How does the Barnes Charity Bike Sale work?

If you have a bike to donate or sell, please bring it to us. We take bikes in, give them a little TLC and sell them for charity on sale day in September. You can donate the bike, or if it is sold for more than £70, we can share the proceeds 50/50. We ask all bike donors to Gift Aid if possible. Please complete our bike donation form (now closed for 2024) for each bike BEFORE you come to save time. Since 2006, we have repaired 1770 bikes and raised over £100,000 for the charities we support - a wonderful recycling scheme.

Can you collect my bike?

If you are not able to bring your bike to St Mary’s, we may be able to help for better quality bikes. Please email bikes@stmarybarnes.org with your request, a description of your bike and two photographs.

Don’t forget to complete the form so we have a record of the bike sellers or donors, and can pay you any monies you are owed.

I can’t bring my bike on those dates. Can I bring it any other time or can you collect?

In exceptional circumstances we may be able to collect bikes within Barnes. Please email bikes@stmarybarnes.org with photos and details. We are usually too busy repairing bikes to collect from further afield. You could try www.TipTapp.com - which is like an uber for 'things'.

Please don’t bring any bikes in on the day of the sale as it’s too late for us to check them over.

I’ve got children’s bikes – are these any good to you?

We do take children’s bikes, but some of the very tiniest bikes can be difficult to sell. If they are not in really good condition and able to be ridden, please find an alternative home for them as we may refuse to take them in. We are not offering shares on children’s bikes unless they are premium brands, such as Frog/Islabikes.

My bike is rusty and has been kept outside. Do you want it?

We can only accept bikes that can be made rideable with limited maintenance, i.e. oiling and checking brakes or pumping up tyres. Old rusty bikes which have lived outside for years just take too much work and time to resurrect. Please clean your bike before it comes in.

If your bike would be happier at the tip, please take it straight there. We reserve the right to decline bikes, so please don’t be offended if we do so, even if you have brought them to the churchyard. If in doubt, email bikes@stmarybarnes.org in advance with a photo of the bike and we’ll get back to you.

What happens when I bring my bike in?

Please complete our bike donation form before you come to the churchyard. This makes it much quicker if we already have your form. It asks if you are prepared to fully donate the bike or would like 50% (offered if sale price of £70 and over is achieved). We are always especially grateful for donated bikes. If sharing the proceeds we need your bank sort code, a/c number and a/c name. You can decide if you want your bike back if unsold. Please be prepared to wait a little while we do the paperwork if we are busy.

How much do bikes sell for?

The majority of adult bikes sell for between £80 and £180. Children’s bikes rarely sell for more than £50 (unless they are a premium brand), and many of the smallest will only fetch £10 or £15. We can only offer a share of the proceeds on bikes sold for more than £70 since the checking and paperwork involved for each bike takes quite a lot of time. The purpose of the sale is to raise money for charity, as well as recycling bikes. We are always especially grateful for donated bikes.

What time does the sale open?

Gates open at 9.30am but if you want your pick of the best bikes, be prepared to queue earlier than that. We will admit people in groups. We usually sell about half the bikes in the first hour of the sale.

Can I have a look at the bikes before the sale?

Sorry, this is just not possible. We will post some pictures of bikes as they come in on our Instagram, and Facebook accounts so keep an eye on social media for updates.

How do I pay?

We prefer payment by debit/credit card.

What time does the sale end?

We finish the sale at 12.00 noon or whenever all the bikes are sold – whichever happens sooner.  The best bikes tend to go in the first hour.

How will I know if my bike has been sold?

A few days after the sale donors are contacted by email and told whether their bike has sold and, if so, how much for.  If you have Gift-Aided your donation, this amount will also be confirmed.   Bank transfers of any shares are made towards the end of the same week.

What happens to leftover bikes?

We generally have a very few left over and try to find a suitable charity to donate them to.

Can I specify which charity the money goes to?

Money from the sale goes to St Mary’s Church, Castelnau Community Centre, Age UK Barnes Green Centre and the Richmond Food Bank. We don’t offer a facility to choose between these charities.

Can I volunteer to help?

Yes!   We need lots of help for each sale:

• social media management

• bike mechanics and trainee bike mechanics

• people willing to help with anything from cleaning bikes to making tea

Please visit our volunteers page for more information and email bikes@stmarybarnes.org if you can offer some time.    

It’s always good to be involved with a successful project.