It's A Pedal Revolution! 
Bicycle Mechanics at Work, Where the Pedal Meets the Road

Welcome to our regular feature article on "Creative Reuse." In each catalog issue we showcase a creative reuse activity or business, thereby promoting the concept of reuse. In the past, the local thrift store was the main retail establishment engaged in reuse, relying on the resale of its merchandise to fund social programs. Now, enter a new player—the specialty reuse store.

These specialty stores have joined the reuse infrastructure, and are making a notable impression by marketing only one type of merchandise. In many cities, you can now find specialty reuse stores for automotive parts, batteries, bicycles, books, formal gowns, building materials, antique plumbing fixtures, clothing, computers, furniture, musical instruments, and sporting goods. With the advent of these up-and-coming reuse businesses, the community at large is the beneficiary. It's not just the sale of reused and repaired materials that makes these businesses such a hit, nor the warehouses filled with corporate inventory, electronic products, and art or craft supplies redirected to public schools; it's the social component that makes them distinctive.

The Pedal Revolution Story

Located in San Francisco, Pedal Revolution is a specialty store with a social mission. This reuse enterprise is more than just a bicycle repair shop; it's a success story where homeless youth from the ages of 7 to 22 are given an opportunity to participate in an intern training program aimed at providing job skills. 

Pedal Revolution and its founding company, Youth Industry, are nonprofits designed to serve San Francisco's out-of-luck youths with on-the-job paid training, a one-time thrift store clothing voucher of $20.00, access to a kitchen stocked with food provided by the San Francisco Food Bank, and a place to shower. Many of these youths remain homeless or live in hostels while completing their training program. Now motivated and job-bound, these interns repair bikes, assist customers, learn job skills, and have a support network. The six-to nine-month paid internship is the core program. 

Once accepted, interns are required to meet with an assigned caseworker once a week and participate in the "Artists Mentorship Program," we learned from Kate Lorch of Youth Industry. As a full-service bike shop, Pedal Revolution takes donations of unwanted and "unloved" bikes in all states of disrepair. The store has three full time employees and four interns working at any one time. Approximately 50 youths sign up as paid interns every month. In order to qualify, candidates need to be homeless and dedicated to making a change in their lives. They commit to completing the training program and learning a job skill.

A few of the initial entrants that aren't fully motivated are generally gone in the first few weeks. The remaining interns can earn salary raises every two, four, and eight weeks. After graduating from the program, they usually look for jobs in nearby communities. "Some get hired by East Bay bike shops, some go to bike touring companies, some become messengers in San Francisco, some travel, some take other jobs, and some, as with Tony, come back as assistant managers. Actually, a lot of people come back," recounts Heather Bixler, Pedal Revolution's store manager.

Where Do the Bikes Come From?

Primarily from local residents, Sunset Scavenger (a local recycler), and the property department of the San Francisco Police Department. Spearheaded by Officer Kevin Gotchett, a motorcycle patrol officer, donations have been steadily coming in from the property department since 1996. "He was the one who really got things going, and he continues to be a supporter of Youth Industry and Pedal Revolution. We really appreciate his ongoing dedication," stated Heather.

Pedal Revolution receives approximately 50 bikes a month that are in need of repair; of those 35 are salvageable. Once the bikes are delivered, they are inspected, cleaned, and then restored with new or used parts. It takes approximately two hours to rebuild a cruiser, and six hours to rebuild a mountain bike. Bicycles that are not salvageable are stripped for parts. Saleable parts are recovered and end up in the store's reused parts inventory. As for the other non-useable parts, artists take the tubes and use the rubber for anything and everything. Sunset Scavenger recycles all the aluminum, including the wheels. Any store profits pay for the salaries of the bike mechanic and the trainer and keep the program going.

How Much Do they Cost?

So what is the average price of a rebuilt bike? On the average, Pedal Revolution bikes go from $80 to $200, depending on how old they are, the number of speeds, and the hours it took to restore them. "What about a guarantee?" you ask. It's a 30-day guarantee, with a free 30-day tune-up. So, even if you don't have any problems with the bike, the store suggests that you bring the bike back to the shop and have it "checked out." If there are any pre-existing problems that weren't initially detected before the bike was sold, the store takes care of those too, subject to personal discretion.

In the high-volume summer months, Pedal Revolution sells about 35 bikes each month and repairs approximately 200 to 300 others. If you're the type that likes to repair your own bike, Pedal Revolution also sells used bike parts. Do you need a better tire, a wheel, handlebars, shifters, brakes, a seat, or seat stem? Keep in mind that the more delicate parts are, the less likely they are to be salvageable. 

According to Bixel, "The chains aren't reused because they stretch, so it is generally better to replace them; and in most cases the frame isn't capable of being reused either, so it gets recycled." What is the price for those used parts? They sell for 50 percent of retail. But wait-there's more; you can buy a $30 per year membership to Pedal Revolution that entitles you to unlimited tools and tool bench use, along with valuable staff advice. Now that really is a deal!

In our interview, we asked Heather what bikes can be salvaged, and how shoppers know what bikes to purchase. She replied, "When it comes to guidelines for buying a used bike, remember that the brand name isn't terribly important. As for the frame, most are made by a handful of manufacturers, and most of the parts these days are made by Shimano. What makes each bike individual is 'how you outfit' them, what combination of parts and frame are used. Also, it depends on how old the bike is, how much wear is on the bike, if it was repaired properly in the past, and finally, the quality of the parts used. You can't go wrong with the 'Trek' or 'Specialized.' If you are a bike officianado, then check out the 'Merlin' or the 'Lightspeed,' but be prepared to pay $1,000."

According to Pedal Revolution, bike cost really depends on what you are looking for; "a 3-speed is a great value, it keeps running and is hard to wreck. We have every-thing from 1 speed to 24-speed bikes that come through the shop. Generally, the fewer the speeds, the less the cost. Take a mountain bike with 15 or 27 speeds; this is the most popular bike these days; the more speeds, the more the price and the more modern the bike. How you pick a bike is a decision you make on the test ride. How does it react? Do you like the way it feels? If you do, you'll enjoy riding it, so you will ride it more."

When CalMAX visited the store, there were 20 to 30 bikes on the floor, including a folding Bianchi for $115, a Stump Jumper for $425, two tandems, assorted cruisers, a track bike that messengers are riding more these days, and a Schwinn upright 10-speed for $102. This is a place you don't want to miss, and with summer coming, you should really plan a trip to "The City" and see the "latest and greatest" restored bikes.

Heather continued, "Just up the street there are two more bike shops. Pedal Revolution provides a niche that was previously unfulfilled in this community, and although we have parallel operations, we aren't competitive. They send us customers and we send them customers. We are part of the community, providing bikes and parts to those that wouldn't be able to fix their bikes otherwise. In fact, we even receive used parts from the Peddler Bike Shop in the East Bay. All donations, including the donated parts are tax-deductible. They can't use the used parts, and since we are a nonprofit, we can!"

Pedal Revolution's Founding Company

Youth Industry began operating a drop-in center for homeless youths in1994. Started by Jacob Sinclair, it was an informal and impromptu training program. "Now, it's a structured program, with over 130 interns having graduated since 1996," stated Kate Lorch.

owever, selling 35 bikes a month obviously won't keep the wolf from the door, even with Youth Industry contributing 85 percent of the funding for Pedal Revolution. Organizations like the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and the Bothin Foundation also contribute funds to help keep the program going, as well as computers donations provided by Transamerica. Over the last six years, Youth Industry has grown to include several job-training and reuse businesses other than Pedal Revolution. Businesses such as the Einstein Cafe‚ in the Sunset district, offer soup, salad, and sandwiches in a patio environment. 

Kate went on to say, "We opened the Einstein Cafe because there are a lot of jobs available in the food service industry. We also have two thrift stores, Nu2U that is located at 16th and Valencia, and the newest store, Nu2U2, located at 20th and Mission. These stores were an outgrowth of our desire to offer training in retail experience. Initially we provided drop-off bags to the community in order to collect merchandise which we then sold to other thrift stores; then we decided to open our own stores. Now we have two." Whether it's learning bike mechanics, food service skills or retail sales at their thrift stores, all these jobs merge the concept of reuse and resale with an effective social program. For homeless youth in search of a place to fit in and a future to create, these are programs that work for everyone.

How to Donate Your Bike

So dig through that garage, and if you live nearby, drop your bike off at Pedal Revolution for some tender loving care. Donated bikes are accepted during regular business hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.—seven days a week. This is the place where you find bicycle mechanics hard at work and reused parts close at hand. It is indeed a "Pedal Revolution!"

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Last updated: August 01, 2008