Weekly pick for families: Trade, upgrade bikes for all at annual swap

Hundreds of bicycles will be available this weekend at the fourth annual Spokane Bike Swap.

The event was started as a way to promote bicycling, event director LeAnn Yamamoto said. She’s the transportation demand management manager for the Spokane County Commute Trip Reduction Office.

This year, Yamamoto expects more than 700 bicycles to be available. Previous years there’s been a wide range of sizes and styles, including tandems and recumbents. Prices range from $20 to $3,000.

Children 14 and younger receive a free helmet when they buy a bike, while supplies last. At last year’s swap, 173 helmets were given away.

Local bike shops will be selling bicycles and gear. There will also be classes on maintenance and commuting, giveaways, information about clubs and events, and a silent auction.

For those with a bicycle to sell, register online at www.spokanebikeswap.com before bringing the bike to the fairgrounds for check-in from 3 to 8 p.m. today. There’s a $5 registration fee, payable when the bike is checked in. The fee is waived on children’s bikes with 20-inch rims or smaller priced at $50 or less. A 7 percent consignment fee will be collected on all sold bikes.

Bicycles can also be donated, which gives the donor free admission to the swap.

The swap proceeds go to the Friends of the Centennial Trail for the Trail Builder’s Fund. It’s the nonprofit’s only fundraiser, earning $30,000 last year, Executive Director Loreen McFaul said.

“We feel like this bike swap money has been a gift from the community, and we want to give it back to the community to make the trail easier to find, easier to use and safer,” McFaul said.

Selling a bicycle at the swap is easy, she said, and elimates the need to have strangers come to your house or meet in parking lots.

“We sell the bike for them, then they don’t have to do anything all weekend” until it’s time to hopefully pick up a check on Sunday, she said.

Her family both bought and sold bikes last year, upgrading her teenage son’s outgrown model for one far nicer than they realized, she said.

“Getting a great deal on a kids bike is the No. 1 reason to come to bike swap. You want to come early on Saturday.”

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Where: Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St.

Cost: $5, free admission for children 12 and younger, Sunday is buy one, get one admission

Info: www.spokanebikeswap.com