What's New

Every year, hundreds of bikes roll into our Palo Alto shop with a story: outgrown by a kid, retired after an upgrade, or sometimes neglected in a garage. 

Here's exactly what happens to your bike once you drop it off.

Step 1: Drop-Off

Couple dropping off bike donations at SVBEEvery donation starts with an email: Send photos and a description to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we'll let you know if we can use it and schedule a drop-off appointment. We accept complete bikes, frames, and usable parts. High-end bikes are especially helpful since they fund parts for the bikes we give away. You can find out more about this process on our website. When you arrive at our shop at 3961 East Bayshore Road in Palo Alto, we roll your bike into our bullpen, tag it for donation or retail, count it, and organize it in the shop.  We have an onsite form to send you home with a tax donation receipt.

Step 2: The 22-Point Checklist

Every bike that comes through our doors — fixed by volunteers, staff, or contractors — goes through the same thorough inspection and repair checklist covering brakes, tires, wheel trueness, chain wear, gear shifting, headset and bottom bracket play, cables, and more.

Step 3: Volunteer Repair Events and the People Behind Them

Most of the work happens at our weekly repair events. Volunteers work side by side on the donated bikes, bringing all kinds of experience — some are fixing their first flat tire, while others have been wrenching for years.

A man drops off two bikes for donation

Our events cannot happen without experienced mechanics volunteering their time as Mentor Mechanics, guiding new volunteers through the hands-on sessions.  After the bikes complete the checklist, they go through two rounds of Quality Assurance (QA) by volunteer mechanics trained to test for failures. Refurbished bikes we sell come with a 30-day mechanical guarantee.

Step 4: Donated or Sold

Once a bike passes the QA inspection, it's either donated to one of our 20+ community partner organizations across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, or sold through our shop to fund the parts, tools, staff and programs that keep the donation side running.

Our Impact

• Since 1993, we've repaired and placed more than 13,000 bikes into the community
• 908 bikes repaired and donated in 2025 alone
• 364 helmets, 542 locks, and 231 lights were donated alongside the bikes in 2025
• Nearly 300 additional bikes were repaired at offsite Repair Events in local neighborhoods in 2025

Ready to Donate?

Email us photos and details at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we'll take it from there — approval process, checklist, QA inspections, and into the hands of someone who needs it. Learn more on our website.