You know the deal this time of year: it’s usually way more fun to give than it is to receive. So while it might be exciting to find some of this stuff under your tree this year, we thought we’d share some cool opportunities to give the gift of mountain biking to someone else.
Board n Bike in metro Atlanta is collecting used bicycles again this year to give to single mothers who can’t afford to give their kids a big Christmas. Just drop off a bike in any condition and the guys will take make sure it’s put to good use. If the bike is in decent shape, they’ll provide the parts and labor to make it like new again. Otherwise, they use the parts to build wheel chairs for use in third world countries where the roads are rough and sidewalks are non-existent. The shop takes used bike donations throughout the year but the deadline to get a bike into Santa’s sleigh this year is December 15. At Bike n Board you’ll also get a 10% shop discount for your donation, though clearly that’s not what this is about.
No matter where you live, there’s probably a local bike charity that fixes up used bikes and give them to the less fortunate. Even if there isn’t, you can support a national charity like Trips for Kids with used bike donations, cash, or even your time organizing a trip. Ditto for IMBA and your local non-profit bike club – both can always use cash and manpower for trail projects.
You may have heard of TOMS Shoes, the company that gives away a new pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair they sell. While I don’t know of any bike companies doing this (yet), it’s something that you can do on your own and it’ll cost a lot less than you think, especially compared to the thousands of dollars many of us will spend on a new rig. Wal-Mart sells many kids’ bikes for under $50 and it’s easy to find a grateful local toy drive this time of year. If you’re getting a bike this year, consider giving a bike as well – you may actually get more joy out of the latter than the former!
They say it’s more blessed to give than it is to receive and in my life I’ve definitely found that to be true. Here’s to a happy holiday season!
