The fourteenth annual Concord area bike swap will take place this weekend with an opportunity to purchase a quality bicycle for less than new.

Proceeds from the sale support bike programs and projects in Concord and surrounding communities. 

Since 2009, the Central New Hampshire Bicycling Coalition has partnered with S&W Sports to sell and repurpose bikes in the community. Residents can visit S&W Sports on South Main Street to purchase bicycles on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

One group that’s looking to acquire some nice bikes is Project S.T.O.R.Y., which stands for Supporting Talents Of Rising Youth. City councilor Stacey Brown and Project S.T.O.R.Y. founder Charm Emiko are looking for donations from community members to help the city’s New American youth purchase bikes and helmets.  

“Bikes that get donated are typically bikes that can’t be sold and are headed for the trash heap,” Brown said. “We don’t want these kids to have bikes breaking down on them and these bikes are consigned with the intention that they’re rideable.”

Brown and Emiko hope to raise between $3,000 and $6,000 from the community with the intention to purchase bikes for 18 kids, she continued. Six are high school-aged, eight are in middle school and four are elementary school-aged. 

The pair have raised $600, which could pay for two or three bikes. Any donation received before Saturday will help purchase additional bikes and gear for them.

Half of the kids already have helmets from a February Civics Academy Safe Cycling session when Concord Police and S&W Sports trained them to repair a flat tire, adjust their bike and helmet, use hand signals and obey the rules of the road. As part of the session, S&W Sports owner Tim Farmer donated helmets. 

“We want to take these kids around Concord and the summer is the perfect time for them to go out and explore,” Brown said. “We want them to see what’s accessible to them by bike and to learn more about the city.”

It will be exciting to see the children can pick out the bicycles themselves, Brown said. 

“This is more affordable than a new bike and it’s definitely a more reliable bike than something that is just donated,” Brown said. “We are still going to go to that bike swap with whatever money we are able to raise.” 

To donate, visit www.storynh.org or send a donation to Project S.T.O.R.Y. via Venmo using the handle @projectstorynh. 

Bikes can be dropped off for sale until Friday at 5 p.m at S&W Sports, located at 296 S Main St. in Concord. Go to their website for more information. 

]]>