Just over a year ago Aaron Lidawer was a 16 year-old triathlete who was thrilled to get his first job at the Trek Bicycle store of Highland Park. While working there it became apparent that some customers were unsure of what to do with their old bikes when trading up to newer bicycles. In conjunction with the owner, Jeff Wellek, they determined that it would be a benefit to customers to offer them a means of selling their gently used bicycles. As a result, Aaron started Re-CYCLE Rides Inc, a company that recycles high-end bikes and equipment. Now Aaron has built a successful and profitable green company.

Aaron envisioned two ways that Re-CYCLE Rides can help the environment. First, his sales of gently used bikes make it less expensive to put additional cyclists on the road. Also, if buyers purchased used bikes instead of new bicycles it would result in fewer resources wasted in the manufacturing process. Rather than individuals having their old bikes collecting dust, these bikes become great forms of transportation, fitness, and fun for their new owners.

Re-CYCLE Rides markets, sells, and ships bicycles nationwide on a consignment basis. Aaron’s multipronged sales approach involves selling bikes through his website, www.recycle-rides.com, an integrated use of eBay, Craigslist, along with an accumulated database of buyer requests, and his local network.

One year later, Re-CYCLE Rides has maintained a steady stream of profits while adding its first employees. The website, www.recycle-rides.com, continues to see growth in web-traffic, and the company should achieve six figure sales during 2011.
Aaron, now a senior at Highland Park high school, has been thrilled to combine his passion for triathlon and a quality business idea to create a successful small business.