What does everyone do with old gear?

If you have anything newish in good condition that you dont use chuck it up on facebook marketplace, save yourself some money for fuel/tyres!!!! Othertimes ive given sets of gears to friends that are casual riders and dont ride much

I usually keep it in an old gear bag until it’s really old, but nowhere near “vintage cool”. Then I can’t give it away because it’s old and lame, so I toss it. Then a couple more years go by, and the stuff that I pitched starts showing up in social media and becomes “vintage” and is really worth something. I’ve done this all the way back to my first, mid 70s, hand me down, kids Bates leather riding pants that I outgrew in 1978..

Don’t do what I do..

I think one of my lockers in my workshop has a Lot of my old gear in it, and, on top of it, there's the Original, from the 70s,Yellow and Orange Fox Gear Bag  ( cripes it's bloody small) stuffed with my first sets from OZ's original Fox Importers, Competition Development,  who I worked for.

But, it, like a fair few 'things', is stuck behind a whole pile of Frame Jigs, Frames and Tooling, from my more than 5 decades of making frames. I'll probably never get to said locker, ever. 

I've the original boxes / manuals spares ( springs / damping valves)  from my Fox Factory  Forxs  ( that's how they were Boxed and Stickered), and Fox Airshocks and Fox Factory Remote Reservoir shocks, and Boxed springs , some near to hand, some squirrelled away. The Forks, hang near my lathe, with other front ends and a few of my CR500 pipes - yet I still use the original pipe from 2001 / 2002. 

I've a few other shelves and cupboards with gear in them, that are slightly  more accessible. I know one of them has a few brand new sets of Fox 911 Elbow Guards ( great things) that I take out after the last pairs sleeve section finally  succumbs to  'Bear Sweat' - it's  Toxic Stuff! 😷 . Also, I seem to have a near never ending supply of Pro Grip Goggles from when I used to get them for free. Still fantastic goggles.

Hanging from the roof, among a whole bunch of BMX, MTB / DH frames I've made, are 8 CTI bags, with , I think, around 10 / 12 sets of CTI knee braces I've accumulated since my first set in 1988. Progressively, I had to get new ones as my Knees / Legs changed shape over time / through so many operations. 

I've got very few of my Helmets from over the years - I never bothered getting paint jobs done, so most of them I just hoicked after they'd seen their use. But somewhere, I've got my BMX Products Team Mongoose  KRW Helmet, and the Bill Walters Pants and Jersey from when I was the first ( I think) non US rider to be given them. Mongoose were imported by the same company that brought in Fox gear that I worked for, and made Quicksilver Frames for.  

Throw it out.

Dude, you really throw it out? Pity that I'm in Africa, I could use a old set of gear here.

I sell it. Sometimes I see old gear I wish I would have kept, but then I remember how thick and uncomfortable it is compared to modern gear. 

I give it all away, except helmets. Those go in the landfill. 

If the gear is in good condition I’ll keep it with me at races and give it to people who forgot gear or need gear.

I typically donate it at the local track for anyone who might need it or give it to a friend who needs some.

Try to keep it for nostalgic reasons when you are older kinda like a time capsule...haha

While I appreciate the comfort of newer gear, I miss being able to wear a pair of pants for a year or two, through a dozen minor crashes. 

I’m wearing mostly O’Neal Hardware gear now, it’s the stoutest stuff I’ve found in the last ten years, and it’s not much tougher than the entry level stuff from the 80s-90s..

Now that I think about it, I’ve been trashing a lot of gear from rips and worn through areas lately. No chance of handing it down, a lot has been useless after a minor crash..

If it still fits save it for inclement weather days when muddy , etc.. 

I've kept a fair bit,  things like gloves get tossed because they wear out quickly.

Still have three pairs of LBZ baggies.

It is garbage.

Then you'll end up like me scouring Marketplace and Ebay daily for a decent pair of Hi Point or Alpinestars boots from the late 70's/early 80's because you were too stupid to buy a set of the Super Victory boots when they were in production.😂

Trust me, kids...put that stuff in a closet somewhere.  One day you'll want it all back or it WILL be cool again.  

I know a guy that will clean your boots for free

I loved the HiPoints with the steel shin and the steel lever buckles, best boots I’ve ever worn. Perfect balance of protection, lightweight and flexibility.

And yep, I should have bought 3-4 pairs when they were on closeout sales..

Certain older stuff I keep in the hear back from desert or trail riding if I don’t want to take the chance of trashing my newer stuff. Other older stuff goes into an old gear bag while some jerseys get hung up in the garage. 

As far as boots, chest protectors, goggles and things along those lines, I will give those to younger kids I know that could use them or find someone new at the track or desert and give it to them hoping they not only appreciate it, but hopefully gives them a good view of the community and keeps them around. 

I give mine away most of the time. If I can’t find any takers or anyone in need I list it on MXLOCKER. Used gear does not bring top dollar obviously, but enough that it’s worth it spending the time packaging it up and dropping it off at the shipping carrier. I make some taco 🌮 money, someone gets some decent gear for a good price.. win-win in my book.

I haven’t shipped to Africa, but if it’s not crazy expensive and time consuming to do so I could probably help you out. Inbox me what sizes you wear and I’ll see what I’ve got available 😊

Mxlocker

Sounds weird but sometimes local fire departments accept clothing so they have clothes to use when practicing cutting people out of their clothes due to an accident, etc. I did this with my old ADV gear. 

Thanks Jason, things are getting so tough here that us normal folk cant afford to ride much anymore. Three of us share a bike but I haven't ridden lately due to a lack of gear. 

I'l  pay shipping which will still be cheaper than getting stuff here.

Ill send ya a PM