January 11th, 2025 | by Rick Armbruster
For the past few years, Rick Armbruster has been refurbishing or ‘upcycling’ used adult bikes to give to those in need through his business, Upcycle Bikes. These new bike owners are putting their bikes to immediate use.
While this particular story takes place in my hometown, Grand Rapids, Michigan, there are similar organizations in many communities, even one close to our hearts in Burlington, Vermont, with Old Spokes Homes’ Everybody Bikes program.
Rick’s stories of everyone who received an upcycled bike made me smile and realize the immediate value of the bike. My favorite story was this:
“This past January, on a cold and snowy day, a recent parolee visited us late in the day with his case manager. We asked if he planned to ride the bike home in the nasty weather. Without pause, he looked at us and stated that he wasn’t going home. He needed that bike to get to a couple job interviews he had set up that afternoon. He was clearly going to do whatever it took to get back on his feet, and the bike was going to provide him with an immediate opportunity.”
I hope you enjoy the story of how Upcycle Bikes came to be and the benefit it offers its community.
–Keaton
For many people, bikes are a toy: weekend recreation and socializing. But for so many more people, bikes are a tool. They’re the transportation tool to access basic needs: food, health services, education and employment.
Rick Armbruster came up with a business idea when he saw firsthand a need for reliable transportation in his community of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“In the spring of 2022, I began refurbishing bikes for recently resettled Afghan refugees in Grand Rapids. They needed functional bikes to help them get from their new apartment to their initial job placements. It quickly became clear to me that the lack of access to affordable transportation was a major barrier to building stability for these new Americans. So, with some other like-minded colleagues, we created Upcycle Bikes.”
Rick saw that transportation barriers impacted many other communities in the area.
“Refugees are not the only community population in need of transportation freedom and independence. Those with housing instability, parolees, veterans, women in crisis, and individuals with addiction and mental health challenges all need access to support services and to community opportunities. Anyone with severe financial constraints can benefit from the power of a bike.”
Rick has always loved riding bikes and has appreciated bikes as an effective form of transportation for years. Yet, for many people, bikes can be expensive and hard to acquire.
Upcycle Bikes was born to solve this problem and alleviate the challenge of transportation barriers. The organization repurposes and refurbishes used adult bikes as a tool for transportation for financially constrained individuals.
For the past few years, Rick Armbruster has been refurbishing or ‘upcycling’ used adult bikes to give to those in need through his business, Upcycle Bikes. These new bike owners are putting their bikes to immediate use.
While this particular story takes place in my hometown, Grand Rapids, Michigan, there are similar organizations in many communities, even one close to our hearts in Burlington, Vermont, with Old Spokes Homes’ Everybody Bikes program.
Rick’s stories of everyone who received an upcycled bike made me smile and realize the immediate value of the bike. My favorite story was this:
“This past January, on a cold and snowy day, a recent parolee visited us late in the day with his case manager. We asked if he planned to ride the bike home in the nasty weather. Without pause, he looked at us and stated that he wasn’t going home. He needed that bike to get to a couple job interviews he had set up that afternoon. He was clearly going to do whatever it took to get back on his feet, and the bike was going to provide him with an immediate opportunity.”
I hope you enjoy the story of how Upcycle Bikes came to be and the benefit it offers its community.
–Keaton
For many people, bikes are a toy: weekend recreation and socializing. But for so many more people, bikes are a tool. They’re the transportation tool to access basic needs: food, health services, education and employment.
Rick Armbruster came up with a business idea when he saw firsthand a need for reliable transportation in his community of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“In the spring of 2022, I began refurbishing bikes for recently resettled Afghan refugees in Grand Rapids. They needed functional bikes to help them get from their new apartment to their initial job placements. It quickly became clear to me that the lack of access to affordable transportation was a major barrier to building stability for these new Americans. So, with some other like-minded colleagues, we created Upcycle Bikes.”
Rick saw that transportation barriers impacted many other communities in the area.
“Refugees are not the only community population in need of transportation freedom and independence. Those with housing instability, parolees, veterans, women in crisis, and individuals with addiction and mental health challenges all need access to support services and to community opportunities. Anyone with severe financial constraints can benefit from the power of a bike.”
Rick has always loved riding bikes and has appreciated bikes as an effective form of transportation for years. Yet, for many people, bikes can be expensive and hard to acquire.
Upcycle Bikes was born to solve this problem and alleviate the challenge of transportation barriers. The organization repurposes and refurbishes used adult bikes as a tool for transportation for financially constrained individuals.
The nonprofit receives used bike donations, and their team refurbishes the bikes and brings them up to great condition. The mechanics spend about 2.5 hours improving each bike, depending on the condition it was brought to them in.
Every bike is taken apart and meticulously cleaned. All components are checked for functionality and are replaced if needed. The bikes are tuned and checked and checked again. Every bike that is donated to an individual in need is ready to ride. In addition, every rider is offered a helmet and a lock in order to offer safety and security options.
“We take great pride in the bikes we refurbish. Our bikes are safe and functional, and we hope they provide a sense of dignity and pride. This is why we spend so much time working on each bike.”
When it comes to distributing the upcycled bikes, Rick and the team rely on community partners.
“We know there is a huge need for transportation support across the Grand Rapids area, but as a small organization, we don’t know exactly where that need is. So, we partner with over 30 community organizations providing support services to their clients. They know their clients best, so we distribute bikes through our partners.”
The audience receiving the bikes are primarily young and from low income households. 76% of riders are between ages of 20-39, and 99% of our bike riders are from households earning less than $25,000 per year.
The nonprofit receives used bike donations, and their team refurbishes the bikes and brings them up to great condition. The mechanics spend about 2.5 hours improving each bike, depending on the condition it was brought to them in.
Every bike is taken apart and meticulously cleaned. All components are checked for functionality and are replaced if needed. The bikes are tuned and checked and checked again. Every bike that is donated to an individual in need is ready to ride. In addition, every rider is offered a helmet and a lock in order to offer safety and security options.
“We take great pride in the bikes we refurbish. Our bikes are safe and functional, and we hope they provide a sense of dignity and pride. This is why we spend so much time working on each bike.”
When it comes to distributing the upcycled bikes, Rick and the team rely on community partners.
“We know there is a huge need for transportation support across the Grand Rapids area, but as a small organization, we don’t know exactly where that need is. So, we partner with over 30 community organizations providing support services to their clients. They know their clients best, so we distribute bikes through our partners.”
The audience receiving the bikes are primarily young and from low income households. 76% of riders are between ages of 20-39, and 99% of our bike riders are from households earning less than $25,000 per year.
Since starting in 2022, Upcycle Bikes has refurbished and donated over 1,300 bikes. They work with over 30 organizations in the community, such as Bethany Christian Services and Samaritas serving refugees, Mel Trotter and Exodus Place providing transitional housing, and Women’s Resource Center and YWCA supporting Women in Crisis.
The impact of Rick and the team’s work warms them up every day.
“An individual in transitional housing told us recently that he just purchased a car. He was only able to do that because the bike he received from us allowed him to keep his job and save for his new car. And the bike was gifted to a friend.
We hear stories like this almost every day. The power of the bike is real, and all of us at Upcycle Bikes are proud to unleash that power and provide independence, opportunity, and dignity to our community members that need it most.
Upcycle Bikes is proud to be an integral part of the support services network in our community. Together, our collaborations in the Grand Rapids area are helping individuals and families to realize greater stability in their lives."
As the organization grows and demand for upcycled bikes increases, Rick is working hard on making Upcycle Bikes scalable and sustainable.
“We want Upcycle Bikes to grow its impact and become a sustainable organization that outlives any one of us. The community's needs and our mission are so much bigger than any one individual. Upcycle Bikes is focused on rapidly building organizational capacity and capabilities so that we can continue to make an impact years down the road.”
Upcycle Bikes has set up bike donation drop zones with partner organizations such as the local Grand Rapids REI. Riders looking to donate their used bikes can drop them off at no cost and their bikes will be tuned up and donated!
Since starting in 2022, Upcycle Bikes has refurbished and donated over 1,300 bikes. They work with over 30 organizations in the community, such as Bethany Christian Services and Samaritas serving refugees, Mel Trotter and Exodus Place providing transitional housing, and Women’s Resource Center and YWCA supporting Women in Crisis.
The impact of Rick and the team’s work warms them up every day.
“An individual in transitional housing told us recently that he just purchased a car. He was only able to do that because the bike he received from us allowed him to keep his job and save for his new car. And the bike was gifted to a friend.
We hear stories like this almost every day. The power of the bike is real, and all of us at Upcycle Bikes are proud to unleash that power and provide independence, opportunity, and dignity to our community members that need it most.
Upcycle Bikes is proud to be an integral part of the support services network in our community. Together, our collaborations in the Grand Rapids area are helping individuals and families to realize greater stability in their lives."
As the organization grows and demand for upcycled bikes increases, Rick is working hard on making Upcycle Bikes scalable and sustainable.
“We want Upcycle Bikes to grow its impact and become a sustainable organization that outlives any one of us. The community's needs and our mission are so much bigger than any one individual. Upcycle Bikes is focused on rapidly building organizational capacity and capabilities so that we can continue to make an impact years down the road.”
Upcycle Bikes has set up bike donation drop zones with partner organizations such as the local Grand Rapids REI. Riders looking to donate their used bikes can drop them off at no cost and their bikes will be tuned up and donated!
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Allan Smith
January 11, 2025
This was a super inspiring story and reminds us of the basic need for transportation access for all. Here’s hoping that Rick’s story might inspire others around the country to do the same and start upcycling bikes for those in need in their community. Thanks Bivo for sharing!