[TheThinkTank] Soliciting donations

[dragonfly at mac.hush.com]

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  Hi, Rafael.

      These are awesome ideas.

                                Sasha

On Sun, 11 May 2008 08:01:51 -0400 bike against
<bikeagainst at gmail.com> wrote:
>Words of wisdom from Gary; we should listen and figure something
>out.
>
>In similar matters, lately i've been thinking quite a bit about
>brainstorming / negotiating / launching a Bike Collectives / Tool
>manufacturers  sponsorship / marketing campaign to get some really

>good
>deals on tools and other shop supplies by running ads on all
>possible
>bicycle publications and related websites with  " if we don't
>break it, no
>one will... " type captions; WE as in Us, Community Bike Projects
>of the
>U.S.
>
>WHY ?
>
>NO local bike shop uses their freewheel removing tools 10,15,20
>times in a
>day; we do.
>
>No LBS cuts as many cables or as many yards of housing in a
>regular shop day
>like we do.
>
>No LBS uses their chaintools 25+ times in a day... etc,etc.
>
>In general, not a single tool is used at any LBS as many times per

>day as
>tools are used and abused at community bike projects.
>
>Where floor pumps are used, nowhere they get used 50+ times in a
>day...
>
>( i know i can't speak from all the Bike Projects out there,but to

> get the
>point across i must generalize, you get the idea )
>
>
>                 -  WE ARE THE ULTIMATE TESTERS  -
>
>Sure, companies have their testing departments / procedures /
>staff... but
>when Bike Collectives,etc look into any of these companies
>products to try'
>em out, that's it, that's the real deal.
>
>We know more than the average wrench which products work AND are
>durable and
>which aren't...
>
>I believe this ads could be very appealing to home mechanics
>trying to get
>the most for their money, hell, maybe even pro/race/team mechanics

>looking
>for the most bombproof /race-tour worthy equipment could be
>interested in
>hearing what we have to say about such and such products...
>
>The ads could feature some of the largest, busiest Co-ops and such

>out
>there; a different one every month or so, while at the same time
>these ads
>will help promote our organizations and perhaps also help younger
>community
>shops to get more recognition and respect from their communities
>for their
>efforts.
>
>Mix in a few good facts about the featured organization complete
>with
>numbers and all  and you have a state of the art  marketing tool:
>
>Number of bikes recycled in 2007:   483
>
>Number of bikes sent as aid to countries with limited or no access

>to bikes:
>1500
>
>Number of bikes donated to charity: 300
>
>Number of bikes relocated into the community through Earn-A-Bike
>program:
>224
>
>Total number of bikes diverted from the Landfill in 2007...
>
>ETC, ETC...  (maybe also things like: years in operation: # number

>of
>volunteers: # etc. or even some fun facts like what's the weirdest

>thing
>you've found inside a bike you worked on or something... ( in my
>case, i
>once found a mummified mouse in the BB and someone else found a
>love letter
>in a seat post )
>
>This will show the general public and the companies WHAT we do
>with THESE
>tools...
>
>I realize there's a lot more to it, but this is the main concept.

>Thoughts
>?
>
>On the topic of department store bikes, i wanna make stickers that

>say "
>Friends don't let friends ride Walt-Mart bicycles"...
>perhaps we could come up with a shared design that we can all use
>and just
>add your Project's Name / Logo on it, that way is the same
>sticker nation wide and BAM !! we start the Dept, store bike
>awareness
>campaign... who knows, if done neatly, it could catch some major
>mainstream
>media attention ( not only indymedia ! ) who wants to join ?
>
>Sorry this mail was sooo long.
>
>Wear the grease under your nails with pride.
>
>Cheers to all, see you in Sunny Cali.
>
>-R
>
>
>--
>Rafael Cletero
>Project Coordinator
>Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op
>ph (970) 484 38 04
>www.fcbikecoop.org
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