In a community as bike-obsessed as Bellingham, there are always deals to be had on gear — if you know where to look. The annual Bellingham Bike Swap, hosted by Shifting Gears on Sunday, June 9 at Boundary Bay Brewery, is guaranteed to be a treasure trove for buyers searching for a deal and sellers hoping to offload some gently-used equipment.
“The Bellingham Bike Swap serves as a marketplace for individuals to sell their pre-loved gear, providing our community access to affordable equipment while celebrating Bellingham’s vibrant cycling scene,” said Krysy Keller, the executive director of Shifting Gears, a women-led nonprofit offering summer and winter recreation programs for women.
But to the casual shopper, bike swaps can be overwhelming. It’s difficult to parse all the sub-genres of bikes (Am I looking for a “trail bike” or a “pathway bike”? What the heck is “all-mountain”?) or make a visual assessment of a used one. Was it quietly collecting dust in someone’s garage or did it spend every weekend getting thrashed at Whistler Bike Park?
Volunteer gear experts will roam the swap to help shoppers with questions, but it helps to come in with a plan. Do some research beforehand to determine what kind of bike you’re looking for and set a budget for yourself.
Keller said the most popular bikes at the swap are usually mountain and road bikes, but you can find all kinds — last year’s swap had 130 bikes of every shape and size.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for at the swap, check out other outlets for pre-loved bikes online or locally. One year-round resource for used gear and knowledge is The Hub Community Bike Shop in downtown Bellingham.
“The consumerist mentality urges us to buy something new,” said Kyle Morris, owner of The Hub. “It’s adding more things to the planet, but we don’t have to.”
For 22 years, Morris has encouraged the opposite behavior by collecting and refurbishing donated bikes and assembling custom bikes from odds and ends — most recently at 1320 Commercial St. next to the parking garage. It’s clear from the well-organized bins of obscure components and commuter-friendly accessories in the spacious shop that Morris values the longevity and utility of bicycles.
“All these bikes made someone happy at some point,” he said. “The magic of used bikes is that they already exist and they’re timeless.”
Modern bikes do need a lot of upkeep, he said, especially mountain bikes. It’s important to factor that into the price tag of a used bike when you’re shopping — there may be surprise maintenance costs needed before it’s ready to roll.
Google is an invaluable tool when evaluating a used bike. Knowing the name, model year and frame material can help you decide if a bike is worth the price, or if it’s even what you’re looking for.
Test riding is permitted at the Bellingham Bike Swap. Look out for red flags including big frame gashes from crashes, corroded parts, wobbly wheels, shifting that feels crunchy and rusted chains. Other flaws like threadbare tires, worn-out grips and chipped paint are easy fixes.
Sellers who want to unload some used gear can drop their equipment off on the morning of June 9 and collect their commission or unsold gear at the end of the day. It is possible to pre-register a bike at letsshiftgears.org/bikeswap to expedite drop-off. Accessories, racks, tires, apparel and shoes are also welcome, Keller said, but helmets, water bottles, chamois and broken equipment will not be accepted.
“Generally, shoppers are seeking affordable gear, whether it’s for upgrading their current bike setup or getting started in cycling,” she said.
Unclaimed items will be donated to Shifting Gears. If you can’t make it to the swap on Sunday, The Hub accepts gear donations and the occasional consignment item during business hours. Morris asks that components be in good working condition. The Hub currently has limited space for bike donations.
Swap details
Date: Sunday, June 9
Gear drop-off: 7–10 a.m.
Shop the swap: 1–5 p.m.
Location: Boundary Bay Brewery, 1107 Railroad Ave., Bellingham
Info: Admission is free. Cash or cards are accepted for sales. Sellers pick up checks and unsold gear from 6–8 p.m. on June 9. Shifting Gears takes a 25% commission on each sale.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
