Recycle a Bicycle was founded with community in mind. I got one of my

first bikes at their former headquarters in the Charas community

center. I had hoped for a scooter, but the bike turned out to serve me

much better. RAB has a long history working with local youth doing

rides and workshops. I visited their East Village center on Avenue C

(or Loisida) nearest to East 6th street. Their Brooklyn shop is set to

relocate in early November 2007.
    
The shops aim to serve the

working cyclist : the commuter, the delivery man, and the hipster

looking to pick up an IRO or Surly frame, and the shelves and racks

reflect this. The East Village shop is always overflowing with heavy

duty kryptonite chains and lots of affordable safety gear. The RAB

shops can be especially useful for that part that nobody else stocks

and that you just have got to get. Since both of the shops accept tax

deductible donations for used equipment and bikes, high end carbon

contraptions and parts have been known to show up.

RAB’s bike

stock is constantly changing as most of their stuff is donated or

received in bulk shipments. Don’t expect to find much Dura-Ace, high

end SRAM, or other finer equipment very often. In Summer of 2007,

Recycle a Bike’s mechanics are volunteers, paid employees with years of

experience, and city youth who complete internship programs at the shop.

Bikes

here start around 150 and you can pay 800 plus for a fully outfitted

Surly Steamroller (these make great ‘cross bikes). A flat fix comes out

to around 10.75.