TheThinkTank April 2010

thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

38 participants
24 discussions

Building cargo bikes in developing countries
by ben depp 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

I just wanted to share a couple easy to make cargo bikes plans. http://annbekan.blogspot.com/ My idea is to just show them off here in Haiti and sell a couple and hope the idea catches on. There are plenty of old bikes and old welders perfectly capable of making them so I don't see a reason to set up a workshop.

1 0

Re: [TheThinkTank] anyone have a good solution for old dirty rags?
by winter.snowy.rose＠gmail.com 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

What about getting a big pot and boiling the rags? Then you can just keep a reserved pot for the purpose. Just a thought, as I've never tried it. Chloé ------Original Message------ From: Christine Bourgeois Sender: thethinktank-bounces(a)bikecollectives.org To: The Think Tank ReplyTo: The Think Tank Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] anyone have a good solution for old dirty rags? Sent: 21 Apr 2010 11:37 Yes, you will gunking up your washing machine. I tried: not a good idea... Best, Christine Education Coordinator for the Santa Barbara Bicycle Community www.sbbike.org www.bicicentro.org www.cycleMAYnia.org On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 8:32 AM, Matt Brittenham <mattface(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I don't know, but was wondering the same thing as we have the same issue. I'm thinking maybe wash on hot with bleach, and maybe some citrus based solvent, but I'm worried about gunking up my washing machine. Anyone have any firsthand experience laundering greasy rags? > > On Apr 21, 2010, at 11:24 AM, veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: > >> We've got a big pile of the, waiting to be cleaned or tossed or something. >> >> What do you all do? >> >> Thanks! >> >> josh. >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… > > _______________________________________________ > 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.… > -- Christine http://cbarreb.smugmug.com/ _______________________________________________ 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.… Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

1 0

Re: [TheThinkTank] bike rental suggestions
by Corey Grazul 19 Apr '10

19 Apr '10

I'm sure the topic of bike rental has been discussed here before, but if anyone has a link, personal experience, or just some solid advice to share, I'd really appreciate it. I am part of a non-profit community bike shop in Jackson, MI and we are looking into starting a bike rental service through our shop to get more people riding and to generate a bit of income to resource our work. The primary purpose of our rental will be recreation, not transportation. What I'm looking for are some starting points in the insurance/liability/waiver arena. What are my choices, what is most cost effective, what are some specific companies worth looking into, should I just look into a rider for our current insurance, does anyone have a good template waiver to share, etc...? Any other info. about starting a bike rental service would be super helpful. Thanks, Corey Grazul The Fitness Council of Jackson On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 4:11 PM, <thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org>wrote: > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > thethinktank-owner(a)bikecollectives.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Suggestions for paid work (Chris Wells) > 2. Re: Suggestions for paid work (Scott Gibson) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:20:25 -0700 (PDT) > From: Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Suggestions for paid work > Message-ID: <510696.86702.qm(a)web88207.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > At re-Cycles we decided since (at the time) all of our labour was volunteer > that we should only consider paying wages for a service that we we unable to > accomplish with volunteer labour. So far we have applied this to?4 services. > ? > 1) Day to day contact with other organizations and media which tends to > occur during 9-5 weekdays. Most of our senior volunteer resources have full > time jobs which make them unavailable weekdays. > ? > 2) We needed to find a new shop location, move and incorporate. Arranging > all that was a significant effort that needed corrdinating and was beyond > the amount of time of any of our senior volunteers was able to donate. > ? > 3) Corrdinating the day-to-day running of the organization and doing all > the stuff that no volunteers offered to do in a timely manner. Again a > significant effort that needed corrdinating and was beyond the amount of > time of any of our senior volunteers was able to donate. > ? > 4) Extending our hours to days and weekends. We were getting overwhelmed on > the evenings we were open as well as getting many requests to be open > outside of our evening hours. We knew from past experience we did not have > any senior volunteers available/willing to work days or weekends so we > decided to offer some paid hours. > ? > Services 1-3 ended up being combied into a Director's Honararium allowing > Mark to dedicate the hours required to accomplish those tasks. The need for > service 4 is reviewed twice a year. Thus far no volunteers have come forward > to work those shifts and the work accomplished has relieved some of the > pressure from the evening shifts while also proving to be revenue positive > (after paying the wages). > > Chris Wells > (Email Handler & one of many Volunteer Head Mechanics) > > re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op > 473 Bronson Ave. Ottawa > info(a)re-cycles.ca > http://www.re-cycles.ca/ > > --- On Sun, 4/11/10, Ainsley Naylor <needleandthread(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > From: Ainsley Naylor <needleandthread(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Suggestions for paid work > To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010, 10:55 AM > > > Hey folks > We have been avoiding the very loaded *paid position* conversation for > about 2 years here at Pirates. As we are getting even busier than every > before, and making more than enough money to cover our operation costs, I > think it is time to start hashing out various ideas for ways to pay for > certain tasks to be done. > > I don't think we are in the market to have a paid coordinator or shop > manager, as it would be too likely to lead to authoritarian issues and would > take up too much of our extra cash. Do folks have suggestions or examples of > small-scale employment or honorarium models that have worked for them? > > To give you a guideline let's talk about paying out less than $600 a month. > > thanks! > ainsley. > > -----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.… >

6 5

using soft words to explain someone has a crappy bike?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 18 Apr '10

18 Apr '10

Hey Everyone, In the past few days, I've had several bikes people have brought in which are department store bikes of the worst kind. Pressed dropouts, steel cranks, etc. I'm sure you all know the bike of which I write. When explaining mechanical issues to the owner, sometimes the answer to "why do I keep having problems with this bike?" really does come down to a quality of manufacture issue. Of course I don't think anyone here wants to disparage someone's bike, or make them feel not worthy to be in our shops, but buying a bike at Target or Walmart does sometimes come down to a class issue. How to explain this in a way that's not as harsh? Any experiences you've had where it went wrong, or where it went really well? We really do want to encourage people to ride bikes, and getting them on a craphole Roadmaster is pretty much going to just discourage it and frustrate them after about 100 miles. Thanks, y'all. Hope you're all doing well! josh.

2 1

Job opening at Neighborhood Bike Works
by Neighborhood Bike Works 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Neighborhood Bike Works is looking to hire a Lead Bicycle Mechanic for our North Philly shop, located at 1424-26 Susquehanna Avenue. The full job description is available at: http://www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org/NBWMechanicJobDescription.pdf. The start date for the position is March 22nd, 2010. Interested parties should contact Cat Bergeron, North Philly Shop Manager, at cat(a)neighborhoodbikeworks.org; please CC Andy Dyson, Executive Director, at andy(a)neighborhoodbikeworks.org. We encourage you to forward this notice to anyone who might be interested, but please do not repost it publicly. Thanks, Neighborhood Bike Works 3916 Locust Walk Philadelphia, PA 19104 215.386.0316 www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org Donate Now! http://www.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=23-3012779

1 1

Suggestions for paid work
by Ainsley Naylor 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Hey folks We have been avoiding the very loaded *paid position* conversation for about 2 years here at Pirates. As we are getting even busier than every before, and making more than enough money to cover our operation costs, I think it is time to start hashing out various ideas for ways to pay for certain tasks to be done. I don't think we are in the market to have a paid coordinator or shop manager, as it would be too likely to lead to authoritarian issues and would take up too much of our extra cash. Do folks have suggestions or examples of small-scale employment or honorarium models that have worked for them? To give you a guideline let's talk about paying out less than $600 a month. thanks! ainsley.

6 5

Re: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes
by Angel York 12 Apr '10

12 Apr '10

I think these have been sent out to this listserv before, but maybe some new people are on the list now, and these are still pretty handy and artistically awesome: http://davisbikecollective.org/resources/documents/67-course-materials . Angel On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 7:08 PM, Julie Harrell <photonicgirl(a)hotmail.com>wrote: > >> Thank you so much. Here's a link to some of my other writing for the >> Mountain Gazette and Honest Weight. >> >> >> http://www.mountaingazette.com/community/go_higher/ride_for_free_fact_or_fi… >> >> http://www.hwfc.com/CoopScoop/Mar10/sales1article.html >> >> http://www.hwfc.com/CoopScoop/Apr10/suppliers.html >> >> >> >> >> for peace, om shanti >> >> jules >> >> www.photonicgirl.blogspot.com/ >> www.cherryplainfarm.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 20:04:41 -0600 >> >> From: veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes >> >> Sounds awesome, Julie. Can't wait to see it. >> >> >> >> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 8:02 PM, Julie Harrell <photonicgirl(a)hotmail.com>wrote: >> >> Thank you for your interest. I will have discounted copies on my website, >> at Bike!Bike! and the ADK Sports and Fitness Expo. I'm donating quite a few >> to Trips for Kids (on an ongoing basis) so Marilyn their director will have >> copies for sale through their website (www.tripsforkids.org). >> >> Right now, you can also get them at The Downtube, CK Bikes (used to be >> Klarsfeld), Mad Dog Cycles (Delmar) and the Book House in Albany; The >> Bennington Bookstore, Highlander Bikes and Road and Trails in Bennington; >> The Spoke, Berkshire Outfitters, The Mountain Goat, Ordinary Cycles and >> Plaines in MA; plus of course through my website, ebay and amazon (don't buy >> it through ebay and amazon, I'm only on for the advertising). I'm probably >> forgetting a few shops...just started putting the book out there last week. >> >> My history: I used to edit repair manuals for Bicycle Books back when I >> lived in Marin, CA, then I published my first book through them. I also did >> a lot of volunteer stuff with Trips for Kids (bike mechanic/trip >> leader/teacher) and Marilyn wrote the forward to this book. A Woman's Bike >> Book is a much more interesting Dirt Rag style read than A Woman's Guide to >> Bikes and Biking. The new book also includes 31 pages of color photos, a >> chapter on community action, ... a bike repair chapter that includes a >> what-not-to-do commentary on some of the many mistakes I made as a new bike >> mechanic :) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> for peace, om shanti >> >> jules >> >> www.photonicgirl.blogspot.com/ >> www.cherryplainfarm.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 19:52:16 -0600 >> From: veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes >> >> >> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 7:46 PM, Julie Harrell <photonicgirl(a)hotmail.com>wrote: >> >> I have a book out on this subject, A Woman's Bike Book. Just got >> published. I'm happy to share online with the group if you are interested. >> >> I'm fairly certain when I say that most everyone reading this would be >> interested. >> >> Also, where to buy the book? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> for peace, om shanti >> >> jules >> >> www.photonicgirl.blogspot.com/ >> www.cherryplainfarm.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> From: ryanguzy(a)gmail.com >> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 18:23:56 -0700 >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes >> >> >> These are the handouts that we developed and have been using at Bike >> Saviours. It is now a 6 week class with the first three handouts used for >> the first class. I have been slowly revising and simplifying them and I'd >> love to have other groups collaborate on them. If you would like to >> collaborate let me know and I will add you to the editors list. I have also >> thought about putting these on the wiki and/or adding some creative commons >> markings but I haven't looked into it yet. >> >> Intro: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_49fh332jcd >> Choosing a Bike: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_38gz2rgpf4 >> Headsets: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dctsxwqx_38fqv3hcc8 >> Bottom Brackets: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_37gc4qbfj8 >> Hub Bearings and Gears: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dctsxwqx_3fkt94dhq >> <http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_38gz2rgpf4>Brakes: >> http://docs.google.com/View?id=dctsxwqx_16g8wqnkcm >> <http://docs.google.com/View?id=dctsxwqx_16g8wqnkcm>Derailleurs and >> Shifters: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_50qrpxzhhk >> <http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_50qrpxzhhk>Wheel Truing: >> http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_41fjzxhxhm >> >> *Ryan Guzy* >> Bike Saviours >> Tempe, AZ >> >> >> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 6:08 PM, Julie Harrell <photonicgirl(a)hotmail.com>wrote: >> >> On the advanced wheel truing, what I am teaching is the basic stuff >> everyone I hope knows, and including lubing the nipples, listening to the >> spokes by pinging them with your fingernail before attempting to true, >> looking for more thread one some than others, then teaching how to stress >> relieve the wheels while they are on the stand and before they are placed on >> the bike. I don't have an indepth curriculum but I'm teaching from start to >> finish, taking trashed wheels and trying to bring them back to life. >> >> for peace, om shanti >> >> jules >> >> www.photonicgirl.blogspot.com/ >> www.cherryplainfarm.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 19:52:26 -0400 >> From: ssssscott(a)gmail.com >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes >> >> >> Hey is there anyone out there who can offer up anything from basic >> breakdown to in-depth curriculum about your Advanced Mechanics Classes. We >> are looking to develop our own at Free Ride! this year. Anything you have >> would be really helpful. >> >> Thanks, >> Scott >> >> ------------------------------ >> The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with >> Hotmail. Get busy.<http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID2…> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your >> inbox. Learn more.<http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:…> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Thanks for supporting Community Cycles, Boulder's first and only >> non-profit bike shop! >> Ask me how you can sponsor a Youth Earn-A-Bike student for just $100. >> www.communitycycles.org >> >> ------------------------------ >> The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with >> Hotmail. Get busy.<http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID2…> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Thanks for supporting Community Cycles, Boulder's first and only >> non-profit bike shop! >> Ask me how you can sponsor a Youth Earn-A-Bike student for just $100. >> www.communitycycles.org >> >> ------------------------------ >> The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with >> Hotmail. Get busy.<http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID2…> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… >> >> >

1 0

fix a flat teaching materials
by Sarah Follett (B!KE) 09 Apr '10

09 Apr '10

Hello all, Rather than reinvent the wheel, I thought I'd turn to the great collective resource that is the Think Tank. I was wondering if anyone had a fun handout with steps for how to fix a flat. I'm doing some high school visits with tutorials, and I think having a reference on paper is the only way I'm going to be able to manage to teach a class of 20 youth all at once! Thanks in advance! Sarah Follett Director, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 400 Wolfe St Peterborough, Ontario (705) 748-6681 http://www.communitybikeshop.org

4 4

advanced classes
by Scott Gibson 08 Apr '10

08 Apr '10

Hey is there anyone out there who can offer up anything from basic breakdown to in-depth curriculum about your Advanced Mechanics Classes. We are looking to develop our own at Free Ride! this year. Anything you have would be really helpful. Thanks, Scott

4 7

Wrench Nepal Human-Powered Washing Machine
by Mario Bruzzone 08 Apr '10

08 Apr '10

Hi folks-- I've been meaning to do this for weeks, but I wanted to let everyone on this list know that Aaron Wieler and I wrote up a project report for the hand- and pedal-powered washing machine we helped facilitate in Nepal in 2008. The project was a partnership with the local Nepali NGO Prisoners Assistance Nepal. You can read it here <http://www.wrenchnepal.org/donate2> ( http://www.wrenchnepal.org/donate2) or here <http://bikecart.pedalpeople.com/projects.html>( http://bikecart.pedalpeople.com/projects.html)--it's the same pdf in both places. Wrench Nepal is sadly on hiatus, probably forever, for circumstances outside my control, but both my email and Aaron's are in the pdf. Thanks, Mario Bruzzone San Francisco

1 0

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

TheThinkTank April 2010