r/Glasgow Tools

Hey onapermo, you wont hear me argue how mad it is charging 500 quid for "vintage" bikes, i dont get the fad myself. But ill explain how BFG is structured and it may ease your view.

The bike shop operates as a normal bike shop (in an economical sense) where 2nd hand bikes are donated, then fully refurbished, and sold. More often that not, the parts on it are completely new and ofc would match the value of the frame. The aslo do bike fixes for people for 80 quid and more depending on what needs doing, as well as selling spare parts/normal bike shop bits.

BFG is a social enterprise where the shop covers 60% of their costs and the Government funds the other 40% to do community driven work. Examples of which are teaching people how to ride bikes, refugee cycle scheme (refugees get a 2nd hand bike, are guided through fixing it, then keep it for themselves), bike awareness and maintenance projects for locals, basically other such things that make cycling more accessible to more people.

So through donating and BFG selling a donated bike, it funds charitable causes. It is difficult to see that after shopping for 2nd hand bikes then seeing a 500 quid price tag, but there are inner workings at play :)

Source: I have been volunteering there for 2 years or so + their website.