October 2017 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Webhosting/domains
by Bike City 25 Mar '25

25 Mar '25

Well, I recently threw together some hand-written HTML and slapped it onto a free (and ad-less) webhost. This seemed great at first, regardless of the weird URL. But after lots of other publicity and potential traffic, I've seen it get hacked twice (by a radical Islamic group after the whole host, nothing personal), and lately it's either painfully slow to load or completely down. So, I haven't done this for about a decade and I'm out of the loop. I'm really not willing to suffer any ads, but since our budgeted is obcenely limited for such fluff, does anyone have recommendations? Are there any more reliable ad-free free hosts? (Probably not, for obvious reasons.) Otherwise, how do you guys handle web hosting? How much does it cost? What's a good balance between reliable and affordable? How much is domain registration nowadays? We don't have our 501(c)(3) status yet so we won't get a deal until later this year, by the way. Anyway, please help. It's rough to find time to FTP an update and find the site's down. Thanks, andrea Bike City Recyclery of Fayetteville, Arkansas http://bikecity.uuuq.com/ (hahaha)

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Reusable Repair Checklist Tag
by director 03 May '23

03 May '23

Hey All, We just spent some time and redid the tag we use to track repairs on a bike. I'm sure your shops are similar to ours in that many mechanics of varying skill levels will work on a single bike before it's distributed back to the world for use. This make it challenging to ensure a standard of quality on any given bike leaving the shop. As we fleshed out the tag we realized that it could function loosely as a curriculum. For most mechanics, especially students we suggest starting at the top and working down the list. I've come to realize that no two mechanics will do things in the exact same way, everyone has their own style. We've been suggesting that folks do the first two items in order and then address the rest of the repairs at their discretion. Of course we couldn't put everything on a half page so we had to make compromises. You'll notice as you get closer to the bottom of the tag the categories are a little more broad and don't get into the finer details. We're working on a final check list that will include finer details like checking bearing play, tire wear, fine tune derailleurs and brakes... The final checklist won't hang on the bike but it'll be around the shop and part of our training. Stay tuned for this. We print these double sided, cut them in half and laminate them. We hang them on the handlebars and fill them out with a Sharpie. When the bike is done and gone we clean the Sharpie off with 90% rubbing alcohol and a rag. This allows us to use one tag over and over and over. We've been using these tags for about 2 weeks now and it's been awesome. Communication between mechanics is much clearer and bikes are getting done faster. It's really helped orient Earn-A-Bike students to what needs to be done next on their bike. Anyway if you think it's a good idea feel free to adapt it to your shops needs. -- Ride On! Rich Points http://communitycycles.org Executive Director (c)303-589-0597 (w)720-565-6019 Community Cycles is Boulder's only bike shop dedicated to bike commuting. Find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/CommunityCycles

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no boys allowed zine from bikebike?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 28 Sep '18

28 Sep '18

hey all, i'm looking to get in touch with the person who wrote/published the "no boys allowed" zine which was passed out at bikebike in san francisco. it was part of one of the oppression and gender identity issues workshops. we're looking to start a women's night here at community cycles, and i'd like to scan my copy as a pdf and email it to potential volunteers, as well as make some copies to have in the shop... if you're on the list, or if you know the person who wrote it (her name escapes me), please get in touch with me off list... thanks! josh. community cycles boulder

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Cycles for Change (Mpls, MN) Hiring - Retail Sales and Service Manager
by Jason Partridge 01 Nov '17

01 Nov '17

Cycles for Change is a non-profit operating two community bike shops - one in St. Paul and one in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are hiring for a Retail Sales and Service Manager for our newly expanded Minneapolis shop. The Retail Sales and Service Manager will lead a team of 3-5 bike mechanics and sales associates and will be responsible for work-flow, quality assurance, shop processes, staff training/development, and the successful repair of bicycles for customers and used bikes for the sales floor. More details at the following link: http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/job-details?id=142406 Position is open until filled - priority to applications received by November 30. Resume and cover letter to apply. Compensation is $33,000-$40,000/year ($16-19/hr) Email me directly with any questions! Please consider applying!

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Cargo Bicycle Building Apprenticeship Program
by Jan VanderTuin 31 Oct '17

31 Oct '17

Dear Community Bicycle Builders, Starting November 27th, 2017, the Center for Appropriate Transport in Eugene, OR will be hosting a 4 month long live-in apprenticeship program. Apprentices will learn the frame building skills necessary to fabricate their own Tri-Hauler, as well as the entrepreneurial skills to use their Tri-Hauler for a pedal-powered business venture of their choice. Apprentices will become competent fabricators learning to weld ( TIG and brazing), machinists, industrial sewers, gardeners, CAD users and more. We now have details regarding the course timeline, the cost, and what the apprentices can expect to receive from the program outlined on our website http://hpm.catoregon.org/apprenticeship-program/ Some examples of money-making ventures using the Tri-Hauler can be seen at our business partner's website http://pedalersexpress.com You can also read endorsements from our past apprentices at http://www.catoregon.org/ As of this date 28 folks from around the world have built their own cargo bikes and learned the skills. We will be accepting 3 applicants for our Winter 2017-'18 program. The deadline to send in an application is November 18th, 2017. Please pass along this email to anyone who might be interested in the program. Sincerely, Jan VanderTuin Center for Appropriate Transport

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Strategic Planning & Program Evaluation - example questions
by Alix Aylen 31 Oct '17

31 Oct '17

Hey hey, We're working on some strategic planning at Charlie's <http://www.charliesfreewheels.ca/> in TO and I'm wondering if any folks can share examples of interview and/or survey questions that you've used for strat plan or program evaluation purposes? Any "youth" specific examples would be super awesome, but other examples would be great as well. We'll be interviewing/surveying our community partners and holding a less formal group discussion with the youths and volunteers. If anyone has an experience that they think would be helpful, lemmme know! Would love to chat by phone/skype/email, etc...Whatever works! I'll be documenting the entire process, so I'd also be more than happy to organize a workshop based on our experience if folks are interested. Thanks all! -- *Alix Aylen* Executive Director 242.5 Queen Street E. M5A 1S3 Toronto, Ontario t. 416-856-5510 www.charliesfreewheels.ca Sign up for our newsletter <http://charliesfreewheels.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=796baa6919ab0f3b6…> Get more young people on bikes! Click below to donate to Charlies' FreeWheels <https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NTHJ4G…> . [image: http://www.charliesfreewheels.ca/donate/] <http://www.charliesfreewheels.ca/donate/>

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Hiring Posting from Seattle!
by Tina Bechler 24 Oct '17

24 Oct '17

*PROGRAM COORDINATOR * *Full-Time * *Organizational Overview:* Bike Works, based in Seattle, has been working since 1996 to promote the bicycle as a vehicle for change to empower youth and build resilient communities. Last year over 2,500 youth and adults participated in our programs. Our vision is: Mobilized people, thriving communities, healthy planet. *Role Overview: * The Bike Works Program Coordinator works with the Programs Team to run our youth and adult programs. This role includes teaching bike repair classes, running bike rides and safety rodeos, and maintaining outreach and redistribution of bicycles to the community. Each day will be a blend of these tasks within a team of four, requiring both collaboration and independence. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who loves to ride bikes and has youth and adult mentoring/teaching experience. *Priority will be given to candidates who currently live in Seattle.* *People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. * *Bike Works is an Equal Opportunity and queer-friendly employer.* *Essential Job Functions:* · Works independently, or with the programs team, to run programs; including bike repair classes, bike riding clubs, bike giveaways, summer camps, BikeMobile services, and all community partnerships. · Maintains outreach efforts for programs by calling, emailing and visiting contacts on a quarterly basis. · Updates registrations, database, class documents and calendars as needed. · Coordinates bike storage and bike needs for various programs. · Maintains classroom environments; cleans and restocks spaces weekly. *Compensation: * $32,500-$35,500 DOE Plus full benefits including: employer sponsored health, dental, vision, and life insurance; 12 days of vacation to start (one day each additional year of work); paid organization-wide recess from 12/25 to 1/1 every year; reimbursement for mileage when using bike for work; 10 days sick leave, short and long term disability; employer matching contributions to retirement account; all products in our bike shop and catalog at cost (including new bikes and parts); $250 towards yearly training (outside of all training necessary for the job); casual dress code for work. *Qualifications & Experience: * · Experienced bike rider; able to ride a bike long distances, bike touring experience preferred but not necessary. · Ability to teach in an engaging and yet, challenging manner; prior experience mentoring is necessary, prior experience teaching is preferred. · Basic knowledge of bike mechanics preferred; willingness to learn necessary. · Understanding of social justice and awareness of privilege is necessary. - Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks is required for this position. - Capacity to work on a computer and complete paperwork and database work is required for this position. · Driver’s license; ability to pass a driving record check & drive large vehicles (vans, trucks) is required for this position. · Ability to work evenings and weekends is required for this position (general schedule is 10am-6:30pm Tuesday through Saturday with some variation). *who we are: * · *collaborative team players* · *passionate educators * · *bike riders, bike mechanics* · *social justice activists* · *energetic and hard workers who manage time and risk* · *self-starters with growth mindsets* · *personable and humorous* *How to Apply: * Visit our website at www.bikeworks.org for more information about Bike Works. Email your resume and cover letter to: programs(a)bikeworks.org *NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE* *Applications accepted until Saturday November 25th at 5pm* *We plan to make the offer by 12/15* *Job starts on 1/2/2018* -- Tina Bechler Program Director (206) 695-2741 bikeworks.org <http://www.bikeworks.org/> Mission: Bike Works promotes the bicycle as a vehicle for change to empower youth and build resilient communities Vision: Mobilized people. Thriving communities. Healthy planet.

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Automated bike sharing programs
by Tigre Bici 23 Oct '17

23 Oct '17

Hello everyone! It seems our university finally got the idea on making a bicycle sharing program within campus premises. We are investigating which are the best/cheaper ones to launch it soon. We have seen the zagster and the bike docks that are unlock via a smartphone. We dont have much information only that they want it to be automatic and with aprox 70 bikes for starter. Do you know any systems that are available outside the US? Thanks in advance R.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Trailer for Transporting Bikes
by cyclista＠inventati.org 23 Oct '17

23 Oct '17

Oops!! Didn't cc the list. Also forgot to add that u-post used for fencing is dirt cheap, and if you get wide enough ones, would make excellent channels. -Cyclista On 2017-10-19 20:22, cyclista(a)inventati.org wrote: > Anna, > > A go-to hauling method for me is always an adapted child trailer. > Interestingly, when I went to look at the Pedal to the People trailer, > the construction was basically the same, just enlarged and reinforced > a little. The kickstand on the linkage was a clever addition that I > plan to add to my trailers. > > How many you can haul without a motor is also a matter of your > terrain. If you're mostly in flatland, you can haul quite a lot, and > on that kind of terrain I've hauled as many as ten framesets or so, > which would translate weight-wise into at least four bikes, if not > more. > > I've always just piled them up strategically. BUT - I've had a plan > for awhile now to basically replicate the car roof rack device, which > is often a flimsier version of the device used on the fronts of city > buses, and attach it to one of my trailer setups. > > I estimate that without modifying the child trailer's frame I could > easily fit three bikes, if they were flipped so that the handlebars > aren't running into each other. In other words, one facing backwards > and two facing forwards (or the opposite). > > So, you could either acquire some roof rack tracks by donation - put > out the call and I bet you'll get them - or at a thrift store or > Craigslist or whatever. > > Or you could do what I've been planning and get some angle (L cross > section) bar stock, preferably aluminum, and make your own channels. > > The tricky part is replicating the grabber used on buses that goes > over the front wheel. I'd probably just make the whole thing using > telescoping tubes and a spring from the hardware store, and make the > hook out of whatever, but other people might have some ideas on > cheaper or simpler ways to hold the bike up and in the tracks. I'd > love to hear them!! > > -Cyclista > > > On 2017-10-19 20:03, Anna Weier wrote: >> I was thinking of about 4 at a time, but I would also be happy with 2. >> >> Anna >> >> Anna Weier >> UMCycle Manager >> University of Manitoba Students' Union >> tel: 204.474.8484 >> @MyUMSU >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cyclista(a)inventati.org [mailto:cyclista@inventati.org] >> Sent: October 19, 2017 2:53 PM >> To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> >> Cc: Anna Weier <Anna.Weier(a)umsu.ca> >> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Trailer for Transporting Bikes >> >> Anna, >> >> How many bikes do you need to transport at a time? >> >> -Cyclista >> >> >> On 2017-10-19 19:17, Anna Weier wrote: >>> Hi folks, >>> I'm on a campus where our main location is small and our warehouse >>> location is far enough away that it's a pain to bring parts and bikes >>> back and forth. I'm looking for plans or the actual trailer for sale >>> for a bike trailer that can carry complete bikes. I would also be >>> interested in hearing from folks who have transported bikes by bike. >>> Is this a situation where an e-bike might be required? >>> >>> Anna >>> >>> Anna Weier >>> UMCycle Manager >>> University of Manitoba Students' Union >>> tel: 204.474.8484, website: >>> umsu.ca<http://umsu.ca/businesses/umcycle/> >>> Shop Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:30am - 1:30pm Community Stand Time: >>> Thursday, 1:30 - 4pm >>> 101 University Centre, U of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2 >>> @MyUMSU<https://www.instagram.com/myumsu/> >>> [IQsOpen_EmailSig_250x90]<https://umsu.ca/businesses/iqs/> >>> >>> >>> ____________________________________ >>> >>> The ThinkTank mailing List >>> >>> Unsubscribe from this list here: >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollecti >>> ves.org

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Bike Trailer for Transporting Bikes
by Anna Weier 20 Oct '17

20 Oct '17

Hi folks, I'm on a campus where our main location is small and our warehouse location is far enough away that it's a pain to bring parts and bikes back and forth. I'm looking for plans or the actual trailer for sale for a bike trailer that can carry complete bikes. I would also be interested in hearing from folks who have transported bikes by bike. Is this a situation where an e-bike might be required? Anna Anna Weier UMCycle Manager University of Manitoba Students' Union tel: 204.474.8484, website: umsu.ca<http://umsu.ca/businesses/umcycle/> Shop Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:30am - 1:30pm Community Stand Time: Thursday, 1:30 - 4pm 101 University Centre, U of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2 @MyUMSU<https://www.instagram.com/myumsu/> [IQsOpen_EmailSig_250x90]<https://umsu.ca/businesses/iqs/>

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