Chris Boardman backs Re~Cycle charity

Chris Boardman has lent his support to Re~Cycle, a charity that repairs and transports unused bikes from the UK to be sold in Africa. “It’s just a great concept — everybody wins,” he told The Times.

Boardman was speaking at a Halfords store in Brixton – one of 80 branches which will be accepting bikes on behalf of the charity. A full list of drop-off locations can be found on the Re~Cycle website.

Post-Christmas appeal from Bradford bike recycling organisation

The organisation receives donations of unwanted bikes from individuals and businesses and those that are sound are sent to various partner organisations in Africa. Damaged bikes or bikes in poor condition are stripped down and the spare parts are also sent to Africa.

Boardman said that refurbishing bikes for people who may have no other form of transport was ‘a no-brainer’.

“In the UK having a bike is fashionable. Cycling is a trendy thing to do. In Europe bikes are very functional, people ride them in normal clothes — you don’t see ‘cyclists’. But worldwide, it is the poor people’s transport; it’s how you get around. For some people it’s a choice but for others it’s a genuine means to get to work, to a school, hospital or clean water — their only means.”

Last year the charity sent 12,317 bicycles to six countries in Africa and since it began in 1997, it has shipped almost 75,000.

 “Bikes have a huge life span and can do an awful lot for people,” said Boardman.