Spokane Bike Swap and Expo features 1,000 bicycles

The Spokane Bike Swap and Expo considers itself the largest garage sale of used bikes in the region.

But even if there’s another comparable assemblage of used bikes in the area, it likely wouldn’t match the thousands of dollars the expo doles out to a worthy cause.

The seventh annual bike swap today at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center will feature about 1,000 bikes – kids’, mountain, cruisers, hybrid and more – with proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest.

More than 60 exhibitors are expected at the swap, which goes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5, and kids 12 and under are free. Free helmets will be given to children on a limited basis.

New bikes and gear will also be sold at the swap, where customers can buy, sell and upgrade their two-wheeler. Raffles and education courses will also be offered.

The past six events collectively raised more than $150,000 for the Friends of the Centennial Trail. This year, the swap teamed up with Big Brothers Big Sisters, a foundation that provides support for at-risk children.

Darin Christensen, chief executive officer of the Inland Northwest foundation, said he’s excited about its partnership with the swap.

“Funds that came from this event can be the difference between helping 50 to 100 more kids. The impact is very real,” Christensen said.

The bikes aren’t bad, either.

“Some of these bikes are amazing, like a NASA spaceship,” Christensen said. “There’s something here for everybody.”

Some run as low as $25, while some are as much as $2,000. Last year, the swap sold 725 of the nearly 900 registered bikes. Every sale has a 10 percent consignment fee.

Spokane County Commute Trip Reduction Director LeAnn Yamamoto spearheads the swap, an event she hopes reaches the popularity of the Mt. Spokane Ski Swap, which recently concluded its 53rd year.

Yamamoto said the swap aims to sell 1,000 bicycles.

“This is a great way for people to trade in their old bikes, get new bikes, especially for kids,” Yamamoto said of the swap, which has around 100 volunteers.

“We have repeat customers who are swapping the bikes they had last year.”