Recycled Cycles Cremona

If you take a look in your garage, you probably have a bicycle collecting dust and sitting neglected. For Cremona’s Kirk Douglas Doucette, owner of Recycled Cycles, that bike can get a second shot at life. The concept is simple. Doucette takes old bikes and “recycles” them. Over a decade ago, Doucette was working as a general contractor when one of his clients – a father of twins – offered him a trailer full of used bikes. “I started going through this trailer realizing that I could take parts off one and fix another one and get some of them going again,” Doucette explained. What began as a weekend hobby while he worked full time, took on a life of its own. He bought and refurbished a trailer and began selling the bikes he’d fixed. As it turns out, people kept bringing bikes to Doucette, either for repair or to donate to the budding cyclist entrepreneur. This year marks his first summer of working the business full time. Doucette has around 25 to 30 bikes out for customers at any given time. This summer alone, he estimates he’s refurbished at least 100 units. Most of his bikes are under $100; while cost is determined by quality of the bike and amount of time he spends repairing it. Doucette said his business has been well received by the community. “A lot of the families in the area that have discovered my little business, they’re appreciative of it.” The most rewarding part is the happy look he sees from the kids who ride his refurbished bikes. “Just the smiles on their faces is what I do this for. That’s the biggest one.” If you’re looking to donate or buy a bike, visit Doucette at 104 Railway Ave. West in Cremona or email recycledcycles@hotmail.com.