TheThinkTank August 2007

thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

28 participants
28 discussions

OT: Solidarity Cyclers (People of El Salvador)
by rachael spiewak 14 Aug '07

14 Aug '07

just got home to ATL.. tired and inspired.. here's something my friend asked me to pass along. thanks for a lovely weekend. love, peace, and bicycle grease, rachael ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jacoby Ballard <jacoby(a)cispes.org> Date: Aug 10, 2007 11:21 AM Subject: Solidarity Cyclers! To: Jacoby Ballard <jacoby(a)cispes.org> Hello Stellar bike folk that I know and love- The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (the radical org that I work for) is hosting a week-long solidarity ride from NYC to Washington DC, and we'd love for you to be a part of it. See my coworker's email below and attached flyer for more info, and please please, pass it along! Jacoby --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi to Friends of CISPES (and friends of mine) - I'm helping organize a "FUN"draiser bike ride for CISPES - the 2007 Solidarity Cyclers ride - to pedal this October from NYC to Washington D.C. As organizers, we're basically recruiting all the people we'd love to spend a week on a bicycle with. and you're it. All the information is below. If you're at all interested, let me know and I can try to talk you into it! You don't have to be a huge cyclist. The first time I really rode a bicycle it was 2 months before I did a 600 mile solidarity cyclers ride in 1999. Also, if you know of other folks who would be really excited to do the ride, feel free to forward this on to them as well. The flyer is attached in case you can't see the fun pictures below. Abrazos, Krista 347-415-0913 --------------------------- Join the Solidarity Cyclers 2007 Ride! New York to Washington D.C. , October 6-14 This October, join the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) and the Haiti Reborn program of the Quixote Center in cycling for solidarity! We will spend a week pedaling almost 300 miles from New York to Washington D.C. All the riders will raise pledge money beforehand, and then we'll make stops and do presentations about solidarity work, inviting people to take action and financially support the critical work CISPES and the Quixote Center are doing. Why bikes? Biking is a great way to have fun and be political just by pedaling. Especially in a group, people pay attention to your hard, unconventional transportation method and come to events, ask questions, or donate good food or funds for your cause along the way. As activists and organizers we want people's attention since we want people to know about U.S. foreign policy in the Caribbean and the Americas! Finally, doing something difficult for a cause is a compelling reason for friends and family and other supporters to give cyclers money for solidarity work. Why NYC to Washington D.C.? CISPES is moving the national office from NYC to Washington D.C. to be really in belly of the beast, and to be closer to other solidarity organizations we work with (like Quixote Center!) that are already thriving there and creating social change. The Quixote Center isn't moving, but we're excited to celebrate the move and the growing alliance of the progressive forces, in D.C. and around the country! Why early October? October 12 is Indigenous Resistance Day (also known as Columbus Day), and actions happen around the hemisphere commemorating years of struggle for self-determination and social justice. On October 12 we will hold a major event along the ride as well! How can I support the ride? First and most importantly, you can ride with us! You don't have to be a super professional biker, you just need a passion for riding, a bicycle that'll treat you well along the way, and to be able to ride 35-50 miles a day come October. Riders should raise $1000 in pledges before the ride - that comes out to finding 35 people who will pledge 10 cents a mile ($30) each - piece of cake! If you can't or don't want to ride, there are other important roles too: - Host an event in your town - Drive the support vehicle! - Help set up public events in the cities between New York and Washington - Gather donations (bike tools, bike gear, food along the way, etc.) - Find hosts to house the cyclists along the route - Gather maps and plan safe, beautiful cycling routes - Help gather pledges for other riders - Ride for a day! You can meet up with the riders and join the fun for a short stint along the way. - Volunteer bike mechanic support in NYC on October 5 & 6 to help riders fine tune their bikes - Media work - help us publicize the event! What's the plan? Each day we'll ride 35-50 miles, into and out of cities and on some beautiful country roads and greenways in between. We'll end each day in a city or town where a local solidarity, faith, or peace and justice group will host a public event for us, as well as (hopefully) a big potluck to help fuel the ride! The route is still being developed, but we hope to at least have events in New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. The send-off party will be on the evening of October 6 in NYC and we'll arrive in Washington for a big reception on October 13 or 14. How do I sign up!?!?!? We plan to have between 8 and 15 riders. As of July, there are four confirmed. If you are interested in riding, please contact Krista Hanson at krista(a)cispes.org /212-465-8115 or Tom Ricker at tomr(a)quixote.org or 301-699-0042. They can get you a registration form, pledge forms and other logistical information. If you can work on any of the other volunteer roles, let us know too! See you on the road.

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Announcements and things to bring
by Free Ride 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Helooooo Bike Bikers!!! Only a few days left!! If you sent in a registration form, and we haven't contacted you about housing, please contact me. We tried to contact everybody, but i know some slipped through the cracks due to wrong phone numbers, bad handwriting, and just the overwhelming task of it all. If you sent it in in the past few days, expect to be contacted today. We will be at Free Ride Thursday nite from 6-10, and then at the conference at about 8 in the morning on friday, so you can check in there and find out more info. Here is a completely incomplete list of things to bring to the conference. -Spandex- There is a spandex themed party on Saturday Nite at Free Ride (serious) -Bike -BRING A BIKE LOCK (even if you can't bring a bike) -Helmet, blinkys (it gets dark on some streets) -Tent if camping -Merch from your shop for trading -Blank t shirts for screening (we'll have a Bike Bike screen available-it looks nice) -Short movie of your shop/town -Print and digital photos of your shop- either on cd or jump drive, or compact flash card, especially if you have particularly crafty organization ideas -Brochures, fliers, posters from your shop -Paperwork/forms/manuals/etc. from your own shop that you might want to share -Documentation of programs, budgets, curricula, etc -Anything you've got really figured out that might be useful to share with others. -Tips & tricks. We're going collect them all for a "shop organization" workshop - Some cash to throw in to the Bike Bike Booty Thanks! We are so excited to meet everyone, it's like a family reunion, but fun! -erok

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philly to pgh?
by rachael spiewak 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

hey, kids. if i show up at the chinatown bus stop in philly at 9 am tomorrow morning, can i hitch a ride with anyone? twelve bucks plus gas plus hanging out with you sounds better than the rest of my options! 404 392 4597. -rachael

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Getting Around Pittsburgh for Bike Bike
by Jay Varner 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

If you've never been to Pittsburgh before, you are in for a treat. However, it ain't flat and I am totally prepared to proudly walk my bike up a hill or two. But, Pittsburgh also has a pretty great bus system, and is lucky enough to be on Google Transit (www.google.com/transit). Last time I was there, they were getting more and more bike racks on the buses. It looks like they have a long page about that on their site (I just don't feel like reading it right now) http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/CustomerInfo/RacknRoll/tabid/267/Default.… Enjoy, Jay

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(no subject)
by troy neiman 06 Aug '07

06 Aug '07

Dear BikeBikers, i will be driving from madison wisconsin on the evening of wed. the 8th for chicago and then straight on to Pittsburgh on the 9th. i will have at least two open seats if anyone out there needs a last min ride. safe travels to everyone, see yall in the pitts. troyneiman(a)myself.com 608-345-1129 phone my be a better contact for me troy -- We've Got Your Name at http://www.mail.com ! Get a FREE E-mail Account Today - Choose From 100+ Domains

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OT: see daft punk with me in nyc right before bikebike
by rachael spiewak 06 Aug '07

06 Aug '07

i'm going to be in nyc right before bikebike to see daft punk, the rapture, kavinsky, and sebastian. it's a long story, but i've got extra tickets.. which i'd especially like to barter for a ride/riding companion to pgh. the show is on aug 9 at keyspan park. i'm sending my bike to pgh with other atl folks, so i don't have to factor in hauling it around. any takers? -rachael

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Last Call Bike 101
by baglady 04 Aug '07

04 Aug '07

Hello Bike Bikers, Can you believe the conference is just days away!! We will soon send out more info on the things that you should bring with you to the conference and some more logistical info. Many people have been writing to ask about the cost of the conference and what the housing accommodations are. We are asking for donations at the conference to cover the cost of food, space rental, print materials etc. And as far as housing is concerned- if you send in a registration form (which everyone coming to the conference needs to do) it asks you what your housing needs are and then we hook you up with a home stay or a camping spot. We have over 25 workshops confirmed which are all gonna be so great. Thanks to all the peops who are making that happen. The only thing we are a little lacking on is workshops for the Bike Bike 101 Day, Friday August 10th. So far we have Cali from the Grease Pit presenting on “?Keeping and Getting a Space” and also the Derailer Bicycle Collective facilitating a discussion about What I Wish I Had (or Had Not) Known When We Opened Shop. We really need people to facilitate other workshops including ***“Acquiring Bicycle Donations and Tools”- how to set up wholesale accounts, where else to get tools from, what tools are essential. Where to get bikes from, universities, the po-po, community bike drives, bike organizations, retail bike shops, Old men who have 60 in their garage, random people etc. ***“Intro to Bike coop programs” holding earn a bike programs for both adults and kids. Different models to get those bikes out of your shop and onto the street. ***“Intro to legal stuff” an overview of fiscal sponsorship, 501 c3, bike coop insurance etc. We are also open to other ideas for workshops that should go on the bike bike 101 day. Especially workshops suggested by those shops that are just starting up since yinz are the ones who we’re holding this day for. If you can facilitate these workshops or any other ones that are applicable to bike bike 101 please write us ASAP or call 412 731 4094- although e-mail is better. Otherwise we’ll see you real soon! And get those registration forms in if you have’t already send them. Thanks, Andalusia and Jessica

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Input on the anti-oppression workshop at BikeBike
by baglady 01 Aug '07

01 Aug '07

Heya BikeBike people I'm helping put together the anti-oppression workshop for BikeBike, and Adele, the facilitator has asked for some conversation topics. Here is the workshop description: Ally-building: Race, Gender, Class and Sexuality in the Biking Community This workshop is designed to increase cross-cultural communication skills and foster "ally-building" as a strategy for building relationships across differences. Participants will address the operations of race, gender, class and sexuality within the biking community through a variety of interactive exercises, including one- on-one and group discussions. The session likewise promotes self- reflection on privileged and oppressed group memberships while focusing on how to be an ally. Here's what I need from you: stories! Incidents that have occurred, problems you have encountered, challenges that have come up, and positive experiences too - around the topics or race, gender, class and sexuality. Stories of being a woman in a man's field, of being neither a woman or a man in a binary world, of working in low-income areas, etc.etc.etc. The more input we get, the better this workshop will be. Adele knows a lot about anti-oppression work, but not so much about what it is like to work in a community bike shop. So share your knowledge so she can share hers! thanks, see yinz in Pittsburgh soon! ~diane~ P.S. please don't justt hit reply to this e-mail because it will go to everyone- instead reply to diba_26(a)hotmail.com

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TheThinkTank August 2007