bike repair circles — helped set up the organisation.
About 1,500 bikes are saved from the scrapyard and donated each year. Thirty volunteers restore and sell half at the charity's workshop and the other half are given to the Margaret Carey Foundation, which runs bike maintenance workshops for young people at risk of crime.
The charity's Harlow Terrace home
Mr Rowe started the venture almost by chance. His daughter needed to raise £7,000 for a charity gap year so he started fixing cycles to generate funds and "the bikes wouldn't stop coming".
He carried on to raise money for charity, supporting Harrogate charity Artizan International and local legend John Shackleton, who buys old ambulances, stocks them with aid and drives them to countries in need. Last year £53,000 was raised.
Overheads are minimal as Resurrection Bikes is based on Harlow Terrace, just off Cold Bath Road, on land donated by the adjoining Kairos Network Church.
The bikes for sale
People used to be able to turn up and browse the bikes but since covid viewings are arranged by appointment only. All bikes are listed on the charity's website.
Many basic bikes cost between £50 and £150 but there are some higher end models too. Recent offers include a Cannondale Synapse full carbon road bike, worth about £3,000 new, offered for £1,500 and a never-used Brompton fold-up bike up for grabs at £1,000.
Mr Rowe isn't aware of anywhere in North Yorkshire, besides one operation in York, that provides a similar service. Customers travel from as far as Manchester to buy bikes they've seen online.
Besides helping people cycle and raising money for charity, Resurrection Bikes also helps volunteers learn about bikes. Mr Rowe says:
Few organisations have done more to promote cycling and the good news is Mr Rowe, a retired project manager, has no plans to stop. He says:
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