bike rental idea for new youth riders

[Lister Farrar]

There have been generous offers of a frame and some parts for youth riders I'm coaching. Figuring out a price has been a bit awkward though. But Pete has had a good idea about the club possibly offering rentals. The idea comes from BC Wheelchair Sports http://www.bcwheelchairsports.com/programs/index.htm which rents racing wheelchairs to new racers. They can rent them for up to a year, then must arrange their own. This would save donors from contributing to a bike that might get ridden a few times and then flipped, or left in a basement.

Bikes or parts would be donated to TS, and volunteers would build up bikes. Users would be responsible for safe storage, maintenance and replacement if wrecked or stolen.

To be determined is rental price, storage (hopefully not too much since they should be in use), and budget for missing parts to get something rolling.
So the questions might include, is anyone interested in contributing bikes or parts to this idea? Labour to assemble? Storage? Any leads on suppliers of consumeables, like tires, chains and bar tape? Do we need a user contract?

Another idea is that donors could loan a bike to the program, then take it back if they changed their mind, and decided that lugged steel 80's bike really is too cool to part with. Parts might be harder to track, but maybe them too.

Definitely a great use for the new TS stickers!

L

[Josh.E]

I'd definitely be into contributing labour to build up some of these (in whatever spare time I might be able to find)