Recycle a Bicycle was founded with community in mind. I got one of my first bikes at their former headquarters in the Charas community center. I had hoped for a scooter, but the bike turned out to serve me much better. RAB has a long history working with local youth doing rides and workshops. I visited their East Village center on Avenue C (or Loisida) nearest to East 6th street. Their Brooklyn shop is set to relocate in early November 2007.

The shops aim to serve the working cyclist : the commuter, the delivery man, and the hipster looking to pick up an IRO or Surly frame, and the shelves and racks reflect this. The East Village shop is always overflowing with heavy duty kryptonite chains and lots of affordable safety gear. The RAB shops can be especially useful for that part that nobody else stocks and that you just have got to get. Since both of the shops accept tax deductible donations for used equipment and bikes, high end carbon contraptions and parts have been known to show up.

RAB’s bike stock is constantly changing as most of their stuff is donated or received in bulk shipments. Don’t expect to find much Dura-Ace, high end SRAM, or other finer equipment very often. In Summer of 2007, Recycle a Bike’s mechanics are volunteers, paid employees with years of experience, and city youth who complete internship programs at the shop.

Bikes here start around 150 and you can pay 800 plus for a fully outfitted Surly Steamroller (these make great ‘cross bikes). A flat fix comes out to around 10.75.