Since 2000, we've lived in Rosebud, AB - 60 minutes east of Calgary and 20 minutes west of Drumheller. One spring, my children were eager to learn how to ride bicycles. I checked the big box stores, and although the bikes were affordable, their quality was really poor. I wondered to myself, "Why would anyone buy a throw-away bicycle?" The box store bikes were poorly assembled & made with such low quality materials. So, I decided I would instead rebuild some old bikes and give them to the kids. Soon the neighbour kids, and then their parents also wanted either vintage bikes or reconditioned bikes. Thus, Rosebud Vintage Bicycles was born!
In 2008, we donated a fleet of vintage bicycles to Rosebud School of the Arts for students and faculty to use. Now called Rosebud Public Transit, it is the only free bike system west of Toronto! This fleet of vintage 3 speeds and mountain bikes are maintained by us with the generous support of Rosebud Community Enhancement Society.
In 2009, RVB began maintaining a fleet of bicycles for Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site. As their museum covers over 70 acres, staff needed to move quickly from one end of the site to the other, and period bicycles seemed a natural fit.
Since 2009, superfluous bicycles have been donated to Bicycles for Humanity or to our good friends at Cal's Cycle in Linden, AB, where they are in turn sent to Africa.
In 2011 RVB initiated a Pedal To Your Dreams award - a rebuilt vintage bicycle is awarded every year to a deserving student at Rosebud School of the Arts.
I rebuild or recondition most bikes. Vintage 3 speeds, cruisers, muscle bikes and road bikes are my favourites. But I also work on mountain bikes and love the Rat Rod looking bikes! I have particular affection for the CCM brands as well as the Raleigh brands of bicycles.
Each year, I rebuild and sell a limited number of bikes. I believe in quality over quantity.
I don't weld or repaint bikes at this time, and here's why:
Rusty, scratched up bikes tell a story - the life story of that bike. I recently repaired a 1940's CCM. I noticed that a fender had been damaged long ago and repaired at home with rivets. Today, we'd just toss the fender and buy a new one. That repair was made during an era of "make do or do without" and gives the bicycle character.
In 2008, we donated a fleet of vintage bicycles to Rosebud School of the Arts for students and faculty to use. Now called Rosebud Public Transit, it is the only free bike system west of Toronto! This fleet of vintage 3 speeds and mountain bikes are maintained by us with the generous support of Rosebud Community Enhancement Society.
In 2009, RVB began maintaining a fleet of bicycles for Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site. As their museum covers over 70 acres, staff needed to move quickly from one end of the site to the other, and period bicycles seemed a natural fit.
Since 2009, superfluous bicycles have been donated to Bicycles for Humanity or to our good friends at Cal's Cycle in Linden, AB, where they are in turn sent to Africa.
In 2011 RVB initiated a Pedal To Your Dreams award - a rebuilt vintage bicycle is awarded every year to a deserving student at Rosebud School of the Arts.
I rebuild or recondition most bikes. Vintage 3 speeds, cruisers, muscle bikes and road bikes are my favourites. But I also work on mountain bikes and love the Rat Rod looking bikes! I have particular affection for the CCM brands as well as the Raleigh brands of bicycles.
Each year, I rebuild and sell a limited number of bikes. I believe in quality over quantity.
I don't weld or repaint bikes at this time, and here's why:
Rusty, scratched up bikes tell a story - the life story of that bike. I recently repaired a 1940's CCM. I noticed that a fender had been damaged long ago and repaired at home with rivets. Today, we'd just toss the fender and buy a new one. That repair was made during an era of "make do or do without" and gives the bicycle character.