Home · How it works

Click. We hold. You ride.

Buying a refurbished bike from Rescue Bikes in Tallinn is a 5-step process that takes most riders under 48 hours. Below: the full process, Free Bike Friday rules, donation pickup, and FAQs.

Buying a bikeThe bonus stackGuaranteesFree Bike FridayDonate a bikeFAQ
Buying a bike

Five steps. Most riders are done in under 48 hours.

No appointments, no haggling, no bike-shop intimidation.

01

Browse the live inventory

Filter by tier, frame size, and style. Every bike has full specs, real photos from the workshop, and the partner shop that serviced it.

~5 minutes
02

Click reserve · no card required

We just need your name and a phone number. The bike comes off the public list immediately and gets a 48-hour hold under your name.

~30 seconds
03

Pickup at the workshop, or local delivery

Pickup at Telliskivi 60 is free. Local delivery within Tallinn is €15. We'll have the bike adjusted, the lock attached, and your bonus stack waiting.

~24-48 hours
04

Test ride first. Pay second.

You don't pay until you've ridden it around the block, tested the brakes, checked the gears, and decided you actually want it.

~15 minutes
05

Ride for 30 days, on us

The 30-day clock starts the moment you pay. Anything mechanical fails · we fix it free at the partner shop.

30 days of cover
The bonus stack

Six things bundled into every Tier 2 and Tier 3 bike.

The stuff that actually keeps you riding.

🔒

Heavy-duty U-lock

€20

Hardened steel, Sold Secure rated.

🔧

30-day partner-shop tune-up

€25

Drop in any time in the first 30 days.

🗺️

Tallinn cycling map

€10

Printed map plus our 5 favorite cross-city routes.

🦺

Reflective vest

€15

Estonian winters get dark by 16:00.

📄

Maintenance class voucher

€30

One-hour intro to bike maintenance at the workshop.

⛑️

Free helmet (under-18)

€35

Mandatory in Estonia for under-18 riders.

Total bonus value, every Tier 2 / Tier 3 bike
You're getting €255 of value for €120.
€135+
Three guarantees

Zero asterisks. Zero fine print.

We mess up, you don't pay.

⏱️

The 48-Hour Promise

"If we don't get your bike to you within 48 hours of payment, your bike is free."

The clock starts when you pay. Miss it · we keep your money but the bike is yours.

✅

30-Day Roadworthy

"Anything mechanical fails in 30 days, we fix it free or refund you."

Brakes, gears, wheels, drivetrain, bearings. If it's mechanical and it breaks, we eat the cost.

🔄

Right-Bike Swap

"Doesn't fit? Swap within 14 days · no restocking fee."

We give you 14 days to swap to anything in stock at the same tier. No questions, no fees.

Free Bike Friday

10 bikes. €0. Every Friday at 17:00.

Every Friday we put 10 fully-serviced bikes on the line outside the workshop and give them away · first come, first ride.

How it works

  • Show up at the workshop (Telliskivi 60) by 16:30 latest.
  • Bikes go out at exactly 17:00, by line order.
  • You pick from what's available · we'll size you on the spot.
  • You walk out with the bike, a U-lock, and a map. That's it.
  • We post next week's bikes on Instagram every Wednesday.
Priority categories
If you fit one of these, you have first claim.
Students (any uni)RefugeesUnder 18UnemployedSingle parentsPensioners
FAQ

Quick answers.

How do I know the bike won't fall apart in a week?+

Every bike that leaves the workshop has been mechanically inspected and tuned by one of our three certified mechanics, then road-tested by a second person. The 30-day roadworthy guarantee is our skin in the game.

Where do the bikes come from?+

Three sources: (1) the city contracts us to recover abandoned bikes, (2) police hand us bikes from unclaimed auctions, (3) direct donations from residents. Every bike has clean provenance and a serial number on file.

What if I'm a student or new arrival? Do I really get a free bike?+

Yes. Tier 0 is genuinely free if you can show student ID, a residence-based-on-protection card, or proof you're under 18.

Why is the bike priced "against" a Bolt scooter?+

Because a year of Bolt scooter use in Tallinn costs around €1,000. Our €120 refurbished bike pays itself back in roughly six weeks.

Can I see the bike before I commit?+

Yes. Reservation is just a hold · no card required, no commitment. You don't pay until you've shown up, sat on the bike, and decided you want it.

Do you deliver outside Tallinn?+

Right now, no. Tallinn-wide delivery is €15. We're testing delivery to Pärnu and Tartu in Q3.

I'm in Stockholm. When are you launching?+

Q3 2026. Pilot location TBA, but expect a workshop on Södermalm and weekly drops in Bromma.

How do you make money?+

Tier 2 is our margin core. Tier 3 is highest-margin. Tier 0 is funded by our city contract and partner shop revenue share.

How do you calculate "250kg+ CO₂ saved per bike"?+

Manufacturing a new bicycle generates roughly 96-540kg of CO₂e depending on type. We use 250kg+ as a conservative-mid figure. Multiply by 1,800 refurbished bikes = ~450 tonnes of CO₂ avoided.