Quick Answers
Location: 2566 Leghorn St. Mountain View, CA MAP
Volunteer workdays are 10am to 3pm on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of January-October. See the event calendar for November and December volunteer days.
Donate bicycles and parts after 11am during workdays.
The Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange is a Section 501c(3) non-profit organization.
Info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More Contact info
Volunteer With Us
We look forward to your work with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange!
Information for experienced volunteers
You will be helping us repair bicycles for donation to the charities we serve while learning about bicycle repair. Bike repair experience is not necessary; your volunteering efforts will be educational and productive regardless of your level of experience. And if you've got a bike to contribute, bring it along!
Location
2566 Leghorn StreetMountain View, CA 94043
Our workshop is located in back of BTN Automotive. Go all the way around to the rear of the building and check in at the front desk.
Parking
Only on-street parking is available.There is no parking at the workshop or on the BTN and surrounding businesses’ parking lots. If you can, ride your bike to the event!
Hours
10am to 3pm, rain or shine.First-time volunteers must:
- attend Volunteer Orientation 10am sharp.
- read and complete the Liability Release Form
Who can attend?
Kids are always welcome to volunteer; youth under age 18 must be accompanied by a supervising adult; we strongly encourage the adult to work along side as well. Some youth volunteers have earned their independent bicycle mechanic status through their knowledge and time spent at the Bicycle Exchange. Ask one of our organizers how to earn this status.
Individual & Group Volunteering
Individual volunteers may show up at any workday, just check in at the front desk. For groups of 5 or more, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule your group.
Tasks
Volunteer tasks can include bike and parts cleaning, bike repair or tearing down bikes for parts. You'll get to select a project bike that looks like a good match for your skills. An experienced volunteer with a green name tag can help you if you have questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you get stuck or have any questions!
Our QA Process
For novice volunteers, whom we refer to as apprentices, the work is overseen regularly by a "mentor" who provides advice and assigns tasks. The goal is to pick a project bike, take it through our 18 point checklist, and get it past our rigorous quality assurance process. This is usually a significant opportunity to iterate and learn about mechanical things and bicycles specifically.
What should I bring?
- Tools if you have them. We provide tools and work stands but volunteers are welcome to bring their own tools; just make sure to leave with no more and no less than your own tools at the end of the day!
- $3/person for group pizza or bring your own lunch.
- Reusable water bottle-We have a water cooler.
- Clothing that can get dirty
- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
- Sunscreen and a hat
Our volunteer events are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of January through October, second and third Saturdays in November and the first Saturday in December. Our doors open at 10 am for volunteers and 11 am for donors, and we finish up around 3:00 pm. Workdays run from 10am to 3pm, and take place rain or shine. The location is 2566 Leghorn St. in Mountain View, CA.2017 Dates
Interested?
Watch a quick 1-minute video about the Bicycle Exchange