TheThinkTank May 2008

thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

48 participants
33 discussions

Is there a collective in New Orleans?
by Jonathan Morrison 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

Email me if you know of one. -- Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison Project Coordinator Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org

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Re: [TheThinkTank] non-petroleum lube
by Michael Wolfe 04 May '11

04 May '11

Page 13 of the 1992 Bridgestone bicycle catalog has a unique recommendation of using olive oil. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/ On 4/2/08, Bob Giordano <mist(a)strans.org> wrote: > > Indoor air quality is tops on our list for a healthy shop atmosphere. We > do not store anything that gives off harmful fumes. Tooth brushes and > simple green (highly diluted) in a small wooden bowl is our parts cleaning > station. We are even moving away from simple green (i've learned it is > harmful to some)- to a citrus based cleaner. > > I guess tri flow is the only thing with fumes in the shop. Often we ask > people to use it outside. I'd like to find a non-petroleum lube. > > -Bob Giordano, Free Cycles Missoula > > > Michael Wolfe wrote: > > Speaking of liver damage, etc.. Wondering if any shops out there have > had > > issues solvent tanks in their shop? The fumes give me a headache but > others > > don't seem to mind it. Mostly I worry about the health effects on the > full > > time people in the shop. Short of installing a hood or ventalation > system, > > what options are there to locate that stuff outside? > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >

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110 Community Bicycle Organizations
by Jonathan Morrison 27 Nov '10

27 Nov '10

We aren't alone. http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Community_Bicy… -- Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org

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Tools for starters
by Ariel raymon 02 Aug '08

02 Aug '08

Hey everyone, Ariel from bikefarm here. We're starting to make our space into a shop, and are looking at the tools we need to purchase. Suggestions on bare minimum tools for a funcitoning shop would be really helpful, as we'll be making a large order from the UBI distributors in a month or so. Also, Are there grants for things like this? Thanks, Ariel

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Recycle-a-bike ladies repair night video
by elizabeth press 12 Jul '08

12 Jul '08

I thought this video might interest some of you: Continuing with our NYC bike month <http://bikemonthnyc.org/index.php>coverage, last week I had the chance to shoot at Recycle-A-Bicycle<http://www.recycleabicycle.org/>in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Recycle-A-Bicycle takes donated bicycles, repairs them and reintroduces them to the community through earn-a-bike programs in schools and sales from their non-profit retail locations. Although their work mainly focuses on environmental education and job training programs for New York City youth, they also host repair classes for people of all ages. Every Tuesday evening after the shop closes, Susan Lindell teaches bike mechanics 101 to women. Check out this video on Ladies Repair Night. http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/rab-ladies-repair/ best, Elizabeth streetfilms.org

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Ladies Night at CBSO - June 3, 6pm
by Community Bicycle Shop Omaha 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

We're glad to offer our first Ladies Night at Community Bicycle Shop Omaha! The date is Tuesday, June 3 at 6pm. Bring your bicycle project or come to refurbish donated bicycles and learn about bike mechanics. RSVP to this email address.

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Soliciting donations
by adam schwartz 31 May '08

31 May '08

I am getting ready to send out mass mailings to solicit donations from bike shops, bike companies, tool and parts companies, and local cycling advocacy groups. Has anyone had much luck with this approach? and if so I am curious which companies are likely to send donations or have a history of supporting community or youth bike programs. peace, -- Adam Schwartz Program Coordinator, Renaissance Community Youth Bike Shop 6200 Sheridan Street, Riverdale, MD rideyourbicycle(a)gmail.com (301)275-2362

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low end bikes, Invisible riders
by Michael Wolfe 30 May '08

30 May '08

I like where the discussion is going on Low End Walmart bikes. To provide an interesting prospective, check out this article in Bicycling Magazine. It highlights a part of the cycling population that we not only fail to recognize, but often are oblivious to. It's kind of long but a worthy read. http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-3-12-13639-1-P,00.html

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Re: [TheThinkTank] bicycle shaped objects
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 28 May '08

28 May '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, All. I'm sitting here in Toronto awaiting this baby's arrival. She's now well overdue. It's bike month here, and we've had the launch of the Toronto Cyclists Union, some cool fundraisers, several great charity and political rides, and a host of other things. My friend who is visiting me from my other home, Detroit, is in total culture shock. This is a good thread. Department store bikes do suck, but I like Noah's post and this one from Chris. Part of my feeling of mild distain for my fellow cyclists in Windsor Ontario is about such silliness as riding on the sidewalk and CLEARLY not making ongoing reparis to their bikes, but part of it is also that most people are riding ugly and poor quality department store or hardware store bikes. Some of the reasons to dislike department store bikes and their riders are not merely about the functionality of the bikes, about which many true things have already been said, but about their aesthetic qualities, or lack thereof. They are just ugly and they have no style. If they have to be dealt with at all, the recommendations that they be given complete overhauls and cared for as best as possible make sense to me-- better any bike than no bike, and the people who ride them probably end up actually loving them, and who am I to disrespect that? The ugliness also needs to be addresssed, though. Because they are cheap and ugly and not worth much, etc., they are actually great for making into art bikes. Sand and prime and repaint the bikes, spray paint them gold and cover them in bits of crome from old cars, cover them in broken mirrors, decoupage pictures of naked ladies all over them and seal in the naked goodness with some sort of top coat-- I have seen all these things and many more odd and marvelous things (including a bike completely covered in those little rubber snakes you can get in toy stores) done to department store bikes, and when I looked at THOSE (admittedly still barely functional) cheap-ass rides, I got over my aversion and scorn, and I thought they were cool. I hope everyone is in a good mood and that the weather is nice where you are. Sasha On Wed, 28 May 2008 14:23:54 -0400 "info(a)re-cycles.ca" <info@re- cycles.ca> wrote: >Recently I have seen many examples of new department store bikes >with >cones TOO tight and some with NO grease in the bearings or >anywhere >else. > >Most of the higher end Costco and department store bikes will last >for >years but they need to be totally overhauled upon purchase >otherwise >they will grind/seize themselves to death within a couple of >seasons. >Kind of puts the low end prices of a good bike shop, that checks, >greases and adjusts their bikes before sale, into perspective. > >Or volunteer at your local community bike shop for a couple of >months, >then buy a new high end Costco bike, spend 2 evenings overhauling >it >yourself and laugh all the way to the bank. > >Chris >--- reno bikes <renobikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> arguably dept. store bikes suck. >> but just change your thinking a little. >> they are not a performance machine. >> >> as long as the cones are tight enough, and the wheel straight >enough >> to >> avoid >> touching pads, then whomever rides it will appreciate it. >> >> its a step up from a bus pass. >> >> and some people ride roadmasters for years. they are around. you >have >> seen >> them. >> >> i just keep them rolling and spend more time with better >equipment. >> >> noah > >Chris Wells >(Head Mechanic & Email Handler) > >re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op >477 Bronson Ave. Ottawa > >re-Cycles is open 6pm-10pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays >(for volunteering, DIY, bike & parts sales & donation drop off) >AND SUNDAYS 3pm-6pm for Volunteering and Donations! :-) > >Bike sales and donation drop off also available during Cycle >Salvation hours: 9am-5:30pm Tuesday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on >Saturday > >(IMPORTANT: Please remember that while Cycle Salvation will be >using our shop during the day, any public bike repair, whether >volunteer or do-it-yourself, is still only during regular re- >Cycles hours in the evenings.) > >info(a)re-cycles.ca >http://www.re-cycles.ca/ >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkg9qe4ACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRmh3QCfcrC2swY3dSQIrqbPG3R625/714oA nRS0w/ofPmx/a8rXy+b5Vj6Uurvs =lTwG -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Shareef don't like it.
by Michael Wolfe 28 May '08

28 May '08

Well said. I've been looking at the new city bikes the Sky Yeager has designed for Swobo and they are around $700. It would be good to see high quality commuter bikes for less. On 5/28/08, Sherief <sgaber(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > I think the whole department store bike issue is a real obstacle to > cycling. On the one hand, prices of decent entry level bikes have gone up > up up in recent years, making the 149.95 price point on a lot of those > wal-mart beasts seem reasonable. However, as has been our experience at the > Austin Yellow Bike, and one that I'm sure others have noticed, those bikes > are effectively disposable. All of the parts within them are near > irreparable. Hubs that you can never quite adjust because the cones start > pitting from the box, bad springs, rust, etc. You pay less but if you > actually intend to ride then you end up paying more for a replacement or > futile service. This more often than not puts a sour taste in people's > mouths for cycling and the gateway never happens. > > I've thought about some way we can get the knowledge out about the virtues > of used/older bikes, etc. and the pitfalls of those tantalizingly cheap > department store bikes, combined with the refurbishing and sale of (better) > used bikes. A lot of people don't realize that a bike *should* last you 20, > 30, even 100 years. I've almost wanted to stand around in the department > store bicycle section and hand people leaflets, perhaps shouting "It's a > trap!". When people come into our shop to work on those bikes the > difference is made clear enough to them, but something broader could be > interesting... > > Snobbery towards department store bikes, and more importantly those who > ride them, is counter-productive and doesn't help anyone, but department > store bikes must nonetheless be stopped. Their disposability and hassle is > arguable anti-bicycle. > > -sherief > > On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 9:17 PM, Gern Blanston <getgern(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> When people ask me what the best bike to get is...I answer, "The best bike >> is which ever one you will get on AND RIDE!, not just have it sit in >> storage." >> >> >> On 5/19/08, Cuper <cuper(a)neighborhoodbikeworks.org> wrote: >>> >>> And what about for the people are won't to come into your coop for all of >>> the perceived social, racial, economic, and other barriers we all know way >>> too well? By telling folks *who are already intimidated by you* that those >>> bikes are garbage, and implying that anyone who buys one is stupid, you are >>> alienating potential shop users and customers. >>> >>> Those department store monsters aren't great, but can be "gateway >>> bikes." If you find a more positive way to pitch your product (instead >>> slamming what many people feel is the best they can do), the folks who are >>> riding department store bikes now are light years more likely to come to you >>> in a year or two or five. >>> >>> jimmie >>> >>> -- >>> Neighborhood Bike Works tel: 215.386.0316 >>> 3916 Locust Walk fax: 215.386.7288 >>> Philadelphia, PA 19104 www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org >>> >>> Providing opportunities to youth through bicycling. >>> >>> NBw has a listserv! To stay in touch, subscribe to BikeStreetJounral(a)NeighborhoodBikeWorks.org at www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org/mailman/listinfo/bikestreetjournal. >>> >>> >>> >>> veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 8:17 AM, Bruce Lien <bikedadlien(a)yahoo.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> how do low income families who can only stretch their budgets far enough >>>> to buy their kid a bike for under $100, $70, or $40 do so? While some might >>>> advocate they buy used bikes, check out the junk sitting at the Goodwill >>>> with exorbitant prices on them, sold as is and you can see why that is not a >>>> viable option. Garage sales are great alternatives, but again the bikes are >>>> sold "as is" which often leaves a bike in need of some TLC from a good >>>> mechanic. Bruce >>> >>> >>> several things the people on this list have or have access to: >>> >>> volunteer power/time/energy. >>> bike knowledge. >>> decent--better than dept store bikes. >>> >>> this is just a brainstorm that just came to me after reading gary, >>> rafael, and bruce's emails....but what if we could somehow get the word out >>> to these low income families with no LBS that the coops are the place to go. >>> some kind of mailorder thing...i'm not sure how it would work, but if we're >>> operating on a national level, then shouldn't we be able to address at least >>> some of the basic needs of everyone in the country? >>> just an idea, i've been thinking about for all of 30 seconds. unlike >>> gary's and rafaels, which both sound awesome and doable... >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing listThethinktank@bikecollectives.orghttp://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG. >>> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1428 - Release Date: 5/12/2008 7:44 AM >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing list >>> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >>> >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > >

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TheThinkTank May 2008