this post was submitted on 07 May 2026
69 points (98.6% liked)
Solarpunk
8888 readers
368 users here now
The space to discuss Solarpunk itself and Solarpunk related stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere.
Join our chat: Movim or XMPP client.
founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I don't know, but finding cheap bikes in the US is hard. Seems like all the shops and used listings only have e bikes for hundreds
you don't buy them at a shop. you buy them on fb marketplace from someone's garage sale.
then you bring it to a shop and you find out it needs 300+ work of work because it's been rusting away for 2-3 decades.
cheap bikes only make sense if you have the skills to DIY it yourself.
Cut out the middleman and steal one!
Not sure why the economics dont make sense for businesses, I guess the new junk is cheaper to assemble and sell efficiently than the labor and logistics it costs to refurbish used bikes for sale.
But in many big cities, you can find a "bike place" staffed primarily with volunteers that reconditions and sells used bikes at reasonable prices.
refurbishing an old bike is like 8-10 hours of work.
at 50 dollars an hour that's 400-500 in cost of labor alone. parts will easily add another 200-300.
it is not economically feasible to refurb old bikes for sale. it's typically only done as charity work, or DIY project.
a new bike takes like an hour or two to assemble, and comes with all the parts.
even dumpster tier used bikes are usually sold at 200-400 dollar range at bike shops, and have very little profit unless they came in in pristine condition and just need a lube.
also they are far less safe and reliable than a new bike because you're using decades old technology. 70/80s bikes are deathtraps with horrible tires, horrible brakes, and very unreliable shifting. things dramatically improved in the late 90s and 2000s.
@sem @Hello_there I've been known to rescue bikes from our local 'dump shop'/recycling center. Also a great place to pickup cheap parts for repairs.