March 2009 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] Serving disabled populations in your shops/orgs?
by Bruce Lien 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

Jason's method sounds similar to the one in the video "Pedal Magic". I have seen this method work and never hesitate to recommend it to the newbies. There are, however, some people with various reasons for their disabilities that will never master life on two wheels. Our program received a nearly brand new 26" cruiser that was set up for a 12 y.o. girl with brain injury who did not have the balance. This cruiser set up was AWFUL!!!!!!!!!! Though it had training wheels, you could push the entire bike over with your little finger or maybe even sneezing on it. SO UNSAFE. Instead, we got her set up on a smaller adult trike that provided much better stability. After months of frustration for family and her, it was way cool to watch her pedal down the street, having found new freedom on two (oops make that three) wheels. Her mother was delighted with the idea that now their beautiful daughter would be able to accompany them on their family recreational bike rides. If this is what it takes, I highly encourage you to look around for a funding source to buy the new trikes through a wholesaler or your local friendly bike shop. Bruce, Recycle Bicycles --- On Tue, 3/3/09, Jason Moore <moorepants(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Jason Moore <moorepants(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Serving disabled populations in your shops/orgs? To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 3:25 AM Check out the Lose the Training Wheels program. They are experts at this type of thing. Also an interesting new product is coming out soon: The Gyrobike My recommended method for teaching people to ride bicycles is this: 1. Remove the pedals of the bike and lower the seat such that the rider's feet can easily touch the ground, this way the rider can scoot around and get the feeling of the bicycle's dynamics. If you use training wheels or support the rider with your hand it doesn't allow the person to feel how the bicycle actually handles. 2. Once the rider is comfortable on the scooter, add the pedals so they can try self propulsion. People learn very fast with this method. Jason Moore http://mae.ucdavis.edu/~biosport/jkm/ moorebicycles Bicycle Dynamics Lab, TU Delft Sports Biomechanics Lab, UC Davis Bike Church Minister, Davis, CA Netherlands office phone # : +31 15 278 6932 On Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 7:16 PM, josh brown <josh(a)communitycycles.org> wrote: Howdy all. I'm wondering how/if any of you have worked with populations or individuals with disabilities who come into your shops or who approach your organization for help. We've had this type of thing happen before, where someone who has experienced head trauma, or has severe balance issues is looking for an adult tricycle, but we never seem to have any quality ones in the shop when they're needed, and inexpensive but decent ones are in the 6-8 hundred dollar range. I received the below email this morning, and while i welcome the challenge and experience of getting a 10 year old with CP and Autism on a bicycle, i'm a little overwhelmed at the prospect. What kinds of experiences have you all had? I know Boulder and Colorado both have some excellent non-profits that deal with folks with disabilities, and I'll start making phone calls to them, to see what types of things to be aware of. I'm interested in your experiences as community bike shop staff. If anyone reading this has some type of circumstance which requires some sort of modification to their own bike to accommodate balance, reflex, or a body that's different than most of us have (ie, amputee, etc) issues, PLEASE get in touch. I'm interested both in your experiences personally as well as resources you've found to be helpful or not so helpful. I've personally worked with folks with all kinds of issues, just not in my work with bicycles...looking forward to bringing those two worlds together... thanks! josh. community cycles. Hello, We have been looking into your program for our son but I have a couple of questions. Our son has Cerebral Palsy and Autism, both are mild, however he has difficulty in riding a two wheel bike as he has balance problems. He is 10 yrs old, (11 in June) and has out grown bikes that we can place "training wheels" on. We know that there are stabilization wheels but not sure how to go about working with them on multiple speed bikes. Do you work with children with disabilities? and Would you be able to help us in getting a bicycle that would meet his needs? He would dearly love to be able to ride a bike and we are most happy to work with him and get him the proper set up. Any help or information would be greatly appreciated. You are welcome to call us at our home phone or email. Your program sounds very exciting and we look forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Sue and Paul _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.…

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Fw: [cooks] here's a doc that includes the Bicycle Kitchen
by james blesdoe 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

Here at the top of the post is what the start of this thread is all about. Jim Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXi9JLy0SXA > Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ8ezzt8WCo _______________________________________________ --- On Tue, 3/3/09, james blesdoe <jamesbleds0e(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: james blesdoe <jamesbleds0e(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Fw: [cooks] here's a doc that includes the Bicycle Kitchen To: waja61(a)sbcglobal.net, "Kim Jensen" <kimonabike(a)gmail.com>, "Jane Bledsoe" <jkebledsoe(a)msn.com>, "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 1:47 AM to the film maker thanks Jim --- On Mon, 3/2/09, jamesinger <thejamesinger(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: jamesinger <thejamesinger(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [cooks] here's a doc that includes the Bicycle Kitchen To: "cooks list" <kitchen-cooks(a)bicyclekitchen.com> Date: Monday, March 2, 2009, 10:25 PM CHECK IT!!!!! love, james --- On Thu, 2/26/09, mitch marcus <waja61(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote: > From: mitch marcus <waja61(a)sbcglobal.net> > Subject: here's a doc that includes the Bicycle Kitchen > To: pr(a)bicyclekitchen.com > Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009, 1:24 PM > Hi. A while ago I came by with my little flip camera and > shot some people at the kitchen. Everybody there was so > nice. I just wanted to share the funky doc-movie with you. > It's in two parts cause it was too long for one link. > BK is mainly in the first part. > > thanks again for being you. > > Mitch Marcus > > Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXi9JLy0SXA > Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ8ezzt8WCo _______________________________________________ Kitchen-cooks mailing list Kitchen-cooks(a)bicyclekitchen.com http://four.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/kitchen-cooks -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.…

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Scheduling Volunteers
by Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

First, thanks to everyone who commented on the "What happens when you add new hours" post. Very helpful. Scheduling Volunteers We just had a Volunteer meeting and discussed the need to schedule, ahead of time, so that we can know how many people to expect on any given day. Right now we sometimes have 3 volunteers or as many as 10-12 show up for an open shop day...One day, too many; one day, not enough at all. 5-7 is our "comfort" range. One of our more reliable volunteers sent me some questions and I'm curious how other shops deal with the specific issues mentioned. Thanks for taking time to respond. 1.) "How is it going to work if "too many" people sign up for a given day? Are the volunteers going to be asked to leave, or can they work on their own stuff, or what?" 2.) "how many is too many? Obviously if there are 2 kids there, 10 volunteers is overkill, but realistically, how many volunteers do you think you should hold to the schedule for an open shop night?" 3.) "What if a vol. can't make it when they're scheduled? Obviously, trying to get a hold of someone to cover the shift is necessary, but who's responsibility is it? Is it the shop's to try to get someone to come in, or the volunteer's, because they can't make it?" 4.) "What happens with a no call/no show? What happens if someone shows up 45 minutes late?" Brian Urban Bike Project of Wilmington -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) Wilmington, DE 19801 Hours: Thursday 6:30-9:00 Saturday 1:00-4:00 Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

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which shops have a women's program?
by allison karow 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

which shops currently have a women's program (open to interpretation)? i am putting a list together.. please include: the name of your shop the name of your program (if applicable) the city/state where your shop is your website or a way to contact/find you

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Re: [TheThinkTank] totally off topic, yet awesome.
by Bruce Lien 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

You grow a mustache because you want to, not because of what someone else (other than your significant other) might think. They don't like it, they don't have to look at it. Do your thing, man. I once grew a goatee and thought I was being funky. Instead, others thought I looked "dignified". Not the look I had in mind. I have grown many a beard in my life as well. Don't now, though, as when my daughter was five and I shaved it off, she said, "Daddy, now you look like a good man." Kept it off since. I don't want to look like a "bad" man in her eyes. Also, Tom Ritchey is an awesome guy. Heard him speak in Denver about how he came to be an integral part of Project Rwanda. This project is absolutely incredible and inspiring. If you can check it out by all means do so. And if you can find a way to support, go for it. This project truly has and is changing the lives of people in Rwanda!!!!!!!!!!!! --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Patrick Leahy <partick(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Patrick Leahy <partick(a)gmail.com> Subject: [TheThinkTank] totally off topic, yet awesome. To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 7:12 PM This is my first post to this doohickey. I've met veganboyjosh. My name is Patrick. I work at Bike Saviours in Tempe. Anyway, I have a moustache. Lately non-bike friends have accused me of growing it to be trendy. This is annoying, I've grown up around people with moustaches. Punks have moustaches, and bike people in particular seem to grow them. I grow facial hair every winter. It doesn't seem abnormal to me, and I don't see why its trendy. Anyways, you know who has a moustache, and has had one for years? Tom Ritchey. Tom Ritchey designed and hand built some of the first mountain bikes with Gary Fisher. He's designed scads of components, rides all over the world, and in hasn't shaved his stache in nigh of 20 years. He's a damn decent guy, and bike nerd to rival the best of them. I saw his moustache and the man today in Sedona at Mountain Bike Heaven. And it was fantastic. Anyways, you can use him as a point of reference for cycling moustaches. Oh yeah, he started this http://projectrwanda.org/ He's the first guy listed on the board of directors. Maybe that is on topic, project rwanda rules also. On Mar 1, 2009, at 2:03 PM, Jason Tanzman wrote: I think a central component of the "magazine" section and resource library should be zines. They are almost always local, place-specific, and grassroots. There are some seriously awesome zines out there - about bike trailer construction, commuting, and tons more - the best local zine here in Minneapolis is Dames on Frames, a feminist analysis of the biking movement locally and globally. Microcosm publishing has a great collection available for purchase (and it's super easy to set up a wholesale account with them). The other suggested books are great. I've been thinking for a while that our shop should set up a resource library for folks to either check out or use in the shop.-Jason TanzmanSibley Bike Depot, St. Paul MN_______________________________________________Thethinktank mailing listThethinktank(a)bikecollectives.orgTo unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.orgTo manage your subscription, plase visit:http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollec… Patrick LeahyGraphic Designer / Creative Consultant480-678-8191patrick(a)patrickleahydesign.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.…

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Fw: [cooks] here's a doc that includes the Bicycle Kitchen
by james blesdoe 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

to the film maker thanks Jim --- On Mon, 3/2/09, jamesinger <thejamesinger(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: jamesinger <thejamesinger(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [cooks] here's a doc that includes the Bicycle Kitchen To: "cooks list" <kitchen-cooks(a)bicyclekitchen.com> Date: Monday, March 2, 2009, 10:25 PM CHECK IT!!!!! love, james --- On Thu, 2/26/09, mitch marcus <waja61(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote: > From: mitch marcus <waja61(a)sbcglobal.net> > Subject: here's a doc that includes the Bicycle Kitchen > To: pr(a)bicyclekitchen.com > Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009, 1:24 PM > Hi. A while ago I came by with my little flip camera and > shot some people at the kitchen. Everybody there was so > nice. I just wanted to share the funky doc-movie with you. > It's in two parts cause it was too long for one link. > BK is mainly in the first part. > > thanks again for being you. > > Mitch Marcus > > Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXi9JLy0SXA > Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ8ezzt8WCo _______________________________________________ Kitchen-cooks mailing list Kitchen-cooks(a)bicyclekitchen.com http://four.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/kitchen-cooks

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lending library
by Liza Mattana 02 Mar '09

02 Mar '09

Hey, We want to build a lending library at our shop, a place where members can check out books and magazines. Probably it wouldn't be more than a few shelves worth of materials. I can see the library broken down into 3 categories: Resource materials to check out: books on how to do repairs, how to plan for bike tours, memoirs from people who have toured on bike, how to make your own gear books, interesting bike reads, etc. Resource books, on-site only: tech manuals Magazines: informative (not a lot of marketing hype), and good/entertaining articles Or maybe not. Maybe not bother with magazines? Other thoughts? We have a good stack of books already from our volunteers, used books we've gathered from thrift stores mostly, but I'd like to seek funding for buying more books. I think we should have a few Park Big Blue Books, the Bicycle Wheel, and a Sutherland's for the shop. What other recommendations do you think are must or should haves? Thanks! Liza -- Liza Mattana president www.pedals2people.org Spokane, WA

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Serving disabled populations - finding partners
by Richard Dugas 02 Mar '09

02 Mar '09

Hi all, Let me make a segway between two messages here, as partnering up with organizations strengthens you and allows you to become more involved with local actors and promote bicycles as a solution to many common problems. Organizations involved with youth, in employability, skills training, schools, crime-prevention programs, youth drop-in centers, environmental orgs... all have a potential need for the services you provide. We ran socio-insertion programs with a youth employment ressource center for the last five years. We are nos independent but are busy setting up partnerships in the neighborhood where we'll be opening up. While doing youth insertion programs, we got approached by a school for autistic children to see if we could help them fix up their bikes. This turned into a few years partnership where our employment lacking youth went to teach autistic kids bicycle mechanics. The results were fantastic for our youth: I never saw them be so patient, comprehensive, gentle and giving. I'm not sure that the autistic kids became very good mechanics but they definitely got to try things that they otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to and they definitely had a lot of fun while there. So Josh, the school in question is called Reach, they haven't got a website but the contact info is here: http://www.rsb.qc.ca/rsbmain.aspx The have a fleet of bicycles so that the kids at the school can try to learn to ride. And they have some success. We just helped them help themsleves fixing up their bikes. Good luck all, remember that you are doing much much more than just helping people fix bikes. richard from Vélogik 2009/3/2, josh brown <josh(a)communitycycles.org>: > > Howdy all. > > I'm wondering how/if any of you have worked with populations or individuals > with disabilities who come into your shops or who approach your organization > for help. We've had this type of thing happen before, where someone who has > experienced head trauma, or has severe balance issues is looking for an > adult tricycle, but we never seem to have any quality ones in the shop when > they're needed, and inexpensive but decent ones are in the 6-8 hundred > dollar range. > > I received the below email this morning, and while i welcome the challenge > and experience of getting a 10 year old with CP and Autism on a bicycle, i'm > a little overwhelmed at the prospect. > > What kinds of experiences have you all had? I know Boulder and Colorado > both have some excellent non-profits that deal with folks with disabilities, > and I'll start making phone calls to them, to see what types of things to be > aware of. I'm interested in your experiences as community bike shop staff. > > If anyone reading this has some type of circumstance which requires some > sort of modification to their own bike to accommodate balance, reflex, or a > body that's different than most of us have (ie, amputee, etc) issues, PLEASE > get in touch. I'm interested both in your experiences personally as well as > resources you've found to be helpful or not so helpful. > > I've personally worked with folks with all kinds of issues, just not in my > work with bicycles...looking forward to bringing those two worlds > together... > > thanks! > > josh. > community cycles. > > Hello, >> We have been looking into your program for our son but I have a couple of >> questions. >> >> Our son has Cerebral Palsy and Autism, both are mild, however he has >> difficulty in riding a two wheel bike as he has balance problems. He is 10 >> yrs old, (11 in June) and has out grown bikes that we can place "training >> wheels" on. We know that there are stabilization wheels but not sure how to >> go about working with them on multiple speed bikes. >> >> Do you work with children with disabilities? and Would you be able to help >> us in getting a bicycle that would meet his needs? >> >> He would dearly love to be able to ride a bike and we are most happy to >> work with him and get him the proper set up. Any help or information would >> be greatly appreciated. You are welcome to call us at our home phone or >> email. Your program sounds very exciting and we look forward to hearing >> from you. >> >> Thank you, Sue and Paul >> >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > To unsubscribe, send a blank email to > TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org > To manage your subscription, plase visit: > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > -- Richard Dugas Directeur Komunbécyk 514-225-9129 7620, rue Chambord Montréal, Québec H2E 1X1

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lending library
by Bob Giordano 02 Mar '09

02 Mar '09

We've had a lending library for about 10 years. We keep it simple: books, magazines, articles on all things cycled, including advocacy issues, in our tea/class/social area at front of shop. Mostly people donate stuff, and read things on the spot. We put 'free cycles' in the inside cover of rarer things we want to come back, if it's borrowed. -Bob g., free cycles missoula veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: > i've also started a list of books and websites which are great for budding > and experienced mechanics and cyclists on the bike collective network wiki, > here. <http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Mechanic>

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 31, Issue 1
by Jason Tanzman 01 Mar '09

01 Mar '09

I think a central component of the "magazine" section and resource library should be zines. They are almost always local, place-specific, and grassroots. There are some seriously awesome zines out there - about bike trailer construction, commuting, and tons more - the best local zine here in Minneapolis is Dames on Frames, a feminist analysis of the biking movement locally and globally. Microcosm publishing has a great collection available for purchase (and it's super easy to set up a wholesale account with them). The other suggested books are great. I've been thinking for a while that our shop should set up a resource library for folks to either check out or use in the shop. -Jason Tanzman Sibley Bike Depot, St. Paul MN

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