B4H - THUNDER BAY - INTRODUCTION

Bicycles 4 Humanity (B4H) is a relatively new movement that enlists the services of volunteers to collect, repair and distribute used bicycles.  The collected/repaired bicycles are sent to people who really need them, most often times in third world countries where owing something as simple as a bicycle can, and does, make the difference between life and death.

Thunder Bay is fortunate enough to have a group of people who are interested in collecting unwanted bicycles and then sending the bikes where they will do the most good.  Thunder Bay, one of the most mature B4H Chapters  has managed to send 1000 bicycles to Africa at the time of this writing (2008).  Another 500 bicycles wait patiently in the warehouse that has been loaned to the cause for their journey to the Dark Continent.

Each year thousands of new bicycles are sold in Thunder Bay as well as in near countless other cities in North America.  Each bicycle shares the same basic journey through time.  Purchased, used for a while, stored for a long while, forgotten and finally discarded - pitched out at the Local Landfill site, better known as the Dump.  These are some of the bicycles that B4H seeks.

In bicycle collection drives, local residents are invited to donate their old bicycles to the B4H cause.  Each drive produces a flow, rather a pouring in of old bicycles.  The Thunder Bay chapter must exercise caution when asking city and surrounding area residents for old bikes.  Too many show up for the meagre group of volunteers to handle.

As the used bicycles come into the possession of B4H, they are either prepared for shipment or refurbished for domestic use.  Those bicycles targeted for a third world country have the handlebars turned and pedals removed, narrowing a bicycle's profile and making it easier to store in a shipping container.  Bicycles intended for domestic use, those that are to be released back into the Thunder Bay community, are refurbished to ensure that they work as intended and are safe to ride.

Thunder Bay B4H has been collecting, preparing and shipping about 1000 used bicycles each year to countries where transportation challenges present themselves on a daily basis.  Local charitable organizations are given refurbished bicycles for free.  And B4H volunteers can earn bicycles for themselves through the donation of time and effort.

The B4H Thunder Bay chapter has included an "Earn a Bike Program" for anyone interested in helping with the cause.  Both adults and children are invited to act as volunteers and each can choose a bicycle of his or her choice as a reward for helping.  Many old bicycles have been refurbished by volunteers only to be claimed by that same volunteer.  And it is from this program that MY "TEN SPEEDS" has benefited greatly.

Each of the vintage road bicycles on this page were earned through volunteer efforts.  Some of the bicycles were nearly mint "as found".  Some were in great need of attention, both cosmetically and mechanically.  Some had three wheels.  And one had wooden ones.  And one of these lovely old road bicycles found its way into the MY "TEN SPEEDS" collection.  My early eighties, best guess, Norco Magnum Special Edition.  And the "Magnum SE" fits me like a glove.

Though my "TEN SPEEDS" includes few links to other websites, you are invited to have a look at what B4H Thunder Bay is up to.  Please follow this address in interested.   http://www.bicycles-for-humanity.org/Thunder_Bay/index.php

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