cleaning out all my stuff and found a few extra old pairs of cycling shoes. they definately look used, but still work great (i’ve seen MUCH worse being sold on e-bay). anyway, i feel bad just throwing them in the garbage. would any of the charity organizations (i.e. salvation army or similar) use these if i donated them? would they even know what they were? or is there somewhere i can send them that will melt them down and make energy gel out of them?
Ask around your local tri/cycling community and see if anyone delivers to needy athletes via their federations. We have people that deliver kit to Cuba, Albania and South Africa where even the most beat up kit is gratefully received, sometimes even by their pros!
Julian in England.
Julian, that’s a great idea. I know a guy who collects used baseball and soccer(football to you Brits) gear and sends it to the Dominican Republic or Cuba every year. It’s very much appreciated by the kids.
You’d be amazed what kit is gratefully received, I have heard of old goggles being used by the countries top pros and their discarded ones working their ways back through the ranks ending at the promising juniors! I have sent helmets that were too small, old vests, googles, shorts etc. A lot of the emerging countries like Cuba and the eastern european countries would really struggle to get any kit even if it were available, I recall Dmitry Gagg racing ITU in an old cut down vest that someone had sent in to the Kazbekistan Tri Fed and that was not that long ago.
Now that is an eye-opener.
Julian in England.
Contact the reps at the USAT Duathlon Commission. Last year I donated some lightly used tri-uniforms and they went out to some needy federations.
-Joe
they are size 45 (about a u.s. 11).
and i’m not voting either way. if you want to stay, stay. if you want to go (which you said you don’t) go. the whole thing makes no sense anyway. there are people far more annoying who don’t worry about it half as much as you are.
Check out your local high schools - A couple in my area have youth tri teams and are always in need of equipment.