Cycle Recycler in Kenilworth is appealing for donations of unwanted bicycles so he can raise even more money for good causes

Come rain or shine during lockdown Kenilworth man Tony Sewell has been busier than ever recycling unwanted bicycles and selling them while raising thousands of pounds for good causes.
By Oliver Williams
Published 14th Jul 2020, 13:05 BST
Updated 14th Jul 2020, 13:06 BST

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Tony Sewell of The Cycle Recycler in Kenilworth.Tony Sewell of The Cycle Recycler in Kenilworth.
Tony Sewell of The Cycle Recycler in Kenilworth.

And he is appealing for more people to donate bicycles so he can continue to support charities in and around the town.

Tony, 45, of Finham Road, started the Cycle Recycler business in 2013 and made it his full-time job in 2014 after he had suffered his first heart attack.

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He has since undergone a bypass operation and cares for his mother with dementia while running the business.

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Tony Sewell of The Cycle Recycler in Kenilworth.Tony Sewell of The Cycle Recycler in Kenilworth.
Tony Sewell of The Cycle Recycler in Kenilworth.

In those early days of the business he was recycling and selling five or six bikes per week along with carrying out a couple of repairs but he now works on more than 1,000 bikes per year

He also used to carry out eight to ten services and repairs per week but now does between 20 and 30.

Tony said: "It's just blown up beyond expectations really.

"All the bikes I've been selling recently have been donated.

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"I've recycled more than 150 which have been unwanted or outgrown or owned by students who are going home.

"At the moment we've raised just over £6,000 for local charities.

"Normally ten to 15 per cent of my trade is donated bikes but at the moment it's about 85 per cent.

"I don't like profiteering from the situation.

"I can make a living and I'm happy so with the donated bikes I'm giving more of that money to the charities."

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Before lockdown, Tony also ran repair cafes in the town and in Leamington.

And when lockdown started he used his van to help deliver food around the town to those in need.

Tony, who was nominated as a finalist in the Kenilworth Chamber of Trade's Worthies awards Retailer of the Year Category in 2019, is appealing for more donations of bicycles so he can raise even more money for good causes.

He said: "I would love to hear from big companies to see if any of their staff have any unwanted bikes they can give to me

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"Selling bikes is not a problem at all, I'll put up to 25 for sale online on a Friday and sell out in 20 minutes."

For more information find The Cycle Recycler on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thecyclerecycler/

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