The Recyclery Collective

Name

The Recyclery Collective

Legal name

The Recyclery Collective

Website

https://therecyclery.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Bike Shop Services

NAICS

Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance (8114)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)

akta.pro primary industry

Used & Refurbished Bike Retail (CRAMAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH)

Keywords

• Community bike shop
• Refurbished bicycles
• Bike repair education
• Nonprofit cycling programs
• Bike mechanic training

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Refurbished Bike Sales: Sale of professionally refurbished used bicycles to community members at affordable prices. Bikes are inspected, tuned, and made ready to ride before sale.
2. Bike Repair Classes: Revenue from teaching bike repair classes including Tune-Up (2-week) and Overhaul (6-week) courses, plus single-session topical classes.
3. Open Shop Fees: Suggested donations for Open Shop usage ($10/hour for WTF Night), providing self-service access to tools and volunteer mechanic guidance.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Financial contributions from individuals, annual Tailwind for Tools fundraiser campaign, and grants from foundations.
5. Grants: Funding from organizations including Evanston Community Foundation, Reba Place Fellowship, and foundation grants for specific programs like FTWN-B.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Recyclery Collective is a nonprofit community bike shop that sells affordable refurbished bicycles, provides Open Shop access to tools and volunteer mechanic guidance for self-repair, teaches hands-on bike repair classes (Tune-Up 2-week and Overhaul 6-week courses), and distributes free refurbished bicycles through its Freecyclery program to Chicago residents in need via partner organizations.

Product overview

The Recyclery Collective operates as a nonprofit educational bike shop offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include refurbished bicycle sales and Open Shop access for self-guided repairs, complemented by formal bike repair education through Tune-Up and Overhaul classes. The organization serves underserved populations via the Freecyclery program (free bikes) and Earn-A-Bike fellowships, while youth programs and the inclusive FTWN-B Shop Time expand community access. Ancillary offerings include bike accessories, apparel merchandise, and the annual Tailwind for Tools fundraiser. All programs support the mission of making cycling accessible and building community resilience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Refurbished Bikes Affordable refurbished bicycles inspected, tuned, and ready to ride, sold at the Rogers Park shop and via the online shop. Average sale price approximately $350; As-Is bikes start at $30. Purchases support community programs including the Freecyclery program.
• Open Shop Community workspace where individuals can fix their own bicycles using shop tools and volunteer mechanic guidance. Sessions run Mon 5-7pm, Thu 7-9pm, and Sat 11am-2pm. Suggested donation of $10/hour (more if you can, less if you cannot).
• Bike Repair Classes Hands-on bike mechanic education including the Tune-Up Class (2-week course at $75 covering basic maintenance, tool terminology, fixing flats, chain maintenance, brake pad replacement, and basic shifting adjustments) and the Overhaul Class (6-week course at $180 covering disassembly, reassembly, and adjustment of each major mechanical system week-by-week). Occasional single-session topical classes include Fix a Flat and Winterize Your Bike.
• Freecyclery Program Free bicycle distribution program providing refurbished bicycles to Chicago residents in need through partner organizations including refugee resettlement agencies, social services, and community organizations. Approximately 250 bikes distributed annually.
• FTWN-B Shop Time Inclusive bike repair space specifically for Femme, Trans, Women, and Non-Binary cyclists to learn mechanics, wrench together, and build community. Held every Sunday 3-6pm in partnership with Women Bike Chicago and CommunityCave Chicago.
• Youth Programs Seasonal free youth bike program teaching bicycle mechanics, riding safety, and environmental awareness to Chicago kids and teens. Includes Youth Open Shop on Wednesday 4-5:30pm.
• Earn-A-Bike Fellowships

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ used bikes refurbished and kept out of landfills
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Evanston Bicycle ClubmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024North Shore Century Charity Partnership where cyclists can donate part of their registration fee to The Recyclery. Includes discount codes and Recyclery t-shirt incentives for donors.
• Women Bike ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on WTF (Women | Trans | Femme) Open Shop Night program held every 4th Sunday. WTF mechanics from both organizations co-lead the inclusive cycling skill-building sessions.
• CommunityCave ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in WTF Night programming, helping create an intentionally inclusive space for trans and gender expansive community members.
• Elevate EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented energy efficiency programming at The Recyclery as part of community education initiatives.
• Active Transportation AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-area active transportation advocacy organization listed as community partner.
• Blackstone Bicycle WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago community bike shop partnership/network through Bike! Bike! organization.
• Green Machine CyclesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 1634 W. Montrose Ave, Chicago.
• BFF BikesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 2056 N. Damen Ave, Chicago.
• Big City BikesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 2425 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago.
• Cog Cycles ChicagominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 3217 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago.
• Wheelie Good BikesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 6981 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago.
• Patagonia Fulton MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized bike donation drop-off location at 1115 Ww Fulton Market, Chicago.
• Fused Muse EnsembleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on video montage production with Alireza Ghoreshi for WGN News feature about The Recyclery.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Cog Cycles Chicago: Chicago independent bike shop acting as a Recyclery drop-off partner. Comparable local retail and repair footprint, but commercial (not nonprofit) operating model.
• Big City Bikes: Chicago independent bike shop serving as a Recyclery donation drop-off. Provides retail, repair, and used-bike services in the same metro, but operates as a for-profit retailer.

Others

• Patagonia Fulton Market: Outdoor apparel retailer hosting a Recyclery donation drop-off. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than competitor — relevant as a corporate channel and potential corporate donor to community cycling causes.

Direct peers

• The Bike Project: Multi-city nonprofit (NYC, DC, London) refurbishing donated bikes for low-income adults and refugees. Comparable donation-intake, refurbishment, and community distribution mechanics.
• Working Bikes: Chicago-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated bicycles and distributes them locally and internationally. Most direct operational peer given shared geography, mission (donated-bike refurbishment), and revenue model (sales + donations + grants).
• Bikes Not Bombs: Boston-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated bikes for local youth and international distribution. Highly comparable mission, refurbished-sales model, and youth mechanic training program.
• Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective: Nonprofit community bike shop offering refurbished sales, Open Shop access, classes, and youth programs. Functionally identical model to The Recyclery in a different metropolitan market.
• Blackstone Bicycle Works: Chicago nonprofit community bike shop operating an Earn-A-Bike youth program, refurbished sales, and repair education. Listed as a Recyclery partner and member of Bike! Bike! network; near-identical operating model.
• Free Cycles (Bozeman): Montana nonprofit community bike shop running a volunteer-led giveaway program and DIY repair shop. Closely analogous volunteer-driven, free-distribution model.

Emerging players

• BFF Bikes: Chicago women-focused bike shop and one of The Recyclery's drop-off partners. Comparable retail/service footprint in the same city, with a narrower programmatic mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheRecyclery
• Instagraminstagram.com/therecyclery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/therecyclery

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Recyclery Collective