Northern Colorado nonprofit short 200 bikes as Bikes for Tykes holiday deadline nears

Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·2 min read

A Northern Colorado nonprofit is hoping to give the gift of new and gently used bikes to hundreds of at-risk area children and teens this holiday season.

Realities for Children has kicked off its annual Bikes for Tykes bike drive and is seeking to collect 400 new and used bicycles by Dec. 2.

The nonprofit was halfway to its goal as of Thursday, according to Realities for Children.

What kind of bikes can be donated?

Bikes donated through Bikes for Tykes are distributed to children ages 2-17 years old, with each child also receiving a new helmet. Though bikes of all sizes are accepted, the greatest need this year is for 24- and 26-inch bicycles, per Realities for Children.

New and gently-used bikes with no rips, tears or chipped paint can be donated.

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How to donate to Bikes for Tykes

Used bikes must be dropped off at approved bike shops so they can go through certain safety checks. Donations to these shops must be made by Dec. 2.

  • Breakaway Cycles, 2237 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland

  • The Gearage, 142 Remington St., Fort Collins

  • The Phoenix Cyclery, 1532 E. Mulberry St., Fort Collins

  • Recycled Cycles, 4031 S. Mason St., Fort Collins

  • Trek Loveland, 5745 McWhinney Blvd., Loveland

New bikes can be delivered directly to Realities for Children, 308 E. County Road 30, in Fort Collins. While the nonprofit is hoping to have most of its seasonal donations in by Dec. 6, it does accept new bikes year-round, according to its website. To coordinate a bike drop-off at Realities for Children, contact the organization ahead of time by emailing tanya@realitiesforchildren.com or calling 970-484-9090, Ext. 105.

If you're not able to deliver a bike, volunteers from Alacrity Travel & Lifestyle are offering to pick up bikes. To set up transport of a bike donation, call 970-224-9392 or email team@alacritytravel.com.

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This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Realities for Children short 200 bikes for Bikes for Tykes